Short answer: these are different classes of speaker, and which wins depends on the job. The Boombox 4 is a portable, IP68-rated Bluetooth speaker built for carrying around. The discontinued Soundboks 2 is a battery-powered PA built to fill a backyard or small event at a claimed 124dB, well past what the Boombox 4 is designed to do.
The Soundboks 2 wins on raw output and inputs, not portability. Its 2x 10-inch woofers and silk-dome tweeter, plus XLR/6.3mm combo inputs for mics and instruments and a 40-hour removable battery, make it a real PA substitute. It has no water resistance rating, no app EQ and no TWS pairing, and its tonal balance is described as less refined than current speakers in its class. At $449 it’s also cheaper than the Boombox 4.
The Boombox 4 wins on portability, waterproofing and tuning flexibility. At 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) it’s a fraction of the Soundboks 2’s 33.1 lbs (15 kg), carries an IP68 rating the Soundboks 2 lacks entirely, and has a 7-band EQ for shaping the sound. Reviewers note it sounds worse out of the box than the Boombox 3 until EQ’d, and it dropped aux input in favor of Bluetooth and USB-C. At $549.95 it costs more.
Buy the Soundboks 2 if you need PA-level outdoor volume and XLR inputs, and portability isn’t the priority.
Buy the Boombox 4 if you want a speaker you can actually carry, with waterproofing and EQ control the Soundboks 2 doesn’t offer.
One note: the Soundboks 2 is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore. The Soundboks 2’s replacement, the Soundboks 4, is still sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 4 | Soundboks 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $449 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #13 of 17 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 124dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) | 33.1 lbs (15 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | Yes |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 210W AC / 200W battery | 216W (3x 72W) |
| Dimensions | 20.1” x 10.2” x 8.3” (510 x 260 x 210 mm) | 25.6” x 17” x 13” (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators | 2x 10” woofers, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Strap | No | - |
| Passive | - | No |
| Charging Time | - | 3.5 hours |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | No |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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