These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #1 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $629.95; the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ranks #3 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $385.
The case for the JBL Partybox 330: Handle and wheels are convenient. The catch: 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 Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 offers: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Watch for: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 at $629.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at $385 if you want a boombox speaker instead.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Partybox 330 is rated for 18 hours versus 8 hours for the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $385 |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | Yes (App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power brick |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | 160W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz |
| Built in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 120ms |
| Max Volume | - | 103dB |
| Dimensions | - | 17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs JBL Partybox 110
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 110
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony SRS-XP700
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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Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2.
Cons: Just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. Only 8 hours of battery at medium volume. No water rating.
Setup: Use the hidden EQ modes to adjust the bass up when outside and down when inside. To adjust bass, quickly press the bluetooth and volume down buttons together, the number of light flashes tell you what mode you’re in. To adjust treble, quickly press the volume up and phone buttons at the same time, the number of yellow flashes on the light tell you what mode you are in.
Full Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 120ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3" x 9.4" x 7.6" (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 130mm (5") subwoofer + 2x 70mm midrange drivers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 103dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 160W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs / 4.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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