Short answer: the JBL Go 4. It ranks #30 of 62 small speakers by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $49.95. The Monster Cube 1 ranks #40, rated 3.0/5, at $29.99, $19.96 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the JBL Go 4: A little more bass than the JBL Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Monster Cube 1 lacks. The catch: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume.
The Monster Cube 1 is the longer-running option. Rated for 20 hours of playback, far longer than the JBL Go 4, with IP68 dust and water protection, Bluetooth 6.0, a party mode that links up to 100 speakers, stereo pairing with a second unit and a microSD slot for playing music without a phone. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 7 for the JBL Go 4. The catch: No measurements, so its rating is estimated from side-by-side listening tests.
Buy the JBL Go 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $19.96 with the Monster Cube 1 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Worth knowing: the Monster Cube 1 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.7 to 3.3, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | Monster Cube 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $29.99 |
| Ranked | #30 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 62 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers Estimated |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.7” x 3” x 1.7” (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | - |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 1x full-range driver |
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W | 12W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | Yes (wrist loop) |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| USB Playback | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 4:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs JBL Go 4
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- Minirig Mini 2 vs JBL Go 4
- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 4: $49.95 Amazon $49.95 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Go 5, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5, released Mar 2026. It adds USB audio input, AAC and LC3, but drops the built-in mic. Water resistance goes from IP67 to IP68.
Older model: the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5). See every JBL Go generation.
Pros: A little more bass than the JBL Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak. Measured bass extension of ~82Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume. Midrange can sound grainy and treble a bit sizzly; loses clarity at higher volumes.
Full JBL Go 4 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 4.2W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7” x 3” x 1.7” (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (190 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
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- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Monster Cube 1: $29.99 Estimated eBay
Pros: Rated for 20 hours of playback, far longer than the JBL Go 4, with IP68 dust and water protection, Bluetooth 6.0, a party mode that links up to 100 speakers, stereo pairing with a second unit and a microSD slot for playing music without a phone.
Cons: No measurements, so its rating is estimated from side-by-side listening tests. Against the JBL Go 4 it plays louder with more bass but sounds less balanced and less clear. There is no app or EQ, and it is hard to buy in the US, where the official store lists it as sold out.
Full Monster Cube 1 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 12W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (wrist loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (200 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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