Short answer: the Klipsch Austin for sound, the JBL Go 5 only if you need the waterproofing. The Go 5 steps up to an IP68 rating from the Go 4’s IP67, but our notes call it still overpriced for what it delivers and not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. The Austin’s dual passive radiators give more low-end presence than most mini speakers, though its bass is not as deep as higher ranked speakers.
Buy the Klipsch Austin. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $13.30 with the JBL Go 5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Austin | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $53.25 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #15 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 49 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (10W reverse USB-C charging) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (397 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Drivers | 1.5” (38mm) full-range with dual passive radiators | 45mm |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 4.3” x 4.3” x 1.7” (109 x 109 x 43 mm) | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS | 4.8W |
| Maximum SPL | 89dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Frequency Response | - | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Klipsch Austin:
- Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Soundcore Boom Go 3i vs Klipsch Austin
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Klipsch Austin
- Tribit Stormbox Micro vs Klipsch Austin
- Klipsch Austin vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Klipsch Austin: $53.25 Amazon eBay
Pros: Dual passive radiators give more low-end presence than most mini speakers. Clear mids and crisp trebles. Rugged rubberized build with a metal grille; IP67. Supports TWS pairing with a second Austin. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as deep bass as higher ranked speakers
Full Klipsch Austin review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.3” x 4.3” x 1.7” (109 x 109 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.5” (38mm) full-range with dual passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 89dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (10W reverse USB-C charging) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (397 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 42 comparisons
JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons