Short answer: the JBL Pulse 6. It ranks #49 of 164 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $329.95. The KEF Muo gen2 ranks #94, rated 3.1/5, at $249.99, $79.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Pulse 6 is the better-sounding pick. A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. The tradeoff: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The KEF Muo gen2 is the longer-running, lighter option. KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 6. At 1.6 lbs (740 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 6 at 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 6 lacks. The tradeoff: Lacking deeper bass.
Buy the JBL Pulse 6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $79.96 with the KEF Muo gen2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 6 | KEF Muo gen2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.95 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #49 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 164 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) | 40W |
| App | JBL One | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 kHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C, lossless) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) | 8.5” x 3.2” x 2.3” (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) | 1.6 lbs (740 g) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 90dB (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Pulse 6:
- Earfun Uboom L vs JBL Pulse 6
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 4 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 3 vs JBL Pulse 6
- Minirig 2 vs JBL Pulse 6
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Pulse 6: $329.95 Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Pulse 5 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 63.8mm woofer on 30W RMS and a 16mm tweeter on 10W RMS, with JBL rating the response down to 42Hz, well below the Pulse 5’s 58Hz. IP68 makes it fully dustproof and submersible, a step up from the Pulse 5’s IP67. The 360° light show now runs over an illuminated carry handle too, with 16 themes, a double-tap bedside lamp and a Sunset Mode sleep timer in the JBL One app. Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC and LC3, lossless playback over USB-C, and Auracast for stereo pairing or linking PartyBox speakers and PartyLight Sticks.
Cons: No independent measurements or tested reviews have been published yet, so its real bass extension, loudness and tonal balance can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It plays in mono from one woofer and one tweeter, so a single unit gives no stereo separation. Battery life is rated at only 12 hours from its 34Wh pack, charging takes up to 4.5 hours, and the USB-C port can’t charge a phone. There is no strap, only the built-in handle.
Full JBL Pulse 6 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C, lossless) |
| Dimensions | 10.4”H x 5.2”W x 4.2”D (264 x 132 x 106 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Pulse 6 vs JBL Pulse 5
- JBL Pulse 6 vs Xiaomi Sound Outdoor
- JBL Pulse 6 vs JBL Charge Essential 3 SE
- JBL Pulse 6 vs JBL Charge Essential 2
- JBL Pulse 6 vs Sonos Play
- JBL Pulse 6 vs Bose Soundlink Flex
- JBL Pulse 6 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2nd gen
- JBL Pulse 6 vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
- See all 50 comparisons
KEF Muo gen2: $249.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: KEF seemed to have fixed the rolled off treble and overall balance
Cons: Lacking deeper bass. Very thuddy bass. Appears to be the exact same hardware but with updated tuning. Bass distorts as volume increases, and the claimed 43Hz extension is really only audible at low listening volumes, with a few seconds of lag after volume changes. Loses most of its bass off-axis. Customer reviews are mixed, ranging from praise for detail at low volume to complaints of a boxy, hollow sound.
Full KEF Muo gen2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX Adaptive up to 48 kHz 24 bit |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3.2” x 2.3” (216 x 82 x 59 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 58x117mm racetrack woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 90dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (740 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons