Short answer: the Boombox 3 if the price gap doesn’t matter, the Boom 2 Plus if it does. The Boombox 3 ranks #27 of 113 boombox speakers at $349.95; the Boom 2 Plus ranks #39 at $169.99, less than half the price for five fewer places.
The Boombox 3 wins on real features, not just tuning. IP67 water resistance, a genuine power bank function, and PartyBoost pairing with up to 100 compatible JBL speakers are all things the Boom 2 Plus doesn’t offer. Its measured weakness is dips in the mid bass that leave the low end sounding undefined, plus a peak around 700 Hz.
The Soundcore is lighter and has real upside once EQ’d. Our own notes flag it as quite a bit lighter than most of the class and likely to move up once a proper EQ tune lands, though as shipped it’s a warm, rolled-off speaker with bass that’s reasonable but not top-tier.
Neither is class-leading on sound alone. Both sit in the bottom half of a 71-speaker ranking; the gap between them is real but not dramatic, which is why the price difference matters as much as the placement.
Buy the Boombox 3 for the water resistance, the power bank, and JBL’s pairing ecosystem. Buy the Boom 2 Plus if you want boombox size for closer to $169.99 and can live with the current tuning.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A loud, fully waterproof boombox with a dedicated subwoofer, a 24 hour battery and power bank charging.
A fairly light stereo boombox, easy to carry to the beach or park.
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
| JBL Boombox 3 | Soundcore Boom 2 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $169.99 |
| Ranked | #27 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 25ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | 39Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyCast 2.0) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) | 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (Pro EQ + presets) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2A) |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 180W AC / 136W battery | 140W |
| Dimensions | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) | 17.3” x 9.1” x 5.9” (440 x 230 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 2x 114mm (4.5”) woofers + 2x 19mm (0.75”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Strap | No | Yes (detachable strap) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
- Picky Audio: SO CLOSE! Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3
- Picky Audio: Extended Sound Test (Soundcore Boom 2 Plus vs JBL Boombox 3)
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