Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 5. It ranks #2 of 82 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $399.95; the B&O Beosound A5 ranks #12, rated 4.5/5, and costs $1,650, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the JBL Xtreme 5: Removable battery. The tradeoff: High priced.
The case for the B&O Beosound A5: At 3.86 kg, B&O Beosound A5 combines 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter with Bluetooth and aux. Watch for: Bass is limited by its 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound A5 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Xtreme 5 is rated for 28 hours versus 12 hours for the B&O Beosound A5.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the JBL Xtreme 5 at IP68 (extended submersion) against the B&O Beosound A5, which has IP65 (water jets).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | B&O Beosound A5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $1,650.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #12 of 82 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 1 x 90W RMS Woofer + 2 x 20W RMS Tweeter (AC power mode) 1 x 60W RMS Woofer + 2 x 15W RMS Tweeter (Battery mode) | 280W |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | - |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
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 5: $399.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older models: the JBL Xtreme 3 (rated 4.3/5), the JBL Xtreme 4 (rated 3.8/5), the JBL Xtreme 2 (rated 3.4/5) and the JBL Xtreme (rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Removable battery. Quite deep bass, reaching well below 40Hz. A fantastic sounding speaker with excellent off-axis dispersion, a big step up from older JBL portables. Beats the Soundcore Boom 2 and Tribit Stormbox Blast on bass depth and clarity. Plays clean at volume, unlike the JBL Boombox 4.
Cons: High priced. Some bass boost. A hole in the mid-upper bass which can’t be EQ’d out. Default EQ presets are weak (Signature is boring, Chill and Vocal are close to unusable) - needs the custom EQ to sound its best. Bigger and heavier than the Xtreme 4.
Setup: Try this Oluv EQ for the most neutral sound
Full JBL Xtreme 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1 x 90W RMS Woofer + 2 x 20W RMS Tweeter (AC power mode) 1 x 60W RMS Woofer + 2 x 15W RMS Tweeter (Battery mode) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 - universal EQ for best sound overall More from Oluv’Sone →
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 - Best Bluetooth Speaker 2026 award
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 vs Studio Monitors: too V-shaped or not to V-shaped, that’s the question!
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 - outdoor test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions
- Oluv Patreon: VIFA Helsinki & JBL Xtreme 5 - listening test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st detailed impression with custom EQs
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 5 - outdoor test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Brane X vs JBL Xtreme 5: Maximum Bass, No Mercy More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 5 2026, massive upgrade over JBL Xtreme 4! Full tests!
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4 in 2026
- Alan Ross Reviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ImoaGw3t0
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 5 or the amazing Tribit Stormbox Blast? 🤔
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
B&O Beosound A5: $1,650.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 3.86 kg, B&O Beosound A5 combines 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter with Bluetooth and aux. Ip65 protection, up to 101db and mono playback make its feature set practical for its intended room or portable use. Reviews find the sound fairly neutral.
Cons: Bass is limited by its 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment.
Full B&O Beosound A5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 280W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 11.2” x 7.4” x 5.1” (285 x 187 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange, 0.8” tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 101dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Beolink Multiroom) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Harman Kardon Citation 200
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Marshall Stockwell II
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- B&O Beosound A5 vs JBL Xtreme 3
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Soundcore Motion X600
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- B&O Beosound A5 vs Vifa Helsinki
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