The PartyBox 320 Is A Worthy Evolution of Its Predecessor, With More Detailed Sound & Replaceable Battery Pack
The JBL PartyBox 320 was released in May 2024 and offers several significant upgrades to the popular PartyBox 310, including more detailed sound, better wheels, and a game-changing replaceable battery. I’ve thoroughly reviewed and decibel-tested both models, and this is how they compare when put head-to-head.
Key Takeaways
- The PartyBox 320 is heavier (41.7 lbs vs. 38.4 lbs) but retains a telescopic handle with improved locking positions.
- The PartyBox 320 introduces a new figure-8 LED ring, an LED strip on the top and bottom, and vertical LED accents.
- The PartyBox 320 upgrades to Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast support.
- The PartyBox 310 has a bass-heavy sound while the PartyBox Stage 320 has a more balanced and detailed sound.
- The PartyBox 320 now features a replaceable battery pack, extending how long the speaker will last and increasing battery performance.
Winner
JBL PartyBox Stage 320
The PartyBox Stage 320 ushers in the next generation of the PartyBox range with improved sound quality, lighting effects, and multi-speaker pairing.
JBL PartyBox 310 vs Partybox 320 Specs Compared
| Model | PartyBox 310 | PartyBox 320 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Output Power | 240W | 240W |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Battery Life | Up to 18 Hours | Up to 18 Hours |
| Charging Time | 3.5 Hours | 3 Hours |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz – 20 kHz | 40 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Woofers | Dual 6.5″ | Dual 6.5″ |
| Tweeters | Dual 2.25″ | Dual 1″ |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Group Pairing | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs | 41.7 lbs |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 27 x 14.5″ | 13.19 x 26.34 x 15.16″ |
| App Support | JBL PartyBox | JBL PartyBox |
| Price: | Check Price | Check Price |
Design, Build, & Durability
- The PartyBox 320 is slightly shorter than the 310 and has a redesigned grille similar to the PartyBox Club 120.
- JBL removed the side stands, meaning the 320 isn’t designed for horizontal placement.
- A white version of the PartyBox 320 was released in September 2024.
- The 320 features a more durable mesh design for better protection.
- The PartyBox 320 is heavier (41.7 lbs vs. 38.4 lbs) but retains a telescopic handle with improved locking positions.
- The wheel design is upgraded for better stability, especially on rough terrain.
- The PartyBox 320 introduces a new figure-8 LED ring, an LED strip on the top and bottom, and vertical LED accents.
- Users can control lighting effects via the JBL PartyBox app.
Design: What Makes These Speakers Unique
Winner: JBL PartyBox 320
These two speakers have a similar silhouette, but the telescopic handle on the new PartyBox Stage 320 is a noticeable difference. There have also been changes to the grille design, logo, and control panel. The PartyBox 310 is also only available in black, while the PartyBox 320 got a white variation added in September 2024.
Durability: Water-Resistant Designs & Sturdier Grille
Winner: JBL PartyBox 320
The JBL PartyBox 310 and 320 sport a durable design that protects them in a party environment. While neither speaker is particularly well suited to outdoor use in challenging weather, they both have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which protects them from drizzle, accidental splashes, and light sprays.
The new mesh design feels more durable, with the tighter-knit pattern providing additional protection from accidental damage.
Portability: Which Speaker’s Easier To Move?
Winner: PartyBox 320
The PartyBox 320 is slightly heavier than the PartyBox 310, weighing 41.7 lbs compared to 38.4 lbs. Thankfully, the inclusion of telescopic carry handles on both models makes them relatively easy to move around.
The PartyBox Stage 320 features significant improvements to its wheel design, with a broader surface coverage that provides more stability. These new wheels perform better on rough terrain in particular. While the 320 is a slightly smaller but wider speaker, there are no noticeable differences in portability due to these minor size adjustments.
When testing the 310, I found it was easy to have the speaker feel off-balance when transporting it, the new changes to the 320 have improved this.
Lighting Effects: Vibrant, Party-Enhancing Aesthetics
Winner: PartyBox 320
Vibrant lighting is a key feature of most party speakers and the PartyBox range is renowned for its bright, active lighting. The PartyBox 320 improves the lighting effects of the 310, replacing the two distinct LED rings around the drivers with a single, figure-8 design that increases the amount of light the speaker produces.
Additionally, JBL has added an LED strip to the tops and bottoms of the speaker to create additional visual nuance. An additional eight small white LEDs run vertically along the left and right sides of the speaker and are referred to by JBL as “starry lights”.
I found that the JBL mobile app offered awesome customization options where I could easily tweak the colors and effects of the lights.
Controls, Connectivity & App Support
- The PartyBox 320 upgrades to Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast support, enabling multi-speaker pairing.
- The control panel now features raised buttons for easier use.
- Microphone controls are enhanced with dedicated bass, treble, and echo dials.
- A new soundboard feature allows preset sound effects but doesn’t support custom samples.
- The 12V DC input was removed, reducing versatility.
Inputs & Outputs: Including Microphones & Instruments
Winner: PartyBox 320
The PartyBox 320 retains most of the inputs and outputs in the previous model with a few small changes. There are two microphone inputs, one of the two supporting guitar inputs, and an associated toggle button.
JBL has moved the microphone volume controls to the top of the speaker, with only the guitar input’s volume being controlled via the rear of the speaker.
It retains the USB-A, aux-in connection, and daisy chain ports but says goodbye to the TWS pairing button. TWS pairing can still be done using the mobile app, where it’s titled “Stereo Group.” I really liked the fact that I could play audio with a USB drive and that the USB port wasn’t merely a method of phone charging.
Controls: Never Been Easier To Use Than On The PartyBox 320
Winner: PartyBox 320
The entire control panel has been changed on the PartyBox 320, now featuring raised buttons similar to those found on both the PartyBox 110 and 120. I prefer this style of control, as it feels very intuitive. At no point did I find myself reaching for the manual.
The microphone controls have become more prominent and robust, with four dials that allow for changing volume, bass, treble, and echo. These controls only affect the audio from the microphone and will not adjust the sound of regular music played through the speaker. The 320 now has a visible label letting users know that the buttons are for microphone control, which was ambiguous in the 310.
We also now have access to a few somewhat novel soundboard buttons that play a soundbite over the audio. Unfortunately, they are limited to preset samples and don’t support custom audio samples.
The PartyBox Stage 320 falls behind the 310 in one area, and that’s the inclusion of a 12V DC input. This port wasn’t essential, but it gave more versatility to the speaker, especially when used away from home.
Bluetooth: The Move To 5.4
Winner: PartyBox 320
Bluetooth upgrades aren’t always a big deal, but the move from 5.1 to 5.4 is a noteworthy evolution in Bluetooth speakers as it allows connecting multiple speakers directly to a single source device, using the new Auracast pairing method.
The Bluetooth on both PartyBox speakers is otherwise reliable and effectively retains the connection at range. Additionally, because the 320 has such low latency, it becomes a viable home multimedia speaker too.
Multi-Speaker Pairing: For Broader Coverage
Winner: PartyBox 320
Traditionally, multispeaker connections were either TWS or relied on a speaker to take the master role and broadcast to the other connected speakers. The PartyBox Stage 320 can be connected en-mass to a single phone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth source device.
App Support: For Full Remote Control & Sound Adjustments
Winner: PartyBox 320
The 320 and 310 use JBL’s PartyBox app (supported on Android and Apple). Despite both speakers using the same app, the 320 has more comprehensive control options. Toggle between four preset EQ modes (JBL signature, movie, vocal, chill) or create your sound signature using the custom 5-band graphic EQ.
The app also provides speaker pairing control with TWS (True Wireless Stereo) pairing, available under the group pairing option.
Audio Performance
- The 320 has a wider frequency response (40Hz – 20kHz) for deeper bass and clearer mids.
- Improved clarity and balance compared to the 310, which had excessive bass.
- Maintains a dynamic, high-volume performance with slightly better detail at peak levels.
Sound Quality: Frequency Response & Sound Profile
Winner: PartyBox 320
The frequency response range has been improved on the new PartyBox 320, providing an additional 5 Hertz of depth to the low end. Despite the deeper bass extension, the 320 has a much more refined sound than the 310. The PartyBox 310 is a speaker that falls victim to excessive bass, drowning out the midrange and reducing vocal clarity. This may be appealing to some bass-heads, but with the PartyBox app, the 320’s bass can be dialed up while retaining its impressive detail.
I found the PartyBox 320 a brighter-sounding speaker with much more detail in the midrange and highs. It removes the muddiness that the 310 would sometimes fall victim to and instead provides the clarity we haven’t heard before within the 300-series.
Neither speaker is what one would consider balanced, but the vibrant party-style design is not made to be a reference speaker. Instead, the 320 creates a thriving party sound with deep bass while retaining the midrange vocal clarity and nuance within the treble range.
For an additional punch, you can activate the bass boost feature, bringing the bass even forward and making it ideal for electronic dance music.
Soundstage & Dynamics: Looking At Immersive and Detail
Winner: PartyBox 320
Both speakers have the same front-facing driver configuration with two vertically aligned 6.5″ woofers in the center and two horizontally aligned 2.25″ tweeters near the top. As a result, the soundstage between these two speakers is unchanged. When the PartyBox 310 was placed horizontally, the soundstage never improved. JBL’s removal of the horizontal placement feet didn’t impact the overall soundstage, with both speakers having a passable yet somewhat narrow dispersion.
The PartyBox 310 was never a slouch in its dynamics, reaching high volume levels while retaining details and clarity. The PartyBox Stage 320 performs similarly in this regard, with a slightly improved dynamic range that
Volume: Over 103dB Of Output From Both Speakers
Winner: PartyBox 320
Although wattage is only one part of the puzzle when discussing volume, the JBL PartyBox 310 and the PartyBox 320 both have an output of 240 watts.
Both speakers can breach over 100dB SPL, but I wanted to perform a thorough volume comparison, so I used a measuring microphone to test the output of both speakers at 1 meter. The PartyBox 310 reached 103.5 decibels while the PartyBox Stage 320 was able to hit a peak of 104.2 decibels at the same distance. Essentially, both speakers can fill a medium to large room.
Battery & Power
- Both speakers offer up to 18 hours of playtime, but real-world usage is around 7-9 hours with lights on.
- The PartyBox 320 charges 30 minutes faster and features a replaceable battery for extended usability.
Playtime: Now Featuring A Replaceable Battery
Winner: PartyBox 320
The PartyBox 310 and 320 have similar battery capabilities, with JBL rating them both to provide 18 hours of playtime from a charge. However, the battery life depends on the volume level and lighting effects. Real-world scenarios will net you around 7 to 9 hours of playtime with the lighting effects enabled, which is a little shorter than the 310, but the 320 is slightly more efficient and can recharge in around 30 minutes less than the PartyBox 310.
The biggest benefit the PartyBox 320 has over the 310 when it comes to battery performance is the fact that JBL has elevated the PartyBox 300-series to feature a swappable battery, something that Soundboks has been doing for several years now. This ability improves your speaker’s longevity and can prove extremely useful when hosting a lengthy party.
The PartyBox 310 and even its predecessor, the PartyBox 300, used a 12V DC input for charging, but this has been removed from the spec sheet for the PartyBox 320. Instead, the JBL PartyBox 320 uses an AC input, which varies depending on location.
Price & Value
The JBL PartyBox 320 retails for $50 more than the PartyBox 310, with price drops expected on the 310 within the next several months. At around $600, it’s not a cheap speaker, but its quality justifies the high price point.
Conclusion
Overall, the PartyBox Stage 320 is a step up from the PartyBox 310. The improvements to sound quality are remarkable and a selling point on their own, but when coupled with the new Auracast pairing support and vibrant new lighting effects, it’s a no-brainer which of these two speakers is worth investing in. If you already have the 310 and are considering upgrading, you will see significant benefits.
- 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.
- Futuristic lightshow: Take all that sound and add a thrilling lightshow featuring starry lights, cool light trails, and strobe light effects—all synced to your beat.
Very detailed comparison. Clear and concise. Very helpful to those people who are torn between this two speakers. Thanks