Short answer: the JBL Partybox 130. It ranks #5 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $449.95; the Audiocase S5 ranks #26 and costs $645, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Partybox 130 offers: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price.
The case for the Audiocase S5: Removable battery. The catch: Not stereo. Boosted upper bass, not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers.
One note: the Audiocase S5 is discontinued, but it still ranks #26 of 50 party speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL Partybox 130. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Audiocase S5 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Audiocase S5 is rated for 30 hours versus 15 hours for the JBL Partybox 130.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 130 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Audiocase S5 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 130 | Audiocase S5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $645 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters | 2x 5" woofers, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (wired link) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg | 17.4 lbs / 7.9 kg |
| Output Power | 200W | 2 x 73W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Dimensions | - | 16.1" x 9.8" x 7.5" (410 x 250 x 190 mm) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Max Volume | - | 108dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Teufel Rockster Air vs Soundboks 2
- JBL Partybox 100 vs JBL Partybox 310
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Mackie Thump Go
- Mackie Thump Go vs Audiocase S5
- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 330
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 130: $449.95 Amazon
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Customizable color lighting modes. Quite neutral sound. Removable battery.
Cons: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
Full JBL Partybox 130 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Audiocase S5: $645 Discontinued
Pros: Removable battery
Cons: Not stereo. Boosted upper bass, not as much clarity as higher ranked speakers. Generally worse overall than the much cheaper Stormbox Blast. Discontinued.
Full Audiocase S5 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 9.8" x 7.5" (410 x 250 x 190 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 5" woofers, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 108dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 2 x 73W |
| Party Mode | Yes (wired link) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs / 7.9 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons