Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 5 for convenience, the Minirig 4 with subwoofer for balanced sound. The Xtreme 5’s removable battery comes with a high $399.95 price. The Minirig setup sounds very balanced, but it is not stereo and its app is buggy.
The case for the JBL Xtreme 5: Removable battery. Set against that: High priced.
What the Minirig mk4 with subwoofer gets right: Very balanced sound. The catch: Not stereo, app is buggy.
Buy the Minirig 4 with subwoofer. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $109.95 less than the JBL Xtreme 5.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Xtreme 5 at IP68 (extended submersion) holds up far better than the Minirig 4 with subwoofer at Splash resistant (splashing).
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Minirig 4 with subwoofer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $290 |
| Ranked | #2 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP68 | Splash resistant |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 3.2 lbs (1.44 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 13.6" x 6.5" x 6.1" (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 70mm custom driver |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 18kHz (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) | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 60ms |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig 2 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
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) |
| 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
Minirig 4 with subwoofer: $290 Minirigs eBay
Pros: Very balanced sound. Finally USB-C charging. Deeper, more impactful bass than the old Sub 3. Subwoofer pairs wirelessly and can be placed anywhere in the room for extra bass. Fine-grained tuning via the app - 5-band EQ plus separate bass/treble and subwoofer controls. Sounded more accurate than the JBL Xtreme 5 in a side-by-side comparison, and the whole 2.1 setup is smaller and lighter than it.
Cons: Not stereo, app is buggy. Not easy to carry on the go, no handle and there’s 2 pieces. Calls itself splash resistant but has no official water rating. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Default out-of-the-box tuning sounds off and needs a custom EQ to sound its best.
Full Minirig 4 with subwoofer review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 3.2 lbs (1.44 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Game changer! Minirig wireless portable subwoofer mk4 goes boom!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 4 vs Minirig 3, stuff they tell you, stuff they don’t! 😂
- Beautiful Zar DJ: MINIRIG 4 Vs MINIRIG 3 (50-100%Volume Audio Test)
- Alan Ross Reviews: A true story: Minirigs 4 with Sub 4 vs JBL Xtreme 5 - 1st impressions
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Brane X
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Minirig 3 with subwoofer
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Minirig 2 with subwoofer
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Vifa Helsinki
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Marshall Stockwell 2
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- See all 36 comparisons