Short answer: the Minirig 4. It ranks #7 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $229.95; the JBL Pulse 5 ranks #47, rated 3.7/5, at $224.99. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The Minirig 4 is the better-sounding, longer-running pick. A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 1.2 lbs (550 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks. The catch: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
The JBL Pulse 5 is the tougher choice. A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers. It is rated IP67 against Splash resistant for the Minirig 4. The tradeoff: Bass does not reach as deep as others, and the plastic scratches easily.
Buy the Minirig 4. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4.96 you would save on the JBL Pulse 5 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A small, long lasting speaker that gets loud and can add a matching subwoofer, with a 30 hour battery.
A waterproof party speaker with a built in light show, app EQ and linking with up to 100 other JBL speakers.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig 4 | JBL Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.95 | $224.99 |
| Ranked | #7 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56Hz | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 60ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 4” x 2.9” (101.6 x 73 mm) (diameter x height) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 70mm custom driver | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 40W |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | No |
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