Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.7/5 (#3 and #7 of 13 large party speakers), so choose on features and fit.
The JBL Partybox 1000 is the lighter pick. Sounds right up there with the JBL Partybox Ultimate that replaced it, and is the better value of the two. At 75 lbs (34 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 at 105.1 lbs (47.68 kg). The catch: Very large and heavy.
The JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 is the tougher pick. A 1500W RMS system (up from the original Ultimate’s 1100W) driving dual 264mm subwoofers, dual 124mm mid-range drivers and dual 30mm horn-loaded PEN tweeters, with manufacturer-rated extension to 28Hz (-6dB) from a 1.05m-tall cabinet. It is rated IPX4, while the JBL Partybox 1000 has no water resistance. It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the JBL Partybox 1000 cannot. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the JBL Partybox 1000 cannot. The catch: AC-only: there is no battery, so it needs mains power wherever it goes.
Buy the JBL Partybox 1000 or the JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 1000 | JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,099.95 | £1,399.00 Upcoming |
| Ranked | #3 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | JBL One |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 75 lbs (34 kg) | 105.1 lbs (47.68 kg) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 15.6” x 41.3” x 15.4” (397 x 1050 x 390 mm) | 18.4” x 41.4” x 19.4” (466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 12” down-firing woofer, 2x 7” midrange, 1x compression horn tweeter | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 1100W | 1500W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) |
| Optical Input | - | Yes |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Partybox 1000 compares with other leading options:
- Sony ULT Tower Max vs JBL Partybox 1000
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 710
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 1000: $1,099.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Sounds right up there with the JBL Partybox Ultimate that replaced it, and is the better value of the two. A 12-inch down-firing woofer, two 7-inch midranges and a compression horn tweeter run on 1100W, with mic and guitar inputs and a waterfall light show. A handle and wheels make the 34 kg cabinet easy to move.
Cons: Very large and heavy. No battery. No app.
Full JBL Partybox 1000 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.6” x 41.3” x 15.4” (397 x 1050 x 390 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 12” down-firing woofer, 2x 7” midrange, 1x compression horn tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| 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) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 75 lbs (34 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 520
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Teufel Rockster
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- See all 25 comparisons
JBL Partybox Ultimate 2: £1,399.00 Upcoming Estimated Peter Tyson
Older model: the JBL Partybox Ultimate (ranked higher, rated 4.7/5).
Pros: A 1500W RMS system (up from the original Ultimate’s 1100W) driving dual 264mm subwoofers, dual 124mm mid-range drivers and dual 30mm horn-loaded PEN tweeters, with manufacturer-rated extension to 28Hz (-6dB) from a 1.05m-tall cabinet. Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect sits alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and Auracast multi-speaker linking. Inputs cover an XLR line-in, mic, guitar, aux, optical and USB-C playback, and karaoke gets AI vocal removal. JBL One app control, a full-panel light show with floor projection, and wheels plus a handle for its 47.68kg. IPX4 splash resistance.
Cons: AC-only: there is no battery, so it needs mains power wherever it goes. At 47.68kg and just over a metre tall it is still a two-person lift despite the wheels, and 47.68kg is heavier than the 39kg model it replaces. IPX4 only shrugs off splashes, not rain or dust. No independent measurements have been published yet, so its real output and sound quality can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Not yet sold in the US.
Full JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.4” x 41.4” x 19.4” (466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 105.1 lbs (47.68 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 520
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- See all 10 comparisons