Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It ranks #11 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The JBL Pulse 5 ranks #47, rated 3.7/5, at $224.99, $170.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the JBL Pulse 5: A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers. The catch: Bass is limited by its ~58Hz specification.
The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel. It is rated for 18 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 1.2 lbs (558 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $170.01 with the JBL Pulse 5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with balanced sound, a built in strap, and a long battery for travel.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 5 | B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $224.99 | $395.00 |
| Ranked | #47 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) | 1.2 lbs (558 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) |
| Drivers | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 40W | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in strap) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 90ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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