Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330. It ranks #1 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $629.95; the Audiocase S5 ranks #26 and costs $645, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Partybox 330 side: 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.
What the Audiocase S5 gets right: Removable battery. The tradeoff: 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 330. 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 18 hours for the JBL Partybox 330.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Audiocase S5 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Audiocase S5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $645 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 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 | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 5" woofers, 1" tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (wired link) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | 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 | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 17.4 lbs / 7.9 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | 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 Neo vs Mackie Thump Go
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Bose S1 Pro
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Teufel Rockster
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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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