The JBL Partybox 300 is a top-tier speaker; powered by large batteries, light-weight, and great looks with in-built USB card support. But it has been priced in the same range as the popular JBL Boombox which has been the best-selling speaker for a couple of years. Now, you might be tempted to go with Partybox 300 due to its updated design and light-weight but depending upon your needs and other concerns, the JBL Boombox might be better for you. So let’s breakdown which speaker is the right one for you.
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Top Picks
| Product Image | Product Name | Price | Prime Availability | Product Link |
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Top | JBL Boombox - Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
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Top | JBL PartyBox 300 - High Power Portable Wireless Bluetooth Party Speaker | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
JBL Boombox – Overview
- Wireless Bluetooth streaming
- 24 hours of playtime
- IPX7 waterproof
- JBL Connect+
- High-capacity battery
- Connector type: 3.5 millimeter stereo
- Power Source Type: Battery Powered
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Designed for parties and outdoor events, JBL Boombox is one of the most powerful and best portable boombox out there. With its hard-hitting boost and massive 20,000 mAh battery, enjoy music 24 hours non-stop without missing a track. The compactibility of the speakers allows you to listen to music from sunrise to sunset. Add to that the promise of quality by JBL, it’s one of the most demanded speakers to have.
JBL Partybox 300 – Overview
- JBL Signature Sound offers unprecedented performance
- The full panel lighting effect
- Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
- Portable with rechargeable battery
- Mic and guitar inputs
- output_wattage: 12
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The JBL Partybox 300 is a premium party speaker with high-quality sound output and beautiful light effects. The battery lasts about 8-12 hours thanks to its 12V lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Just connect your streaming device via Bluetooth or plug in your USB stick and take over the stage. Moreover, you can connect up to two speakers wirelessly with the TWS feature or any home theatre or TV set using RCA input.
Pricing
So first, let’s have a look over their pricing. Both the JBL Boombox and JBL Partybox 300 can be found on leading online stores and at local retailers. But the Boombox being an older model often goes on sale during festivities and other occasions. Also, keep in mind that there are smaller and cheaper models of Partybox to choose from.
Design & Built
Now, let’s move on to the designs of the respective speakers. The JBL Partybox being only 11 and a half pounds is lightweight, portable, and compact compared to the JBL Boombox which weighs just over 35 pounds. Design-wise, JBL Boombox just looks larger than the older JBL Xtreme 2 model with an additional carrying handle.
Also, if you are looking for a speaker to constantly travel with, you are better off buying JBL Boombox not only because it’s significantly more easy to carry due to its handle but because it is way more durable thanks to its fabric body that does not scratch easily and IPX7 waterproof built to withstand strong splashes of water and mud.
The JBL Partybox 300 on the other hand is not waterproof mostly due to its plastic body which can get scratches very quickly. So, if I am looking for something to constantly move around with, I will prefer the Bluetooth Boombox in spite of being a bit heavy.
Battery Life
Talking about battery life, the advertised battery life for the JBL Boombox is 24 hours whereas the JBL Partybox 300 is expected to last 18 hours long. But these results are usually for moderate usage at about 50 percent of the maximum volume. If you use the speakers at max volume non-stop in the loop, the Boombox provides for an impressive 8 to 10 hours battery life whereas the Partybox 300 only lasts 4 hours if you keep the bass boost on. Turning off the bass may increase the battery life by few hours but nonetheless, there is no doubt that if you are looking for longer battery life, the JBL Boombox should be your ideal purchase.
But also keep in mind that the Partybox comes included with a car charger, so if you’re crazy enough to lug this speaker out to the woods or something if you run out of battery you can still power this speaker with your car. Which I think is a pretty nice touch on JBL’s part.
Sound Quality
But now let’s talk about listening to music with these speakers, first off these speakers have identical sound signatures. They both emphasize the mids and vocals so that they don’t get overpowered by the bass. They even have the same amount of instrument separation and sound stage. Even the JBL Xtreme 2 sounds the same as these two speakers expect it doesn’t get as loud or have as much bass. But so that you can see for yourself we’re going to jump into a sound test.
Like you may just hear, all three of these JBL speakers sound identical which isn’t surprising at all. The main difference between these three speakers is how loud they can get and how much physical bass they have. Now the Partybox has way more physical bass than the Boombox, but unfortunately, it doesn’t get all that much louder. So to my surprise, the Boombox does a very decent job of actually keep up with the Partybox given its size.
But don’t get me wrong, the Partybox gets plenty loud but the major differentiating factor between these two speakers is mainly going to be the amount of physical bass that you feel, cause the Boombox isn’t all that far off from the PartyBox when it comes to max loudness.
Connectivity
Finally, let’s discuss the connectivity options you’ll get in both speakers. Both the speakers feature the latest Bluetooth 4.2 that can be connected to two devices simultaneously so both you and your friend or partner can be in control of the playback. In case you prefer to go old-school, both the speakers also feature AUX cable connectivity, so you can just simply plug-in the cable in your speaker and music system and start streaming in your songs.
For charging also, both the speakers use the same USB Type-A port, so you can charge it with any smartphone charger beside the one in the package. The playback of music through a USB micro-SD card is only supported by the JBL Partybox 300. Moreover, the Partybox also has ports for RCA inputs, so you can hook-up it with any TV or home theatre system. On the other hand, JBL Boombox supports the JBL Connect Plus app so you can easily pair it with any other JBL Connect Plus speaker, whereas Partybox 300 can only be paired with other Partybox 300 speakers.
Also, keep in mind that the Connect Plus app can be used to pair JBL Boombox with only those speakers that were released before or alongside it such as Flip 4, Charge 3, or Xtreme, and not newly released speakers such as Flip 5, Pulse 4 or Xtreme 2.
Conclusion
Wrapping things up, if you are trying to choose between JBL Boombox and JBL Partybox, your primary concern should be how portable you want your speaker to be. If you are constantly moving around and looking for a speaker that you can take to your road trips or beach parties, you are surely better off getting the JBL Boombox cause it is considerably more durable and easy to carry in hand. Moreover, it has way better battery life to last long on your travels. Also, the sound quality is surprisingly well when compared to the JBL Partybox 300 even though it’s an older model.
But, if you do not have plans on taking your speaker around too much, and primarily want to use it for home parties and want an overall better and louder speaker, the JBL Partybox 300 is a better long-term investment due to its light-weight and hard-hitting bass.
If you are still not sure, which speaker is better worth your money, check out our comparison of JBL Boombox vs JBL Xtreme 2 and JBL Boombox vs JBL Charge 4, which will help you in making an informed decision.