Short answer: the Encore Essential 2, and by a wide margin. It ranks #6 of 113 boombox speakers against the Boombox 3 Wifi’s #26, while costing $140 less, which leaves the pricier speaker with little to justify itself on.
Loudness is the Boombox 3 Wifi’s one clear advantage, and it comes with a real tradeoff. Its own pros call it the loudest speaker in its category, but its cons list bass boosted and a dip at 160Hz, both signs of a tuning built for maximum impact rather than accuracy. The Encore Essential 2 takes a different approach: its notes credit better off axis performance from switching to dome tweeters instead of cone tweeters, and it also goes slightly deeper and rolls off less in the highs than the original Encore it replaces, with only a minor complaint about missing a little upper bass.
Wifi and water resistance are the Boombox 3’s real hardware edges. It adds Wifi streaming the Encore Essential 2 lacks, and its IP67 rating (submersion-resistant) is well ahead of the Encore Essential 2’s IPX4 splash rating. It is also rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 hours for the Encore Essential 2.
The Encore Essential 2 answers back with features, not just sound. It has a companion app with 7 band EQ where the Boombox 3 Wifi has no app or EQ at all, plus karaoke-mode microphone input, a guitar input, and USB playback, none of which the Boombox 3 Wifi offers.
Buy the Encore Essential 2 unless you specifically need Wifi streaming or the highest volume in this pairing. It costs less, has a companion EQ app, and its tuning has fewer complaints than the Boombox 3 Wifi’s boosted bass and 160Hz dip.
Buy the Boombox 3 Wifi if maximum loudness, Wifi streaming, or submersion-level water resistance matter more to you than price or tonal accuracy.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
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 Wifi | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.95 | $249.95 |
| Ranked | #26 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| App | No | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| EQ | No | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 200W AC / 140W battery | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 19.1” x 10.1” x 7.9” (484 x 256 x 200 mm) | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Strap | No | No |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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