Short answer: the JBL Charge 6. It ranks #11 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $199.95; the LG Xboom Go PL5 ranks #114 and costs $289, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Charge 6 offers: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. The tradeoff: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2khz.
On the LG Xboom Go PL5 side: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. LED lights sync to music via the LG XBOOM app; Wireless Party Link connects up to 100 speakers. Set against that: Barely any bass. 14khz peak, bright on top. Soundboost mode makes the top end even harsher.
Buy the JBL Charge 6. It ranks higher for sound quality than the LG Xboom Go PL5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the LG Xboom Go PL5. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Charge 6 is rated for 24 hours versus 15 hours for the LG Xboom Go PL5.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Charge 6 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the LG Xboom Go PL5 at IPX5 (water jets).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | LG Xboom Go PL5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $289.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #114 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 102dB | 100dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | - |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g | 1.4 lbs / 640 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 7.9" x 3.1" x 3.1" (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Output Power | 45W | 20W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Flip 6 vs B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen
- Denon Envaya DSB-250BT vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- LG Xboom Go PL5 vs Harman Kardon Esquire 2
- JBL Charge 6 vs Harman Kardon Luna
Prices on this page were last checked August 21, 2026 at 5:30 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 6: $199.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. Use this EQ from Joy/Oluv and turn down the lowest bass slider for the best sound quality. Oluv has even more paid EQs specifically for the GG and TL models indoors and outdoors here
Cons: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2khz. Quite a V shaped frequency response.
Full JBL Charge 6 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 45W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test More from Oluv’Sone →
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs SoundCore Boom 2 - David vs Goliath
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - basstest (bigger=better?)
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6, Xtreme 4 & Earfun UBoom X - taking sound to the top
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ?
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Plus vs JBL Charge 6 - fight!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz. More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5 More from GYMCADDY →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Reddit Search for JBL Charge 6 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
LG Xboom Go PL5: $289.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: 18 hour battery life; IPX5 rated. LED lights sync to music via the LG XBOOM app; Wireless Party Link connects up to 100 speakers. USB-C charging.
Cons: Barely any bass. 14khz peak, bright on top. Soundboost mode makes the top end even harsher.
Full LG Xboom Go PL5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (LG XBOOM App) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 71Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.9" x 3.1" x 3.1" (201 x 79 x 79 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.75-inch woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 100dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wireless Party Link, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 640 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons