Short answer: the JBL Boombox 4 on measured sound quality, the JBL Authentics 300 on price and design. The Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 85 boombox speakers at $429.95. The Authentics 300 ranks #39 at $299.95, $130 less.
The Boombox 4’s sound quality comes with an asterisk. Its notes are candid that it’s pretty overpriced for the category and actually sounds worse than the Boombox 3 out of the box. It only pulls ahead with its 7-band EQ tuned to a preset like Oluv’s, versus the Boombox 3’s 3 bands, and it drops the aux input entirely in the process. What it does bring is pretty insane output capability for its size, a 115dB max volume, and an IP68 rating for extended submersion.
The Authentics 300 trades output and battery life for design and smart-home integration. It’s built around a retro seventies look with leather trim and a Quadrex grille, and it’s one of the few speakers that integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant at the same time. Its own notes describe it as narrow sounding with bass that doesn’t reach as deep as rivals and peaky upper mids, and it lacks TWS pairing and any IP rating entirely. Its 8-hour battery life is a fraction of the Boombox 4’s 28 hours.
Everything else favors the Boombox 4 on paper: a removable battery, USB-C power bank output up to 30W, Auracast party mode, and double the output power at 210W versus 100W. The Authentics 300 answers with Wi-Fi multi-room support and USB playback, features the Boombox 4 doesn’t offer.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 for far more output, battery life, and water resistance, but plan on applying an EQ preset to get the sound quality its ranking implies.
Buy the JBL Authentics 300 if the retro design, dual voice assistant support, and Wi-Fi multi-room matter more to you than raw loudness or battery life.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Boombox 4 is rated at IP68 (extended submersion), well ahead of the JBL Authentics 300 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 4 | JBL Authentics 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429.95 | $299.95 |
| Ranked | #20 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 85 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cable |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 210W AC / 200W battery | 100W |
| Dimensions | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators |
| Strap | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Boombox 4 compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Boombox 4
- JBL Boombox 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Boombox 4
- JBL Boombox 4 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Boombox 4 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Boombox 4: $429.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older models: the JBL Boombox 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5), the JBL Boombox 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.5/5) and the JBL Boombox (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5).
Pros: Pretty insane output capability for the size. IP68 protection and Auracast pairing with other current JBL speakers. Measured bass extension of 41Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Pretty overpriced for the category. Better than the Boombox 3 mostly because there are more 7 EQ bands instead of just 3 and it can be better tuned. Try Oluv’s EQ for it. Out of the box sounds worse than the Boombox 3. No Aux input.
Full JBL Boombox 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 210W AC / 200W battery |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Boombox 3 - old one sounding better? 🤔 More from Oluv’Sone →
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Earfun UBoom X - sound test
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Boombox 3 - any improvement?
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Partybox Encore 2 - outdoor loudness & basstest
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 - finally a real BOOMbox from JBL 👏
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 4 HUMILIATES Brane X?! Ultimate Bass Battle! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 4 Compared to Boombox 3 & 3 WiFi – Worth the Upgrade?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Boombox 4 distortion fest bonanza! how bad can it be lol 🤣
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot Ze21!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Techder Audios: JBL Boombox 4 VS Zealot ZE21 BATTLE OF THE BOOMBOXES! More from techderaudios →
- Dominik Reviews: Zealot S89 vs JBL Boombox 4 - JBL Alternative? Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot S89!!!
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- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- M1MTechChannel: JBL BOOMBOX 4 - Einfach komplett GEISTESKRANK
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Authentics 300: $299.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). Retro seventies design with leather and Quadrex grille. 100-watt amp, carries well with leather-trimmed handle. Rechargeable battery rated ~8 hours. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others. Peaky upper mids. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 300 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5” x 7.7” x 7.1” (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 4” woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous) |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Authentics 300 - sound quality test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - update
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - listening session
- Alan Ross Reviews: Not quite! JBL Authentics 300 review and sound test vs Boombox 3, Encore and Stormbox Blast More from alanrossreviews →
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