Summary – JBL Boombox vs Xtreme 2
Let’s get straight to the point. The JBL Boombox is a much more powerful and robust speaker as compared to the Xtreme 2. The JBL Boombox delivers up to 60 watts of audio power compared to the Xtreme 2 which delivers a maximum of 40 watts. In addition, the JBL Boombox has two large passive bass radiators that pumps out more bass than the Xtreme 2. The JBL Boombox is also the larger speaker with better battery life (24 hours) compared to the Xtreme 2 (15 hours). If you are planning to get a speaker to power a large outdoor party, the JBL Boombox is definitely the better option.
Is it worth the price difference?
Absolutely, yes. The JBL Boombox, although slightly more expensive than the Xtreme 2, is worth the price difference. You get so much more sound, volume and value with the JBL Boombox as compared to the Xtreme 2. Plus, it’s a big upgrade (considering you get 20 watts more power and longer battery life) with the JBL Boombox as compared to the Xtreme 2.
The only time you’d want to stick with the Xtreme 2 is if you need a more portable speaker that you can carry around with you. The JBL Boombox weighs (11.57 lbs) which is almost double that of the Xtreme 2 (5.27 lbs). But overall you are still getting a more powerful speaker with the JBL Boombox.
Sound Performance
JBL Boombox
The JBL Boombox is the obvious winner here with a massive 60 watts RMS output in wired mode. This massive speaker incorporates four active transducers and 2 JBL bass radiators at the side which helps to improve the bass low-end. The speaker is equipped with wireless Bluetooth and JBL Connect+. This allows you to amplify your overall listening experience by connecting additional JBL+ enabled speakers together.
The sound quality of the JBL Boombox is nothing short of spectacular. It delivers crisp highs, very detailed midranges and solid low-end bass performance. The bass on this speaker hits hard and tight, and gets very punchy. We really liked how powerful the speaker sounded at maximum volume levels – the highs and midranges remain consistently clear without feeling recessed, while the bass output feels exceptionally tight and punchy.
It’s not just a speaker built for bass lovers. The vocal clarity and soundstage that you get with the JBL Boombox is staggeringly good, and you can practically hear details in the music which you might not have noticed before in stereo mode. You get pretty good separation in this speaker and you can ‘feel’ where the vocalists or instruments are coming from. The sound quality feels spacious and lively with a V-shaped sound signature that emphasizes the highs and lows of each music recording.
JBL Xtreme 2
The sound quality on the JBL Xtreme 2 is equally good – you get very clear stereo sound performance with crystal clear highs and detailed midranges. It’s great for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres where you can really showcase the bass in the music. I really liked the dual passive bass radiators at the side of the speaker which helps to improve the overall low-end performance, giving music performances a solid low-end kick.
That said, the JBL Xtreme 2 does lag behind the JBL Boombox in two respects – volume and bass.
The volume on the JBL Xtreme 2, while pretty loud and formidable, pales in comparison with the JBL Boombox’s 60 watts output. This means that the JBL Boombox is at least 50% louder than the JBL Xtreme 2 in terms of absolute sound power.
Second, the bass on the JBL Boombox sounds much deeper and punchier than the Xtreme 2. You’ll only notice the difference between the bass when you turn up the volume on both speakers. While the Xtreme 2 handles the bass ranges really well, it doesn’t come close to the bass from the JBL Boombox which sounds punchier and more satisfying to listen to.
In terms of sound performance, the JBL Boombox really has much more power and bass to showcase as compared to the JBL Xtreme 2.
Design
JBL Boombox
The JBL Boombox comes equipped with a high capacity 20,000mAh rechargeable battery that supports up to 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. It can even double as a portable power bank via dual USB ports for your smartphone devices. This speaker is IPX7 waterproof and is able to withstand any weather conditions and pool parties. That being said, the JBL Boombox requires 6.5 hours of charging time to reach a full charge.
One thing to note about the JBL Boombox is that it uses Bluetooth version 4.2, which is a slightly (but not entirely) outdated Bluetooth version.
The JBL Boombox is waterproof and has an integrated power bank that doubles as a portable charger for your smartphones and devices. It also has voice assistant integration with JBL Connect+ features to connect to multiple JBL speakers in sync. The JBL Boombox is relatively large with a dimension of 10” x 19.48” x 7.69”.
JBL Xtreme 2
The JBL Xtreme 2 also comes with a large built-in battery that provides up to 15 hours of playtime on a single charge. Just like the JBL Boombox, this Bluetooth speaker is IPX7 rated, and is impervious to water with a rugged exterior fabric that protects the surface of the speaker.
The speaker also supports voice assistant integration with JBL Connect+ features for you to connect multiple JBL speakers together. We also liked the fact that this speaker comes with a carrying strap for you to bring the speaker with you anywhere on the go.
Compared with the JBL Boombox, the Xtreme 2 is a much smaller speaker with a dimension of 5.35” x 11.33” x 5.19” It also weighs 5.27 lbs compared with the JBL Boombox’s 11.57 lbs, making the Xtreme 2 a much more portable speaker. The battery life on the Xtreme 2 is 10,000 mAh, which is roughly half of the JBL Boombox.
The Verdict?
The JBL Boombox is the clear winner here – with much better sound quality and performance and much deeper bass. Compared with the JBL Xtreme 2, the JBL Boombox delivers 50% more powerful and has twice the amount of battery power in the Xtreme 2. Both speakers feature wireless Bluetooth 4.2 and have JBL Connect+ capabilities with voice assistant integration.
That said, the Xtreme 2 is a much more portable speaker as compared to the JBL Boombox. It weighs only 5.27 lbs and is roughly half the size of the JBL Boombox. The speaker also comes with a handy carrying strap for easy portability – you can practically bring this speaker anywhere with you to the beach or to the pool party. Both speaker are waterproof and rugged for outdoor use.
Overall, the JBL Boombox is a much better investment option in terms of sound quality and performance, and we highly recommend them.
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