Short answer: the JBL Go 5, narrowly. The two are level on price at $39.95 and $40, but the Go 5 ranks #27 of 54 against #33. The Monster Atomic Atom is one of the smallest in the small class and performs well for its size and weight, though it lacks quite a bit of bass next to the top ranked speakers; the Go 5 adds IP68 and AirTouch pairing but is still overpriced.
Buy the JBL Go 5. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Monster Atomic Atom is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Monster Atomic Atom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $40 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 54 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #33 of 54 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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 |
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W | 3W |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 90Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Go 5:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
Prices on this page were last checked October 5, 2026 at 10:21 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 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Monster Atomic Atom: $40 Discontinued 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. Measured bass extension of 90Hz (-10dB).
Cons: For the small class, lacking quite a bit of bass compared to the top ranked speakers. Discontinued and no longer sold new.
Full Monster Atomic Atom review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 3W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 90Hz |
| Battery Life | 9 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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) |
| Drivers | 33mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| 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