These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 70 boombox speakers at $385; the JBL Xtreme 4 ranks #36 of 75 large speakers at $380.
What the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 gets right: Warm sound with boosted bass. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
On the JBL Xtreme 4 side: Removable battery. The tradeoff: High priced.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at $385 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the JBL Xtreme 4 at $380 if you want a large speaker instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | JBL Xtreme 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $380 |
| Ranked | #3 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (5 band) |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | 220ms |
| Max Volume | 103dB | 106dB |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Output Power | 160W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 17.28" x 9.45" x 7.56" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon Ebay Refurbished
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 17.28" x 9.45" x 7.56" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 103dB |
| Output Power | 160W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding?
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Earfun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Zealot ZE41
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- See all 13 comparisons
- Links
JBL Xtreme 4: $380 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Removable battery. Slightly deeper bass than Xtreme 3. Use this EQ for the best sound quality.
Cons: High priced. Some bass boost. Dip in the upper bass to midrange makes it sound strange which cannot be EQd out. Some upper mids and treble boost at high levels.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 106dB |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6, Xtreme 4 & Earfun UBoom X - taking sound to the top
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - basstest (bigger=better?)
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom 3i - first impressions & EQs
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA Deep BASS 🆚 JBL XTREME 4
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Middleton👌🎶 🆚 JBL Xtreme 4 🎶📢
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - sound analysis
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - unboxing & first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Dominik Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs JBL Xtreme 3 Sound Test 😍 Best upgrade in the history? 😂
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.