Short answer: the JBL Charge 6 ranks #11 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $199.95; the TDK A33 ranks #108 at $199. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the JBL Charge 6 gets right: 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. Watch for: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2khz.
On the TDK A33 side: Solid, weighty build (2.5 lb) with a splashproof design suited to outdoor use. The catch: Not as deep of bass as competitors. Slightly recessed treble.
Buy the JBL Charge 6 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the TDK A33 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the TDK A33. 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 6 hours for the TDK A33.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Charge 6 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the TDK A33 at IP64 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | TDK A33 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #108 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | ~72Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | - |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP64 |
| Max Volume | 102dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.4A) | - |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g | 2.8 lbs / 1270 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 2.1 |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 9.5" x 3.7" x 2" (241 x 95 x 51 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 1.5-inch full-range + 1x 2.5-inch subwoofer + 2x 3-inch passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Output Power | 45W | 15W |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- B&O Beosound A1 vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- Bose SoundLink Plus vs JBL Charge 6
- JBL Charge 6 vs Sony SRS-XB30
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
TDK A33: $199 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Solid, weighty build (2.5 lb) with a splashproof design suited to outdoor use.
Cons: Not as deep of bass as competitors. Slightly recessed treble. Discontinued.
Full TDK A33 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~72Hz |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 2.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.5" x 3.7" x 2" (241 x 95 x 51 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 1.5-inch full-range + 1x 2.5-inch subwoofer + 2x 3-inch passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IP64 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 15W |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs / 1270 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons