JBL Pulse 4 vs Pulse 5

Which Speaker Is Better?

Products

JBL Pulse 4
JBL Pulse 5

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Sep 04, 2024 07:11 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jan 25, 2024 05:06 PM

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Amazon.com

Our Verdict

JBL Pulse 4

JBL Pulse 5

The JBL Pulse 5 is the next generation of the JBL Pulse 4 and is the better speaker overall. While both speakers have similar designs with built-in RGB lights, the Pulse 5 has some extra features, such as ambient noise settings and a graphic EQ in the app. It's also able to reproduce a bit more low-bass than the 4. However, the 5 doesn't have play/pause or volume controls on the device like the 4, so you have to control those settings through the app, which isn't always ideal.

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Variants

  • Pulse 4 (Black)
  • Pulse 4 (White)
  • Pulse 5 (Black)

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Black
Pulse 4
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Pulse 5
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Amazon.com
White
Pulse 4
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Amazon.com
Black
Pulse 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Pulse 5
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Walmart.com
 
Black
Pulse 5
B&H
 
Black
Pulse 5
JBL

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo  

JBL Pulse 4 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Style Photo Sample

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RGB Lights  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo  

JBL Pulse 4 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Locked
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo  

JBL Pulse 4 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Material Quality 
 

Locked
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Photo  

JBL Pulse 4 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Controls Photo 2  

JBL Pulse 4 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Feedback 
 

Locked
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Locked
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Locked
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Locked
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Locked
Locked
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In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

JBL Pulse 4 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Pulse 4 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Frequency Response Graph Sample

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Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

JBL Pulse 4 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Directivity Graph  

JBL Pulse 4 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Directivity Index 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

JBL Pulse 4 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power Saving 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

N/A
N/A

Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

Locked
Locked

Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

App 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

JBL Pulse 4 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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JBL Pulse 5 App Picture Sample

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App Name 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Other Ports 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

N/A
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Google Chromecast 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Black
Pulse 4
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Pulse 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Pulse 4
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Pulse 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Pulse 5
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Pulse 5
B&H
 
Black
Pulse 5
JBL

JBL Pulse 4

JBL Pulse 5

Comments

  1. Comparison

JBL Pulse 4 vs JBL Pulse 5: Main Discussion

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