Short answer: the JBL Pulse 6. It ranks #49 of 167 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $329.95; the Klipsch New York ranks #58, rated 3.6/5, and costs $599.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The JBL Pulse 6 is the lighter, tougher 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 JBL Pulse 5’s 58Hz. At 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) it weighs much less than the Klipsch New York at 56 lbs (25.4 kg). It is rated IP68 against IPX4 for the Klipsch New York. The catch: 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.
Why pick the Klipsch New York: Flagship Music City party speaker engineered for high-output events, featuring dual 8-inch high-excursion woofers and a high-efficiency horn-loaded compression tweeter producing up to 110dB maximum output with dual custom front ports for low-end punch. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Pulse 6 lacks. Watch for: Weighs 25.4 kg (56 lbs), making vehicle loading and stair navigation demanding despite the wheels.
Buy the JBL Pulse 6. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch New York and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: JBL Pulse 6 3.5 to 3.9; Klipsch New York 3.4 to 3.8). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Pulse 6 | Klipsch New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.95 | $599.99 each |
| Ranked | #49 of 167 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers Estimated | #58 of 167 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers Estimated |
| Amplifier Power | 40W RMS (30W woofer, 10W tweeter) | - |
| App | JBL One | Yes (Klipsch Connect Plus) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 34Wh (7.2V, 4722mAh) | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| 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) | 29.5” x 14.5” x 15” (750 x 368 x 380 mm) |
| Drivers | 63.8mm woofer, 16mm tweeter | Horn-loaded compression tweeter, 2x 8” woofers |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.49 kg) | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Inputs | - | Bluetooth, 3.5mm Aux, 1/4” Mic, 1/4” Guitar |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes |
| Wheels | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- EarFun Uboom L vs JBL Pulse 6
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- 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 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 Pulse 6: $329.95 Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Pulse 5 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5). See every JBL Pulse generation.
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 JBL Pulse 5’s 58Hz. IP68 makes it fully dustproof and submersible, a step up from the JBL 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 →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| 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
Klipsch New York: $599.99 each Estimated Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Klipsch Vegas (smaller model, estimated 3.8/5) and the Klipsch Miami (smaller model, estimated 3.3/5).
Pros: Flagship Music City party speaker engineered for high-output events, featuring dual 8-inch high-excursion woofers and a high-efficiency horn-loaded compression tweeter producing up to 110dB maximum output with dual custom front ports for low-end punch. Features heavy-duty trolley wheels, up to 12 hours of battery playback, full-panel RGB light shows with side strobes, DJ sound effects, mic and guitar inputs with independent gain, and IPX4 weatherproofing.
Cons: Weighs 25.4 kg (56 lbs), making vehicle loading and stair navigation demanding despite the wheels. Battery life drops toward 8 hours with maximum volume and full RGB light show active.
Full Klipsch New York review and specifications →
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Klipsch Connect Plus) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 29.5” x 14.5” x 15” (750 x 368 x 380 mm) |
| Drivers | Horn-loaded compression tweeter, 2x 8” woofers |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 3.5mm Aux, 1/4” Mic, 1/4” Guitar |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
- 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