Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Tribit Stormbox Lava ranks #3 of 120 large speakers by sound quality at $139.99; the JBL Charge 5 Wifi ranks #29 of 179 medium speakers by sound quality at $139.95.
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is the deeper-bass pick. A loud, waterproof large speaker with strong bass, a long battery and an aux input, for far less than its rivals. Its bass reaches about 44Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. It keeps a wired aux input, which the JBL Charge 5 Wifi lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the JBL Charge 5 Wifi. The tradeoff: XBass can make the low end muddy and obscure vocals, while the deepest notes lose authority and clarity falls at maximum volume.
The JBL Charge 5 Wifi is the lighter option. A rugged waterproof speaker with punchy, warm sound plus Wi-Fi streaming over AirPlay and Chromecast, long battery life and a phone charging port. At 2.2 lbs (1 kg) it weighs much less than the Tribit Stormbox Lava at 5.2 lbs (2.37 kg). The catch: Shouty upper mids.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox Lava at $139.99 if you want a large speaker. Buy the JBL Charge 5 Wifi at $139.95 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 11, 2026 at 3:26 AM 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
| Tribit Stormbox Lava | JBL Charge 5 Wifi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 | $139.95 |
| Ranked | #3 of 120 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #29 of 179 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 20ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 128ms AAC, 144ms SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (dual microphones) |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 5.2 lbs (2.37 kg) | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 12.2” x 5.8” x 6” (310 x 147 x 152 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 97 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 30mm tweeters | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 40W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Alexa Multi-Room Music |
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