Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The JBL Boombox 4 ranks #17 of 70 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95; the Soundboks Mix ranks #28 of 46 party speakers by sound quality at $799.
What the JBL Boombox 4 gets right: Pretty insane output capability for its size. The catch: pretty overpriced for the category, and out of the box it sounds worse than the older Boombox 3 (an EQ preset helps).
On the Soundboks Mix side: IP65 dust/water resistance and 65W USB-C fast charging for its swappable battery. The tradeoff: only 72W from a single 10-inch woofer, well short of the Boombox 4’s output.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at $549.95 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the Soundboks Mix at $799 if you want a party speaker instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 4 | Soundboks Mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $799 |
| Ranked | #17 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 46 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP65 |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms | - |
| Max Volume | 115dB | 121dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 5.98 kg | 21.4 lbs / 9.7 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC | - |
| Built in Microphone | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Output Power | 210W AC / 200W battery | 72W |
| Dimensions | 20.1" x 10.2" x 8.3" (510 x 260 x 210 mm) | 19.1" x 13.5" x 10.9" (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 123mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators | 10" woofer, 1.2" tweeter |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Boombox 4: $549.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
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.
| 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 |
| 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 | No |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 115dB |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Output Power | 210W AC / 200W battery |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 5.98 kg |
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Boombox 3 - old one sounding better? 🤔
- 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!
- 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!!!
- Techder Audios: JBL Boombox 4 VS Zealot ZE21 BATTLE OF THE BOOMBOXES!
- Dominik Reviews: Zealot S89 vs JBL Boombox 4 - JBL Alternative? Sound Test
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot S89!!!
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Boombox 4 Vs Zealot S95!!!
- Reddit Search for JBL Boombox 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Soundboks Mix: $799 Soundboks Amazon
Pros: USB-C fast charging (65W) for the swappable battery, up to 40 hours of battery life at mid-volume, IP65 dust/water resistance, and TeamUp linking with up to 5 other SKAA-equipped Soundboks speakers.
Cons: Doesn’t have as deep of bass as higher-ranked speakers, and can sound somewhat bright in the treble. Only 72W of output and a single 10-inch woofer, less powerful than the Soundboks Go or 4, and no microphone input for karaoke like the Pro Panel models.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 19.1" x 13.5" x 10.9" (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Drivers | 10" woofer, 1.2" tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Max Volume | 121dB |
| Output Power | 72W |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs / 9.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Product prices and availability were last checked August 10, 2026 at 7:14 AM UTC 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.