Short answer: the Charge 6, and the ranking edge is real if modest. It ranks #11 of 135 medium speakers at $199.95; the Sound Party ranks #19 at $126, $74 less.
The Sound Party’s own pros compare itself to the older Charge 5, not the newer Charge 6. Our notes describe it as pretty balanced overall and more neutral than the Charge 5, with a thuddy bass at high volume and a peak at 180Hz as its complaints.
The Charge 6 is the more neutral of the two Chargers, on paper, flatter through the mids and treble than the Charge 5, though it still carries some boosted bass by default.
Buy the Sound Party for most of the improvement at a lower price. Buy the Charge 6 for the higher ranking and JBL’s ecosystem.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge 6 | Xiaomi Sound Party | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.95 | $133.62 |
| Ranked | #11 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #19 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 102dB | 102dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g | 2.6 lbs / 1200 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) | 10.0" x 3.6" x 3.6" (255 x 92 x 92 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter | 2x 40mm woofers (35W total) + 2x 15mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C | 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/2A |
| Output Power | 45W | 50W |
| USB Audio | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge 6: $149.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
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.
| 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 | 9.0" 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 |
| Output Power | 45W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test
- 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!
- 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.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Xiaomi Sound Party: $133.62 Aliexpress
Pros: Sounds pretty balanced overall, more neutral than the Charge 5. Nice passive radiator visual effect.
Cons: Bass can sound slightly thuddy at high volume, 180hz peak
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 26 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 10.0" x 3.6" x 3.6" (255 x 92 x 92 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm woofers (35W total) + 2x 15mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Output Power | 50W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | 5V/3A, 9V/2A, 12V/2A |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | No |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs / 1200 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Xiaomi Sound Party - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party - first look
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: Xiaomi Sound Party vs Boom 2 & Helsinki
- Alan Ross: JBL Charge 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Party – Honest No-BS Comparison
- Alan Ross: Xiaomi Sound Party or Soundcore Boom 2 - 4 db louder?!
- Grimluck: XIAOMI Sound Party Review and Comparison (Jbl charge and Xiaomi outdoor)
- Jefferson C: XIAOMI Sound Party 2025
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- 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.