Short answer: the JBL Flip 4. It ranks #63 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $70; the Sonos Roam ranks #72 and costs $175, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Flip 4 gets right: Less bass than a Flip 5. The tradeoff: Battery failures are common.
What the Sonos Roam offers: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Set against that: Bass extension isn’t very good.
One note: the JBL Flip 4 is discontinued, but it still ranks #63 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL Flip 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonos Roam and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip 4 | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $70 Discontinued | $175.00 |
| Ranked | #63 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #72 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | - |
| TWS | No | - |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 510 g | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.8" x 2.6" (175 x 70 x 65 mm) | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 16W RMS | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Max Volume | 92dB | 95dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
| App | - | Sonos S2 App |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Sonos Roam 2 vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- Sony XB23 vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Charge Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
- Sonos Roam vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- JBL Flip 4 vs Sonos Roam 2
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Flip 4: $70 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Less bass than a Flip 5. Peaky lower treble.
Cons: Battery failures are common. Discontinued.
Full JBL Flip 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 66Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 300ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9" x 2.8" x 2.6" (175 x 70 x 65 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 510 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DLX Willington: JBL Flip 5 vs Flip 4 :Sound Battle: Almost to the size of the JBL Charge 3? More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Best $100 Speaker? JBL Flip 4 Vs Sony XB20 Vs UE WONDERBOOM Vs Altec Mini Lifejacket 2 More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Best $100 Speaker? JBL Flip 4 Vs Sony XB20 Vs UE WONDERBOOM Vs Altec Mini Lifejacket 2
- Reddit Search for JBL Flip 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonos Roam: $175.00 Amazon
Pros: Very neutral. IP67 rated at ~1 lb. Wireless (Qi) charging - rare for a portable speaker. Works with Alexa/Sonos Voice Control and the wider Sonos ecosystem over Wi-Fi.
Cons: Bass extension isn’t very good. Not stereo. Gets distorted if you turn up the bass.
Full Sonos Roam review and specifications →
| App | Sonos S2 App |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 63Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.4" x 6.6" x 2.4" (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 429 g |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons