Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 5. It ranks #2 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $299; the Dali Katch G2 ranks #58 and costs $750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Xtreme 5 offers: 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. The tradeoff: High priced. Some bass boost. A hole in the mid-upper bass which can’t be EQ’d out.
The case for the Dali Katch G2: Pretty neutral. The catch: Loses bass quickly after 40% volume. A lot of compression artifacts at high volume.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dali Katch G2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Dali Katch G2. It ranks near the bottom of the 77 large speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Dali Katch G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $750.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #58 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | Yes (USB) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 13.6" x 6.5" x 6.1" (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 10.6" x 5.4" x 1.9" (269 x 138 x 47 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 89mm woofers, 2x 21mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 49Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output 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) | 50W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Charging Time | - | 2 hours |
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- JBL Partybox 130 vs Vifa Helsinki
- Sonos Move vs Dali Katch G2
- JBL Xtreme vs Dali Katch G2
Prices on this page were last checked August 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM 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: $299.00 Amazon Bhphotovideo eBay
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 →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output 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) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| 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? 🤔
- Reddit Search for JBL Xtreme 5 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dali Katch G2: $750.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty neutral
Cons: Loses bass quickly after 40% volume. A lot of compression artifacts at high volume. External AC power brick for charging. Horribly overpriced. Nearly identical to the Dali Katch G1. Reverb added to the output screws up the imaging. Quite a hollow character to the sound.
Full Dali Katch G2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.6" x 5.4" x 1.9" (269 x 138 x 47 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 89mm woofers, 2x 21mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 23kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 50W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: DALI KATCH G2 - sound demo More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 high end audio takes on the entire world of bluetooth speakers! 👌👋 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 epic review vs Original Dali Katch audiophile speaker! 🤞
- Reddit Search for Dali Katch G2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons