Find the best PartyBox model for your preferences
If you’ve ever looked at buying a Bluetooth party speaker, chances are you’re already somewhat familiar with JBL’s PartyBox range. These speakers have become iconic, and with JBL continuing to release new updates and add new speakers to the line-up, they’re also often at the cutting-edge of technology.
With more than 10 different PartyBox models still sold through retailers (including older models), it can be tricky to know which model is the right one to buy. Having tested many of these speakers for Outeraudio, I wanted to give you a comprehensive overview of the PartyBox range and provide insight into how they compare.
Jump To Section
- Compact PartyBox Models
- Medium-Sized PartyBox Speakers
- The Largest & Loudest PartyBox Releases
- Pairing Compatibility
- JBL’s Companion Apps
- Frequently Asked Questions
Compact PartyBox Speakers For Kids Parties and Small Gatherings
Price Range: $299 – $349
These are the most affordable speakers from the PartyBox range. They’re not quite loud enough to throw any ragers, but they are great options for less demanding events, such as children’s parties or small gatherings with friends.
PartyBox On-The-Go
95 dB Peak Volume
- Released October 2020
- 100W output
- 5.25″ woofer
- Two 1.75″ tweeters
- Up to 6 hours of playtime
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 50Hz – 20kHz
- 14.3 lbs
PartyBox Encore Essential
96 dB Peak Volume
- Released March 2022
- 100W output
- 5.25″ woofer
- Two 1.75″ tweeters
- Up to 6 hours of playtime
- Bluetooth 5.1
- 50Hz – 20kHz
- 13 lbs
Which Should You Buy?
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go vs Encore Essential
Let’s keep it simple. The Encore Essential [Check price on Amazon] is a slightly better speaker for most people. It has more bass, which is essential (no pun intended) for a party speaker, and its newer Bluetooth gives it an edge. The only exception would be if you really like the idea of a carry strap.
However, the Encore Essential 2 is being released in June 2025 in the United States, and offers some significant advantages over its predecessor, most notable being a 15-hour battery life.
If you’re looking for a smaller party speaker, it’s a good idea to hold back and wait for the new Encore Essential 2.
Medium-Sized PartyBox Speakers For Sports Events, Parties And Businesses
Price Range: $399 – $799
These are the most affordable speakers from the PartyBox range. They’re not quite loud enough to throw any ragers, but they are great options for less demanding events, such as children’s parties or small gatherings with friends.
PartyBox Club 120
100 dB Peak Volume
- Released April 2024
- 100W output
- 5.25″ woofer
- Two 2.25″ tweeters
- Up to 12 hours of playtime
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 40Hz – 20kHz
- 24.35 lbs
PartyBox Stage 320
104 dB Peak Volume
- Released April 2024
- 240W output
- Two 6.5″ woofers
- Two 1″ tweeters
- Up to 18 hours of playtime
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 40Hz – 20kHz
- 36.38 lbs
PartyBox 520
Release Coming Soon
? Peak Volume
- Releasing June 2025
- 400W output
- Two 7.5″ woofers
- Two 1″ tweeters
- Up to 15 hours of playtime
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 40Hz – 20kHz
- 56.2 lbs
Spec Sheet Coming Soon
Which Should You Buy?
JBL PartyBox 120 vs 320 vs 520
The truth here is that each of these speakers are worth considering, as they are top-tier performers, each catering to a specific need.
Go for the PartyBox 120 [Check price on Amazon] if you plan to be transporting it around a lot; it’s significantly lighter than the other two, and still sounds great. But you will be sacrificing some volume and bass. It can still fill a medium-sized room, though.
The PartyBox 320 [Check price on Amazon] is best for more serious party hosts who need to cater to larger gatherings and fill indoor or outdoor spaces, while its sound is improved over the PartyBox 120, at over 36 lbs, it’s a bit of a burden to carry around regularly.
Wait for the PartyBox 520 to release if you’re on the fence and need a more powerful speaker than the PartyBox 320. It’s also going to be a top choice for those who’ve been eyeing the PartyBox 710, but want the benefit of a battery, and to not be limited by an AC requirement.
Large and Loud PartyBox Speakers That Can Rattle Windows With Their Powerful Bass
Price Range: $799 – $1699
These are the largest and loudest PartyBox models, designed for large gatherings and professional use. If you need to fill a large room or outdoor space with powerful, bass-heavy sound – these are the speakers to go for.
PartyBox 710
105 dB @ Max Volume
- Released October 2020
- 800W output
- Two 8″ woofers
- Two 2.75″ tweeters
- No battery
- Bluetooth 5.1
- 35Hz – 20kHz
- 68.34 lbs
PartyBox 1000
108 dB @ Max Volume
- Released July 2019
- 1100W output
- 12″ woofer
- Two 7″ midrange
- Compression driver
- No battery
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 30Hz – 20kHz
- 76.5 lbs
PartyBox Ultimate
110 dB @ Max Volume
- Released March 2022
- 1100W output
- Two 9″ woofers
- Two 4.5″ midrange
- Two 2.75″ tweeters
- No battery
- Bluetooth 5.3
- 30Hz – 20kHz
- 87.1 lbs
Which Should You Buy?
JBL PartyBox 710 vs 1000 vs Ultimate
None of these speakers have batteries, and all require an AC power source.
Despite its age, the PartyBox 710 [Check price on Amazon] is still an outstanding party speaker, and it’s popular for a reason. A standout feature is the bass, which is both powerful and deep, while still being significantly more manageable than the larger PartyBox 1000.
The PartyBox 1000 [Check price on Amazon] is a niche party speaker thats strongest selling point is its full-panel lighting that isn’t offered by any other JBL PartyBox model. It also has extremely deep and powerful bass with a wide frequency response range. While also being extremely loud, with 6 years since its release, it lacks modern features found in the Ultimate.
If you have deep pockets, the PartyBox Ultimate [Check price on Amazon] is, as the name suggests, the ultimate PartyBox speaker. What separates it from other PartyBox releases is that its packed with features, including dual-band Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos support. This makes it more than just your average party speaker, it allows one to integrate it into their home setup with ease, especially with its built-in streaming support.
JBL’s Companion Apps Make It Easy To Adjust And Control These Speakers
Most PartyBox releases use the JBL PartyBox app, except for the PartyBox Ultimate, which uses the more home-centric JBL One app.
JBL PartyBox App
Available on Android and iOS
The screenshots above illustrate the controls and effects available through the PartyBox app. It allows one to store multiple speakers for easy access to the one you want to control. You also get the ability to adjust the lighting brightness along with the effects.
A graphic EQ lets you dial in the sound of your speaker, so you pick the right sound for any situation. Using the TWS section of the app, it’s easy to pair speakers together. Karaoke effects and DJ sounds are additional controls offered through the app.
JBL One App
Available on Android and iOS
The JBL One app differs substantially from the PartyBox app and is tailored more toward home speakers and high-definition audio. The JBL One app has Wi-Fi grouping, which the Ultimate can use to tie together with your existing home Wi-Fi setup. This app also lets you easily manage your devices, change the lighting effects, and even calibrate your audio devices.
TWS & Multi-Speaker Pairing Options
Sometimes you need more than one speaker to fill a room, and large parties may benefit from multiple speakers, all connected together wirelessly, playing the same audio. True Wireless Stereo pairing is also beneficial, as it separates left and right channel audio, providing improved soundstage and making the music sound more immersive.
True Wireless Stereo Compatibility
All speakers in the current PartyBox range support True Wireless Stereo pairing. However, unlike traditional group pairing, they can only be paired together in TWS with another speaker of the same model (eg, PartyBox 120 with another PartyBox 120).
Group Pairing Compatibility
Group pairing lets one connect multiple speakers together, all playing the same song from a single source device (such as phone or tablet). This is useful for multiroom parties, or for covering a larger outdoor area. Unlike TWS, the speakers in a group pairing remain in mono (no separation of left and right audio).
PartyBox Speakers With Group Pairing
These speakers feature Auracast, which allows one to connect various JBL Bluetooth speakers together. All Auracast-supported PartyBox Models (120, 320, 520 & Ultimate) can be paired interchangeably with each other. They can also be paired together with many of JBL’s smaller Bluetooth speakers, including the Xtreme 4, Flip 7, Charge 6, Clip 5 and Go 4.
Supports Group Pairing / Auracast
- JBL PartyBox Club 120
- JBL PartyBox Stage 320
- JBL PartyBox 520
- JBL PartyBox Ultimate
Group Pairing Unsupported
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go
- JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
- JBL PartyBox 710
- JBL PartyBox 1000
Frequently Asked Questions
Still looking for more information about these speakers and how they compare? Here are some frequently asked questions about the current JBL PartyBox lineup:
You can’t connect a 310 to a 300. But you can connect a 310 to any other x10 series and the encore