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 5.98kg it’s a fraction of the Soundboks 2’s 15kg, 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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 4 | Soundboks 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $449.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #19 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #8 of 14 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 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 |
| 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) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Boombox 4:
- 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 23, 2026 at 11:24 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Boombox 4: $549.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Pretty insane output capability for the size. 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 |
| 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!!!
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot S95!!!
- 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
Soundboks 2: $449.00 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Built for maximum outdoor output: its two 10-inch woofers and silk-dome tweeter reach a claimed 124dB, while the removable battery is rated for up to 40 hours. It also provides aux, microphone and guitar inputs, making it a practical battery-powered option for loud parties and informal performances.
Cons: At 15kg it is large to transport, lacks weather protection, app EQ and TWS stereo pairing, and relies on an external charging arrangement. Its tonal balance and bass depth are less refined than stronger modern party speakers, and this discontinued model requires caution around used-battery condition and support. Discontinued.
Full Soundboks 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 216W (3x 72W) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Cabinet Material | Poplar plywood |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| DSP | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 17" x 13" (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 10" woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 124dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 33.1 lbs (15 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons