These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Partybox 130 ranks #5 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $449.95; the Vifa Helsinki ranks #1 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $400.
The case for the JBL Partybox 130: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: Boomier and less clear than the Partybox 120. High price.
What the Vifa Helsinki offers: Generally regarded as the best midrange and treble sound quality of any battery powered Bluetooth speaker. The tradeoff: No TWS pairing, looks like a purse, requires a hacked Vifa app to enable night mode to sound good.
Buy the JBL Partybox 130 at $449.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Vifa Helsinki at $400 if you want a large speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Partybox 130 is rated for 15 hours versus 8 hours for the Vifa Helsinki.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 130 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Vifa Helsinki at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 130 | Vifa Helsinki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $400 |
| Ranked | #5 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #1 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No (official app is broken, 3rd party android app only) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 4.1 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.2" woofers, 2x 1" tweeters | 2x 50mm fullrange, 2x 66mm woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 58Hz - 18kHz (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) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Partially (shared woofer) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 24.9 lbs / 11.3 kg | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
| Output Power | 200W | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 48Hz |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Dimensions | - | 6.1" x 8.3" x 2.8" (156 x 210 x 70 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Vifa Oslo
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox 100 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
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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Vifa Helsinki: $400 Amazon
Pros: Generally regarded as the best midrange and treble sound quality of any battery powered Bluetooth speaker.
Cons: No TWS pairing, looks like a purse, requires a hacked Vifa app (Android only post #48) to enable night mode to sound good. Not sure I can recommend this one generally these days, the Uboom L has 98% of the sound quality with more features and a way cheaper price. There are mentions that the 2022 “new” version of this speaker doesn’t sound as good as Vifa was purchased by a Chinese company and laid off all the great sound engineers in the Austria office.
Full Vifa Helsinki review and specifications →
| App | No (official app is broken, 3rd party android app only) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 48Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.1" x 8.3" x 2.8" (156 x 210 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange, 2x 66mm woofers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 18kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | Specs not published by manufacturer |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Partially (shared woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons