Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330 for better sound quality, the Sony GTK-XB90 for the lower price. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #1 of 50 party speakers at $629.95. The Sony GTK-XB90 ranks #46 at $429, $200.95 cheaper.
What the JBL Partybox 330 offers: 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.
The case for the Sony GTK-XB90: Deep punchy EXTRA BASS technology for party use. The catch: Bass is muddy and not deep, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning.
One note: the Sony GTK-XB90 is discontinued, but it still ranks #46 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 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony GTK-XB90 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony GTK-XB90. It ranks near the bottom of the 50 party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 330 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Sony GTK-XB90 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Sony GTK-XB90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $429 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 12cm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-A, 2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs / 17.1 kg | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~50Hz |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Bose S1 Pro vs Sony GTK-XB72
- JBL Eon One Compact vs Sony GTK-XB72
- Turtlebox Gen 3 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Audiocase S5 vs Sony GTK-XB90
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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Sony GTK-XB90: $429 Discontinued
Pros: Deep punchy EXTRA BASS technology for party use. 3x 2.36” tweeters + 2x 7.09” woofers, built-in LED lights sync with beat. 16 hours battery claimed (9 hours real-world at moderate volume with lights). Built-in handle, portable one-box design. Fiestable plugin controls party settings and DJ effects. Three-device simultaneous Bluetooth pairing.
Cons: Bass is muddy and not deep, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning. Discontinued.
Full Sony GTK-XB90 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12cm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons