Short answer: the JBL Go 4, unless battery life is your priority. It ranks #25 of 47 small portable speakers against #33 for the Sony SRS-XB100, and it costs $13.05 less, so there is little reason to pay more for the Sony on sound quality alone.
Neither speaker has real bass, and the reviews agree on that for both. Our notes call out the Go 4 for having not much bass at all once electronic or bass-heavy tracks get pushed past about half volume, plus a midrange that can sound grainy and a treble that gets sizzly at higher volumes. The XB100’s own notes say much the same: not much bass, and it is described as pretty much the same as its cheaper sibling the XB13, just a touch deeper and less muddy.
Where the Sony pulls ahead is battery and versatility. It is rated for 16 hours against 7 hours for the Go 4, and testers have gotten around 17 hours of real-world use out of it. It can also stereo-pair two units together, something the Go 4 cannot do, and it ships with a clip for attaching to bags or gear.
What the Go 4 has going for it beyond price: an EQ (the XB100 has none), Auracast party mode support, and a companion app, none of which the XB100 offers.
Buy the JBL Go 4 for the lower price, the EQ, and Auracast support, if you can live with short battery life.
Buy the Sony SRS-XB100 if all-day battery life or stereo pairing with a second unit matters more to you than saving $13.05.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB100 is rated for 16 hours versus 7 hours for the JBL Go 4.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 4 | Sony SRS-XB100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.95 | $63.00 |
| Ranked | #25 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #33 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g | 0.6 lbs / 274 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) | 3" x 3.7" (76 x 95 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 46mm |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 2.5W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 4:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs JBL Go 4
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs JBL Go 4
- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- JBL Go 4 vs Teufel Boomster Go
Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak.
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 →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| 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?
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Go 4 - first impressions (how to waste your money) More from Oluv’Sone →
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100 More from storytripperhd →
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Select 4 Go Vs JBL Clip 5 And JBL Go 4 More from GYMCADDY →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB100: $63.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Long real-world battery life (~17 hours in testing). IP67 rated and pocketable at 267g, with a clip for bags/gear. Can stereo-pair two units.
Cons: Not much bass. Seems pretty much the same as the XB13, maybe a teeny bit deeper bass and a little less muddy.
Full Sony SRS-XB100 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3" x 3.7" (76 x 95 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 2.5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 274 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- CEONTHEMAKING: BATTLE Of The Compact Speakers Sony SRS-XB100 VS JBL Clip 4!
- Flossy Carter: Sony SRS-XB100 - Small Speaker, Huge Sound More from FlossyCarter →
- Danny Pops: Agreeable Gray? - The Sony XB100 is almost the same as the XB13 More from DannyPops →
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100 More from storytripperhd →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons