Short answer: the Sonos Move. It ranks #27 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $299.95; the JBL Xtreme 4 ranks #37 and costs $380, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sonos Move gets right: Warm sounding with somewhat rolled off treble. The catch: Not stereo.
The case for the JBL Xtreme 4: Removable battery. The tradeoff: High priced.
Buy the Sonos Move. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Xtreme 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Xtreme 4 is rated for 24 hours versus 11 hours for the Sonos Move.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Move | JBL Xtreme 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 Discontinued | $380 |
| Ranked | #27 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP56 | IP67 |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C (requires USB-C PD 12v minimum) | USB-C |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
| Wifi | Yes | - |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (5 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.4" x 6.3" x 5" (240 x 160 x 126 mm) | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3.5" (89mm) mid-woofer + 1x downward-firing tweeter (tweeter size undisclosed by Sonos) | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer | 100W |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Max Volume | 92dB | 106dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 220ms |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Sonos Move 2 vs Marshall Kilburn II
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Marshall Middleton II
- Bose SoundLink Max vs Marshall Middleton II
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn II vs JBL Xtreme 4
The Two Speakers In Full
Sonos Move: $299.95 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Warm sounding with somewhat rolled off treble.
Cons: Not stereo. Not as deep bass as others in the category, less bass extension than an Xtreme 2. Pumping and compression artifacts at higher volume. Not very loud. Discontinued.
Full Sonos Move review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.4" x 6.3" x 5" (240 x 160 x 126 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 3.5" (89mm) mid-woofer + 1x downward-firing tweeter (tweeter size undisclosed by Sonos) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP56 |
| Max Volume | 92dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C (requires USB-C PD 12v minimum) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Ezekielo: JBL Xtreme 2 vs Sonos Move with Sound Comparison
- NeverEnoughTech: soundcore Motion X600 vs. Sonos Move vs. Bose Soundlink Revolve II
- Smart Home Sounds: Best Premium Bluetooth Speakers: Sonos Move, JBL Xtreme 3, Marshall Middleton & More…
- Smart Home Sounds: Sonos Move 1 Vs Move 2: What’s The Difference?
- Reddit Search for Sonos Move Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Xtreme 4: $380 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Removable battery. Slightly deeper bass than Xtreme 3. Use this EQ for the best sound quality.
Cons: High priced. Some bass boost. Dip in the upper bass to midrange makes it sound strange which cannot be EQd out. Some upper mids and treble boost at high levels.
Full JBL Xtreme 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 220ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7" x 5.9" x 5.6" (297 x 149 x 141 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 19mm tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 106dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs / 2.1 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
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- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - sound analysis
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Xtreme 4 - unboxing & first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Dominik Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs JBL Xtreme 3 Sound Test 😍 Best upgrade in the history? 😂
- Reddit Search for JBL Xtreme 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons