Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks #68 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $73.99; the KEF Muo gen2 ranks #73 and costs $249.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Charge Essential side: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential. The tradeoff: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
What the KEF Muo gen2 gets right: KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance. Watch for: Lacking deeper bass. Very thuddy bass. Appears to be the exact same hardware but with updated tuning.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KEF Muo gen2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential | KEF Muo gen2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $73.99 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #68 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #73 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | - |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g | 1.6 lbs / 740 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 | 5.4 |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 3.5" x 3.4" (213 x 89 x 87 mm) | 8.5" x 3.2" x 2.3" (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 20W RMS | 40W |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 KHz 24 bit |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 90dB |
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- Sonos Roam vs Sony ULT Field 3
- JBL Charge 2 vs Sonos Roam 2
- KEF Muo gen2 vs Sony ULT Field 1
- JBL Charge 3 vs KEF Muo gen2
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Charge Essential: $73.99 Amazon
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential.
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
Full JBL Charge Essential review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4" x 3.5" x 3.4" (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Charge 3
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Flip Essential
- JBL Charge Essential vs Klipsch Nashville
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sony XB23
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam
- JBL Charge Essential vs JBL Flip 4
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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. Bass distorts as volume increases, and the claimed 43Hz extension is really only audible at low listening volumes, with a few seconds of lag after volume changes. Loses most of its bass off-axis. Customer reviews are mixed, ranging from praise for detail at low volume to complaints of a boxy, hollow sound.
Full KEF Muo gen2 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 KHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs / 740 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons