JBL Boombox 4 vs Hopestar A90

Last updated: October 27, 2026

Short answer: the JBL Boombox 4. It ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $549.95. The Hopestar A90 ranks #22, rated 3.9/5, at $351.65, $198.30 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.

JBL Boombox 4 vs Hopestar A90

Side by side, the reviewer took the Hopestar for its deeper, bigger bass and output, calling it half the price with features the JBL lacks. The Boombox 4 is far smaller and lighter, which makes it the one to carry.

The Boombox 4 is measured at about 115dB with bass to about 41Hz, and it is IP68 with a removable battery and a claimed 28 hours. Use the Oluv EQ linked on its page.

The A90 is huge at 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) boxed, with a removable battery, a wireless mic, Auracast and IPX6, but only 6 to 8 hours claimed. The A90’s rating comes from listening comparisons, not measurements, and it is sold through AliExpress rather than US retailers.

Buy the JBL Boombox 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $198.30 saving on the Hopestar A90 is not enough to make up the difference.

Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.

Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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

JBL Boombox 4 Hopestar A90
Price$549.95$351.65
Ranked#20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#22 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers
AppYesNo
Aux InputNoYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz-
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)6-8 hours (Manufacturer specified)
EQYes (7 band)No
IP RatingIP68IPX6
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms-
Maximum SPL115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews)-
Party ModeYes (Auracast)Yes (Auracast)
Power InputAC Power cord-
Removable BatteryYesYes
StereoYes-
OmnidirectionalNoNo
Weight13.2 lbs (5.98 kg)-
BluetoothYesYes
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AAC-
Bluetooth Version5.45.4
Built-in MicrophoneNo-
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)-
TWSYes-
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)-
USB PlaybackNoYes
FM TunerNo-
Microphone InputNo-
MicroSD PlaybackNoYes
Amplifier Power210W AC / 200W battery700W
Dimensions20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm)24.6” x 9.9” x 13.4” (624.5 x 252.5 x 341.5 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators2x 5” woofers + 2x 3.5” midranges + 2x 2.5” tweeters + 2x 2” ceramic tweeters
StrapNo-
Frequency Response-50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Wireless Microphones-Yes 1 Included
Lights-Yes

Watch Them Compared

Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.

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