JBL GO5 vs GO4: Upgrade, or Add a Second GO4 for Stereo?

This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

I use JBL’s GO speakers as my bathroom speaker, so I bought the new JBL GO5 on launch day and compared it with the GO4. It is a sensible upgrade, with an LED light, longer battery life and more power. But when it comes to sound, I reached a slightly unexpected conclusion: if you want music that really moves you, adding a second, now-cheaper GO4 for stereo is the better buy.

What I tested

JBL GO5, bought on launch day. It was around ¥7,000 at the time of recording
JBL GO4, the previous model I already use
Compared size and weight, the JBL Portable app, and sound quality side by side

What I found

On paper, the GO5 steps up from 4.2 W to 4.8 W of output and from up to 7 hours to up to 8 hours of battery life. It adds an ambient edge light (LED) and supports Auracast for playing the same audio on several speakers. The lid-free USB-C charging port is still there.
The GO5 is a size larger than the GO4, and the weight goes up from 196 g to 230 g. That makes no difference in the bathroom or kitchen, but it is worth knowing if you carry it around.

JBL GO5 next to the GO4 on a scale — The GO5 is a size larger: 230 g, compared with 196 g

In the JBL Portable app you can set up the light and adjust the EQ. With Auracast you can link several speakers to play the same audio, which is handy for background music in a large room.
The GO5 sounds more detailed and has more headroom, so it distorts less at high volume. Still, it is not a different league. It felt like a steady refinement rather than a dramatic change.
Putting two speakers left and right for stereo makes a much bigger difference to the sense of space and where the vocals sit than a small improvement in one speaker. One GO5 costs about ¥7,000; adding a second GO4 for stereo came to about ¥9,000 in total, and that left me more satisfied.

The JBL Portable app with the JBL GO5 — The JBL Portable app sets up the light as well as the EQ

Who it’s for

If you are buying your first GO speaker, the GO5 with its new features is a good choice. If you already own a GO4, I would not replace it with a GO5. Buy another GO4 instead and run the pair in stereo; you will enjoy your music more.

【最新機種発売！】JBL GO5 vs GO4 徹底比較！買い替えるべきか、それともGO4をステレオ増設すべきか？

The video is in Japanese.

Limitations

These are first impressions from launch day, and the sound comparison is my own listening, not a measurement. The power and battery figures are the manufacturer’s specs; the weights are from my own scale. Prices are Amazon Japan prices at the time of recording, and the GO4 had dropped in price after the GO5 came out.

Products

JBL GO5: on Amazon Japan

JBL GO4: on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English