Short answer: the Vifa City for better sound quality, the JBL Go 5 for the lower price. The Vifa City ranks #10 of 47 small speakers at $106. The JBL Go 5 ranks #24 at $44.95, $61.05 cheaper.
What the JBL Go 5 offers: 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 Vifa City side: Quite detailed. Balanced, controlled sound with clear vocals even at low volume rather than a bass-forward ‘boombox’ voicing. The tradeoff: Dip at 1200hz. Doesn’t boost bass at low levels. Not that deep of bass.
Buy the JBL Go 5 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Vifa City if sound quality matters more than the price.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Go 5 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Vifa City at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Vifa City | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $106 |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX4 |
| 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 | 0.7 lbs / 300 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 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 78Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 4.1" x 1.5" (105 x 39 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 45mm | 15mm tweeter, 65mm woofer |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 78W peak |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 73Hz |
| NFC | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Willen II vs JBL Clip 4
- Marshall Willen II vs JBL Clip 5
- Marshall Willen vs JBL Go 4
- Soundcore Mini 3 vs Vifa City
- JBL Go 4 vs Vifa City
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
Vifa City: $106 Amazon eBay
Pros: Quite detailed. Balanced, controlled sound with clear vocals even at low volume rather than a bass-forward ‘boombox’ voicing. Two units can pair for a stereo pair.
Cons: Dip at 1200hz. Doesn’t boost bass at low levels. Not that deep of bass. Only IPX4.
Full Vifa City review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 73Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 1.5" (105 x 39 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 15mm tweeter, 65mm woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 78Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| NFC | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 78W peak |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs / 300 g |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons