Short answer: the Earfun Uboom X. It ranks #1 of 70 boombox speakers at $128; the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 ranks #5 and costs $209, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the Earfun Uboom X side: Tuned by Oluv and he knocked it out of the park again. Set against that: The out of the box 0.33 firmware and EQ sounds horrible.
The case for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. The tradeoff: Missing a little bit of upper bass.
One note: the Earfun Uboom X is discontinued, but it still ranks #1 of 70 boombox speakers, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Earfun Uboom X if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| Earfun Uboom X | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $128 Discontinued | $209.00 |
| Ranked | #1 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Earfun Audio app) | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 16ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~38Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | SBC Video mode 48ms, AAC Video mode 128ms, SBC 112ms, AAC 176ms | - |
| Max Volume | 110dB | 110dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Up to 50 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power cord |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Output Power | 80W | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 15.75" x 5.91" x 8.46" (400 x 150 x 215 mm) | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 102mm (4") woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
The Two Speakers In Full
Earfun Uboom X: $128 Discontinued Myearfun Amazon
Pros: Tuned by Oluv and he knocked it out of the park again. Deeper bass than the Stormbox Blast. Extremely neutral, possibly the best of any modern Bluetooth speaker slightly behind the Vifa Helsinki. This is the only speaker that sounds correct at every single volume level due to Oluv’s individual EQ settings at each volume level. Other speakers will need a different EQ at each volume level. Amazing sounding at low levels as it boosts bass and treble at low levels to account for the equal-loudness contour. Just considering the midrange and treble, this speaker is better sounding than the Earfun Uboom L.
Cons: The out of the box 0.33 firmware and EQ sounds horrible. Some people have mentioned sound interruption issues when using 2 in TWS, I don’t have this issue with my Pixel 7 Pro, try disabling AAC in that case. Discontinued.
Setup: Please update it using the Earfun app (Android or iOS) and select an Oluv EQ. The Earfun app has sound profiles created by Oluv for Studio, Indoor, Indoor+, Outdoor, Outdoor+, BOOM xxX, and Ground 0 which are all fantastic. Oluv has a newer firmware pack that brings it up a few more notches of neutral
| App | Yes (Earfun Audio app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 16ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | SBC Video mode 48ms, AAC Video mode 128ms, SBC 112ms, AAC 176ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 15.75" x 5.91" x 8.46" (400 x 150 x 215 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 102mm (4") woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9 lbs / 4.1 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 3D Audio Show: B&W Zeppelin - audiophile sound quality test 🎧
- Oluv Patreon: B&W Zeppelin vs Earfun UBoom X (indoor+)
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Earfun UBoom X, a PROPER sound test 😎
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: B&O Beolit 20 vs Earfun UBoom X - everything fake?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: 🎃🔥 UBoom X - Halloween Rock Special 🎸🤘
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6, Xtreme 4 & Earfun UBoom X - taking sound to the top
- M1M Tech Channel: Partybox Killer? 2x Earfun UBoom X stärker als JBL Encore 2 ?
- Mateusz Cholewa: EarFun UBOOM X Deep Bass 🆚 Tribit Stormbox Blast🎶Review👌
- Mateusz Cholewa: TRIBIT StormBox LAVA vs EarFun UBOOM X
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: $600 premium Bluetooth speaker vs $115 cheapo UBoom X
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - outdoor sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - indoor sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs 2 Earfun UBoom X - outdoor test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL Partybox Encore vs Earfun UBoom X: outdoors
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL Partybox Encore vs Earfun UBoom X: indoors
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Soundcore Motion Boom Plus & Earfun UBoom X - sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Earfun UBoom X vs W-King D10 - same price, same sound?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Best portable speakers 2025 - get the best bang for your buck $$$
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 720 - first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Earfun UBoom X
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X vs JBL Boombox 3 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X im Vergleich zum Teufel nochmal
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X vs JBL Boombox 3 - outdoor
- Oluv Patreon: UBoom X - desktop mode demonstration
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - different firmware versions
- Oluv Patreon: UBoom X - final outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox Blast vs Earfun UBoom X - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - listening session
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X vs JBL Partybox 100
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - final sound check
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - teaser 3
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - teaser 2
- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X - teaser 1
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - first impressions
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - listening session
- Oluv Patreon: Zealot S89 vs Yeahbox Boom Max3 - indoor listening test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom X Mini Boombox bluetooth speaker, a PROPER review 😝
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Boombox 4 vs Earfun UBoom X - sound test
- Josh’s Gadgets and More: Earfun Uboom X vs ZZA K8 sound comparison
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: J&O sEARius vs Earfun UBoom X and a bit of Bose
- Buy Used
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Earfun Uboom X vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Earfun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Earfun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- Earfun Uboom X vs Zealot ZE41
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Boombox 4
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Boombox 3 Wifi
- See all 19 comparisons
- Links
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $209.00 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Better battery life than the first Encore.
Cons: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Zealot ZE41
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Boombox 4
- See all 16 comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.