These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The JBL Partybox Club 120 ranks #6 of 40 party speakers by sound quality at $449.95; the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 ranks #6 of 76 boombox speakers by sound quality at $259.
What the JBL Partybox Club 120 does well: JBL Partybox Club 120 uses 2x 5.25” woofers, 2x 2.25” tweeters. Watch for: Its 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size.
The case for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: A compact 6.2kg party speaker with 100W output, 110dB maximum level, a 15-hour claimed battery, app-based 7-band EQ, dynamic lighting, USB playback, guitar and mic inputs, and Auracast linking. The catch: It is front-facing, so the sound changes noticeably to the sides and behind it, and bass compression reduces kick-drum impact at maximum volume.
Buy the JBL Partybox Club 120 ($449.95) for a party speaker; the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 ($259) suits a boombox speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Club 120 | JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.95 | $259.00 |
| Ranked | #6 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #6 of 76 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, 2x 2.25” tweeters | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg) | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 160W | 100W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.4”H x 11.4”W x 11.7”D (570 x 288.4 x 297 mm) | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Strap | No | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Wireless Microphones | - | No |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2:
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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 Club 120: $449.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Partybox 110 (rated 4.4/5) and the JBL Partybox 100 (rated 4.4/5).
Pros: JBL Partybox Club 120 uses 2x 5.25” woofers, 2x 2.25” tweeters. Its 10.8 kg, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX4 protection, aux input and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Handle and wheels, customizable lighting, and quite neutral sound with deeper bass than the Partybox 100 and 110.
Cons: Its 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) specification points to limited deep-bass reach for the cabinet size. High price, and JBL’s wired daisy chain only works with other JBL speakers.
Full JBL Partybox Club 120 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 160W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 22.4”H x 11.4”W x 11.7”D (570 x 288.4 x 297 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, 2x 2.25” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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-A, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Partially |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 23.8 lbs (10.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL Partybox Club 120 vs 130 - really worth the upgrade? More from Oluv’Sone →
- HammoTech Reviews: JBL Partybox Club 120 Vs Partybox 110 - Worth the upgrade?
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Partybox Club 120 vs 110 🥳 A Family Feud! Battery Powered🔋Bluetooth Party Speakers Face-Off🤬 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Williston Audio Labs: Investigating the JBL PartyBox Club 120 More from Williston Audio Labs →
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026 More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- See all 51 comparisons
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $259.00 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential (rated 4.2/5).
Pros: A compact 6.2kg party speaker with 100W output, 110dB maximum level, a 15-hour claimed battery, app-based 7-band EQ, dynamic lighting, USB playback, guitar and mic inputs, and Auracast linking. Independent testing finds a balanced midrange, genuinely punchy low bass and enough output for a backyard gathering; its dome tweeters also improve the earlier Encore’s high-frequency behavior.
Cons: It is front-facing, so the sound changes noticeably to the sides and behind it, and bass compression reduces kick-drum impact at maximum volume. Bluetooth latency can cause lip-sync issues, its IPX4 rating only covers splashes, and it omits the wireless microphones bundled with the non-Essential Encore 2.
Full JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
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- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
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