Short answer: the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. It ranks #39 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $169.99. The Pioneer PBM5 ranks #112, rated 2.0/5, at $149, $20.99 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus is the better-sounding, longer-running choice. A fairly light stereo boombox, easy to carry to the beach or park. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 13 for the Pioneer PBM5. At 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) it weighs much less than the Pioneer PBM5 at 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX5 for the Pioneer PBM5. The catch: Warm tuning meaning a rolled off treble and some upper bass boost.
The case for the Pioneer PBM5: A loud karaoke boombox with two mic inputs, a guitar input, lights, a shoulder strap and a choice of USB-C or AC power. The catch: Williston Audio Labs was not impressed with its sound: there is very little bass below 100Hz, and the amplifier’s output has a big dip from 1.6kHz to 10kHz that leaves the upper mids and treble recessed.
Buy the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $20.99 with the Pioneer PBM5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Measured Differences
- Output: the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus was measured at 111 dB maximum against 105 dB for the Pioneer PBM5, so it gets clearly louder before it runs out of headroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | Pioneer PBM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #39 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #112 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours at 60% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) | Yes (presets + user EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 105dB at 2m (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C or AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| USB Playback | No | Yes (MP3 only) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Amplifier Power | 140W | 300W peak (Manufacturer specified), about 90W measured |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.1” x 5.9” (440 x 230 x 150 mm) | 8.9”H x 17.4”W x 8.1”D (226 x 442 x 207 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x 51mm (2”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (2 inputs) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Soundcore Boom 2 Plus: reviews by Alan Ross, Techder Audios and Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More.
- Pioneer PBM5: reviews by Williston Audio Labs and AnotherReview ByFrank.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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