Short answer: the JBL Flip 6. It ranks #13 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $79.95. The Philips TAS3160 ranks #140, rated 2.6/5, at $68, $11.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the Philips TAS3160 does well: A pill shaped waterproof speaker from Philips, also listed as the S3160, with a woofer and separate tweeter on 20W + 10W of amplification. Watch for: Oluv, who designs the rival Joy&Oluv’Sone sEARius S1, tested the two side by side and heard a sizzling peak near 10kHz, little real bass and audible distortion by the third volume step, with the outdoor mode harsher still.
The JBL Flip 6 is the better-sounding, lighter pick. A small, rugged speaker with very neutral sound for its size, an excellent choice for most people. At 1.2 lbs (544 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Philips TAS3160 at 1.5 lbs (680 g). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Philips TAS3160 lacks. The catch: Some slight upper mids emphasis.
Buy the JBL Flip 6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $11.95 you would save on the Philips TAS3160 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A pill shaped waterproof speaker from Philips, also listed as the S3160, with a woofer and separate tweeter on 20W + 10W of amplification.
A small, rugged speaker with very neutral sound for its size, an excellent choice for most people.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| Philips TAS3160 | JBL Flip 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $68 | $79.95 |
| Ranked | #140 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #13 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 30W (20W + 10W) | 30W |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 3000mAh | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.5” x 2.8” x 3” (190 x 71 x 75 mm) | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (176 x 68 x 72 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x racetrack woofer + 1x tweeter | 44mm x 80mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 130Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (wrist strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (680 g) | 1.2 lbs (544 g) |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 56Hz |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (3 band) |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 116ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
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