Short answer: the Vifa Helsinki for the higher ranking, the JBL Xtreme 5 for the lower price. The Vifa Helsinki ranks #1 of 75 large speakers at $400. The JBL Xtreme 5 ranks #2 at $349.95, $50.05 cheaper.
What the JBL Xtreme 5 gets right: Removable battery. The tradeoff: High priced.
On the Vifa Helsinki side: Generally regarded as the best midrange and treble sound quality of any battery powered Bluetooth speaker. The tradeoff: No TWS pairing, looks like a purse, requires a hacked Vifa app (Android only post #48) to enable night mode to sound good.
Buy the JBL Xtreme 5 if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Vifa Helsinki if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Xtreme 5 | Vifa Helsinki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $400 |
| Ranked | #2 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #1 of 75 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No (official app is broken, 3rd party android app only) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | None |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | aptX, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Partially (shared woofer) |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 13.6" x 6.5" x 6.1" (346 x 165 x 155 mm) | 6.1" x 8.3" x 2.8" (156 x 210 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 98x145mm woofer, 2x 20mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange, 2x 66mm woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 18kHz (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) | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| USB Audio | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 48Hz |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Xtreme 5: $349.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Removable battery. Quite deep bass. A fantastic sounding speaker
Cons: High priced. Some bass boost. A hole in the mid-upper bass which can’t be EQ’d out
Setup: Try this Oluv EQ for the most neutral sound
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 28 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 6.4 lbs / 2.9 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone🔈3DAudio🎧& Music: JBL Xtreme 5 - universal EQ for best sound overall
- 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
- 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
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Brane X
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Laney F67
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Middleton II
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Sony ULT Field 5
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 3
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Klipsch Detroit
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Kilburn II
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig mk3 with subwoofer
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig mk4 with subwoofer
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Middleton
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Minirig mk2 with subwoofer
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Rocksteady Stadium Speakers and Subwoofer
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Sonos Move 2
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Sony SRS-XG300
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Vifa Oslo
- Links
Vifa Helsinki: $400 Amazon
Pros: Generally regarded as the best midrange and treble sound quality of any battery powered Bluetooth speaker.
Cons: No TWS pairing, looks like a purse, requires a hacked Vifa app (Android only post #48) to enable night mode to sound good. Not sure I can recommend this one generally these days, the Uboom L has 98% of the sound quality with more features and a way cheaper price. There are mentions that the 2022 “new” version of this speaker doesn’t sound as good as Vifa was purchased by a Chinese company and laid off all the great sound engineers in the Austria office.
| App | No (official app is broken, 3rd party android app only) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.1" x 8.3" x 2.8" (156 x 210 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange, 2x 66mm woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (shared woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.