Short answer: the Soundboks 3 for raw volume, the JBL Partybox 330 for tuning. The Soundboks 3 is tied for the loudest battery powered speaker, but it is not as neutral or as deep in the bass as the Partyboxes above it. The 330 has a convenient handle and wheels, though its sound quality is nearly identical to the 310 and Stage 320 despite the power bump.
What the JBL Partybox 330 gets right: Handle and wheels are convenient. The tradeoff: Sound quality is nearly identical to the 310 and Stage 320 despite the power bump.
On the Soundboks 3 side: Tied for the loudest battery powered speaker. Set against that: Not as neutral or as deep of bass as the above Partyboxes.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 at $549.95 for a party speaker, or the Soundboks 3 at $699 for a battery-powered PA speaker instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Soundboks 3 is rated for 40 hours, the JBL Partybox 330 only 18 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings and PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Soundboks 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.95 | $699 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #2 of 39 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 2x 1" (25mm) PEN dome tweeters | 2x 10" (254mm) woofers + 1x 1" (25mm) compression tweeter with horn |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ mode) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP65 |
| 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) | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| 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 | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) | 34 lbs (15.4 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) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 52Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 126dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| SKAA | - | Yes |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | App EQ |
| Bluetooth | - | Yes |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Partybox 330:
- 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 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 110
- See all 73 comparisons
Soundboks 3: $699 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Tied for the loudest battery powered speaker. Removable 40 hour battery. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Very large. Not as neutral or as deep of bass as the above Partyboxes. Not stereo. External power brick for charging. Discontinued; no longer sold by Soundboks, only third-party resale stock remains. Discontinued.
Full Soundboks 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 216W (3x 72W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Cabinet Material | Poplar plywood |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| DSP | App EQ |
| 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" (254mm) woofers + 1x 1" (25mm) compression tweeter with horn |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 126dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount socket |
| SKAA | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons