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 JBL Partybox 520 ranks #6 of 11 large party speakers by sound quality at $879.95.
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 JBL Partybox 520 gets right: Handle and wheels are convenient. Lightshow ability. The biggest battery powered JBL currently. The tradeoff: Very large and heavy.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 at $629.95 if you want a party speaker. Buy the JBL Partybox 520 at $879.95 if you want a large party speaker instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | JBL Partybox 520 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $879.95 |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 11 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 56.2 lbs / 25.5 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | 400W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | - | No |
| Wifi | - | No |
| Dimensions | - | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Teufel Rockster Neo vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Teufel Rockster vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 710 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Audiocase S10
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony SRS-XV900
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 310
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- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 130
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 100
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JBL Partybox 520: $879.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Lightshow ability. The biggest battery powered JBL currently.
Cons: Very large and heavy. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
Full JBL Partybox 520 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 400W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs / 25.5 kg |
| Wifi | No |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs 720 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- Oluv Patreon: W-King T12 vs JBL Partybox 520
- AudioTribe: JBL PartyBox 520 Loudness & BASS Test Will Shock You!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox 520 More from GYMCADDY →
- AudioTribe: JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox 520 Who’s Better?
- Reddit Search for JBL Partybox 520 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster
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- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
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- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 1000
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