These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #1 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $629.95; the Aiwa Exos-9 ranks #8 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $250.
What the JBL Partybox 330 gets right: Handle and wheels are convenient. Watch for: Sound quality is nearly identical to the 310 and Stage 320 despite the power bump, so probably not worth an upgrade if you already own either of those.
On the Aiwa Exos-9 side: Still a great sounding speaker even against today’s models. The catch: Features are lacking, generally not recommended anymore, not sold new anymore. No water rating.
One note: the Aiwa Exos-9 is discontinued, but it still ranks #8 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 at $629.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Aiwa Exos-9 at $250 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Partybox 330 is rated for 18 hours versus 10 hours for the Aiwa Exos-9.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Aiwa Exos-9 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Aiwa Exos-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $250 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #8 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 6.5" dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3" midwoofers + 2x 1" silk dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | Yes (5-band graphic EQ + 4 presets) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (with adapter) |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cable |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 15.2 lbs / 6.9 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 44Hz |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| Dimensions | - | 19.4" x 7.5" x 11.7" (492.8 x 190.5 x 297.2 mm) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential vs JBL Boombox 4
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Zealot PT21
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Soundcore Rave 3/3s
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 330: $629.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Customizable lightshow. Removable battery. Slightly more power than the 310 and Stage 320 (280W vs 240W). Adds an optical TV input and USB-C lossless playback, plus dual mic and guitar inputs for karaoke and live sets.
Cons: Sound quality is nearly identical to the 310 and Stage 320 despite the power bump, so probably not worth an upgrade if you already own either of those. Removed the dedicated mic gain and microphone control knobs found on the 310/320. Some people don’t like the new lightshow design. Very large. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
Full JBL Partybox 330 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 280W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Aiwa Exos-9: $250 Discontinued
Pros: Still a great sounding speaker even against today’s models.
Cons: Features are lacking, generally not recommended anymore, not sold new anymore. No water rating. Discontinued.
Full Aiwa Exos-9 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.4" x 7.5" x 11.7" (492.8 x 190.5 x 297.2 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 6.5" dual voice coil woofer + 2x 3" midwoofers + 2x 1" silk dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (5-band graphic EQ + 4 presets) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (with adapter) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cable |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs / 6.9 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons