3 Bluetooth speakers to buy instead of the JBL Xtreme 5

The JBL Xtreme 5 is a really great portable Bluetooth speaker. It’s loud, delivers enough bass to annoy the neighbors, and is tough enough to withstand any sunny beach day or backyard BBQ.

The problem is the $399 price tag. Whether you’re looking for a better speaker, a better price, or something that isn’t a JBL product, these are three Bluetooth speakers to consider before buying the Xtreme 5.

If you’re thinking of spending almost $400 on a Bluetooth speaker, I’d save the money and grab the Sony ULT Field 5 instead. It costs less than the JBL Xtreme 5, offers a rugged design, and includes a shoulder strap to make transporting the 3.3kg weight a little easier.

The ULT Field 5 offers you two dedicated ULT sound modes, allowing you to choose between different levels of bass response depending on what you’re listening to. If no preset is ready, Sony also includes a 10-band EQ with the Sound Connect app. Add customizable LED lighting around passive radiators, LDAC support, a 3.5mm AUX input, and a dual-purpose USB-C port that can charge the speaker and charge your phone, and you end up with one of the most feature-packed speakers in its class.

The JBL Xtreme 5 is still a great speaker, but Sony gives you more features for less money. If you are shopping in this price range, the ULT Field 5 is the first option I would consider.

If you’re looking for the best value in portable Bluetooth speakers, stop reading and buy the Soundcore Boom 2. At its full retail price of $129.99, it’s already on sale. When it’s on sale for around $90, which happens quite often, it’s almost impossible to ignore.

In fact, you can buy two Boom 2 speakers, pair them in stereo, and spend less than a single JBL Xtreme 5. Like JBL, the Boom 2 uses a 2.1-channel speaker design with dedicated left and right channel drivers, and a separate low-end woofer. It also offers custom LED lights, a surprisingly good companion app, and plenty of bass for backyard gatherings and general outdoor use. Better yet, it’s much lighter than the Xtreme 5, making it easy to throw on a backpack and go.

The JBL Xtreme 5 is undoubtedly a better quality speaker, but not three or four times better. The biggest compromise is durability. While the Boom 2 carries an IPX7 water resistance rating, it lacks official dust protection, making it a less-than-ideal option for beach trips and other sandy areas. Still, if your goal is getting the most speaker for your money, the Soundcore Boom 2 is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve made in years.

The Tribit StormBox Lava doesn’t hide its influences well. Its design takes obvious cues from JBL’s Xtreme series, from the cylindrical shape to the shoulder strap design. The difference is that Tribit sells it for a fraction of the price.

Like the JBL Xtreme 5, the StormBox Lava is designed for outdoor listening. It offers an IP67 rating, a 3.5mm AUX input, a USB output, and enough output to keep an indoor meeting or beach day going. The Tribit includes two carry options: a standard shoulder strap and a short carry handle. It’s a small detail, but one that many JBL Xtreme fans have been asking for years. The only real compromise is that the charging port thankfully uses USB-A rather than USB-C, so charging your phone won’t be as fast.

The JBL Xtreme 5 still sounds and sounds like a premium product, but the StormBox Lava comes surprisingly close in terms of bass. If you want the Xtreme experience without spending nearly $400, the StormBox Lava delivers much of what makes JBL speakers great at a fraction of the price.