Short answer: the Minirig mk2 with subwoofer for balanced sound, the Charge 5 Wifi for WiFi. The Minirig package delivers a very balanced sound but is not stereo and its app is buggy. The Charge 5 Wifi adds WiFi and is likewise not stereo, at $250 against $260.
What the JBL Charge 5 Wifi gets right: Has Wifi. The tradeoff: Not stereo.
On the Minirig mk2 with subwoofer side: Very balanced sound. Set against that: Not stereo, app is buggy.
One note: the Minirig 2 with subwoofer is discontinued, but it still ranks #7 of 78 large speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at $250 for a medium speaker, or the Minirig 2 with subwoofer at $260 for a large speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Minirig 2 with subwoofer is rated for 40 hours versus 20 hours for the JBL Charge 5 Wifi.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Minirig 2 with subwoofer at Splash resistant (splashing).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 5 Wifi | Minirig 2 with subwoofer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $260 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (cable) |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 3 lbs (1.36 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 97 x 94 mm) | 4" x 8.6" (101.6 x 219 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 74mm custom driver |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP67 | Splash resistant |
| Power Input | USB-C | Proprietary USB cable |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music | - |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 40W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Minirig 2 with subwoofer compares with other leading options:
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig 2 with subwoofer
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Vifa Oslo
- Mifa Wildbox vs Minirig 2 with subwoofer
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 Charge 5 Wifi: $250 Amazon eBay
Pros: Has Wifi. Sounds exactly the same as the non-Wifi version. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo. Warm sound. Shouty upper mids. Boosted bass. Slightly rolled off treble. Overly expensive. No party mode on the wifi version
Full JBL Charge 5 Wifi review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (dual microphones) |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8" x 3.8" x 3.7" (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Bogasing M4
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs JBL Charge 5
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Bogasing G4
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Luna
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Harman Kardon Luna 2
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Tribit Maxsound Plus/Thunderbox Plus
- JBL Charge 5 Wifi vs Teufel Rockster XS
- See all 95 comparisons
Minirig 2 with subwoofer: $260 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Very balanced sound. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, app is buggy. Wireless TWS pairing is buggy. Not easy to carry on the go, no handle and there’s 2 pieces. Calls itself splash resistant but has no official water rating. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Discontinued.
Full Minirig 2 with subwoofer review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 8.6" (101.6 x 219 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 74mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (cable) |
| Weight | 3 lbs (1.36 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Vifa Oslo
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Mifa Wildbox
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs JBL Xtreme 5
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs Dali Katch G2
- Minirig 2 with subwoofer vs W-King X20
- See all 9 comparisons