Short answer: the Teufel Boomster Go. It ranks #7 of 47 small speakers by sound quality; the JBL Go 5 ranks #24.
The case for the JBL Go 5: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. The catch: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
On the Teufel Boomster Go side: Pretty deep bass and quite balanced overall for the size. Watch for: Distortion becomes audible above roughly 75% volume; at max volume up close it gets unclear and tinny.
One note: the Teufel Boomster Go is discontinued, but it still ranks #7 of 47 small speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Teufel Boomster Go if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Teufel Boomster Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | €80 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.8 lbs / 355 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 | 4.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 4.2" x 4" x 1.8" (107 x 102 x 46 mm) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 50mm woofer + 20mm tweeter |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 10W |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Go 4 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- JBL Go 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs JBL Go 4
- Bogasing M4 vs JBL Go 5
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Mini 3
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
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 |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Teufel Boomster Go: €80 Discontinued
Pros: Pretty deep bass and quite balanced overall for the size.
Cons: Distortion becomes audible above roughly 75% volume; at max volume up close it gets unclear and tinny. Discontinued.
Full Teufel Boomster Go review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.2" x 4" x 1.8" (107 x 102 x 46 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 50mm woofer + 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 10W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 355 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Marshall Willen II
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Ultimate Ears Miniroll
- Teufel Boomster Go vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- See all 22 comparisons