Short answer: the Go + Play 3 for sound quality, unless you specifically need volume or water resistance. It ranks #3 of 113 boombox speakers against the Boombox 4’s #20, and it costs $164.95 less.
The two speakers trade off sound character for raw output. The Go + Play 3’s pros describe a “warm sound with boosted bass” that’s the “deepest bass out of any speaker in this size” and more natural than its predecessor. Its own cons are honest that it’s “just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes,” a direct reference to speakers like the Boombox 4. The Boombox 4, in turn, is praised for “pretty insane output capability for the size,” but its cons call it “pretty overpriced for the category” and even note it sounds worse out of the box than the older Boombox 3 until you dial in Oluv’s EQ settings.
Water resistance and battery life clearly favor the Boombox 4. It carries an IP68 rating for extended submersion, while the Go + Play 3 has no water resistance rating at all. Battery life is also lopsided: 28 hours for the Boombox 4 against just 8 hours for the Go + Play 3.
What the Boombox 4 has that the Go + Play 3 lacks: Auracast party mode, a removable battery, and a USB-C digital audio input, on top of the higher IP68 rating and much longer battery life.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if sound quality and battery efficiency at that price point matter most. It ranks well ahead of the Boombox 4 and costs less.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 if you need serious outdoor durability, much longer battery life, or output loud enough to fill a large space, and are willing to pay more and EQ it yourself for better sound.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | JBL Boombox 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $549.95 |
| Ranked | #3 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | None | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | No |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
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