Short answer: the JBL Boombox 3. It ranks #27 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $349.95. The Pioneer PBM5 ranks #112, rated 2.0/5, at $149, $200.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Boombox 3 is the better-sounding, longer-running option. A loud, fully waterproof boombox with a dedicated subwoofer, a 24 hour battery and power bank charging. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 13 for the Pioneer PBM5. It is rated IP67 against IPX5 for the Pioneer PBM5. The tradeoff: Dips in mid bass range which makes the bass sound undefined, bass boosted, peaky at 700Hz, not quite as good mids and treble as the Blast.
The case for the Pioneer PBM5: A loud karaoke boombox with two mic inputs, a guitar input, lights, a shoulder strap and a choice of USB-C or AC power. It has a microphone input for karaoke or announcements, which the JBL Boombox 3 lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Boombox 3 lacks. The catch: Williston Audio Labs was not impressed with its sound: there is very little bass below 100Hz, and the amplifier’s output has a big dip from 1.6kHz to 10kHz that leaves the upper mids and treble recessed.
Buy the JBL Boombox 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $200.95 with the Pioneer PBM5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Measured Differences
- Output: the JBL Boombox 3 was measured at 110 dB maximum against 105 dB for the Pioneer PBM5, so it gets somewhat louder before it runs out of headroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 3 | Pioneer PBM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #27 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #112 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 25ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours at 60% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 105dB at 2m (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | USB-C or AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (presets + user EQ) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| USB Playback | No | Yes (MP3 only) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | Yes (2 inputs) |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 180W AC / 136W battery | 300W peak (Manufacturer specified), about 90W measured |
| Dimensions | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) | 8.9”H x 17.4”W x 8.1”D (226 x 442 x 207 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x 51mm (2”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Boombox 3: reviews by JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show, Oluv and Alan Ross.
- Pioneer PBM5: reviews by Williston Audio Labs and AnotherReview ByFrank.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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