Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330 for output, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 for its size. The Go + Play 3 has the deepest bass out of any speaker in this size and a warm, boosted sound, but it is just a little over half as loud as the higher rated boomboxes. The 330 is easy to move on handle and wheels, though its sound is nearly identical to the 310 and Stage 320 despite the power bump.
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.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 ($629.95) for a party speaker; the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 ($385) suits a boombox speaker instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Partybox 330 is rated for 18 hours, the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 only 8 hours.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Partybox 330 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 at no water resistance.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $385 |
| Ranked | #2 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 91 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | - |
| Inputs | Optical | - |
| 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) |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | 160W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) | 17.3” x 9.4” x 7.6” (439 x 240 x 192 mm) |
| Strap | No | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 120ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom X vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 330: $629.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older models: the JBL Partybox Stage 320 (ranked lower, rated 4.6/5), the JBL Partybox 310 (ranked lower, rated 4.5/5) and the JBL Partybox 300 (ranked lower, rated 4.3/5).
Pros: A highly complete rolling party speaker: removable battery, telescoping handle and wheels, light show, Auracast, USB-C lossless and optical inputs, plus dual mic/guitar inputs. It supplies a little more power than the JBL Partybox 310 and JBL Partybox Stage 320, while reviewers report better midrange clarity than the older JBL Partybox 310 and the same deep party-speaker bass.
Cons: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational. JBL removed the dedicated mic gain/control knobs found on earlier models, a real drawback for frequent karaoke use. Do not upgrade from a JBL Partybox 310 or JBL Partybox Stage 320 just for the higher watt figure.
Full JBL Partybox 330 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 280W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 1” (25mm) PEN dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Inputs | Optical |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony ULT Tower 7
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 310
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony ULT Tower 5
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 130
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 100
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 110
- See all 95 comparisons
Harman Kardon Go + Play 3: $385 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5).
Pros: Warm sound with boosted bass. Deepest bass out of any speaker in this size. Sound is more natural than the Go + Play2. An aux input, a built-in microphone, a power bank function, stereo pairing and hidden button combinations for adjusting bass and treble. Measured bass extension of 35Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 160W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon One app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 112ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 103dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go+ Play 3 vs Go Play 2, the holy grail has arrived? ✔ More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 hidden eq modes - world has gone crazy! 🤣
- Alan Ross Reviews: Minirig 2.1 or the Brane X or the Harman Kardon Go Play 3?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Distortion Fest vs my favorite speaker today! I wasn’t expecting this!
- Mateusz Cholewa: BOGASING S8 Pro Max „HiFi” 🎶🧐🆚 Harman Kardon Go Play 3 „HiFi”🔊 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 - best sounding? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast - outdoor soundtest
- Oluv Patreon: Harman Kardon go+play 3 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - first impressions
- Mateusz Cholewa: LOEWE WE Hear Pro SUPER STEREO vs HiFi Harman Kardon Go Plus Play 3
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 DEEP BASS 💪vs HK Go Plus Play 3 DEEP BASS❤❤❤
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Earfun Uboom X
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 54 comparisons