Short answer: the Minirig 3 for better sound quality, the JBL Charge 4 for the lower price. The Minirig 3 ranks #7 of 135 medium speakers at $140. The JBL Charge 4 ranks #50 at $119.95, $20.05 cheaper.
What the Minirig 3 offers: Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Watch for: Not stereo.
What the JBL Charge 4 offers: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. Watch for: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver.
Buy the Minirig 3 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Charge 4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Minirig 3 is rated for 30 hours versus 20 hours for the JBL Charge 4.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Charge 4 at IPX7 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Minirig 3 at Splash resistant (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 3 | JBL Charge 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $140 Discontinued | $119.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #7 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #50 of 135 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, AAC, SBC | - |
| Built in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | 330ms |
| Max Volume | 105dB | 99dB |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 550 g | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 40W | 30W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Minirig 3: $140 Discontinued Minirigs
Pros: Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer.
Cons: Not stereo. Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy. Wireless TWS pairing is buggy. A bit expensive. Has reliability issues more often than any other speaker. Discontinued.
Full Minirig 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4" x 2.9" (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Max Volume | 105dB |
| Output Power | 40W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 550 g |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: B&O Beoplay A1 2nd gen vs Minirig mk3 bluetooth speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: minirig 3 vs minirig 2 - minirig 3 overview part 1
- Speakertech: Anker soundcore Boost (Upgraded) vs minirig mini in stereo /2.0 (and changing the equalizer)
- 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)
- James from Canada: SOUND TESTS - Soundboks, Minirig 3, dB Technologies, Bose S1 Pro, etc - RAVE TEST
- Reddit Search for Minirig 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Charge 4: $119.95 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Doubles as a power bank for charging phones/tablets. IPX7 rated and floats. ~20 hour battery life; wirelessly links with 100+ JBL Connect+ speakers.
Cons: Not stereo. 1 Oval driver. Boosted bass, top a little rolled off, warm sound. Not as loud as a Charge 3. Discontinued.
Full JBL Charge 4 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 330ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.7" x 3.7" x 3.7" (220 x 95 x 93 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 51x89mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 960 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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