Short answer: the Mackie Thump Go. It ranks #21 of 46 party speakers by sound quality at $449.99; the Soundboks 4 ranks #24 and costs $1199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Soundboks 4 gets right: Tied for the loudest battery-powered speaker, with a removable 40-hour battery. The catch: very large, not stereo out of the box, and behind the top Partyboxes on neutrality and bass.
On the Mackie Thump Go side: A genuine built-in mixer, balanced sound, and true stereo pairing (with a second unit) for well under half the price. The tradeoff: not very deep bass, and our notes flag the battery latch and handle as failure points.
Buy the Mackie Thump Go. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Soundboks 4 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundboks 4 | Mackie Thump Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1199 | $449.99 |
| Ranked | #24 of 46 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 of 46 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 17" x 13" (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) | 18" x 9.1" x 11.2" (457 x 230 x 285 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 10" woofers, 1" compression driver | 8" woofer, 1" compression driver |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP65 | None |
| Max Volume | 126dB | 115dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| SKAA | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Weight | 34 lbs / 15.4 kg | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| Output Power | 3 x 72W | 200W |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
Soundboks 4: $1199 Soundboks Amazon
Pros: Tied for the loudest battery powered speaker. Removable 40 hour battery.
Cons: Very large. Not as neutral or as deep of bass as the above Partyboxes. Not stereo. External power brick for charging.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 17" x 13" (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 10" woofers, 1" compression driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Max Volume | 126dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 3 x 72W |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| SKAA | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 34 lbs / 15.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- GYMCADDY: SOUNDBOKS Gen 4 Review - Better Sound And More Power Efficient
- Flossy Carter: SOUNDBOKS 4 - The World’s LOUDEST Bluetooth Speaker!
- Oluv Patreon: SoundBoks 4 vs Stormbox Blast - first impressions
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox Ultimate Vs SOUNDBOKS 4 & Sony XV900 - Is It Worth It?
- Reddit Search for Soundboks 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Mackie Thump Go: $449.99 Amazon
Pros: 8-inch custom high-output woofer + 1-inch compression driver delivers powerful audio with incredible dynamic range. Built-in mini live mixer with two XLR/TRS combo inputs + 3.5mm aux. Up to 12 hours battery (5 hours comfortable gig time), removable for swapping spares. Lightweight 17.6 lbs. Balanced sound with crisp highs, tight lows, natural vocals. Pair two Mackie Thump Gos for stereo via app.
Cons: Not quite as good sounding as a Everse 8 or S1 Pro. Bluetooth pairing doesn’t auto connect every time. Designed for more loudness than deeper bass. Battery latch breaks easily. Handle on top also can break off. Not very deep bass
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Dimensions | 18" x 9.1" x 11.2" (457 x 230 x 285 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" compression driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 115dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| XLR Input | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- W. Weiss: Part 3 Sound Demonstration The New EV Everse 8 compared to The Mackie Thump Go
- W. Weiss: Part 3 Shootout MACKIE THUMP GO vs BOSE S1 PRO vs JBL EON ONE COMPACT Max Volume Demo A New Winner!
- W. Weiss: Part 2 NEW MACKIE THUMP GO review/sound demo VS JBL Compact & Bose S1Pro Most Popular portable PAs
- W. Weiss: The $400 Club - Budget Portable PA’s Mackie Thump Go, JBL Partybox 110, Yamaha DBR10
- Reddit Search for Mackie Thump Go Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 10, 2026 at 7:14 AM UTC 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.