Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330 for better sound quality, the Altec Lansing AL500 for the lower price. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #1 of 50 party speakers at $629.95. The Altec Lansing AL500 ranks #49 at $200, $429.95 cheaper.
What the JBL Partybox 330 offers: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: 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.
The case for the Altec Lansing AL500: Dual 8-inch subwoofers with full-range 3” horn tweeter for wide dispersion. The catch: Not very deep bass.
One note: the Altec Lansing AL500 is discontinued, but it still ranks #49 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 330 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Altec Lansing AL500 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Altec Lansing AL500. It ranks near the bottom of the 50 party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Altec Lansing AL500 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Altec Lansing AL500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #49 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 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 | 1x 5" woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~60Hz |
| FM Tuner | - | Yes |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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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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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 130
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Altec Lansing AL500: $200 Discontinued
Pros: Dual 8-inch subwoofers with full-range 3” horn tweeter for wide dispersion. 2500W power with 400W RMS output. Long-lasting lithium 12V/2400 mAh rechargeable battery. Wireless Bluetooth streaming and built-in microphone for singing. True Wireless Stereo (TWS) pairing capability. Portable party speaker system for outdoor entertaining.
Cons: Not very deep bass. Discontinued.
Full Altec Lansing AL500 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 5" woofer + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons