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JBL Go 4 Speaker Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8
Reviewed Sep 24, 2024 at 02:22 pm
JBL Go 4 Picture
5.9
Music
5.3
Videos/Movies
7.4
Podcasts
2.8
Voice Assistant
7.1
Outdoors

The JBL Go 4 is a palm-sized speaker meant to go with you anywhere. As the update to the previous JBL Go 3, it adds a companion app to expand its utility and sonic possibilities with EQ. A longer battery life and a greater Bluetooth range come as welcomed upgrades. You can also mate it with other JBL speakers with Auracast to expand your audio experience. So, is this portable speaker the right pick for on-the-go?

Our Verdict

5.9 Music

The JBL Go4 is sub-par for listening to music. Due to its small size, its frequency response rolls off bass frequencies, so your audio doesn't have as much low-end oomph as expected. It also downmixes stereo mixes to mono, meaning you won't get to enjoy channel separation unless you add a second compatible speaker. Lower frequencies also compress quite a bit at elevated volumes, which negatively impacts the dynamics of your music. That said, its companion app has an EQ to help out the tuning, but it can't overcome the speaker's inherent limitations that prevent it from reproducing the full frequency spectrum.

Pros
  • Incredibly portable.
  • Companion app includes EQ.
  • Can pair to a second speaker of the same model, or group with other compatible Auracast speakers.
Cons
  • Downmixes stereo audio to mono.
  • Can't be paired with previous generation speakers.
  • Compression at high volumes.
  • Can't get very loud.
5.3 Videos/Movies

The JBL Go4 is disappointing for videos and movies. It downmixes everything to mono, and it lacks low-end (because of its small size), so action scenes with explosions don't sound immersive. At high volumes, it also compresses a lot in the lower frequencies, which negatively impacts the audio's dynamics. Plus, the latency is high enough to notice lipsync mismatch, although this can vary with different devices and apps.

Pros
  • Incredibly portable.
  • Companion app includes EQ.
  • Can pair to a second speaker of the same model, or group with other compatible Auracast speakers.
Cons
  • Latency can cause audio/visual mismatch.
  • Downmixes stereo audio to mono.
  • Can't be paired with previous generation speakers.
  • Compression at high volumes.
7.4 Podcasts

The JBL Go 4 is a decent podcast speaker. Its small size means you can tote it from room to room or with you to tune in to your favorite show on the balcony with a morning coffee. It reproduces the frequencies of the human voice well, and if necessary, you can adjust the EQ in the companion app. You can also pair it to a second device if you want to seamlessly switch from your PC to your phone. However, if you're trying to blast your podcast so it'll project to the other end of a hallway, it doesn't get exceedingly loud.

Pros
  • Incredibly portable.
  • Companion app includes EQ.
Cons
  • Can't be paired with previous generation speakers.
  • Compression at high volumes.
2.8 Voice Assistant

The JBL Go4 doesn't have a microphone, so it's not capable of supporting a voice assistant.

7.1 Outdoors

The JBL Go 4 is a pocket-sized speaker that's decent for outdoor use. Its durable build quality, with an IP67 rating against dust and water, and floating design mean you can take it with you on adventures. Its battery lasts just shy of seven hours, which is enough for an afternoon at the beach, but the battery life is still limited by its size, though 'Playtime Boost' is meant to extend the battery life. With a long Bluetooth range and dual device connectivity, alongside app support with features like EQ, you can customize the outdoor experience and share DJ duties with a friend. You can also add another of the same model to create a stereo pair or group it with other JBL Auracast-compatible speakers. That said, it's not capable of outputting full-sounding bass because of its size, and at high volumes, bass frequencies compress considerably, which impacts the quality of your audio.

Pros
  • Incredibly portable.
  • IP67 rating against dust and water.
  • Can pair to a second speaker of the same model, or group with other compatible Auracast speakers.
Cons
  • Can't be paired with previous generation speakers.
  • Compression at high volumes.
  • Can't get very loud.
  • 5.9 Music
  • 5.3 Videos/Movies
  • 7.4 Podcasts
  • 2.8 Voice Assistant
  • 7.1 Outdoors
  1. Updated Sep 24, 2024: Review published.
  2. Updated Sep 17, 2024: Early access published.
  3. Updated Aug 20, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Aug 12, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Aug 07, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The JBL Go 4 comes in nine different color variants. We expect each colorway to perform the same as our 'Purple' unit (see label). The other colors are 'White,' 'Black,' 'Pink,' 'Squad,' 'Black and Orange,' 'Red,' 'Blue,' and 'Sand.' If you come across another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Speakers

The JBL Go 3 is the previous generation model, and it's a bit more basic, lacking a companion app and accompanying features like EQ. The sound hasn't changed too much between the last generation and the JBL Go 4, but you can use the added Auracast feature to pair the Go 4 with other Auracast-compatible speakers. That said, the Go 4 isn't backward compatible, so you can't pair it with a past model. You get an extra couple of hours of battery life from the Go 4, which is a worthwhile top-up.

The slightly bigger JBL Clip 5 is also very portable and comes with an arguably more useful built-in clip to secure it to your bag. The main differences are that the Clip 5 is capable of reproducing a bit more bass and is engineered with better directivity than the Go 4. However, the Go 4 is lighter and will more easily fit into a pocket, which is nice for taking your music with you, and it can float if it falls into a lake or pool. Still, if you can forego EQ, the Sony SRS-XB100 boasts a much longer battery life than the Go 4, letting you leave the charger at home.

Check out the best portable Bluetooth speakers and the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers for your outdoor adventures. Consider the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 to get the most for your cash.

JBL Go 3

The JBL Go 4 is better than the JBL Go 3, though they're quite similar. The Go 4 has a longer battery life and adds companion app support alongside Auracast to connect to multiple compatible speakers at a time. At high volumes, the Go 3 compresses a little less, but the difference is not worth picking the Go 3 instead.

JBL Clip 4

Both the JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 4 can be a better choice for you, but it depends on your needs. The Go 4 is a bit smaller and lighter, and it floats if you drop it. Out of the two, it's the only one with a companion app that lets you EQ it, and it includes a bit more battery life. However, the Clip 4's integrated carabiner clip might be more helpful than the small fabric loop on the Go 4. The Clip 4 also has better directivity, providing a more consistent sound at various listening angles, alongside better bass extension. It has lower latency, which makes a difference when watching videos. Although, it compresses your audio more than the Go 4.

JBL Clip 5

Both the JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 5 are very portable IP67-rated speakers with app support and Auracast. Which is better depends on how you want to use them because The Go 4 is a bit smaller and easier to pocket, but the carabiner on the Clip 5 offers a secure attachment to bags. The Go 4 can also float and its battery life is a bit longer. That said, the Clip 5 has a more consistent sound across angles and a bit better bass extension. It compresses audio more at high volumes than the Go 4, though.

Sony SRS-XB100

The Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Go 4 are both very portable speakers with IP67 ratings, but otherwise, they have different strengths. The Sony has nearly three times the battery life of the JBL and a better low-end extension. It also has better directivity and a voice assistant, even if the support is rather basic. That said, the JBL's shape fits easier into pockets and has a more useful app that includes an EQ. However, the battery life can't compete with the Sony.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
RGB Lights No

The speaker is a pint-sized rectangular speaker with rounded edges and a big 'JBL' badge on the front. Our 'Purple' unit utilizes tonal shades of purple with red accents to make the logo pop. It's mostly covered in a tightly wrapped fabric with silicone sides and a fabric loop. With nine color choices, there's a shade for every style, from highly visible, monochromatic 'Red' to camo-clad 'Squad.'

9.5
Design
Portability
Volume
19 in³ (311 cm³)
Weight
0.4 lbs (0.2 kg)
Power Source
Battery & USB
One-Hand Carry
Yes

The JBL Go 4 is exceptionally portable. You can hold it single-handedly or even fit it into a jacket pocket. Its small loop strap can be connected to a bag if you have a carabiner to clip it.

8.5
Design
Build Quality
Material Quality
Great
Water Resistance
Submersible (IPx7)
Dust Resistance
Dust-Proof (IP6x)
Impact Resistance
Unspecified
Floats In Water
Yes

The JBL Go 4 has excellent build quality. The IP67 rating ensures dust resistance and waterproofing in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The speaker also floats, which is convenient. Its exterior is wrapped in a tight, durable fabric, with silicone caps and even small feet on the bottom. The small strap is made of burly fabric that feels sturdy and unlikely to tear. That said, the USB-C port is exposed, and there's a bit of flex where the 'L' part of the JBL logo is located.

6.9
Design
Controls
Ease Of Use
Great
Feedback
Good
Music Play/Pause
Yes (Physical)
Call Answer/End
No
Volume Up/Down
Yes (Physical)
Track Next/Previous
Yes (Physical)
Microphone On/Off
No
Additional Controls
Yes

The speaker's controls are simple and cover most of the basics of playback and connectivity. The top row buttons are clicky and chime when you reach max volume, powering on and off during Bluetooth pairing. There's no chime when you reach minimum volume. A light flashes while pairing and turns solid white once the speaker has connected over Bluetooth. Unlike the JBL Go 3, this model includes Auracast, which has a dedicated button to add additional compatible JBL speakers. In order to use Auracast, you need to already be paired over Bluetooth before pressing the Auracast button.

Power button:

  • Single press: Powers on/off.

Arrow button:

  • Single press: Play/pause audio.
  • Double-press: Skip forward.
  • Triple-press: Skip to previous track.

Bluetooth button:

  • Single press: Initiates Bluetooth pairing mode.

Auracast button:

  • Single press: Enter Auracast pairing mode without compatible speakers.

+/- buttons:

  • Single press + button: Volume up
  • Single press - button: Volume down

Design
In The Box

  • JBL Go 4
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
  • Quick Start Guide

Sound
5.8
Sound
Frequency Response Accuracy
Slope
-0.44
Std. Err.
2.59 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
111.5 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
14.7 kHz

The JBL Go 4 prioritizes portability at the expense of accuracy, which is understandable given its pint size. That said, the high-bass through the low-treble retains a reasonably even frequency response that conveys clear speech and lead instruments well. If you need a small podcast speaker, this one reproduces the essentials of human speech well. Unsurprisingly, the palm-sized speaker lacks a full-bodied low-end response, so EDM tracks won't reproduce the sub-bass synths with much volume. Still, the fundamentals of kick drums come through, even if they lack weight. Normally, the roll-off in the treble range would lead to a lack of harmonic detail in vocals and cymbals, but in this case, the lack of competing bass frequencies means cymbals and vocals still sound somewhat detailed.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
Binaural Recording @ 1m
Binaural Recording @ 2m
5.8
Sound
Soundstage
Directivity Index
4.25 dB
Stereo
No (mono)

The speaker's soundstage is middling. It's a mono speaker that downmixes stereo content, though its size wouldn't lend itself well to discerning L/R channel stereo separation anyhow. Because it's a forward-facing speaker design, your audio sounds a bit different depending on the angle you place it at in relation to you. For a more consistent sound across listening angles without investing in a large speaker, the JBL Clip 5 is worth consideration.

6.0
Sound
Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
82.6 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
2.65 dB

At max volume, the speaker's dynamic range compression is mediocre. It won't get loud enough to fill an open space, and at high volumes, the bass compresses considerably, which is expected for its size. However, for a shower singalong or listening to audiobooks in your kitchen, its output is more than adequate. It compresses more in the bass than the last generation model, the JBL Go 3 at max, so you'll hear compression artifacts and pumping in the low-mids and bass.

Active Features
6.6
Active Features
Battery
Battery Life
6.9 hrs
Charge Time
2.3 hrs
Power Saving
Yes
Charging Port
USB-C
Battery Powered
Yes

The speaker's battery life is reasonable for its small size. In our testing, the battery lasted 6.9 hours, which is nearly the same as the advertised seven hours, and it's longer than the last generation's battery life. It also has a battery-saving mode, and it'll silently power off after 20 minutes of inactivity. You can also access 'Playtime Boost' through the app, which disables EQ but is advertised to extend the battery life.

0
Active Features
Voice Assistant
Alexa
No
Google Assistant
No
Speakerphone
No
Siri
No
Voice Assistant
No
Voice Activation
No
Microphone Mute
No Microphone
Far-Field Performance
No Microphone
Ambient Noise Performance
No Microphone
6.3
Active Features
App
App Name
JBL Portable
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
EQ
Graphic + Presets
Stereo Pair Mode
Yes
Party Mode
No
Multi-Room
No

New to the Go line-up is app support for the JBL Go 4. The JBL Portable app gives you access to EQ, a game-changer for listening to various media, from podcasts to dance music. The app lets you pair a second JBL Go 4 speaker for a stereo pair, though it's incompatible with previous generation models or JBL's PartyBoost. You can also use Auracast, which has a dedicated button on the speaker, to pair other JBL speakers that also have Auracast together, though.

There's also PlayTime Boost, which alters the sound profile, disables EQ, and extends the battery life. Otherwise, the app has basics for monitoring the battery life, renaming the speaker, and disabling audible feedback when entering commands. Plus, if you encounter issues, you can do a factory reset. Check out a video tour of the app.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Wired
Aux Input
No
USB Audio
No
Other Ports
No

The speaker can only connect via Bluetooth. Its USB-A to USB-C cable is for charging the battery.

8.4
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Yes
Bluetooth Version
5.3
Bluetooth iOS Latency
124 ms
Bluetooth Android Latency
124 ms
Bluetooth Range
334.6 ft (102.0 m)
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices

The Bluetooth connectivity is great. You can connect two devices to the speaker simultaneously, and its range is long enough that you can meander without audio cutting out. However, its latency is high enough that you can experience a mismatch between video and audio, and while it's not extremely high, there's no low latency mode. That said, some devices compensate for latency differently, and your results may vary; plus, it's not a problem if you're only listening to audio.

0
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Version
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Frequency Band
No Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
No
Apple AirPlay
No
AirPlay Latency
N/A
Google Chromecast
No
Chromecast Latency
N/A