In this review we take a look at the JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox 300 to determine which speaker provides better sound quality and value for money. The cut the long story short, the JBL Boombox offers much better sound quality and deeper bass performance than the JBL Partybox, but the JBL Partybox outshines the Boombox in terms of absolute volume output. If we were to pick a winner, the JBL Boombox would come on top because it is more portable, has a more balanced sound signature and has a sleek and modern appearance, making it the more practical choice.
That being said, the JBL Partybox is a great choice if you are planning to host a large outdoor party, as this speaker focuses more on maximum volume output.
Specifications – JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox
The JBL Boombox is hands down one of the most powerful Bluetooth speakers you can find with extremely large sound output. It’s built to be one of the most powerful portable Bluetooth speakers that deliver high volume sound output with powerful bass response without any distortion. The speaker is capable of delivering a massive 40 watts of power while on battery and up to 60 watts of power while connected to a power source. The speaker is built like a tank and comes with a 20,000mAh battery that can deliver a whopping 24 hours of continuous music playtime so you never have to miss a beat. It also doubles as a power bank for you to charge your external devices on the go. The speaker is designed to be tough and rugged and is rated IPX7 waterproof, which means that you can bring it outdoors under the rain without any issues. This massive speaker comes with four active transducers and two JBL bass radiators that enhance the lower end bass response. The JBL Boombox is the answer for those seeking a Bluetooth speaker that can power an entire outdoor party for extended periods of time (up to 24 hours) without having to miss a beat.
On the other hand, the JBL PartyBox 300 is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers made especially for large parties and outdoor gatherings. It is a large wireless speaker from JBL that streams high-quality sound from your smartphone or Bluetooth devices at a touch of a button, with roaring acoustic drivers that pump out deafening sound quality. We liked the fact that you can pre-program your party or event with your favorite playlist from a USB thumb drive while connected to the PartyBox 300. Furthermore, the speaker supports wireless connection via TWS (True Wireless Stereo) using Bluetooth connection for up to 2 speakers, or wired via RCA output to another speaker. We particularly liked the fact that the JBL PartyBox comes with a USB port which allows you to charge other USB devices straight from the speaker, so you do not require an extra charger to keep your smartphone devices powered up. The PartyBox 300 speaker provides JBL signature sound with an immersive audio experience at home that brings to live audio experiences with extremely loud sound. If you are looking for one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers that can produce a tonne of volume for party events, the JBL PartyBox 300 is a great choice.
Sound Quality – JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox
We were blown away by how loud the JBL Boombox sounded straight out of the box. The sound quality is crystal clear with crisp highs, very detailed midranges and bass that goes very deep. The bass from this speaker feels almost as though it is coming from a dedicated subwoofer and hits hard with great impact; the bass feels deep without muddying into the midrange frequencies. In terms of sound output, the JBL Boombox is truly a monster – you can crank up the volume on this speaker up to maximum and it will not produce any distortion with crystal clear sound clarity. The speaker really shines with bass heavy music genres such as electronic dance music and rock – vocal performances are reproduced accurately and the beats are well-defined. Instrumental music and country folk music genres also sounded great with the JBL Boombox. The bass on this speaker goes very deep and has great impact. If you are looking for a speaker that can deliver excellent sound performance and is powerful enough to blast music outdoors, the JBL Boombox is probably your best bet next to a portable PA music system.
By contrast, the sound performance of the JBL PartyBox 300 is extremely loud and even surpasses the JBL Boombox in terms of absolute sound output. This Bluetooth speaker is equipped with 2 x 6.5” woofers and 3 x 2.25” tweeters with true wireless stereo compatibility. It also features a bass boost function to increase the bass on the speaker for deeper beats and lower frequency response. The frequency range on the PartyBox 300 speaker is a wide 45 Hz to 20 kHz, and can blast music for up to 18 hours with its massive 10400mAh battery life. The volume output on the JBL PartyBox 300 is incredibly loud, and is best suited for large outdoor gatherings or parties where you can blast music at full power. The highs and midranges on the PartyBox 300 are crisp and crystal clear, and the bass hits hard and punchy without muddying into the midrange frequencies. Music genres such as rock, hip-hop and electronic dance music sounded particularly good on the JBL PartyBox speaker, and can really start a party with incredibly detailed and punchy beats. Furthermore, the volume on the PartyBox 300 gets so loud that you may have to place the speaker at a distance to project the sound. This speaker can pump out tremendous volume and does not have a hint of distortion at maximum volume levels.
That being said, the key difference between both JBL speakers is that the Boombox has better frequency range and more well-rounded sound quality. The bass on the Boombox hits deep and hard, and does not feel as massive as compared to the JBL Partybox. To put things into perspective, the JBL Partybox is designed almost entirely for quantity and volume output, while the JBL Boombox hits the sweet spot between volume and sound quality.
Design – JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox
The JBL Boombox has a really sleek and modern looking design. It is designed to be extremely rugged and durable and is IPX7 waterproof, which means that it will survive rain and direct splashes of water; it’s the perfect speaker to place beside the beach or pool. We liked the button controls on the top of the speaker which allow you connect your Bluetooth device, change music soundtracks and adjust the volume controls. It comes with NFC Bluetooth connectivity and remembers the last paired device automatically which is really convenient. The Bluetooth connection to the JBL Boombox is excellent and we did not experience any dips in sound quality while streaming music via Bluetooth. We liked the fact that the speaker also comes with a nice handle on the top which makes carrying the speaker around quite convenient, although we would recommend getting a carrying case for this speaker. The Boombox comes with a massive 20,000mAh battery which can pump out an incredible 24 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge at 40 watts. It also doubles as a power charging bank for your mobile devices which is great.
By contrast, the JBL PartyBox 300 is a massive speaker with a product dimension of 310mm x 320mm x 690mm and weighs a massive 15.84kg. It comes with a high capacity 10400mAh battery which provides up to 18 hours of continuous playtime and takes only 5 hours to reach a full charge. We also like the fact that the PartyBox 300 comes with a 12V DC input for you to plug in your mic or guitar or stream music via Bluetooth or from a USB stick. Furthermore, you can even connect two PartyBox speakers wirelessly with the TWS feature or wire two speakers together using the RCA input for a full stereo experience. In addition to its booming volume and bass, the JBL PartyBox 300 has a light mode including meter, pulse and party mode which changes the light strobes according to the mood of the music. We also liked the fact that this Bluetooth speaker supports multiple input terminals including RCA L/R, USB Port, 3.5mm auxiliary, microphone and guitar (1/4”) with volume control. It wireless Bluetooth on the PartyBox 300 works like a charm and you can pair 2 party speakers together for a much wider soundstage. The entire speaker is built like a tank and has a durable sleek exterior design that feels very nice to carry and touch. The speaker is also fairly portable, and comes with a hand-carry at the top for easy transport.
The Verdict – JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox
The JBL Boombox is easily one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers you can find that delivers the right balance between sound quality and volume output. The music from this speaker sounds crystal clear, with crisp highs, good midranges and very powerful bass – in fact, the bass hits so hard that it feels almost like a standalone portable dedicated subwoofer. The entire speaker has a really rugged design to handle the outdoor elements and is IPX7 waterproof, which makes it perfect for outdoor trips and pool parties. The speaker comes with four active transducers and two bass radiators to enhance the overall bass performance. The Bluetooth connectivity on this speaker is consistently clear and intuitively connects to your mobile device to stream music on the go. We liked the fact that the speaker also comes with a nice carrying handle at the top which makes it convenient to carry around. The JBL Boombox is really the answer to those looking for a portable sound system for large party gatherings in open spaces with extremely powerful battery life.
By contrast, the JBL PartyBox 300 is hands down one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers created for large-scale parties, and is even louder than the JBL Boombox speaker. The amount of volume that this speaker produces can power an entire large outdoor party with crisp and crystal clear music with deep bass performance; you can even stream music wirelessly from your smartphone device directly to the JBL PartyBox speaker. Furthermore, you can also pre-program your party or even with your favorite playlist from a USB thumb drive. You can connect compatible speakers wirelessly via true wireless stereo to create a much wider stereo soundstage for your speakers. The PartyBox 300 comes with a high-capacity 10400mAh battery which allows you to charge your smartphone and other devices via USB output. The light strobing functions on the JBL PartyBox 300 are also very entertaining to watch, and you can cycle through different light modes depending on your preferences. Overall, the JBL PartyBox 300 is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers we have tested and highly recommend them if you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker more powerful than the JBL Boombox.
Our winning pick: JBL Boombox