Short answer: the JBL Xtreme 5 unless USB-C and battery life matter most. The UE Epicboom runs 17 hours with USB-C charging, the first UE portable to use it, but its bass is not very deep for the size. The Xtreme 5 has a removable battery, and the tradeoff is a high price.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $171.36 with the Ultimate Ears Epicboom does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Battery life favors the JBL Xtreme 5: rated for 28 hours against 17 hours for the Ultimate Ears Epicboom.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A large waterproof speaker with deep bass, wide, clean sound at volume and a removable 28 hour battery.
A rugged, floating waterproof speaker made mostly from recycled materials, with long Bluetooth range and USB-C charging.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Ultimate Ears Epicboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.95 | $228.59 |
| Ranked | #2 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #89 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 94dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| 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) | 4.3 lbs (1.97 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 13.6” x 6.5” x 6.1” (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 4.7” x 9.5” x 6.4” (119 x 241 x 162 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 120mm woofer, 2x 45mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 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) | 10W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | ~55Hz |
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