The Soundcore Select 4 Go Excels In Its Performance To Price Ratio
Small, stylish and with more value than I expected, the JBL GO 4 and Soundcore Select 4 Go don’t just share similar names. There’s a lot of similarities between them, both in design and features. With both speakers having been released in 2024 and being available for under $50 – I wanted to put them side by side in comprehensive testing to see how they compare and help you decide which is the best pick.
Key Takeaways:
- The JBL Go 4 is a bit more durable, with better build quality.
- Both speakers support multi-speaker pairing.
- The Select 4 Go provides more battery life than the JBL Go 4.
- The Select 4 Go is a better sounding speaker, with more volume.
Our Winner
Soundcore Select 4 Go vs JBL Go 4 Specs
| Model | Select 4 Go | Go 4 |
| Release Date: | Sept 2024 | May 2024 |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Output Power | 5W | 4.2W |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours | Up to 9 hours |
| Frequency Response | N/A | 90 Hz – 20 kHz |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 9.3 oz | 6.72 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.23 x 4.72 x 1.89″ | 3.7 x 3.0 x 1.7″ |
| App Support | Yes | Yes |
| Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
Summary: Although both speakers are small, the JBL Go 4 is a bit smaller and can fit into almost any pocket. It’s also got a more durable build and feels higher quality. Both speakers offer extensive water protection for use in the rain or around water.
Durability
Winner: JBL Go 4
Although both speakers are durable, and suitable for outdoor use in any weather – the JBL Go 4’s materials feel more luxurious and stronger. The rubber that runs along the top and side of the Go 4 is soft and silky, and is a bit better at reducing dirt collection than the Soundcore Select 4 Go.
Core to their design, is the fabric wrap covering that protects them from scratches and other superficial damage. Although both are effective, JBL’s mesh is more durable and offers a bit more protection.
Waterproofing
Winner: Tied
As expected with modern releases, both speakers feature comprehensive water resistance that allows them to be used in the rain, around the pool or in a kayak/boat without having to worry about water damage. They both carry an IP67 rating, which means they’re also protected from dust and limited submergence in water.
Users will need to ensure the Select 4 Go’s charging port cover is well-sealed when using it in or around water.
Portability
Winner: JBL Go 4
Although both speakers are small, they push the boundaries on what can be considered a pocket-sized speaker. The JBL Go 4 is about 20% smaller than the Select 4 Go, and realistically can fit in most pockets. The Select 4 Go on the other hand, can easily fit in the palm of one’s hand, but is slightly too large for some smaller, female pants pockets.
They’re both very lightweight and are in no ways a burden to carry. Additionally, they both have carry loops of around the same size that can be used effectively with the addition of a carabiner, to hang them from belt loops, backpacks etc.
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
Summary: There’s little to separate these speakers when it comes to controls and connectivity. Both have a minimalist design and easy to use controls. The JBL Go 4’s main advantage is that it has broader multi-speaker pairing support.
Inputs & Outputs
Winner: Tied
Neither speaker has any physical connection ports apart from the USB-C charging port. This is now common with Bluetooth speaker releases, as 3.5mm aux inputs are being phased out, especially on smaller Bluetooth speakers.
Controls
Winner: Tied
These speakers have the same general controls, featuring:
- Play/pause
- Volume up/down
- Bluetooth pairing
- Power
They also both support track skipping both forward and backward by double and triple tapping on the play/pause button.
Unlike the Soundcore Select 4 Go, the JBL Go 4 also has a multi-speaker pairing button.
The layout is a bit different on each speaker, with the JBL Go 4 splitting controls across the top and side of the speaker. On the Select 4 Go, however, all buttons are positioned at the top of the speaker.
Wireless Connectivity
Winner: Tied
Although the Soundcore Select 4 Go has slightly newer Bluetooth technology (5.3 vs 5.4), the performance is similar on both speakers. The Select 4 Go has slightly better latency, but their range and ability to hold a connection are on par with one another.
They also both support multidevice connections, meaning two mobile devices can be paired to the speaker at the same time.
Multi-Speaker Pairing
Winner: JBL Go 4
Both speakers have multi-speaker pairing, but the Soundcore Select 4 Go only supports a TWS connection, allowing one to pair an additional Select 4 Go for stereo sound. The JBL Go 4 on the other hand, is slightly better and offers TWS or general multi-speaker pairing. While the Soundcore can only be connected to other Select 4 Go’s, the JBL Go 4 uses Auracast which supports pairing with a broader range of JBL speakers, including the similarly sized JBL Clip 5.
App Support
Winner: Tied
If you’re looking for additional control over your speaker, a companion app is a valuable tool. Both the JBL Go 4 and the Soundcore Select 4 Go have a companion app which supports custom and preset EQ options which adjust how the speakers sound. The only noticeable difference in features offered in the app is that the Go 4 from JBL also facilitates multi-speaker pairing.
Audio Performance
Summary: Comparable in sound quality, the JBL Go 4 may be more appealing to those who want more bass. However, the Soundcore Select 4 Go has more clarity and detail, along with reaching higher volume levels than the Go 4.
Frequency Response
Winner: Tied
Frequency response refers to the type of sound a speaker produces, some are designed for deeper bass while others may focus on a brighter sound with more presence in the highs.
These speakers both have decent frequency response for their size, but also offer very difference styles of sound. JBL’s Go 4 has more bass, but doesn’t have a lot of treble, which can cause some higher frequency details to not come through as clearly.
In contrast, the Soundcore Select 4 Go doesn’t have much bass, but has a brighter sound that preserves a lot of detail in the high frequencies. This allows it to retain more clarity in the outdoors, as high frequencies are also more likely to be impacted by the wind.
For a brighter sound, the Select 4 Go is a good choice, but if you’re someone who loves bass – the JBL Go 4 may be the better choice. However, keep in mind that with the custom EQ you can increase the bass or treble on either speaker.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: Soundcore Select 4 Go
When it comes to soundstage performance, although both speakers are mono and have limitations to their soundstage, the Soundcore Select 4 Go outperforms the JBL Go 4. Since both speakers allow for TWS pairing, you can also pair two speakers together to increase the soundstage performance.
Dynamics refer to the amount of detail a speaker can produce, and the Select 4 Go also outperforms the JBL Go 4 in its dynamic range. It’s able to produce finer variations of sound and ultimately makes the speaker sound more lifelike. With that said, dynamic performance on smaller speakers like these typically fall short of that offered by larger speakers.
Volume
Winner: Soundcore Select 4 Go
Both speakers offer reasonable volume for their size, but with the Select 4 Go being a slightly larger speaker with a bit more power, it’s understandable that it offers more volume. The JBL Go 4 measured 83.3 dB in our tests, while the Select 4 Go managed to produce 86.8 dB.
Neither speaker can fill a room with sound, but both are suitable for solo and small group listening sessions. Combined with its advantage in soundstage, the Select 4 Go is a better choice for using with other people present.
Battery & Charging
Winner: Soundcore Select 4 Go
The battery life is better on the Select 4 Go, which is rated by the Soundcore to be 20 hours. However, in our tests we found that 11 hours was closer to what we were getting. Still, this is better than the Go 4, which is rated to last up to 7 hours (or 9 hours when using the PlaytimeBoost feature).
When it comes to charging times, the JBL Go 4 charges much faster than the Select 4 Go, taking around 2.5 hours to recharge compared to 4 hours, respectively.
Price & Value
Price and value is really where the Soundcore Select 4 Go stands out from the JBL Go 4. The JBL Go 4 retails for $49.99 while the Soundcore Select 4 Go costs just $29.99. Given the large price difference, the Select 4 Go offers outstanding value for money and in my opinion, is the best speaker under $30 on the market at the moment.
That’s not to say the JBL Go 4 doesn’t have value for its cost though, it’s still an excellent speaker and for the additional $20, you will get better durability.
Conclusion
It’s challenging to pick a winner in this comparison as both speakers have something unique to offer. The JBL Go 4 is better built and a little more portable. Additionally, it has broader multi-speaker pairing.
On the other hand, the Soundcore Select 4 Go has more detail to it and the emphasized highs allow it to retain good clarity in open air conditions.
If bass is very important to you, you may want to go with the JBL Go 4, but overall at just $29.99 – the Soundcore Select 4 Go has more to offer for its price point.
