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 Brane X ranks #4 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $500.
The case for the JBL Partybox 330: 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.
On the Brane X side: Very deep bass, the absolute deepest from this category. Medium bass boost is the most balanced. The tradeoff: Boosted upper bass ~120hz, rolled off treble, so it’s missing detail up top.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 at $629.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Brane X at $500 if you want a large speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Partybox 330 is rated for 18 hours versus 12 hours for the Brane X.
If water resistance matters to you, the Brane X at IP57 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $500 |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 2.5" midrange, 2x 0.75" tweeters + 6.5"x9" subwoofer |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP57 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 31Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Max Volume | - | 106dB |
| Wifi | - | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Dimensions | - | 9.3" x 7" x 6.1" (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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- JBL Partybox 100 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
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- Teufel Rockster Air 2 vs JBL Partybox 330
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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Brane X: $500 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass, the absolute deepest from this category. Medium bass boost is the most balanced.
Cons: Boosted upper bass ~120hz, rolled off treble, so it’s missing detail up top. Battery life isn’t great in real world use. High priced. Annoying robot voice announcements. A lot of aux input latency.
Full Brane X review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.3" x 7" x 6.1" (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5" midrange, 2x 0.75" tweeters + 6.5"x9" subwoofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP57 |
| Max Volume | 106dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 200W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.5 kg |
| Wifi | Yes |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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