Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore, at $230 against the Aiwa Exos-9’s $250. It is a great sounding party speaker with somewhat boosted bass, though it manages only 10 hours of battery at medium volume. The Exos-9 still sounds great against today’s models but is no longer sold new, lacks features, and is generally not recommended anymore.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the JBL Partybox Encore 2, which replaces the JBL Partybox Encore.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the JBL Partybox Encore at IPX4 (splashing) against the Aiwa Exos-9, which has no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Aiwa Exos-9 | JBL Partybox Encore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 Discontinued | $230 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #9 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (5-band graphic EQ + 4 presets) | Yes (3 band App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs (6.9 kg) | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (with adapter) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 19.4” x 7.5” x 11.7” (492.8 x 190.5 x 297.2 mm) | 10.9” x 12.9” x 11.5” (276 x 327 x 293 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3” midwoofers + 2x 1” silk dome tweeters | 135mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Aux Latency | - | 17ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
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