Short answer: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 for the higher ranking, the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 for the lower price. The Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 70 boombox speakers at $385. The JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 ranks #5 at $209, $176 cheaper.
On the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 side: Warm sound with boosted bass. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
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 Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 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
| Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $385 | $209.00 |
| Ranked | #3 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Latency | 112ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz | - |
| 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 | - |
| Max Volume | 103dB | 110dB |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Output Power | 160W RMS | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 17.28" x 9.45" x 7.56" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (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 |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
The Two Speakers In Full
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon Ebay Refurbished
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Dimensions | 17.28" x 9.45" x 7.56" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 103dB |
| Output Power | 160W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding?
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Head-to-Head 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 Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Max 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Zealot ZE41
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- 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.