Short answer: the Soundboks Rider, if you are buying new. The JBL Partybox 100 ranks higher than it (#8 vs #27 of 44 party speakers, 4.4/5 vs 3.4/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Soundboks Rider is still sold new at $599.
The JBL Partybox 100 is the better-sounding pick. Quite neutral sound, pretty deep bass. Watch for: A slight peak in the upper mids.
The Soundboks Rider is the longer-running, lighter option. At 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) it is the lightest Soundboks yet, with a carry handle, IP66 dust and water protection, and the same swappable 100Wh battery as the Mix and Soundboks 4, rated for 35 hours at mid volume and 8 hours at maximum. It is rated for 35 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Partybox 100. At 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Partybox 100 at 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg). It is rated IP66, while the JBL Partybox 100 has no water resistance. The tradeoff: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume.
Buy the Soundboks Rider if you want one new; the JBL Partybox 100 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 100 | Soundboks Rider | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 Discontinued | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #8 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes (Soundboks) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Charging Time | 6.5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 21.7” x 11.4” (288 x 551 x 290 mm) | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP66 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Party Mode | No | No (no TeamUp) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C (65W fast charging) |
| Stereo | Partially | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 160W | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” (133mm) woofers + 2x 2.25” (57mm) tweeters | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 100: $499.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Partybox Club 120, ranked higher, rated 4.5/5.
Pros: Quite neutral sound, pretty deep bass. Measured bass extension of 41Hz (-10dB).
Cons: A slight peak in the upper mids. Slight TWS issue where the 2nd is slightly delayed. Just as loud and slightly deeper bass than a Stormbox Blast which is way smaller with better sound quality. Discontinued.
Full JBL Partybox 100 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 160W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Charging Time | 6.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3” x 21.7” x 11.4” (288 x 551 x 290 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” (133mm) woofers + 2x 2.25” (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Oluv Patreon: Earfun UBoom X vs JBL Partybox 100 More from Oluv’Sone →
- Vua2hand: Solo Braven XXL/2 vs JBL Partybox 100 Sound test l Braven hay Jbl ?!!
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Soundboks Rider: $599.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: At 6.5 kg it is the lightest Soundboks yet, with a carry handle, IP66 dust and water protection, and the same swappable 100Wh battery as the Mix and Soundboks 4, rated for 35 hours at mid volume and 8 hours at maximum. Xander’s measurements found its flat profile genuinely flat, with distortion around 0.2 percent at moderate volume and below 2 percent from 500 Hz to 10 kHz even at full output, and the Indoor profile reaching down to 40 Hz at moderate volume. Both Xander and M1M Tech Channel preferred its punchy, controlled kick bass to the larger Soundboks Mix, and the app adds a six-band EQ with saveable presets.
Cons: Its sealed 8in woofer runs out of real bass at high volume: Xander measured the -6 dB point rising to roughly 75 to 85 Hz at maximum, with 40 Hz some 20 dB down, and M1M heard the bass pulled back toward the upper bass above mid volume. It measured 107 dB(C) outdoors for Xander and 113.2 dB(C) for M1M, about 3 dB below the Soundboks Mix and well short of the claimed 118 dB. There is no TeamUp, so it cannot link with other Soundboks speakers, the strap and charger are sold separately, and Xander found the grille causes dispersion artifacts around 5 kHz and judged the price too high for what it delivers.
Full Soundboks Rider review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 92W RMS (72W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Soundboks) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 35 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 8” woofer (sealed), 1.2” dome tweeter in horn |
| EQ | Yes (6-band EQ + Bass+, Indoor and Outdoor profiles) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP66 |
| Maximum SPL | 113.2dB(C) (measured by M1M Tech Channel) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No (no TeamUp) |
| Power Input | USB-C (65W fast charging) |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs (6.5 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Soundboks Rider vs Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
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