These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Partybox 130 ranks #5 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $449.95; the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $385.
The case for the JBL Partybox 130: Handle and wheels are convenient. Watch for: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price.
What the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 offers: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. The catch: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
Buy the JBL Partybox 130 at $449.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at $385 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Partybox 130 is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 130 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 130 | Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $385 |
| Ranked | #5 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
| Output Power | 200W | 160W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 120ms |
| Max Volume | - | 103dB |
| Dimensions | - | 17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5
- JBL Partybox 110 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
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- JBL Partybox 130 vs JBL Partybox 110
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Sony SRS-XP700
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.
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Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 103dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 160W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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