Short answer: the Xtreme 5 if the budget allows it. These rank #2 and #38 out of 111 portable speakers, with the Xtreme 5 at $399.95 costing $219.96 more than the Boom 2 Plus’s $179.99.
Bass depth and cleanliness are the Xtreme 5’s headline strength. Its pros describe quite deep bass reaching well below 40Hz, excellent off-axis dispersion, and it specifically beats the Soundcore Boom 2 on bass depth and clarity, playing clean at volume where the JBL Boombox 4 doesn’t. Its cons temper that: it carries some bass boost, has a hole in the mid-upper bass that can’t be EQ’d out, and its default EQ presets are weak, needing a custom EQ to sound its best.
The Boom 2 Plus is lighter and more approachable but rougher tonally. Its cons describe a warm tuning with rolled off treble and some upper bass boost, though its own notes say it should improve once a better EQ tune is available. It is notably lighter than most boombox size speakers, which matters if you’re carrying it often.
Buy the Xtreme 5 for the better bass extension, cleaner output at volume, and a removable battery, if you can pay the premium.
Buy the Boom 2 Plus if you want a lighter, cheaper boombox speaker and are willing to EQ it or wait for tuning improvements.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A large waterproof speaker with deep bass, wide, clean sound at volume and a removable 28 hour battery.
A fairly light stereo boombox, easy to carry to the beach or park.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $179.99 |
| Ranked | #2 of 114 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #38 of 111 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/3A) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 17.3” x 9.1” x 5.9” (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (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) | 140W |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 39Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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