A Battle Between A Bass-Heavy Icon And A Convenient Party Speaker That Balances Power With Portability
We put the JBL PartyBox 310 up against the PartyBox 710 in testing to figure out which is the better Bluetooth party speaker. While both models have a lot to offer, the differences in design are significant and impact how they can be used. Keep reading, as I go over our findings and share my thoughts on which is truly the better option.
Key Takeaways:
- If you’re after deep bass, the PartyBox 710 is the top choice.
- The JBL PartyBox 710 is less versatile than the 310, requiring an AC power source.
- If you’re on a budget, the PartyBox 310 costs close to half that of the PartyBox 710.
- Consider the PartyBox 320, which has significant advantages over the older PartyBox 310.
2025 Update: The PartyBox 320 Is Out
Since we published this comparison, the PartyBox 320 has been released, improving on the PartyBox 310. If you’re on the fence about the PartyBox 310 and 710, it’s worth also considering how the PartyBox 320 and PartyBox 710 compare before committing.
Winner
JBL PartyBox 710
With more power, deeper bass, and brighter lights, the JBL PartyBox 710 is a more exciting speaker than the PartyBox 310. However, it doesn’t have a battery.
JBL PartyBox 310 vs 710 Specs
Table of Contents
- Design, Build & Durability
- Controls, Connectivity & App Support
- Sound Quality & Volume
- Battery
- Price & Value
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Design, Build & Durability Differences Between The JBL PartyBox 310 and JBL PartyBox 710
The PartyBox 310 and 710 have relatively similar designs, with a focus on easy-to-use controls, lighting effects, and wheels to make transport easier. However, there are notable differences in portability between these two speakers.
Durability
Winner: Tie
Both speakers are made from the same general materials and have similar durability, with solid plastics used for the outer shell and strong metals for the grille. They each have an IPX4 rating, a testament to their ability to withstand splashes, sprays, and drizzle. Neither speaker is protected from submergence in water, nor do they offer a dust protection rating.
Portability
Winner: PartyBox 310
JBL PartyBox 310 & JBL PartyBox 710 Wheels
The PartyBox 310 is substantially more portable than the 710. It weighs almost half as much and is just shy of 18 inches shorter. Both speakers have built-in wheels that make moving them around more manageable, but lifting the 710 is more challenging than the PartyBox 310. The 310 also has a telescopic handle, while the 710 only has a built-in handle design.
There are some differences in the wheel design between the speakers, with the 710 sporting a wide-tread wheel while the 310 has a slightly narrower, smoother wheel design with less traction.
In addition to the dimensions and weight, the PartyBox 710 has no battery and needs to be plugged into an AC outlet for power. This drastically limits its portability.
Lighting Effects
Winner: PartyBox 710
JBL PartyBox 310 Lighting
JBL PartyBox 710 Lighting
Both speakers have dynamic lighting that lends itself to a vibrant party environment, but the PartyBox 710 is more comprehensive in its light show. It has large LED rings around each of the 6.5″ drivers, connecting in the center of the front panel for a large swath of bright color. It also has colorful LEDs along the speaker’s edges, and some additional lights are spread across the front of the speaker.
In contrast, the PartyBox 310 has more modest lighting coverage, primarily centered around the drivers. Unlike the PartyBox 710, these rings do not connect, and most of the front panel is without LEDs. Still, the 310’s lighting display is exciting and exceeds that of similar party speakers from competing manufacturers, such as Sony’s XP & SV series.
How The Controls, Connectivity & App Support Differ Between The JBL PartyBox 310 and JBL PartyBox 710
Controls, connectivity, and app support are all important features of a party speaker. While both PartyBox models overlap in what they can do, the way they do it differs between models.
Inputs & Outputs
Winner: Tie
JBL PartyBox 310 Inputs & Outputs
JBL PartyBox 710 Inputs & Outputs
The Partybox 310 and 710 have the same input and output connections in the rear panel, though with a slightly different layout. They feature two primary inputs, one for microphones and another for a microphone or guitar. Both these inputs have gain dials, and both speakers let you adjust the echo, bass, and treble of these inputs.
In addition, the same rear panel has a TWS button, USB port, daisy chain ports, and aux input.
Controls
Winner: JBL PartyBox 710
JBL PartyBox 310 Controls
JBL PartyBox 710 Controls
Both speakers offer the same general controls, with buttons that adjust the volume, playback, Bluetooth pairing, and lighting effects. Additionally, both models provide a bass boost feature if you want to increase the low end.
Aside from the playback and audio controls, you can adjust your input source’s echo, treble, and bass. It’s essential to note that these controls only adjust the sound of your guitar or microphone input and do not impact the overall audio from your Bluetooth connection. To adjust your sound, you should use the JBL PartyBox app.
The PartyBox 310 has a button-centric control panel, while the PartyBox 710 uses dials instead. While this is a matter of preference, the dials are easier to use.
TWS & Daisy Chaining
Winner: Tie
Both speakers have the same support for TWS (True Wireless Stereo) and party pairing. TWS lets you connect two PartyBox 710 or two PartyBox 310 in stereo, giving you dedicated left and right channel audio. Doing this improves the soundstage of both speakers and adds better coverage.
For broader coverage without stereo sound, you can use the daisy chain connections with JBL’s “Party Mode.” This allows the speaker to be paired with several others of the same model, which is ideal for covering multiple or large rooms.
Today, the pairing technology used on these speakers is being phased out and replaced with Auracast. So you may wish to consider how this will affect your future. For example, if you buy a new JBL speaker, chances are it isn’t going to be able to be paired with the 310 or 710, making the PartyBox 320 a better choice for futureproofing.
App Support
Winner: Tie
Both speakers use the PartyBox app, available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple Store for iPhone users. The PartyBox app gives you versatile control over either speaker, letting you perform the following:
- TWS Pairing
- Karaoke Effects
- DJ Sound Effects
- Sound Equalization
- Lighting Controls
JBL PartyBox 310 Vs JBL PartyBox 710: Which Sounds Better?
Sound quality is where we see these speakers start to diverge, with more objective differences between each model.
Frequency Response
Winner: Tie
The frequency response of the PartyBox 710 is slightly more consistent than the 310, with fewer fluctuations, particularly in the low-end. It’s also got significantly more bass than the PartyBox 310, owing in part to the fact that it has two large 8″ woofers, compared to the 6.5″ woofers found on the 310. These large drivers allow the 710 to produce deeper, bone-rattling lows.
The PartyBox 310 has a slightly warmer sound than the 710, owing to the elevation in the lower midrange. While neither speaker is exceptionally bright, the 310 has a tamer bass to compete with and a slightly emphasized treble. In contrast, the 710 focuses most on the bass, with a recessed treble that can cause high frequencies to be overpowered.
In a party environment, a bright sound isn’t necessary, but if you’re looking to use your speaker for casual listening sessions, the 310 will be better suited.
Soundstage & Dynamics
Winner: PartyBox 710
Soundstage is the spatial perception of sound (width, depth, and placement), while dynamics refers to the range and intensity of sound. Better soundstage results in more immersive audio, while better dynamics result in less distortion.
The PartyBox 710 has a better soundstage than the 310, with more width and separation. In contrast, the PartyBox 310 has slightly better dynamic range, making it sound a bit more nuanced, especially when listening to genres other than EDM. The 310 can be pushed to maximum volume with little distortion, but the 710 suffers from a bit of compression towards the end of its volume range.
They are close to equal in this area, but the 710 holds a slight advantage due to its noticeably better soundstage.
Volume
Winner: PartyBox 710
Decibel readings between these two speakers have been a source of debate online for a while, so I was very keen to test them both and see how they compare. I used a pink-noise test at 1 meter and measured 103.2 dB from the PartyBox 310 and 105.4 dB from the JBL PartyBox 710. Finally, putting the debate to rest.
This 2.2 dB difference is also emphasized by the PartyBox 710’s deeper bass, which aids in making it sound really loud. Both speakers can fill a fairly large room, but the PartyBox 710 comes out on top.
The PartyBox 310 Has a Built-in Battery, But The PartyBox 710 Requires AC Power
Winner: PartyBox 310
The battery performance comparison is a one-horse race with the 710 requiring an AC input. This is the 710’s biggest weakness that won’t apply to everyone. If you’re always going to use your speaker indoors with an AC outlet nearby, the battery of the 310 is merely an unnecessary luxury. In contrast, if you’re looking for a battery-powered party speaker, the 710 isn’t an option.
The 310 has a battery life of up to 18 hours and can be fully charged in as little as 3 hours. Compared to the rest of the market, the 310’s 18 hours are disappointing but are typically enough for most party durations.
Price & Value
Winner: PartyBox 310
Nowadays, both speakers are frequently available at discounted prices, and depending on the sale price, the value for the customer may change. At their regular retail prices ($429 for the PartyBox 310 and $799 for the PartyBox 710), the PartyBox 310 is significantly cheaper, but sometimes the 710 is marked down to below $650, which can also make it an attractive choice.
Since early 2025, the PartyBox 710 has become a little harder to find on Amazon as well, possibly because of the new PartyBox 520.
Conclusion
Having tested both of these speakers and using the PartyBox 310 for several weeks at one point, here’s the deal. If you’re really into deep bass and a bit more volume, the PartyBox 710 is the clear winner. Its bass can shake the floors, and it’s got enough volume to fill fairly large rooms. What it lacks, though, is the versatility of the PartyBox 310. The reason I only tested the PartyBox 710 in store with our retail partners and not in our testing lab here is that it’s such a challenge to even carry it around in a standard car.
Winner
JBL PartyBox 710
With more power, deeper bass, and brighter lights, the JBL PartyBox 710 is a more exciting speaker than the PartyBox 310. However, it doesn’t have a battery.
So if you’re going to need to transport the speaker more than 10 times a year, you’ll probably find the PartyBox 310 more forgiving, with significantly less pain in its transport (still a pretty heavy speaker though). I’ve also written an in-depth review on the JBL Partybox 310 if you’re looking for deeper info.
The real question you should be asking yourself is, “Why not the PartyBox 320?”. The PartyBox 310 is now an outdated speaker, and the PartyBox 320 [Available on Amazon] has a replaceable battery and better dynamic range, making it sound more detailed. So, unless you have another PartyBoost speaker and want to preserve the ability to pair it with your new speaker, the PartyBox 320 is simply the better choice.
