Bose SoundLink Max outperforms the JBL Xtreme 4 in bass by huge margin

Bose SoundLink series portable speakers are very well-known for their overprice. Also, they are known for V-shaped sound signature, the Bose signature sound. Both the Bose SoundLink Max and JBL Xtreme 4 came out around mid-2024. So, can't really say who targeted who, I think they are both unique and they're not taking shots at each-other. However, they are both extremely overpriced compared to other brands like Soundcore and Tribit. In this article, you will know - is there a clear winner, which one is good for what and who ..?

Crazy Difference in Looks

Bose SoundLink Max has a very minimal look, which I personally don't like but I will agree that it's a very clean look. By the way I like a clean minimal look, but just not a fan of Bose SoundLink speakers' look. The SoundLink Max look like a premium well-made speaker with a metal front grille and a silicone-wrapped body that looks and feels very durable. However, I really like the carrying handle design, which is removable. The cute and cool carrying handle kinda low-key makes me like the Bose SoundLink Max speaker.

On the contrary, the JBL Xtreme 4 has an iconic JBL signature design, which is totally a different approach in designing the speaker. It has mostly a fabric body by the touch. I like the JBL Xtreme 4 design way better as it looks cool and bold, which is more appealing to me. Overall, it's a very exciting premium design. With the new beefy bold passive radiator design, the look of the Xtreme 4 has become more attractive. The build of Xtreme 4 is really high-quality and has a durable and reliable in-hand feel. Xtreme 4 has carrying strap included that has a bottle-opener too. Both looks very different but good - neutral-me likes the JBL-design more.

Checking Their Configuration

Both have very different woofer-tweeter setup but passive radiators' setup is similar in them. On the Bose SoundLink Max speaker, there are 2 front woofers and a tweeter between them. The JBL Xtreme 4 has a proper stereo setup with 2 woofers and 2 tweeters in the front side. Both have 2 passive radiators on the left-right sides. There are some crazy psychoacoustics going on with the Bose SoundLink Max speaker. So there is stereo processing happening to widen the soundstage. This stereo widening sound pretty cool and impressive sometimes, but compared to the cool-times it sounds very dull at other times. So you get an inconsistent unfaithful reproduction of sound on the SoundLink Max.

It is a very consistent stereo sound on the JBL Xtreme 4 (X4) because it has a proper stereo configuration vs SoundLink Max's (SL Max) pseudo stereo sound. So, as the SoundLink Max is not proper stereo, it uses the stereo processing algorithm to give you a perceived wide stereo sound. However, this technology on the Bose SoundLink Max works fine at lower volume but falls apart at higher volume for limitations. SoundLink Max has a 3.5-mm aux-in for wired audio and power-bank feature through the type-c port, but the JBL Xtreme 4 only has the power-bank function via the type-c connection.

Sound Quality Comparison

I am kinda impressed by the Bose SoundLink Max's low volume performance. I am gonna address the frequency response first, then more sound-quality discussion. The SoundLink Max has a very weird looking frequency response as it has stereo processing happening. There is left-right mismatch and phase shifting going on, so the frequency response is a bit wavy. JBL Xtreme 4 has a consistent frequency response with a gradual rise towards the high-end - it has a dip in the upper-bass that helps to sound deep. Check out Alan Ross's video for more information.

Both have very powerful mid-bass 70-Hz punch at lower volume. They bass sounds kinda deep but not like you can feel it. The SoundLink Max outperforms the JBL Xtreme 4 in terms of mid and upper bass by a bit - noticeably more powerful sound on the SoundLink Max. But the Xtreme 4 has more details in the mids where SoundLink Max lacks in the mids by a bit. At there lower volumes the Bose SoundLink Max sounds smoother and sweeter on the mids and highs. The JBL Xtreme 4 has a push in the higher high-end but that isn't a big issue at lower volumes. I think more people will prefer the cute punchy mid-bass heavy sound of the Bose SoundLink Max speaker.

There are issues on both speakers, they become more prominent issues at higher volumes. Around 50 to 75% volume, the SoundLink Max has issues in the mids as it has a very recessed mids compared to Xtreme 4 speaker. The JBL Xtreme 4 has significantly less bass than the SoundLink Max but way more mids. So the SoundLink Max lacks in midrange and Xtreme 4 lacks in the bass performance. The JBL Xtreme 4 can sound quite sharp for some bright tracks and SoundLink Max sounds a bit less musical because of the lost details in the mids. Most people will like the sound of Bose SoundLink Max at these moderate listening volumes as it sounds significantly more powerful than the JBL Xtreme 4.

By the way, the volume steps are all over the place between them, like at mid-level one plays louder and then at higher volume the other one plays louder. For maximum 100% volume, The Bose SoundLink Max has an insane advantage in the bass performance compared to the JBL Xtreme 4 speaker. However, SoundLink Max has a significant disadvantage in the mids as it has a pretty insanely wide dip in the mids. So the SoundLink Max sound like it has way more bass but absolutely quiet mids vs the JBL Xtreme 4 sounds very bass light and weak sounding with pushed mids and treble frequencies.

The Xtreme 4 is more unpleasant to listen to. SoundLink Max has noticeable processing and compression issues as the drivers get pushed to the limits. The SoundLink Max is around 5-LUFS louder in the bass region, but JBL Xtreme 4 is overall around 3-LUFS louder at maximum volume. The numbers will change a bit depending on the tracks. JBL Xtreme is going a bit louder by pushing the mids and highs. The Xtreme 4 might sound significantly more loud but very unpleasant. So, at max you will not like any of them. But SoundLink Max will hurt your ears way less.

Both are Very Overpriced

The Bose SoundLink Max is at $400 vs JBL Xtreme 4 at $380 - on sale you can get them for around $100 less than their massive retail-price. I think the SoundLink Max has a very compact, small and minimal design, yet very powerful sound. I can see the SoundLink Max having a place among people with deep pockets. The JBL Xtreme 4 is not so extreme in power. Check out my detailed Xtreme 4 vs Xtreme 3 article - the Xtreme 4 has some upgrades over the JBL Xtreme 3 speaker.

Check out those articles from above, you can click on those linked images to read the articles. A while ago I published a review of the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G smartphone, check that out if you are into budget phones. In case you are interested in portable speakers, I compared 3 Boombox type speakers from 3 different brands such as Soundcore, Tribit and JBL. So don't forget to also check out that detailed comparison article about the JBL Boombox 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus.

Finally, Stay Away from Them

Another speaker from the brand Soundcore, the Soundcore Boom 2 is a way better deal at a much cheaper price. It has a cool design and decent build with a powerful sound that beats the JBL Xtreme 4 with confidence. The SoundLink Max still has a more powerful bass compared to Boom 2 but overall the Boom 2 provides way higher value for the money. Check out my Boom 2 vs Xtreme 4 comparison if you are interested. Do you like Boombox speakers ..?

If you have the money and not limited to very compact speakers, check the JBL Boombox 3 speaker. The SoundLink Max and JBL Xtreme 4 are like little toys around the Boombox 3 in terms of sound. JBL Boombox 3 has way more extended bass and a way more powerful louder sound at higher volumes. The Boombox 3 can be bought at around $400 on sales. At last, if you want check out the official pages of Bose SoundLink Max and JBL Xtreme 4 speaker.

Also, please check out the JBL Charge 6 vs Charge 5 story for highlights.
IF you're interested in portable small speakers, check my Soundcore Motion 300 vs Bose Soundlink Flex article. Both speakers did well in a head-to-head comparison.