Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #5 of 70 boombox speakers at $209; the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi ranks #20 and costs $389.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi gets right: Loudest speaker in the category. Set against that: Bass boosted.
On the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 side: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. The tradeoff: Missing a little bit of upper bass.
Buy the JBL Boombox 3 Wifi if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Boombox 3 Wifi | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $389.95 | $209.00 |
| Ranked | #20 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #5 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 111dB | 110dB |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cable | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs / 6.6 kg | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Wifi | 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 |
| Output Power | 200W AC / 140W battery | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 484mm x 256mm x 200mm | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (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 |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Boombox 3 Wifi: $389.95 Amazon
Pros: Loudest speaker in the category. Slightly better frequency response than the non-wifi version.
Cons: Bass boosted. Dip at 160hz
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 484mm x 256mm x 200mm |
| Drivers | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 111dB |
| Output Power | 200W AC / 140W battery |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs / 6.6 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Dominik Reviews: JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Boombox 3 WiFi - Sound Test - Wide vs Narrow Soundstage!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Encore 2 Partybox Deep Bass 🆚 Jbl Boombox 3 WiFi 🎶
- Alan Ross Reviews: Not quite! JBL Authentics 300 review and sound test vs Boombox 3, Encore and Stormbox Blast
- Alan Ross Reviews: WiFi Edition: JBL Boombox 3 ultimate review! vs Boombox 3 Bluetooth edition
- Mateusz Cholewa: Soundcore Rave 3🧐 🆚 Jbl Boombox 3 WiFi
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs JBL Boombox 4
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- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs Zealot ZE41
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs W-King X20
- JBL Boombox 3 Wifi vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
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- Links
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $209.00 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Better battery life than the first Encore.
Cons: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Earfun Uboom X
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 9
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Zealot ZE41
- See all 16 comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.