Short answer: the 330 for most buyers, the Soundboks 2 only if raw outdoor SPL and XLR inputs matter more than polish. The Soundboks 2 is discontinued, and at $449 it’s cheaper than the 330’s $549.95, but the two are built for different jobs.
The Soundboks 2 is a battery-powered PA speaker first and a party speaker second. Its 2x 10-inch woofers and silk-dome tweeter reach a claimed 124dB, well beyond typical party-speaker output, and it has proper XLR/6.3mm combo inputs for mics and instruments plus a removable battery rated for 40 hours. It has no app EQ, no TWS stereo pairing and no water resistance rating at all, and its tonal balance is described as less refined than current party speakers.
The 330 is the more complete, current package. It adds a light show, Auracast, USB-C lossless and optical inputs, wheels and a telescoping handle, none of which the Soundboks 2 offers. Reviewers note the 330’s own sound is nearly identical to JBL’s previous Stage 320 and 310 despite the wattage bump, so its improvement over cheaper JBL models is modest even though it beats the Soundboks 2 on features.
Buy the Soundboks 2 if you specifically need XLR inputs and maximum outdoor SPL and can live with a discontinued, unrefined-sounding unit.
Buy the 330 for the more current, feature-complete party speaker with active manufacturer support.
One note: the Soundboks 2 is no longer sold new, but at #8 of 14 battery-powered PA speakers by sound quality it still outranks most current models, so used is worth considering.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Soundboks 2 is rated for 40 hours, the JBL Partybox 330 only 18 hours.
Water resistance is not close: the JBL Partybox 330 is rated at IPX4 (splashing), well ahead of the Soundboks 2 at no water resistance.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Soundboks 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $449.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #2 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #8 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 10" woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes |
| Inputs | Optical | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) | 33.1 lbs (15 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 280W | 216W (3x 72W) |
| 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) | 25.6" x 17" x 13" (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 124dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- 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 23, 2026 at 11:24 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.
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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 |
| 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
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Soundboks 2: $449.00 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Built for maximum outdoor output: its two 10-inch woofers and silk-dome tweeter reach a claimed 124dB, while the removable battery is rated for up to 40 hours. It also provides aux, microphone and guitar inputs, making it a practical battery-powered option for loud parties and informal performances.
Cons: At 15kg it is large to transport, lacks weather protection, app EQ and TWS stereo pairing, and relies on an external charging arrangement. Its tonal balance and bass depth are less refined than stronger modern party speakers, and this discontinued model requires caution around used-battery condition and support. Discontinued.
Full Soundboks 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 216W (3x 72W) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Cabinet Material | Poplar plywood |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| DSP | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 25.6" x 17" x 13" (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 10" woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 124dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 33.1 lbs (15 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons