Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen vs JBL Charge 4
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| Bang & OlufsenBeosound A1 2nd Gen | JBLCharge 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 2020 | 2018 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Portable speaker | Portable speaker |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Drivers | 3.5-inch aluminium-cone woofer and 3/4-inch silk dome tweeter; 360° sound in a closed box | One 50 × 90 mm driver and two passive radiators |
| Amplifiers | 2 × 30 W class D | 30 W RMS |
| Frequency response | 55 Hz – 20 kHz (−10 dB); up to 92 dB SPL at 1 m; bass capability 62 dB SPL at 1 m | 60 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB |
| Room tuning | Five EQ presets and a custom EQ in the Bang & Olufsen app | – |
| Connections | ||
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | No | No |
| Voice assistants | Alexa | None |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1; AAC and aptX Adaptive; multipoint for two devices; remembers eight; Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair | Bluetooth 4.2; A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6; two phones or tablets can connect and take turns |
| Ports | USB-C for charging, streaming and speakerphone (5 V, 3 A) | USB-C charging, USB-A power-bank output (5 V / 2 A maximum) and 3.5 mm audio input; port types confirmed by SoundGuys and TechRadar |
| Multi-room | Stereo pairing with a second Beosound A1 2nd Gen | Connect+ links more than 100 compatible speakers; original Connect speakers require a compatible firmware upgrade, which the maker offers for Charge 3 |
| App | Bang & Olufsen app | – |
| Design | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 18 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Water and dust resistance | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 0.558 kg (better) | 0.965 kg |
| Battery life detail | Up to 18 hours at typical volume (70 dB), 48 hours at 55 dB; 3,000 mAh; 2.75 hours to charge at 5 V / 3 A | Up to 20 hours depending on volume and content; 27 Wh (3.6 V, 7,500 mAh) lithium-ion polymer battery; 4 hours to charge at 5 V / 2.3 A |
| Microphones | Three-microphone array with far-field pickup for Alexa and calls | No microphone for phone calls (SoundGuys) |
| Mounting | Leather strap for hanging | – |
| Size | 133 × 46 × 133 mm (W × H × D) | 220 × 93 × 95 mm (W × H × D), following the maker's W × D × H specification |
| Colours | Black Anthracite and Grey Mist at launch | Desert Sand, Mustard Yellow, Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White and Forest Green at launch |
| In the box | Beosound A1 2nd Gen, USB-C to USB-A cable (1.25 m), quick start guide | Charge 4, USB-C cable, quick start guide, warranty card and safety sheet; no mains adaptor listed |
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