Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 ahead off-axis, the Earfun Uboom X ahead on tuning. The Essential 2 appears to have better off-axis performance from its move to dome tweeters over cones, but it is missing a little upper bass. The Oluv-tuned Uboom X at $159.99 against $254.12 needs its horrible out-of-the-box 0.33 firmware and EQ replaced.
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.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 new; the Earfun Uboom X is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
If battery life is a priority, the Earfun Uboom X is rated for 30 hours versus 15 hours for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2.
Water resistance is not close: the Earfun Uboom X is rated at IP67 (brief submersion), well ahead of the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Earfun Uboom X | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 Discontinued | $254.12 |
| Ranked | #1 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 75 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 | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect mode, up to 50 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| 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 |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 15.7" x 5.9" x 8.5" (400 x 150 x 215 mm) | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (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 | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Earfun Uboom X:
- 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
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Earfun Uboom X: $159.99 Discontinued Myearfun eBay
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. Measured bass extension of ~38Hz (-10dB).
Cons: The out of the box 0.33 firmware and EQ sounds horrible. Some users have reported sound interruption issues when running two in TWS, though not on every source device, and disabling AAC resolves it where it occurs. 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
Full Earfun Uboom X review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7" x 5.9" x 8.5" (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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect mode, up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 3D Audio Show: B&W Zeppelin - audiophile sound quality test 🎧 More from Oluv’Sone →
- 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 ? More from M1MTechChannel →
- Mateusz Cholewa: EarFun UBOOM X Deep Bass 🆚 Tribit Stormbox Blast🎶Review👌 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- 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 😝 More from alanrossreviews →
- 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
- 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 ZE51
- Earfun Uboom X vs Zealot ZE41
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Boombox 4
- See all 26 comparisons
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $254.12 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A compact 6.2kg party speaker with 100W output, 110dB maximum level, a 15-hour claimed battery, app-based 7-band EQ, dynamic lighting, USB playback, guitar and mic inputs, and Auracast linking. Independent testing finds a balanced midrange, genuinely punchy low bass and enough output for a backyard gathering; its dome tweeters also improve the earlier Encore’s high-frequency behavior.
Cons: It is front-facing, so the sound changes noticeably to the sides and behind it, and bass compression reduces kick-drum impact at maximum volume. Bluetooth latency can cause lip-sync issues, its IPX4 rating only covers splashes, and it omits the wireless microphones bundled with the non-Essential Encore 2.
Full JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Links
- 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 Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 59 comparisons