Short answer: the JBL Authentics 300 on measured sound quality, the Tronsmart Bang Max on price. The JBL Authentics 300 ranks #32 of 75 boombox speakers at $499.95. The Tronsmart Bang Max ranks #36 at $229.99, $269.96 cheaper.
What the JBL Authentics 300 offers: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). Retro seventies design with leather and Quadrex grille. 100-watt amp, carries well with leather-trimmed handle. Rechargeable battery rated ~8 hours. Watch for: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others. Peaky upper mids. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
What the Tronsmart Bang Max offers: A powerful, feature-rich party speaker with loud, bass-rich output, app EQ, power-bank capability, lighting, TWS/multi-speaker linking, and separate microphone and guitar inputs with independent level control. Reviews find it can fill a large room even at moderate volume, while SoundPulse or custom EQ gives it useful flexibility for parties and casual karaoke. Watch for: Its bass-first tuning prioritizes impact over accuracy: upper mids and lower treble can sound unnatural, while fine midrange and treble detail are limited. Deep Bass mode can swallow the rest of the mix, volume control is imprecise and some reviewers hear distortion above roughly 98dB. It is a party tool, not a neutral monitor.
Buy the JBL Authentics 300 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Tronsmart Bang Max when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Tronsmart Bang Max at IPX6 (powerful water jets) against the JBL Authentics 300, which has no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Authentics 300 | Tronsmart Bang Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.95 | $229.99 |
| Ranked | #32 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #36 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| MicroSD Playback | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 100W | 130W |
| Dimensions | 13.5" x 7.7" x 7.1" (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) | 18.5" x 7.8" x 10.2" (470 x 199 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer + passive radiators | 2x ~165mm (6.5") woofers + 2x ~63mm (2.5") mid drivers + 2x ~25mm (1") tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 16ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 160ms |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Authentics 300:
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs JBL Authentics 300
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Authentics 300
- JBL Partybox Encore vs JBL Authentics 300
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
JBL Authentics 300: $499.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Integrates both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously (rare for smart speakers). Retro seventies design with leather and Quadrex grille. 100-watt amp, carries well with leather-trimmed handle. Rechargeable battery rated ~8 hours. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Narrow sounding, bass not as deep as others. Peaky upper mids. No TWS. No IP rating. Not as loud as others. Not much battery life.
Full JBL Authentics 300 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.5" x 7.7" x 7.1" (342 x 195.6 x 180.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi Multi-Room) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Authentics 300 - sound quality test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - update
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Authentics 300 - listening session
- Alan Ross Reviews: Not quite! JBL Authentics 300 review and sound test vs Boombox 3, Encore and Stormbox Blast More from alanrossreviews →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Authentics 300 vs JBL Boombox 2
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- JBL Authentics 300 vs Teufel Boomster 2021
- JBL Authentics 300 vs W-King D20
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- JBL Authentics 300 vs Zealot ZE01
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- See all 58 comparisons
Tronsmart Bang Max: $229.99 Tronsmart eBay
Pros: A powerful, feature-rich party speaker with loud, bass-rich output, app EQ, power-bank capability, lighting, TWS/multi-speaker linking, and separate microphone and guitar inputs with independent level control. Reviews find it can fill a large room even at moderate volume, while SoundPulse or custom EQ gives it useful flexibility for parties and casual karaoke. Measured bass extension of 39Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its bass-first tuning prioritizes impact over accuracy: upper mids and lower treble can sound unnatural, while fine midrange and treble detail are limited. Deep Bass mode can swallow the rest of the mix, volume control is imprecise and some reviewers hear distortion above roughly 98dB. It is a party tool, not a neutral monitor.
Full Tronsmart Bang Max review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 130W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 16ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 160ms |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.5" x 7.8" x 10.2" (470 x 199 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x ~165mm (6.5") woofers + 2x ~63mm (2.5") mid drivers + 2x ~25mm (1") tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (multiple modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tronsmart Bang Max Review, JBL Boombox 3 wannabe 130w More from alanrossreviews →
- Techder Audios: Zealot ZE01 VS Tronsmart Bang Max SOLID VOCALS VS DEEPER BASS More from techderaudios →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Triple Threat Match 🔺 SkullCandy Barrel XT, Tribit Blast & Tronsmart Bang Max 📛 Bluetooth Boombox 🔋 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Tronsmart Bang Max vs W-King X20
- Tronsmart Bang Max vs W-King D20
- Tronsmart Bang Max vs Soundcore Boom 2 Plus
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- See all 43 comparisons