JBL PartyBox Club 120 VS Stage 320: Is Bigger Better?

Bryn De Kocks | October 28, 2024

An In-depth Comparison

JBL’s PartyBox series consists of a range of vibrant and powerful Bluetooth party speakers, and in 2024 the line-up saw big changes with the release of the PartyBox Club 120 and larger Stage 320. The PartyBox Club 120 is an upgrade of the PartyBox 110, while the Stage 320 is the successor to the extremely popular PartyBox 310. In this article, we’ll go over all the differences between the PartyBox 120 and the PartyBox 320.

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Winner

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

JBL’s PartyBox Stage 320 has more volume, stronger bass, and better battery performance, making it the better choice.

JBL PartyBox Club 120 vs Partybox Stage 320 Specs

ModelPartyBox 120PartyBox 320
Water ResistanceIPX4IPX4
Output Power160W240W
Bluetooth Version5.35.4
Bluetooth ProfilesA2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6
Battery LifeUp to 12 HoursUp to 18 Hours
Charging Time3.5 Hours3 Hours
Frequency Response40 Hz – 20 kHz40 Hz – 20 kHz
WoofersDual 5.25″Dual 6.5″
TweetersDual 2.25″Dual 1″
WheelsNoYes
TWSYesYes
Multispeaker PairingYesYes
Weight24.4 lbs41.7 lbs
Dimensions11.4 x 22.4 x 11.7″13.19 x 26.34 x 15.16″
App SupportJBL PartyBoxJBL PartyBox
Price:Check PriceCheck Price

Design, Build, & Durability

PartyBox 1208/10
PartyBox 3208/10

Summary: Despite similarities, the PartyBox 320 is a significantly larger and heavier speaker, making it slightly less versatile. However, its built-in wheels and telescopic carry handle offer an effective way of transporting it. They both have relatively durable builds, made from high quality plastics. However, their IPX4 rating means they don’t have dust protection and can still be damaged by excessive water contact. The Stage 320 also allows for more customization of its built-in lighting effects.

Durability

Winner: Tied

Both speakers are made from durable plastics and feature the same tight mesh grille design, a small upgrade from their predecessors. The new mesh patterns can withstand more force before bending under pressure, which is useful when transporting the speaker.

While both speakers can be used outdoors, they have modest weather protection with an IPX4 rating. This rating means that although neither has dust protection, they can withstand small splashes and sprays of water, and survive exposure to drizzle.

Portability

Winner: PartyBox 120

The PartyBox 120 is a much lighter speaker, weighing in at almost half that of the PartyBox 320. At just 24.4 lbs, the PartyBox 120 can be lifted and carried by one hand, a task that’s a lot more challenging with the PartyBox 320 and its hefty 41.7 lb weight.

Although the Stage 320 is a heavy speaker, it has built-in wheels that make moving it around a relatively easy process. These wheels have improved stability over the PartyBox 310 and are a feature not provided by the PartyBox 120.

Both speakers have built-in handles to enhance portability, but the Stage 320 has the benefit of a telescopic handle, which makes it very easy to wheel around.

If you plan to frequently take your speaker to different locations, the PartyBox 120 is easier to move in and out of vehicles. However, the PartyBox 320’s built-in wheels are great for moving it around a single location, whether that’s a home, storefront, or exercise studio.

Overall, the PartyBox 120 is still an easier speaker to move between long distances, while the 320 is easier to move around at a single location.

Lighting Effects

Winner: PartyBox 320

Like their predecessors, the PartyBox 120 and 320 have built-in lights to keep the party atmosphere going. However, compared to the previous models, the 120 and 320 now have a larger lighting area that wraps between the drivers for a more exciting display, they can also be synced to the music.

Because the Stage 320 is a larger speaker its lighting effects are brighter than that of the Club 120, and also features a strobe light mode that the 120 doesn’t. The 320 also has more supplemental LEDs along the outsides of the drivers. Both speakers can have their lighting effects customized using the JBL PartyBox app, but the extent to which the effects can be adjusted is greater on the 320.

Controls, Connectivity & App Support

PartyBox 1208.5/10
PartyBox 3209/10

Summary: Both these speakers have comprehensive controls and connectivity. The Stage 320 has more versatility when it comes to mic control, allowing you to adjust the volume, treble, bass and echo effects. In contrast, the 120’s mic inputs can only have the volume adjusted. Both speakers feature Auracast for effective TWS and multi-speaker pairing. The Stage 320 also has slightly better Bluetooth, supporting version 5.4 compared to 5.3 on the Club 120.

JBL PartyBox 120

  • Bluetooth version
    5.3
  • Bluetooth profiles
    A2DP V1.4, AVRCP V1.6
  • Bluetooth frequency
    2.4 GHz – 2.4835 GHz
  • Bluetooth transmitter modulation
    GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
  • Bluetooth transmitter power
    ≤ 18 dBm (EIRP)

JBL PartyBox 320

  • Bluetooth version
    5.4
  • Bluetooth profiles
    A2DP V1.4, AVRCP V1.6
  • Bluetooth frequency range
    2.4 GHz – 2.4835 GHz
  • Bluetooth® transmitter modulation
    GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
  • Bluetooth transmitter power
    ≤ 18 dBm (EIRP)

Inputs & Outputs

Winner: PartyBox 320

Each speaker has outstanding support for additional connectivity with little difference between the two speakers. They each have a dedicated 1/4″ microphone input and a secondary 1/4″ input that can be used for a second mic or a guitar. This means both the 120 and 320 can be used as a guitar amp or karaoke speaker.

If you’re after a wired alternative to Bluetooth, both speakers have a 3.5mm aux input where one can directly connect to a source device without relying on a wireless connection.

Additionally, a USB port can be found on the back of both speakers. You can plug in a USB drive with music on it and use it as the source.

Controls

Winner: PartyBox 320

These speakers have significantly different controls with the PartyBox 320 sporting four sets of controls, while the PartyBox 120 only has three control areas.

They share similar primary controls but differ in how they control the microphone and guitar inputs. The Club 120 has basic microphone volume adjustments for each microphone port which are done on the back of the speaker. The 320 still has a guitar volume control in that location, but also features a more comprehensive section for microphone control at the top of the speaker.

The Stage 320’s mic controls consist of four adjustment dials that allow for precise tuning of volume, bass, treble, and echo effects.

The main control area shares the same design on both speakers and allows for versatile control over track playback and volume. They also both feature a row of sound effects, which are pre-recorded soundbites that will play over the music.

Bluetooth

Winner: PartyBox 320

Despite sharing similar release dates, the PartyBox 320 has a newer Bluetooth than the PartyBox 120, supporting Bluetooth 5.4 compared to 5.3. While 5.4 is a newer technology, there isn’t a noticeable difference when using the two speakers. This is because 5.4 primarily improved security and rare interference issues with older Bluetooth versions.

The wireless performance on both speakers is comparable and of extremely high quality. The latency is very low, and both the 120 and 320 retain stable connections over long distances.

Because JBL opted for the most modern Bluetooth versions available, both speakers also benefit from Auracast support, which changes the way they can be wirelessly paired with each other compared to previous versions of PartyBox speakers.

Multi-Speaker Pairing

Winner: Tied

Multi-speaker pairing refers to the way more than one speaker can be paired together, either in stereo (TWS) or as a larger mono chain of speakers. Historically, JBL used a proprietary technology called Party Mode to connect multiple PartyBox speakers.

The PartyBox 120 and 320 now support a global standard linked directly to Bluetooth. Introduced in Bluetooth 5.2, Auracast offers an innovative new way to pair multiple speakers together. Instead of having a master connection to one speaker which is then relayed to additional speakers in the pairing, it connects multiple speakers directly to the source device, improving performance and allowing for more diverse connection support.

Both speakers support Auracast and can be paired together with one another or another speaker of the same model.

Pairing Compatibility

PartyBoxClub 120Stage 320
110NoNo
Club 120YesYes
310NoNo
Stage 320YesYes

App Support

Winner: PartyBox 320

Both speakers are supported by JBL’s PartyBox app on both Apple and Android. Through the app, you’ll be able to control tracks and volume, as well as adjust the lighting effects and swap between different EQ presets. Additionally, both speakers can have a custom EQ set, allowing you to dial in the sound of either speaker to your liking. The PartyBox Stage 320 has a slight advantage in the additional lighting effect controls it offers.

Audio Performance

PartyBox 1208/10
PartyBox 3208.5/10

Summary: The Stage 320 is a louder speaker than the Club 120, able to reach around 105 dB (SPL) compared to 100 dB. Its larger woofers give it a more powerful bass, but both speakers have strong lows that give a powerful thump, ideal for party environments. Even with the strong bass, the impressive dynamics and balanced midrange make them sound much clearer than their predecessors.

JBL PartyBox 120

  • Power Output
    160W RMS
  • Frequency Response Range
    40 Hz – 20 KHz (-6 dB)
  • Drivers
    2x 5.25″ Woofers, 2x 2.25″ Tweeters
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio
    > 80dB

JBL PartyBox 320

  • Power Output
    240W RMS
  • Frequency Response Range
    40Hz – 20kHz (-6dB)
  • Drivers
    2x 6.5″ Woofers, 2x 1″ Tweeters
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio
    > 80dB

Frequency Response

Winner: PartyBox 320

Frequency response is an effective way of gauging how a speaker sounds. It is an evaluation of how the speaker reproduces different frequencies.

Both speakers have a lot of bass, which can be boosted even higher using the Bass Boost function or custom EQ. The JBL PartyBox 320 has more low-end than the PartyBox 120, owed mostly to its dual 6.5″ woofers, which are notably larger than the dual 5.25″ woofers in the PartyBox 120.

The PartyBox 120, however, has larger tweeters which allow it to create a vibrant and lively sound that allows vocals to shine through, while also having an impressively balanced frequency response.

The Stage 320 also offers high-quality mids that are much more refined than its predecessor. Again, this allows vocals to come through clearer. The PartyBox 310 was praised for its strong bass, but many felt as though the lack of definition in the vocal range was a weak point for the speaker. That’s been corrected with the 320.

Head to head, the PartyBox 320 is slightly better sounding than the PartyBox 120, but the Club 120 is more than able to hold its own and its balanced, yet bassy sound is ideal for almost any party.

Soundstage & Dynamics

Winner: Tied

The soundstage and dynamic performance from both these speakers is excellent, and vastly improved from their predecessors. Dynamic range refers to the amount of details perceived by the listener and how that detail is retained as the volume is increased. Both Club 120 and Stage 320 can reach high volume levels before any degradation in audio is encountered. They both perform similarly in this regard.

Soundstage on the other hand refers to the separation of different sounds in the mix and is what makes a speaker sound more immersive. Both speakers perform well here too, playing stereo content without having to mix it down into mono. However, because the drivers are aligned vertically, there are some limitations to it. Pairing two of either speaker together in TWS results in an excellent soundstage.

Volume

Winner: PartyBox 320

Both speakers can get louder than their predecessors while retaining better quality, but the PartyBox 320 is noticeably louder than the PartyBox 120 though, producing around 5 dB more volume. The 120 can reach an SPL just shy of 100 dB at 1 meter, while the 320 is closer to 105 dB. The difference in volume is directly tied to the higher output (240W vs 160W) and the larger woofers.

Battery

PartyBox 1207.5/10
PartyBox 3208/10

Summary: The PartyBox 120 and 320 both have replaceable batteries that can easily be swapped out, meaning you won’t need to replace the speaker when the battery eventually starts losing performance. The Stage 320 has around 5 to 6 hours more playtime than the Club 120 and can be recharged in 30 minutes less.

JBL PartyBox 120

  • Battery Type
    Replaceable
  • Charging time
    3.5 hours
  • Estimated Playtime
    Up to 12 Hours
  • Cable Type
    AC power cable

JBL PartyBox 320

  • Battery Type
    Replaceable
  • Charging Time
    3 hours
  • Estimated Playtime
    Up to 18 Hours
  • Cable Type
    AC power cable

Playtime & Charging Time

Winner: PartyBox 320

Both speakers now feature replaceable batteries, a feature not provided by previous similar PartyBox models. The replaceable battery makes it easy to swap it out for a new one and extend the playtime without needing to charge it.

The 320 will give more playtime, advertised to give around 18 hours of music while the 120 has a more modest 12-hour playtime. Battery performance is directly impacted by the types of features active and volume levels, and at moderate volume levels, you will get around 10 hours out of the PartyBox Club 120 and around 15 hours from the Stage 320.

Charging times are slightly quicker on the Stage 320, which can fully charge in about 30 minutes less than the Club 120.

Price & Value

The PartyBox 120 and 320 are relatively new releases but have already been marked at discounted prices during sales. The retail price of the Stage 320 is $599 while the Club 120 is available at a more affordable $399. During sales, this difference has been reduced by as much as $100.

If you’re looking for the most power you can get, the Stage 320 is the better speaker. It has more bass and can get louder than the PartyBox 120. However, it’s a fairly large speaker and its weight is a point of consideration. It is best suited for use in a static location or moved around within a building.

The PartyBox 120, on the other hand, is more easily portable and while it’s not quite as loud as the Stage 320, it can still push close to 100 dB, which can fill a medium-sized room.

For an extra $200 from retail pricing, you can also consider going with two PartyBox 120s which will give you a superior soundstage when paired together in TWS and could outperform the PartyBox 320.

Conclusion

Overall, we can recommend both the PartyBox 120 and the PartyBox 320, depending on what you need. If the speaker’s going to stay in the same building, the 320’s limited portability isn’t a problem. However, the PartyBox 120’s weight makes it better for those taking their speaker to different locations. Each speaker performs significantly better than their predecessors and surpasses the performance offered by the similar Sony XV800. Their vibrant sound is a major selling point, as they have much more detail in the midrange. Wireless connectivity and battery life also impress with remarkable improvements over the older versions.

Sale
JBL PartyBox Stage 320
  • Powerful JBL Pro Sound: Two 6.5″ woofers that deliver clean, precise, deep bass even at top volume and a pair of 25mm dome tweeters that produce crystal clear highs. Loud enough to fill a space the size of a tennis court with music.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the PartyBox 320 get louder than the 120?

It does. The PartyBox 320 gets around 5 dB louder than the PartyBox 120 producing close to 105 dB compared to the 120 which gets can reach around 100 dB.

Does the PartyBox 120 have wheels?

No. The PartyBox 120 is significantly lighter than the 320 and doesn’t come with built-in wheels.

How do I charge the PartyBox 120?

To charge the JBL PartyBox 120, you will find an AC charging input towards the lower back of the speaker behind a protective flap.

Did you find this content helpful?
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Did You Find This Content Helpful?
Photo of author

Author: Bryn De Kocks

Bryn has worked in the field for several years, writing in-depth speaker reviews for various audio publications. His work has historically focused on headphones and Bluetooth speakers, while incorporating his understanding of the Bluetooth speaker market to help educate potential buyers.

See All His Posts

Originally Published: September 2, 2024

Leave a Comment