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REVIEWS
Scored using Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0
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Products in this category are scored under Frontum Portable Speakers Methodology v1.0: technical specifications plus authentic consumer ratings, with 0% commercial bias.
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JBL Onstage IV Review | 130 Data compared

Avg. price:~£55Audio output power:20.00 WBattery life:16 hoursIP rating:?Bluetooth version:?Weight:?

JBL Onstage IV Review: Compare 130 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Portable Speakers category and whether it is worth buying.

JBL Onstage IV
6.1/10

Overall score

Score
6.1/ 10
✕
What it is
An overall evaluation of products in the Portable Speakers category, based on technical analysis and user reviews.
When it matters
When you need a quick reference for identifying the best products in the Portable Speakers category.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 84% of models
Score components

80%

5.9

Technical score

20%

7.3

User score

â–¼Worse than 84% of portable speakers
7.3

Value for money

Value for money
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components

70%

6.1

Overall score

30%

10

Price

â–¼Worse than 79%
5.9

Technical score

Technical score
5.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
Score components

32%

5.9

Audio

20%

7.2

Battery

18%

5.0

Durability

16%

5.5

Connectivity

8%

5.1

Controls

3%

7.3

Design

3%

3.9

Smart features

â–¼Worse than 87%
7.3

User score

User score
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

User ratings

30%

5.6

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
â–¼Worse than 86%
  • jbl-onstage-iv
  • jbl-onstage-iv
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jbl-onstage-iv
Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Technical Specifications of portable speaker JBL Onstage IV

Technical score
Technical score
5.9/ 10
✕
What it is
An assessment of technical performance for products in the Portable Speakers category across these key areas: Audio, Connectivity, Battery, Durability, Controls, Design, Smart features.
When it matters
When you want to compare products in the Portable Speakers category by technical performance, specifications, and available features.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 87% of models
Score components:

32%

5.9

Audio

20%

7.2

Battery

18%

5.0

Durability

16%

5.5

Connectivity

8%

5.1

Controls

3%

7.3

Design

3%

3.9

Smart features

5.9
User score
User score
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 86% of models
Score components

70%

8.0

User ratings

30%

5.6

Number of reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
7.3
Popularity
Popularity
5.6/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator based on the number of reviews received by products in the Portable Speakers category.
When it matters
When you prefer products in the Portable Speakers category that have been chosen and reviewed by many other buyers.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 60% of models
Popularity:
JBL Onstage IV has a popularity score of 5.6 points, which is higher than 60.3% of products in this category.
5.6
Value for money
Value for money
7.3/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the overall score of products in the Portable Speakers category with their prices.
When it matters
When you are comparing products in the Portable Speakers category and want a good balance between quality and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–¼ Worse than 79% of models
Score components:

70%

6.1

Overall score

30%

10

Price

7.3
Audio output power
20 W
Market range: <4 W – >100 W
This portable speaker has an audio output power of 20 W which is higher than that of 46.1% of portable speakers and equal to that of 11.4% of portable speakers.
Driver unit size
25 mm
Market range: <38 mm – >101 mm
This portable speaker has a driver unit size of 25 mm which is smaller than that of 98.8% of portable speakers and equal to that of 1% of portable speakers.
Number of drivers
4
Market range: <0 – >5
This portable speaker has 4 drivers, which is more than 81.7% of portable speakers and equal to the number in 11.9% of portable speakers.
Frequency response tolerance
?
Lowest frequency
110 Hz
Market range: <20 Hz – >120 Hz
This portable speaker has a lowest frequency of 110 Hz which is higher than that of 88.9% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.9% of portable speakers.
Show more
Bluetooth connectivity
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth audio. 94.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Bluetooth version
?
Maximum Bluetooth range
?
Bluetooth profiles supported
?
Bluetooth LE Audio
no
This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth LE Audio. 2.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Battery life
16 hours
Market range: <6 hours – >24 hours
This portable speaker has a battery life of 16 hours which is longer than that of 73.6% of portable speakers and equal to that of 3.1% of portable speakers.
Battery capacity
?
Charging time
?
Maximum charging input power
?
Built-in rechargeable battery
no
This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery. 81.4% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Uses replaceable disposable batteries rather than a built-in rechargeable battery.
Show more
IP rating
?
Water resistance
no
This portable speaker is not water resistant. 61.7% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Dust resistance
no
This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant. 51.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Waterproof depth rating
Not waterproof m
This portable speaker is not rated for underwater use. 47.6% of portable speakers have a native waterproof depth rating.
Drop resistance
?
Show more
On-device controls placement
front; rear
Touchscreen
no
This portable speaker does not have a touchscreen. 0.3% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Smartphone app control
no
This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control. 54% of portable speakers offer this feature.
No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
Remote control
yes
This portable speaker includes a remote control. 85.1% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Fast pairing
no
This portable speaker does not support fast pairing. 22.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more
Weight
?
Height
6.8 cm
Market range: <5.79 cm – >29 cm
This portable speaker has a height of 6.8 cm which is shorter than that of 81.6% of portable speakers and equal to that of 1% of portable speakers.
Width
21 cm
Market range: <7.6 cm – >37 cm
This portable speaker has a width of 21 cm which is wider than that of 59.1% of portable speakers and equal to that of 1.7% of portable speakers.
Depth
21 cm
Market range: <4.3 cm – >19.97 cm
This portable speaker has a depth of 21 cm which is deeper than that of 91.2% of portable speakers and equal to that of 0.2% of portable speakers.
Carry options
none
Show more
Companion app name
?
Firmware updates
no
This portable speaker does not support firmware updates. 47.2% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Firmware update method
?
Voice assistant support
no
This portable speaker does not support voice assistants. 26.5% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Spotify Connect
no
This portable speaker does not support Spotify Connect. 10.8% of portable speakers offer this feature.
Show more

JBL Onstage IV vs the average portable speaker

246810TotalAudioConnectivityBatteryDurabilityControlsDesignSmart features
  • 2 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (4 vs 2).
    4 vs 2
  • Provides 360-degree sound
    This portable speaker provides 360-degree sound, while the average portable speaker does not provide 360-degree sound.
    Provides omnidirectional 360° sound radiation.
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • 4 hours longer battery life
    This portable speaker has a longer battery life than the average portable speaker (16 hours vs 12 hours).
    16 hours vs 12 hours
  • Has a removable battery
    This portable speaker has a removable battery, while the average portable speaker does not have a removable battery.
  • Includes a power adapter
    This portable speaker includes a power adapter, while the average portable speaker does not include a power adapter.
  • Includes a remote control
    This portable speaker includes a remote control, while the average portable speaker does not include a remote control.
  • 5 °C higher maximum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher maximum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (45 °C vs 40 °C).
    45 °C vs 40 °C
  • 2 more speaker drivers
    This portable speaker has more speaker drivers than the average portable speaker (4 vs 2).
    4 vs 2
  • Provides 360-degree sound
    This portable speaker provides 360-degree sound, while the average portable speaker does not provide 360-degree sound.
    Provides omnidirectional 360° sound radiation.
  • Has built-in stereo speakers
    This portable speaker has built-in stereo speakers, while the average portable speaker does not have built-in stereo speakers.
    Provides true stereo output within the unit.
  • 4 hours longer battery life
    This portable speaker has a longer battery life than the average portable speaker (16 hours vs 12 hours).
    16 hours vs 12 hours
  • Has a removable battery
    This portable speaker has a removable battery, while the average portable speaker does not have a removable battery.
  • Includes a power adapter
    This portable speaker includes a power adapter, while the average portable speaker does not include a power adapter.
  • 5 °C higher maximum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher maximum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (45 °C vs 40 °C).
    45 °C vs 40 °C
  • Includes a remote control
    This portable speaker includes a remote control, while the average portable speaker does not include a remote control.
  • Supports playback mute
    This portable speaker supports playback mute, while the average portable speaker does not support playback mute.
    Speaker playback audio can be directly muted.
  • 5.6 cm shorter
    This portable speaker is shorter than the average portable speaker (6.8 cm vs 12.4 cm).
    6.8 cm vs 12.4 cm
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • Is not rated as dust resistant
    This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant, while the average portable speaker is dust resistant.
  • 50 Hz less deep bass extension
    This portable speaker has less deep bass extension than the average portable speaker (110 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    110 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • Does not support smartphone app control
    This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control, while the average portable speaker supports smartphone app control.
    No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
  • 25 mm smaller main driver
    This portable speaker has a smaller main driver than the average portable speaker (25 mm vs 50 mm).
    25 mm vs 50 mm
  • Does not support Bluetooth audio
    This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth audio, while the average portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio.
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Uses replaceable disposable batteries rather than a built-in rechargeable battery.
  • 10.1% lower user score
    User score
    7.3/ 10
    ✕
    What it is
    A rating that combines user reviews with the total review volume for products in the Portable Speakers category.
    When it matters
    When you want to know how products in the Portable Speakers category perform in everyday use and how reliable owners find them over time.
    Score distribution
    ▼▼
    <55-66-77-88-99-10
    JBL Onstage IV
    the average portable speaker
    JBL Onstage IV has a lower user score than the average portable speaker (7.27 vs 8).
    7.27 vs 8
  • 3.4% worse value for money
    JBL Onstage IV offers worse value for money than the average portable speaker (7.3 vs 7.5).
    7.3 vs 7.55
  • 50 Hz less deep bass extension
    This portable speaker has less deep bass extension than the average portable speaker (110 Hz vs 60 Hz).
    110 Hz vs 60 Hz
  • 1 fewer microphones
    This portable speaker has fewer microphones than the average portable speaker (0 vs 1).
    0 vs 1
  • 25 mm smaller main driver
    This portable speaker has a smaller main driver than the average portable speaker (25 mm vs 50 mm).
    25 mm vs 50 mm
  • Does not include a passive radiator
    This portable speaker does not include a passive radiator, while the average portable speaker includes a passive radiator.
  • 10 dB lower signal-to-noise ratio
    This portable speaker has a lower signal-to-noise ratio than the average portable speaker (70 dB vs 80 dB).
    70 dB vs 80 dB
  • Does not support Bluetooth audio
    This portable speaker does not support Bluetooth audio, while the average portable speaker supports Bluetooth audio.
  • Does not have a built-in rechargeable battery
    This portable speaker does not have a built-in rechargeable battery, while the average portable speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
    Uses replaceable disposable batteries rather than a built-in rechargeable battery.
  • Is not water resistant
    This portable speaker is not water resistant, while the average portable speaker is water resistant.
  • Is not rated as dust resistant
    This portable speaker is not rated as dust resistant, while the average portable speaker is dust resistant.
  • 5 °C higher minimum operating temperature
    This portable speaker has a higher minimum operating temperature than the average portable speaker (5 °C vs 0 °C).
    5 °C vs 0 °C
  • Does not support smartphone app control
    This portable speaker does not support smartphone app control, while the average portable speaker supports smartphone app control.
    No compatible mobile app for speaker control.
  • Does not provide voice prompts
    This portable speaker does not provide voice prompts, while the average portable speaker provides voice prompts.
    No spoken status prompts; feedback is absent, visual, or tone-based.
  • 12.7 cm deeper
    This portable speaker is deeper than the average portable speaker (21 cm vs 8.3 cm).
    21 cm vs 8.3 cm
  • 9 older
    This portable speaker was released earlier than the average portable speaker (2010 vs 2019).
    2010 vs 2019

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

U
uk.pcmag.com
12/10/2010
Summary of the review
JBL On Stage IV - Review 2010 - PCMag UK
C
cnet.com
22/10/2010
Summary of the review
JBL On Stage IV review - CNET
F
firstpost.com
15/01/2011
Summary of the review
JBL OnStage IV iPod Speaker Sounds Good, But Off Stage Would you like me to find more reviews or check the technical specifications for the JBL OnStag...
I
ilounge.com
15/05/2021
Summary of the review
Review: JBL On Stage IV Please let me know if you would like to explore comparisons with other docks from that era or need help looking up technical s...
A
areadvd.de
23/02/2011
Summary of the review
TEST: JBL iPod/iPhone Dock OnStage IV - AREA DVD
(Translated)Show original
H
hardware.info
14/12/2011
Summary of the review
10 Portable speakers & docks reviewed - Logitech
(Translated)Show original

Third-party reviews

Based on ratings from across the web.
Reviews last updated: August 2026 · How we calculate this

What customers like about JBL Onstage IV

  • Unique and modern visual design resembling modern art
  • Fills smaller rooms well with clear audio and good midrange performance
  • Decent bass output and depth when played at moderate listening volumes
  • Includes a multi-functional IR remote control that offers full device navigation
  • Dual power versatility allowing operation via standard AC power or AA batteries
  • Universal dock compatibility supporting older generations of Apple iPod and iPhone devices
  • Features a built-in 3.5mm AUX input to connect non-Apple multimedia devices

What customers don't like about JBL Onstage IV

  • Audio quality gets anemic and heavily distorted at maximum or high volume levels
  • Struggles significantly with deep, punchy bass and intense low frequencies
  • Lacks modern wireless connectivity options such as Bluetooth
  • The remote control buttons can feel overly sensitive or suffer from occasional poor responsiveness
  • Noticeably overpriced given its overall audio capabilities and limitations
  • Bulky form factor makes it less travel-friendly than other genuinely compact portable speakers
  • Does not include an integrated rechargeable battery pack, requiring six separate AA batteries for portable use
  • Lacks modern tech standards like USB-C charging ports, voice assistants, or video outputs

Verdict

The JBL On Stage IV is a portable speaker dock featuring a distinctive multi-directional "weave" design, four 1-inch JBL Odyssey full-range transducers, and a digital amplifier delivering 2 x 10-watt power output. Measuring 2.7 x 8.3 x 8.3 inches and weighing 1.6 pounds, the device provides 360-degree sound, a frequency response of 110Hz – 20kHz, an auxiliary 3.5mm input, and an old-school 30-pin Apple dock that charges and syncs legacy iPod and iPhone models with iTunes via a mini-USB port. Main advantages include its versatile dual-power capability using either an AC adapter or 6 AA batteries for up to 16 hours of untethered playback, an included IR remote with menu navigation up to 15 feet away, and convenient touch-sensitive volume controls. However, its notable drawbacks include an outdated 30-pin docking architecture that lacks modern Lightning or Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a sound profile that distorts or crackles at maximum volume, and a noticeable lack of deep bass performance due to its compact form factor.

Compare JBL Onstage IV with other products in the Portable Speakers category

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