Short answer: the JBL Partybox 520 for bass, the Sony SRS-XV900 for loudness. The Sony can get slightly louder than a Partybox 310 and moves on a convenient handle and wheels, but its bass is not as deep and it loses more bass at high volume than the 310 and every other speaker on the page. The 520 has a convenient handle and wheels too, though it is very large and heavy.
Buy the JBL Partybox 520. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sony SRS-XV900 is discontinued.
Battery life favors the Sony SRS-XV900: rated for 25 hours against 15 hours for the JBL Partybox 520.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the JBL Partybox 520 at IPX4 (splashing) against the Sony SRS-XV900, which has no water resistance.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 520 | Sony SRS-XV900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $879.95 | $900 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #7 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 12 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs (25.5 kg) | 58.6 lbs (26.6 kg) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 16.3” x 30.3” x 14.5” (415 x 769 x 369 mm) | 16.1” x 34.6” x 17.3” (410 x 880 x 439 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5” woofer, 2x 1” dome tweeter | 9 drivers: 1x 12.6”x12.6” woofer, 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 2” front tweeter, 2x 1.6” side tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 400W | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Inputs | - | Optical |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Partybox 520 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower Max
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 520
- Teufel Rockster 2 vs JBL Partybox 520
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 710
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- See all 15 comparisons
Sony SRS-XV900: $900 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Tower 9, ranked higher, rated 4.2/5.
Pros: It can get slightly louder than a JBL Partybox 310. Nine drivers, including side and rear tweeters, spread sound around the room, and it adds a battery rated for 25 hours, LDAC and AAC Bluetooth, an optical input, mic and guitar inputs and Party Connect linking. A handle and wheels make the 26.6 kg cabinet easy to move.
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume compared to the Partybox 310 and every other speaker on this page. Discontinued; Sony replaced the XV line with the ULT Tower series.
Full Sony SRS-XV900 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1” x 34.6” x 17.3” (410 x 880 x 439 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 1x 12.6”x12.6” woofer, 2x 4.7” midrange, 2x 2” front tweeter, 2x 1.6” side tweeter, 2x 1.6” rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Optical |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 58.6 lbs (26.6 kg) |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 310 - Can the JBL Middleweight 💪🏽 Compete With The Sony Heavyweight? More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Partybox 710 ☣️ vs Sony SRS XV900 ☢️- Basement Brawl Speaker Comparison. Can XV900 Top the 710❓
- GYMCADDY: Sony XV900 Review - Finally, A Good Speaker From Sony! More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Teufel Rockster
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 710
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- See all 15 comparisons