Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330 for better sound quality, the Soundcore Rave for the lower price. The JBL Partybox 330 ranks #1 of 50 party speakers at $629.95. The Soundcore Rave ranks #45 at $220, $409.95 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 Soundcore Rave: 20,000mAh battery for 24-hour claimed playtime. Booming bass and crisp vocals with colorful LED light show. The catch: Pretty big lack of deep bass, treble rolled off.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Soundcore Rave if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Soundcore Rave. 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 Soundcore Rave at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 330 | Soundcore Rave | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $629.95 | $220 |
| Ranked | #1 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #45 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 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 | 60W: Multiple 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 (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) | Yes |
| 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 | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg |
| Output Power | 280W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~60Hz |
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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
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 310
- 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
- JBL Partybox 330 vs JBL Partybox 300
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Soundcore Rave: $220 Soundcore
Pros: 20,000mAh battery for 24-hour claimed playtime. Booming bass and crisp vocals with colorful LED light show. IPX4 waterproof design for poolside/beach/outdoor use. AI-assisted karaoke removes vocals in real-time via Soundcore app. Wireless microphones included, eight preset lighting modes. Can link multiple speakers together. Long battery life, fun light patterns synced to music.
Cons: Pretty big lack of deep bass, treble rolled off
Full Soundcore Rave review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Drivers | 60W: Multiple drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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