Short answer: the JBL Go 5 ranks #24 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $44.95; the Monster Atomic Atom ranks #29 at $40. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The case for the JBL Go 5: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. Watch for: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
On the Monster Atomic Atom side: Very small, one of the smallest in the small class and good performance based on the size and weight. The catch: For the small class, lacking quite a bit of bass compared to the top ranked speakers.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Monster Atomic Atom if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Go 5 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Monster Atomic Atom at IPX5 (water jets).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Monster Atomic Atom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $40 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Broadcast Mode, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.4 lbs / 159 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 2.6" x 1.9" x 1.3" (65 x 47.8 x 32 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 2 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 33mm |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 3W |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 90Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Clip 5 vs Onn Small Rugged Speaker
- Soundcore Select 4 Go vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Soundcore Mini 3 vs JBL Go 4
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- JBL Go 4 vs JBL Go 5
Prices on this page were last checked August 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM 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 5: $44.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Monster Atomic Atom: $40 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Very small, one of the smallest in the small class and good performance based on the size and weight. Nice magnetic clip with hole for hanging
Cons: For the small class, lacking quite a bit of bass compared to the top ranked speakers. Discontinued.
Full Monster Atomic Atom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 90Hz |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.6" x 1.9" x 1.3" (65 x 47.8 x 32 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 33mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 3W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode, up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 159 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons