These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Boombox 4 ranks #20 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality at $549.95; the Soundboks Rider ranks #31 of 53 party speakers by sound quality at $599.
The JBL Boombox 4 is the tougher option. An extremely loud boombox for its size with fully waterproof, dustproof build, a long battery and a flexible app EQ. It is rated IP68 against IP66 for the Soundboks Rider. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the Soundboks Rider cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Soundboks Rider. The tradeoff: Pretty overpriced for the category.
What the Soundboks Rider does well: A light, rugged party speaker with a swappable battery that lasts all day at mid volume and an app with a six band EQ. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Boombox 4 lacks. The catch: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume.
Buy the JBL Boombox 4 at $549.95 if you want a boombox speaker. Buy the Soundboks Rider at $599 if you want a party speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 4 | Soundboks Rider | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #20 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #31 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Soundboks) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP66 |
| Bluetooth Latency | AAC 144ms, SBC 48ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No (no TeamUp) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C (65W fast charging) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (5.98 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3, AAC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, up to 30W) | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 210W AC / 200W battery | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
| 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 | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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