Short answer: the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra. It ranks #11 of 112 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $388. The JBL Boombox 3 ranks #27, rated 3.8/5, at $349.95, $38.05 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The Sonic Boom Ultra is louder and deeper. A 6x9-inch racetrack woofer, two midranges and two tweeters reach audible bass to around 30Hz, and it played 106 to 107dB in enthusiast tests. It charges over USB-C and adds HDMI ARC for TV use. It weighs 24.3 lbs (11 kg), gets noisy near full volume, and its custom EQ cuts bass and does not save.
The Boombox 3 is smaller, tougher and links with other JBLs. A 7.4-inch subwoofer, two woofers and two tweeters reach 43Hz before falling 10dB, and Alan Ross measured 110dB. It is rated IP67, doubles as a power bank and joins up to 100 JBL speakers through PartyBoost. A dip in the mid bass makes its bass sound undefined, and it peaks around 700Hz.
Buy the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $38.05 you would save on the JBL Boombox 3 does not close the gap.
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 massively loud boombox with deep bass, long battery life, and HDMI ARC so it can double as a TV soundbar.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 3 | Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $388.00 |
| Ranked | #27 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 25ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) | No (TWS stereo pairing of 2 units only, no Auracast) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | USB-C (60W fast charging) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (Country, Classic, and custom app EQ; custom settings don’t persist after the app closes) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | - |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 180W AC / 136W battery | 320W RMS / 500W Peak |
| Dimensions | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) | 23.4” x 9.8” x 12.3” (595 x 248 x 313 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 6x9in racetrack woofer (200W) + 2x 4.5in midrange (40W each) + 2x tweeters (20W each), true 3-way |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Battery Capacity | - | 45000mAh (Reviewer estimated) |
| Inputs | - | HDMI ARC (in/out, usable as a TV soundbar), AUX in/out, USB drive, microSD, optional wired mic |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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