JBL PartyBox 520 vs Sony XV800

JBL’s PartyBox 520 Offers The Best Performance But Costs Almost $250 More.

Sony’s XV800 is a solid party speaker with great performance. It is often preferred over the PartyBox 710 because of its built-in battery, which makes it more portable. However, JBL’s PartyBox 520 is now out and is a much more similar speaker to the XV800 than the PartyBox 710. So if you’re on the fence about going with Sony or JBL, and can’t decide between these two speakers, here’s how they compare.

Our Pick

JBL PartyBox 520 vs Sony XV800 Specs

Model	JBL PartyBox 520	Sony XV800
Water Resistance	IPX4	IPX4
Output Power	400W	110W
Bluetooth Version	5.4	5.2
Battery Life	Up to 15 Hours	Up to 25 hours
Charging Time	3 Hours	3 Hours
Frequency Response	40 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz
Woofers	2 × 7.5” Woofers	2x 6.69″ Woofers
Tweeters	2 × 1” tweeters	5x Tweeters
TWS	Yes	Yes
Group Pairing	Yes (Auracast)	Yes
Weight	56.2 lbs	40.8 lbs
Dimensions	16.34” x 30.28” x 14.53”	14.88 x 28.38 x 12.5″
App Support	Yes (PartyBox)	Yes (Sony Music Center)
Price:	Check Price	Check Price

Table of Contents

• Design, Build & Durability
• Controls, Connectivity & App Support
• Sound Quality & Volume
• Battery
• Price & Value
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

Differences In Design, Build, & Durability Between The PartyBox 520 And The Sony XV800

• JBL’s PartyBox 520 is a larger and heavier speaker, but it has better wheels for transport.
• Both speakers can be used outdoors, with IPX4 water-resistance.
• The XV800’s lighting falls short of that achieved by the PartyBox 520.

Durability

Winner: Tie

Like most party speakers, neither the JBL PartyBox 520 nor the Sony XV800 is particularly durable. They do have water resistance, rated to IPX4, which helps protect them from minor splashes. However, both speakers are prone to cosmetic damage during transport, meaning care must be taken when moving them in the back of a vehicle, for instance. The plastic itself is high-quality and can typically take a bit of a knock, but the inherent tendency to get scuffed when brushed up against a wall, for instance, is worth noting.

Portability

Winner: Tied

These are two large and heavy speakers, the PartyBox 520 weighing in at 56.2 lbs while the XV800 is a slightly more manageable 40.8 lbs. Both speakers have built-in wheels which help in transport, but the small wheel size on the Sony XV800 means moving it across rough terrain can be a challenge.

The PartyBox 520 may be heavier, but its wheels are larger and better suited to asphalt or short grass. Overall, these pros and cons balance themselves out, making each speaker similar in how portable they are.

Lighting Effects

Winner: JBL PartyBox 520

Lighting effects are significantly better on the JBL PartyBox 520, which has a large area of LED that spans across much of the speaker’s face, behind the grille. It also has some accent lights (Starry lights) and LED panels on the top and bottom.

In contrast, Sony’s XV800 has more subtle light effects, which are limited to panels on the top and bottom of the speaker. They add a bit of ambience to the room, but don’t provide the immersion or coverage found on the PartyBox 520.

The JBL PartyBox 520 and Sony XV800 Have Similar Controls, With A Few Key Differences

• Inputs and outputs are similar between both models, but the XV800 has the benefit of Optical In.
• Controls are also similar, but with easy-to-access mic adjustments and effects, the PartyBox 520 has an advantage.
• Both speakers have companion apps, but JBL only needs one, whereas Sony requires two apps for full control over lighting and sound profiles.

Inputs & Outputs

Winner: Sony XV800

These speakers have similar inputs and outputs, both able to connect microphones or an instrument. The PartyBox 520 uses XLR ports for this, though, while the XV800 uses 6.35mm aux ports. One advantage the XV800 has is its inclusion of an optical input. It’s not something that everyone will use, but it is nice to have.

Controls

Winner: JBL PartyBox 520

Sony and JBL have taken very different approaches to controls. The PartyBox 520s are mostly dials and physical buttons, while the XV800 has a touch panel at the top. They both have a bass boost button for more powerful lows, but the JBL has a lot more control over the lights and a whole panel dedicated to adjusting how the microphones sound, allowing users to dial in the volume, bass, and treble. One can even add an echo effect.

TWS & Group Pairing

Winner: Tie

Wireless multispeaker pairing is afforded by both the PartyBox 520 and Sony XV800, with each speaker being able to be paired together in a true wireless stereo connection or a general group pairing.

Both speakers can be paired with a broad range of their respective brands’ releases in a general wireless multispeaker pairing. For example, the PartyBox 520 uses Auracast, which is also used by the JBL Flip 7, Charge 6, Xtreme 4, Clip 5, Go 4, PartyBox 120, 320, and Ultimate.

The Sony XV800 also has excellent support for other Sony models, and includes a wide range of their SRS‑XB23, XB33, XB43, SRS‑XE200, XE300, SRS‑XP500, XP700, SRS‑XV900, LSPX‑S3, SRS‑XG300, and XG500.

When pairing for stereo sound, both models can only be paired with another of the same model. E.g.: PartyBox 520 with another PartyBox 520, XV800 with another XV800.

App Support

Winner: Sony XV800

First up, one needs to acknowledge the fact that to get the most out of the Sony XV800, one needs to use two apps, the Sony Music Center app and the Fiestable app. The Music Center app features basic controls, while Fiestable is more focused on additional party-centric features.

JBL, on the other hand, does everything through a single app, the JBL PartyBox app, available on iOS and Android.

Both speakers have similar control over the speakers through their apps, including lighting effects, sound profile adjustments, karaoke control, and more. The XV800 has a small benefit in that it offers a key adjustment; however, with JBL needing just one app, it still holds the advantage.

JBL PartyBox 520 Vs Sony XV800: Which Sounds Better?

• The PartyBox 520 gets louder and has deeper bass than the XV800.
• Sony’s unique 5-tweeter design sends treble frequencies in a wide dispersion.
• Dynamic performance is excellent on the PartyBox 520.

Sound Profile & Frequency Response

Winner: JBL PartyBox 520

When comparing the sound of these two speakers, the PartyBox 520 has deeper bass, thanks to its larger woofers (Dual 7.5″). Sony’s XV800 also has some solid thump in the low end, but it isn’t quite as deep as that of the PartyBox 520, in part because of the smaller woofers (Dual 6.69″).

Midrange clarity is great on both speakers, but the PartyBox 520 is more balanced, with a neutral sound that audiophiles can also appreciate. In contrast, the XV800 has more of that classic old-school party tuning, with an elevated bass, but not as well-balanced mids.

While the treble sounds good on both speakers, the sheer number of tweeters on the Sony XV800 gives it a slight advantage, as it causes nuanced highs to sound more expansive.

Soundstage & Dynamics

Winner: JBL PartyBox 520

The dynamic range is excellent on both speakers, but JBL has been laser-focused on improving dynamic performance since 2024, and the PartyBox 520 continues this trend. It can produce extremely fine details, even those layered deep into the mix, and reach high volumes with minimal distortion levels, while the XV800 tends to get a touch more artifacting towards the end of its volume range.

Soundstage is important for party speakers, and both the XV800 and PartyBox 520 do a good job at it. The XV800’s soundstage is boosted by the multiple tweeters that face in all directions. The PartyBox 520 just has two tweeters, but because of JBL’s quality engineering, it has an excellent soundstage with wide separation.

Volume

Winner: JBL PartyBox 520

Both of these speakers can fill a fairly large room, but the PartyBox 520 gets a fair bit louder than the XV800, while also retaining more clarity at these higher volumes. The PartyBox 520 produces between 106 and 108 decibels, while the XV800 gets closer to 102-105 dB.

How Does The Battery Differ Between The PartyBox 520 and XV800?

• Although rated to last up to 10 hours longer than the PartyBox 520, the real-world differences in playtime are less significant.

Winner: Sony XV800

On paper, the Sony XV800 has significantly more battery life, rated to last up to 25 hours compared to the PartyBox 520’s 15-hour manufacturer estimate. However, in practice, the difference isn’t quite as big as the spec sheets suggest.

You’re going to get between 10 and 12 hours of playtime from the XV800 at 50-60% volume, while the PartyBox 520 lasts around 8 to 10 hours at the same volume.

A significant benefit of the PartyBox 520 is the replaceable battery that can be swapped out super quickly, meaning you can always keep a spare on hand to expand your playtime.

Price & Value

Winner: Sony XV800

With a retail price of almost $900, the JBL PartyBox 520 [Available on Amazon] is not a cheap speaker. It is going to give you the best performance, but at around $250 cheaper, one shouldn’t rule out the XV800. Both speakers have something to offer, depending on what you’re looking for in your party speaker.

The PartyBox 520 is the best choice if you’re looking for the most accurate sound, the most volume, or simply enjoy vibrant lighting effects. The XV800 is best if you want a bit more battery life or a stylish touch panel control area that carries a futuristic aesthetic.

Our Pick

Frequently Asked Questions About The JBL PartyBox 520 and Sony XV800