Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The JBL Partybox 520 ranks #8 of 13 large party speakers by sound quality at $879.95; the Marshall Bromley 450 ranks #24 of 44 party speakers by sound quality at $649.95.
Two different takes on large portable entertainment sound. The JBL PartyBox 520 is a high-output powerhouse engineered for maximum outdoor punch, featuring massive bass extension, built-in party lighting, wheels with a telescoping handle, and dedicated microphone and guitar inputs with comprehensive app EQ controls.
Marshall Bromley 450 focuses on omnidirectional acoustic refinement. It features multi-directional driver arrays on all four sides for consistent 360-degree sound outdoors, physical analog bass and treble knobs, dual XLR/quarter-inch combo jacks, Auracast broadcasting, and a swappable LiFePO4 battery pack rated for up to 18.8 hours in lab testing.
Buy the JBL Partybox 520 if you need raw SPL, heavy chest-thumping bass, wheeled transport, and dynamic party lighting for large gatherings.
Buy the Marshall Bromley 450 for warm acoustic balance, true 360-degree dispersion where listeners circle the speaker, and durable LiFePO4 battery chemistry.
Buy the JBL Partybox 520 at $879.95 for a large party speaker, or the Marshall Bromley 450 at $649.95 for a party speaker instead.
Battery life favors the Marshall Bromley 450: rated for 40 hours against 15 hours for the JBL Partybox 520.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 520 | Marshall Bromley 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $879.95 | $649.95 |
| Ranked | #8 of 13 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Marshall Bluetooth app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes (3.5mm, RCA) |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (2x XLR/6.35mm combo) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs (25.5 kg) | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 16.3” x 30.3” x 14.5” (415 x 769 x 369 mm) | 14.4” x 19.4” x 10.3” (366 x 492 x 261 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5” woofer, 2x 1” dome tweeter | 2x 6.5” woofers, 4x 2” full-range drivers, 2 passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 400W | 400W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | No |
| Strap | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3.5 hours |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Bromley 450 compares with other leading options:
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Marshall Bromley 450
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Marshall Bromley 450
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Marshall Bromley 450
- JBL Partybox 310 vs Marshall Bromley 450
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Marshall Bromley 450
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 520: $879.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: JBL’s biggest battery-powered PartyBox after the 720 combines very high output, deep chesty bass, wheels and a telescoping handle with a capable app EQ, lights, USB-C audio and mic/instrument inputs. RTINGS finds it loud enough for backyards and unusually well-equipped for a battery party speaker.
Cons: It is very large and heavy, Bluetooth latency is high for video, and its front-facing design loses much of the mids and treble to people off to the sides. The bass-heavy default can also make dialogue less clear without EQ.
Full JBL Partybox 520 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3” x 30.3” x 14.5” (415 x 769 x 369 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5” woofer, 2x 1” dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs (25.5 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs 720 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- Oluv Patreon: W-King T12 vs JBL Partybox 520
- AudioTribe: JBL PartyBox 520 Loudness & BASS Test Will Shock You!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox 520 More from GYMCADDY →
- AudioTribe: JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox 520 Who’s Better?
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate 2
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony SRS-XV900
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- See all 21 comparisons
Marshall Bromley 450: $649.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A balanced, warm sound with a flat midrange that keeps vocals and instruments clear, plenty of bass rumble and enough treble for energetic vocals, per RTINGS’ lab tests. Drivers on all four sides keep the tonal balance nearly the same from any angle, and M1M Tech Channel found it more open and airy than the Soundboks Mix and Teufel Rockster Air 2, with deeper bass than both. RTINGS measured 18.8 hours of battery from a swappable LiFePO4 pack shared with the Bromley 750, and it adds IP55 protection, two XLR/6.35mm combo inputs, USB-C audio, Auracast and physical bass and treble knobs.
Cons: It is the quietest of its rivals: both the Soundboks Mix and Teufel Rockster Air 2 play louder, and near max volume the bass recedes and the sound gets less composed. The warm tuning lacks some fine treble detail. There is no graphic EQ, only bass and treble knobs, and its stereo spreads left and right channels around the cabinet, so panned elements can land on the wrong side. At 12.3 kg it has a carry handle but no wheels.
Full Marshall Bromley 450 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Marshall Bluetooth app) |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm, RCA) |
| Battery Life | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.4” x 19.4” x 10.3” (366 x 492 x 261 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” woofers, 4x 2” full-range drivers, 2 passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x XLR/6.35mm combo) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Wheels | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- RTINGS: Marshall Bromley 450 Review More from Rtings.com →
- M1M Tech Channel: The best in its class? Marshall Bromley 450 vs. Soundboks & Teufel More from M1MTechChannel →
- HeadphoneCheck: Marshall Bromley 450 test
- Tom’s Guide: Marshall Bromley 450 vs Bromley 750 face-off
- Smart Home Sounds: Marshall Bromley 450 review More from Smart Home Sounds →
- Storytripper HD: JBL Partybox 120 vs Marshall Bromley 450 (Indoor) More from storytripperhd →
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Bromley 450 vs Marshall Bromley 750 (outdoor)
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Woburn III vs Marshall Bromley 450
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Rider
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs W-King T12
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Mix
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Go
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Tronsmart Halo 300
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- See all 28 comparisons