Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Miniroll for better sound quality, the JBL Go 4 for the lower price. The Ultimate Ears Miniroll ranks #12 of 47 small speakers at $49.99. The JBL Go 4 ranks #25 at $39.95, $10.04 cheaper.
What the Ultimate Ears Miniroll gets right: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size. The catch: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers.
What the JBL Go 4 offers: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak. Set against that: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Go 4 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Miniroll is rated for 12 hours versus 7 hours for the JBL Go 4.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Miniroll | JBL Go 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #12 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #25 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g | 0.4 lbs / 190 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours | 3 hours |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator | 45mm |
| Output Power | 3W RMS | 4.2W |
| Max Volume | 83dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~82Hz |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.3 |
| Frequency Response | - | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Go 3 vs JBL Clip 3
- Anker Soundcore Mini vs JBL Clip 4
- JBL Go 3 vs JBL Clip
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs JBL Go 3
- JBL Go 4 vs JBL Clip 3
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Miniroll: $49.99 Amazon
Pros: Good clarity and detail in the mids/highs with a warmer tonal balance than most ultra-portables its size.
Cons: Bass not quite as deep as the best rated speakers
Full Ultimate Ears Miniroll review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.8" x 4.1" x 1.9" (122.7 x 105 x 48.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 45.6mm active with passive radiator |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 83dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 3W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp/Auracast, Miniroll-only) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 279 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Anker Soundcore Mini
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen II
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Marshall Willen
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Klipsch Austin
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Soundcore Mini 3 Pro
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs B&O Beoplay P2
- Ultimate Ears Miniroll vs Teufel Boomster Go
- See all 22 comparisons
JBL Go 4: $39.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: A little more bass than the Go 3 and they fixed the strange mids peak.
Cons: Not much bass at all, especially with electronic/bass-heavy tracks pushed past ~50% volume. Midrange can sound grainy and treble a bit sizzly; loses clarity at higher volumes.
Full JBL Go 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~82Hz |
| Battery Life | 7 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.7" x 3" x 1.7" (94.3 x 75.7 x 42.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs / 190 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Go 4 - first impressions (how to waste your money)
- Storytripper HD: JBL GO 4 vs TRIBIT MICRO 2 vs KLIPSCH AUSTIN vs SONY SRS-XB100
- GYMCADDY: Soundcore Select 4 Go Vs JBL Clip 5 And JBL Go 4
- Reddit Search for JBL Go 4 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons