Short answer: the Go + Play 3 for the warmer, deeper sound, the Encore Essential 2 for everything else. They rank #3 and #6 of 113 boombox speakers, close enough that this comes down to what you value, but the Go + Play 3 costs $135.05 more.
The Go + Play 3’s draw is bass depth and tone. Our notes call it warm with boosted bass, describing it as having the deepest bass of any speaker in its size class and a more natural sound than the previous Go + Play 2. The tradeoff is real: it’s just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes in its class, which matters if you’re using it outdoors or at a gathering rather than a quiet room.
The Encore Essential 2 answers with output and design updates. Our notes point to its move from cone to dome tweeters giving it better off-axis performance than the original Encore, along with slightly deeper bass and a bit less roll-off in the highs than that earlier model. Its one sonic knock is missing a little upper bass compared to the Go + Play 3’s tuning.
Everything practical favors the Encore Essential 2: it runs 15 hours of battery against 8 for the Go + Play 3, carries an IPX4 splash rating where the Go + Play 3 has none, adds Auracast party mode and USB playback, and includes a guitar input and karaoke microphone input that the Go + Play 3 lacks entirely.
Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 if warm, deep, natural-sounding bass matters more to you than raw volume, and you’re willing to pay more and skip water resistance for it.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 if you want longer battery life, splash protection, karaoke and guitar inputs, and a lower price, and can live with slightly less bottom-end weight.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 at IPX4 (splashing) against the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, which has no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $249.95 |
| Ranked | #3 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-C) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5”) subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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