Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330. It ranks #2 of 40 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $549.95. The Sony SRS-XV500 ranks #15, rated 4.0/5, at $310, $239.95 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the JBL Partybox 330: 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. The catch: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational.
Why pick the Sony SRS-XV500: RTINGS measured a slightly warm sound with plenty of bass punch, and found it gets very loud for outdoor parties. The catch: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $239.95 saving on the Sony SRS-XV500 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Sony SRS-XV500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $310.00 |
| Ranked | #2 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #15 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.2 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 1” (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) |
| Inputs | Optical | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) |
| Strap | No | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Partybox 330 compares with other leading options:
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 310 vs JBL Partybox 330
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs JBL Partybox 330
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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: $549.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
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 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 92 comparisons
Sony SRS-XV500: $310.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XP500 (rated 4/5).
Pros: RTINGS measured a slightly warm sound with plenty of bass punch, and found it gets very loud for outdoor parties. Two 140mm woofers and two 60mm tweeters in a bass reflex cabinet, with a claimed 25 hours of battery life and a 10 minute quick charge for about 2.5 hours of play. Two 6.3mm inputs switch between microphone and guitar, with karaoke controls for key, echo and per-input volume, plus a 3.5mm aux input. IPX4 splash resistance and built-in lighting.
Cons: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides. Bass compresses and pumps as you approach maximum volume. At 11.2 kg it is heavy to carry, and IPX4 only covers splashes.
Full Sony SRS-XV500 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Soundcore Rave 3S
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Zealot PT21
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs W-King T12
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox 110
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox 130
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- See all 11 comparisons