Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 4 for the stronger core speaker, the Soundcore Motion X500 for compact stereo value. The Xtreme 4 has a removable battery, slightly deeper bass than the Xtreme 3 and a custom EQ, but it costs a lot and its upper-bass-to-midrange dip cannot be corrected. The X500 offers 40W of stereo from a three-driver layout with IPX7 sealing and a Spatial Dynamic mode, though it runs bright with peaks around 250Hz and a dip at 1kHz.
The case for the JBL Xtreme 4: It has a removable battery, digs slightly deeper into the bass than the Xtreme 3, and a widely-shared custom EQ can get the best out of it. The catch: it costs a lot, leans bass-boosted out of the box, has an uncorrectable dip between the upper bass and midrange that gives it an odd character, and pushes upper-mids and treble at high volume.
Buy the Soundcore Motion X500. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Xtreme 4 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Xtreme 4 is rated for 24 hours versus 12 hours for the Soundcore Motion X500.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 4 | Soundcore Motion X500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $309.95 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #40 of 83 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 83 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | LDAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 5.9” x 5.6” (297 x 149 x 141 mm) | 8.7” x 8” x 3.2” (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 58mm (2.3”) forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7”) upward-firing driver |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 48Hz |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Xtreme 4: $309.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Newer model: the JBL Xtreme 5, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.
Pros: A rugged 2.1kg portable with IP67 protection, a replaceable battery, USB-C power-bank output, Auracast, stereo pairing and a useful 5-band app EQ. Independent reviews find the midrange detailed and the sound clear, punchy and refined for outdoor use; it also reaches a strong 106dB maximum level and has excellent real-world battery life.
Cons: It cannot produce the deep rumble of a larger speaker, and bass compression increases near maximum volume. The front-facing layout has only modest off-axis consistency, Bluetooth latency is high for video, and the default balance benefits from EQ adjustment. There is no aux input, so wired sources are not supported. Out of the box it leans bass-boosted, with a dip between the upper bass and midrange that EQ cannot fix, and it pushes the upper mids and treble at high volume. It is also expensive.
Full JBL Xtreme 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7” x 5.9” x 5.6” (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - basstest (bigger=better?)
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown! More from alanrossreviews →
- Oluv Patreon: SoundCore Boom 3i - first impressions & EQs
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA Deep BASS 🆚 JBL XTREME 4 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Middleton👌🎶 🆚 JBL Xtreme 4 🎶📢
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - sound analysis
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - unboxing & first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Dominik Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs JBL Xtreme 3 Sound Test 😍 Best upgrade in the history? 😂 More from Dominik Reviews →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max 100W vs JBL Xtreme 4 Audio Test
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE We HEAR Pro Super Stereo vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Soundcore Motion X500: $99.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 40W stereo with 3-driver layout (two tweeters + woofer). IPX7 weatherproof rating. Compact and very portable. Fine build quality at this price. Spatial Dynamic mode provides immersive sound. Gets close to 12 hour battery claim. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A little bright on top, a custom EQ can flatten things out a bit. Peaks at 250Hz and dip at 1kHz
Full Soundcore Motion X500 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7” x 8” x 3.2” (220 x 202 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 58mm (2.3”) forward-firing full-range drivers + 1x 43mm (1.7”) upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 104dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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