JBL Boombox 4 vs JBL Authentics 500

Last updated: August 22, 2026

These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Boombox 4 ranks #17 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95; the JBL Authentics 500 ranks #3 of 4 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $600.

What stands out about the JBL Boombox 4: It has pretty insane output capability for its size. Set against that: it’s pretty overpriced for the category, sounds worse than the Boombox 3 out of the box, and only pulls ahead once Oluv’s EQ and its 7 EQ bands, versus the Boombox 3’s 3, are put to use, and it drops the Aux input entirely.

On the JBL Authentics 500 side: It delivers quite powerful sound and quite deep bass for its size. The catch: no battery.

Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at $549.95 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the JBL Authentics 500 at $600 if you want a powered desktop speaker instead.

If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Boombox 4 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Authentics 500 at no water resistance.

Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at Amazon ($549.95) →Buy the JBL Authentics 500 at Amazon ($600) →

JBL Boombox 4 vs JBL Authentics 500

Specifications Side By Side

JBL Boombox 4 JBL Authentics 500
Price$549.95$600
Ranked#17 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers#3 of 4 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers
AppYesYes
Aux InputNoYes
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz-
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)No Battery
EQYes (7 band)Yes
IP RatingIP68None
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms-
Max Volume115dB-
Party ModeYes (Auracast)Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room)
Power InputAC Power cord-
Removable BatteryYes-
StereoYesYes
OmnidirectionalNo-
Weight13.2 lbs / 5.98 kg17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AACSBC
Bluetooth Version5.45.3
Built in MicrophoneNo-
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)-
TWSYes-
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)-
USB PlaybackNo-
FM TunerNo-
Microphone InputNo-
MicroSD PlaybackNo-
Output Power210W AC / 200W battery270W (Max @ THD 1%)
Dimensions20.1" x 10.2" x 8.3" (510 x 260 x 210 mm)17.6" x 9.4" x 10.1" (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators6.5" (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75" midranges, 3x 1" (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters
Dolby Atmos-Yes (virtual)
Ethernet-Yes
Frequency Response-40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified)
Power Supply-100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz
Sound System-3.1 channel
Streaming Services-AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM
USB-Type-C (USB playback US only)
Voice Assistants-Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous)
Wifi-Yes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz)
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at Amazon ($549.95) →Buy the JBL Authentics 500 at Amazon ($600) →

More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:

Prices on this page were last checked August 22, 2026 at 5:11 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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The Two Speakers In Full

JBL Boombox 4: $549.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo eBay

JBL Boombox 4 ranking card

Pros: Pretty insane output capability for the size.

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 →

AppYes
Aux InputNo
Bass Extension (-10dB)41Hz
Battery Life28 hours (Manufacturer specified)
Bluetooth CodecsSBC, LC3, AAC
Bluetooth LatencyAAC 144ms, SBC 48ms
Bluetooth Version5.4
Built in MicrophoneNo
Digital Aux InputYes (USB-C)
Dimensions20.1" x 10.2" x 8.3" (510 x 260 x 210 mm)
Drivers2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators
EQYes (7 band)
FM TunerNo
IP RatingIP68
Max Volume115dB
MicroSD PlaybackNo
Microphone InputNo
OmnidirectionalNo
Output Power210W AC / 200W battery
Party ModeYes (Auracast)
Power BankYes (USB-C, up to 30W)
Power InputAC Power cord
Removable BatteryYes
StereoYes
TWSYes
USB PlaybackNo
Weight13.2 lbs / 5.98 kg
Check current price at Amazon ($549.95) →Check current price at Bhphotovideo →Search eBay for JBL Boombox 4 →

JBL Authentics 500: $600 Amazon eBay

JBL Authentics 500 ranking card

Pros: Quite powerful sound, and quite deep bass for the size.

Cons: No battery. Boosted upper bass. Peaky upper mids.

Full JBL Authentics 500 review and specifications →

AppYes
Aux InputYes
Battery LifeNo Battery
Bluetooth CodecsSBC
Bluetooth Version5.3
Dimensions17.6" x 9.4" x 10.1" (447 x 240 x 255.7 mm)
Dolby AtmosYes (virtual)
Drivers6.5" (down-firing subwoofer), 3x 2.75" midranges, 3x 1" (25mm aluminum dome) tweeters
EQYes
EthernetYes
Frequency Response40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified)
IP RatingNone
Output Power270W (Max @ THD 1%)
Party ModeYes (Wi-Fi multi-room)
Power Supply100 - 240V AC, ~ 50/60Hz
Sound System3.1 channel
StereoYes
Streaming ServicesAirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa MRM
USBType-C (USB playback US only)
Voice AssistantsAmazon Alexa & Google Assistant (simultaneous)
Weight17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg
WifiYes (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz/5GHz)
Check current price at Amazon ($600) →Search eBay for JBL Authentics 500 →