I bought the JBL Go 4 for my kitchen because I got tired of propping my phone against the paper towels every time I cooked. It's been about a month now and here's where I'm at.
Size and build. This thing is tiny — like slightly bigger than a deck of cards. It clips onto my backpack when I bike to work and I barely notice it. The fabric covering feels durable and it's IP67 rated so I don't worry about flour or water splashing on it while I cook.
Sound quality. For something this small, it gets surprisingly loud. I'd say it fills my kitchen (maybe 12x14 ft) comfortably at about 60% volume. Bass is there but don't expect it to thump — it's more of a warm fullness than actual bass you can feel. Podcasts and acoustic stuff sound great on it. EDM or heavy bass tracks, not so much.
Battery. JBL claims 7 hours. I'm getting closer to 5.5-6 with the volume around 50-60%. Not terrible but I wish it lasted a full weekend without charging. USB-C charging is quick though — about 2.5 hours from dead.
- The Bluetooth range is mediocre. Works fine in the same room but walk two rooms away and it starts cutting out. My old Sony speaker handled that better.
- The button layout is confusing at first. The play/pause and Bluetooth buttons feel identical in the dark. Took me a week to stop accidentally unpairing it when I just wanted to skip a song.
For $50 it's a solid little speaker. I use it daily in the kitchen and occasionally take it to the park. Just don't expect it to replace a real Bluetooth speaker for parties or outdoor gatherings.