Short answer: the JBL Charge 5. It ranks #26 of 134 medium speakers at $179.95; the KEF Muo gen2 ranks #72 and costs $249.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Charge 5 side: Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. Set against that: Not stereo.
The case for the KEF Muo gen2: KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance. Set against that: Lacking deeper bass.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the KEF Muo gen2 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 | KEF Muo gen2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.95 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #26 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #72 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | 90dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Auracast |
| Power Bank | Yes | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g | 1.6 lbs / 740 g |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 KHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8.5" x 3.2" x 2.3" (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| Output Power | 40W | 40W |
| Built in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | - |
| USB Audio | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 5: $179.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Doubles as a power bank (USB-A out) for charging your phone. IP67 rated, survives a 1m dunk for 30 minutes. ~20 hour battery life.
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 125ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 and Charge 3 - best JBL charge 5 review 2021?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bose Soundlink Flex Review! vs JBL Flip 6 and JBL Charge 5. Travel heaven?? 🤞
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 5 - unboxing & first impressions
- Alan Ross Reviews: Bogasing M4 Review - vs JBL Charge 5 & Motion Plus - a new contender?
- The Tech Files: JBL CHARGE 5 Vs. CHARGE ESSENTIAL 2 #shorts
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei sound joy vs JBL Charge 5 and Flip 6 - top mono speaker! 🤓
- New Stuff TV 2: Sony ULT Field 1 vs JBL Flip 6, JBL Charge 5 & Soundcore Motion 300
- Techder Audios: JBL PULSE 5 VS JBL CHARGE 5 “LIGHTS VS BASS?!”
- Storytripper HD: Klipsch Nashville vs JBL Charge 5
- Flossy Carter: JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4 vs JBL Charge Essential
- Storytripper HD: KEF MUO vs JBL Charge 5
- KULAS TECH SHOW: JBL Charge 5 vs Tronsmart Mirtune S100 - Sound Comparison💥🔥
- Alan Ross Reviews: UE Megaboom 3 review vs JBL Charge 5 & Motion Boom! how bad can it be??
- New Stuff TV: Sony SRS-XE300 vs JBL Charge 5
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 5 Vs Sony XE300 - How Can You Mess Up This Bad?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- DIGI-EARS: Xdobo X8 Max vs. JBL Charge 5 vs. Anker Soundcore Motion+ vs. Tribit Stormbox Pro Sound Test Battle
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 6
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Pulse 5
- JBL Charge 5 vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Charge 5 vs Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Charge 5 vs Bogasing M4
- JBL Charge 5 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- JBL Charge 5 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- JBL Charge 5 vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- JBL Charge 5 vs Tronsmart Mirtune S100
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Charge 5 vs Xdobo X8 Max
- JBL Charge 5 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- JBL Charge 5 vs Turtlebox Ranger
- Links
KEF Muo gen2: $249.99 Amazon
Pros: KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance
Cons: Lacking deeper bass. Very thuddy bass. Appears to be the exact same hardware but with updated tuning
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 KHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 8.5" x 3.2" x 2.3" (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 90dB |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | Auracast |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs / 740 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Muo gen2 vs B&O Beosound A1
- KEF Muo gen2 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
- KEF Muo gen2 vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Sony ULT Field 3
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Turtlebox Ranger
- KEF Muo gen2 vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Huawei Sound Joy
- KEF Muo gen2 vs JBL Pulse 5
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Minirig 4
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Sony SRS-XB30
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4
- KEF Muo gen2 vs B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Harman Kardon Luna
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Marshall Emberton II
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Sonos Roam 2
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 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.