JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker

Bryn De Kocks | November 6, 2024

The 310 brings the party wherever you are, with powerful sound, vibrant LED light effects, and impressive portability.

JBL’s PartyBox 310 is a powerful party speaker that provides enough volume for social gatherings of between 15 and 30 people. With its dynamic built-in lighting, it creates an awesome party environment while still being relatively portable. I’ve spent some time using this speaker, and this is what I’ve found.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PartyBox 310’s power volume and deep bass are exactly what I look for in a party speaker.
  • Although not fully waterproof, IPX4 protection means it can handle light splashes and sprays.
  • Comprehensive on-speaker controls that are easy to use.
  • Input ports allow it to be used for karaoke and as a guitar amp.
  • This is the largest of the JBL PartyBox series to feature a built-in battery.
Sale
JBL PartyBox 310
The JBL PartyBox 310 is an outstanding party speaker with powerful sound, deep bass and plenty of features. Regularly available for under its RRSP of $519, it offers great value.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 1
Release Date:October 2020
Playtime:18 Hours
Water Resistance:IPX4
Wireless Stereo Pairing:Yes
Output:240 Watts 
Size:12.8 x 14.5 x 27″
Weight:38.4 lbs

What I Like:

  • The bass is deep and powerful.
  • Volume levels facilitate fairly large gatherings.
  • Comprehensive on-speaker controls.
  • Lots of different input ports.
  • JBL’s PartyBox app is easy to use and filled with features.

What I Don’t Like:

  • It can be challenging to move it around in cramped areas because of its weight.
  • Broader wheels would improve stability.
  • I’d have liked a 5-band EQ for finer tuning.

Durability: Modest Durability Means Care Should Be Taken When Used Outdoors

JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 2

Although water-resistant from splashes and light sprays, I wouldn’t consider it highly durable, at least not when compared to a speaker like the Turtlebox. This is to be expected, as the PartyBox 310 is made primarily for indoor use and isn’t really considered an outdoor speaker. With that said, I still frequently use it by the poolside, usually set off to the side somewhere safe.

The internal components are all of excellent quality, and even the physical construction of the speaker feels well put together. However, the grille can be prone to some dents, which is especially important to think about when transporting it.

I’ve also found that while the plastic can take a solid knock without cracking, it is prone to gathering paint marks when bumped against walls or scratches when moved through thicket. One should take care to avoid unnecessary friction against the case with sharp objects.

Portability: Built-in Wheels & Telescopic Handle Ease The Burden Of Transport

  • Although quite a heavy speaker, the PartyBox 310 is manageable.
  • The built-in wheels are effective but could be a little broader for stability, a feature that was added to the newer PartyBox 320.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 3
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 4
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 5

Before getting my hands on the PartyBox 310, I had imagined it being slightly larger. Not that it’s a small speaker by any means, but it is a significant downsize from the PartyBox 710. It’s a bit of work handling this speaker without some help, but even as a relatively small-statured guy who spends more time writing about speakers than in the gym, I could move it around the house without too much worry.

The built-in wheels also make it easier to move to maneuver, and when used with the telescopic handle, the PartyBox 310 can easily be wheeled across tiles and wood flooring. It does a decent job on slightly more textured surfaces like asphalt but isn’t as stable as the newer PartyBox 320 which saw the wheels get an overhaul.

Lighting Effects: Dynamic, Vibrant Lighting That Creates An Exciting Party Atmosphere

  • Dynamic lighting effects that are bright and lively.
  • Lights can be toggled on and off.
  • Using the app, these lighting effects and colors can be adjusted.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 6

RGB lights aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but for a party speaker they’re a near-essential feature and I was more than happy with the type of light show that the 310 provides. Granted, it’s not quite as impressive as the new 320, but they do shine brightly and illuminate the speaker in a dark room.

Using the PartyBox mobile app gives additional control over the dynamic lighting, which means you can tone them down when chilling and have them more active in a party environment where the mood is more upbeat. The colors can also be changed to fit a specific theme if wanted.

Controls: Numerous On-Speaker Buttons That Are Still Easy To Understand and Use

  • Toggle between input sources at the press of a button.
  • If lights aren’t your thing, just toggle them off using the lighting button.
  • Adjusts the bass, treble, and echo of the microphone inputs.
  • 3 DJ effect buttons can each be set to play 1 of 9 different sounds, set in the PartyBox app.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 7

The controls are all situated at the top of the speaker, making them easy to reach. I find that I most often use them to toggle the bass boost or lighting effects, using my phone to control the volume or skip tracks.

A common mistake people make when looking at the PartyBox 310 is thinking that the bass, treble and echo controls are ways to adjust the speaker’s EQ. While accurate to a degree, these buttons will only change the way the microphone sounds and won’t impact music.

The bass boost button is an effective way of increasing the lows and making the speaker sound more bass-heavy. I’ll often use it when playing various electronic genres, for me that involves a lot of Eurotrance, EBM, Darkwave, etc. The boost makes these bass-driven genres express themselves in an immersive way.

I mostly use Bluetooth, so I don’t use the source adjustment button much, but it is a useful addition where some speakers may require a mobile app to adjust the source.

The buttons labeled 1, 2, and 3 are sound effects that play over the music. They’re a little gimmicky, and unfortunately, they can only be set to play 3 of 9 available sounds in the JBL PartyBox app. I never use these buttons, but probably would if I could upload a custom .wav or .mp3 and play my own sound effects.

Inputs/Outputs: Dual Microphone Inputs Make This An Effective Karaoke Speaker

  • Dual mic inputs make duet karaoke a breeze.
  • The PartyBox 310 can turn into a guitar amp using the second 6.25mm port.
  • No Bluetooth? No problem, just use the 3.5mm aux input.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 8

These ports are located on the back of the speaker behind a rubber seal and are comprehensive, to say the least. The two 6.25mm jacks can be used for microphones, allowing solo or duet karaoke, which guests tend to enjoy after a few drinks. If you have kids, this is also a useful feature that may make you regret introducing them to, especially when friends are over. One of these slots can also be used for a guitar, turning the speaker into an amp.

The USB port, unlike many smaller Bluetooth speakers, isn’t a charging port for your phone but rather a USB input. This is handy when you want to play a set but don’t want to be stuck idling around the speaker. This way you don’t need your phone to stay within range of the speaker.

The aux input is a useful addition, allowing a direct-wired connection, meaning you don’t have to rely on Bluetooth. There is an additional set of daisy chain connections too, which can be used to pair multiple speakers together.

Sound Quality: The 310’s Bass-Heavy Sound Makes It A Party Pleaser

  • Bass is deep and powerful even with its stock settings.
  • The bass boost feature can really get windows shaking.
  • Although not as versatile as the newer 320, the PartyBox 310’s bass-heavy profile means it sounds great playing EDM and Hip-Hop, for example.
  • Using the custom EQ function, the 310 can be adjusted to emphasize vocals more.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 9

The first thing you notice when turning on the PartyBox 310 is its powerful bass, even with the bass boost off there’s a strong, deep thump. This is a key feature for any party speaker and will serve as the driving force that gets people moving.

There’s been a lot of discussion online about whether the 310 or the 320 has more bass, and after listening to both speakers I believe I understand what’s going on. It’s not that the 310 has more bass potential than the 320, it’s the opposite. However, because the 320 has more emphasis on the vocal range, it sounds more balanced than the 310 which makes the bass feel less powerful.

I still love the sound from the PartyBox 310 though, the mids are still clear so you can hear string instruments and vocals quite well, but make no mistake, this is a bass-forward speaker that sounds best with genres that cater to that. I wouldn’t recommend it for listening to Country music unless you make some custom EQ adjustments, which is a possibility thanks to the JBL PartyBox app.

Volume: Powerful Sound That Can Fill A Room

  • The PartyBox 310 can fill a small to medium-sized room at less than 50% volume.
  • Produces more than 105 dB when at maximum volume.

When a party speaker is this size and price I expect it to get loud, and the PartyBox 310 delivers enough volume to comprehensively fill a medium-sized room. I can even hear it in my kitchen when I’ve got it playing across the house in the dining room. In terms of how many people you’re going to be able to host with this, I’d recommend between 25 and 35 people for high-intensity dance music, or even up to 50 people if your goal is softer background music.

In my testing, I measured the PartyBox 310 at 107.5 dB at a distance of 1 meter using battery power and the default EQ settings.

Dynamic range influences how much detail a speaker has, and its performance can change depending on its volume level. The 310 has some minor loss of detail towards the end of its volume limits, but otherwise, I can still pick out subtle details in songs. If you’re looking to get the most detail though, the new PartyBox 320 is a bit more clear and detailed, including at higher volume.

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Multispeaker Pairing: Connect More Than One Speaker Together For Enhanced Sound

The pairing process between the phone and speaker is as simple as it is with other, smaller speakers. Just set the speaker to pairing mode and connect. The 310 uses Bluetooth 5.1 which results in a reliable wireless connection even at long distances, I can often walk across the whole garden and still stay connected.

I also find the multi-device pairing support useful. It lets me and my partner have our phones connected at the same time, so even if one of us needs to leave the area, the other can take over.

Like most of the PartyBox series, the 310 supports multispeaker pairing too, which lets one play the same audio through several speakers while only using one phone. It can be connected to multiple different PartyBox speakers, including the 110 and 710. 

There’s also TWS support, a method of wireless multispeaker pairing where each of the two speakers becomes its own stereo channel. Meaning left-channel audio comes out of one speaker and right-channel audio out of the other. This gives the speaker more depth, creating more soundstage which improves immersion.

Battery: The Largest PartyBox Speaker With A Built-In Battery

  • The PartyBox 310 battery lasts about 15 hours with the lights off at moderate volume.
  • When partying hard, it lasts around 5 hours at maximum volume with lights on.
  • Recharging takes 3 hours.
  • Plugging the speaker into a power source will add bass and volume.
JBL PartyBox 310 Review: The Quintessential Party Speaker 11

JBL advertises the PartyBox 310 as having 18 hours of battery life, and I’ve found that estimate to be accurate. The exact playtime depends on how loud the speaker is being played and the features being used, naturally having the lights on is going to drain the battery quicker.

Still, I find that it provides around 15 hours of playtime with the lights off at moderate volume levels, or around 18 hours when played at casual listening levels of 15 to 20%. With the lights enabled and the volume maxed out, the playtime is more modest, giving around 5 hours of playtime before recharging is needed. The recharging time is around 3 hours.

When I know the party I’m hosting is going to last more than 5 hours, I use the speaker plugged in – which also makes it a little louder than when played on the battery.

It’s worth mentioning that this is the largest PartyBox model to feature a built-in battery, alongside the newer PartyBox 320. The larger PartyBox 710, 1000, and Ultimate all require an AC power source and lack batteries.

Mobile App: JBL’s PartyBox App Provides An Effective And Comprehensive Way To Control The 310

  • The PartyBox 310 uses JBL’s PartyBox app, available on Apple and Android.
  • Adjust lighting effects or establish pairings between multiple speakers.
  • The custom EQ function effectively adjusts how the speaker sounds.

Having a mobile app for managing your speaker isn’t always necessary, however for a speaker like this with so many features it basically becomes essential. Who wants to go to the speaker and use the buttons every time something needs to get tweaked? I know I don’t.

The JBL PartyBox app supports the 310 and I must say, it’s one of the most comprehensive and easy-to-navigate mobile apps I’ve used. Whether it’s adjusting the karaoke volume, establishing a multi-speaker pairing, or adjusting the lights – it’s all easily done through the app.

Of course, my favorite feature in the app is the 5-band custom EQ that I use regularly to dial in the sound of the speaker according to how I’m using it. Is Bass too heavy for your casual Sunday hangout? No problem, just use the custom EQ and dial it down for a more balanced sound.

My Final Thoughts

So, what do I think about the PartyBox 310? 

It’s a great party speaker with all the features you’d expect and a few more. The microphone inputs turn it into an effective karaoke speaker, and its powerful bass-dominant sound brings the club environment straight to my dining room. Although it’s slightly older at this point, nothing feels outdated, with Bluetooth connection being reliable and the battery life still being able to go neck and neck with other party speakers of its size.

Despite how good this speaker is, I would still recommend the PartyBox Stage 320 which has already been on sale for cheaper than the 310’s list price. It retains all these positive qualities of the 310 but with some significant differences in its features and functionality. If you want to see how these two speakers compare, I’ve written a full comparison on the PartyBox 310 vs 320.

Sale
JBL PartyBox 310
  • 240 watts of powerful JBL pro sound
  • Mesmerize your crowd with a dazzling, dynamic light show that dances to the beat with subtle pulsing and powerful strobing effects
  • Long lasting sound with 18 hours of music-blasting battery life
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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.

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Originally Published: October 20, 2024

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