Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore 2 on measured sound quality, the EcoXGear Defender on price. The JBL Partybox Encore 2 ranks #4 of 75 boombox speakers at $330. The EcoXGear Defender ranks #59 at $249.99, $80.01 cheaper.
What the JBL Partybox Encore 2 offers: The Encore 2 improves the original with dome tweeters, a less boomy balance, slightly deeper bass, longer battery life and two included wireless microphones. Its compact karaoke-ready design and 7-band EQ make it more adaptable indoors than the earlier Encore. Watch for: It still lacks some upper-bass punch and cannot match the scale of the larger PartyBoxes. The main value is compact karaoke convenience rather than full-range party output.
What the EcoXGear Defender offers: A rugged 4.54kg outdoor speaker with IP67 protection, a floating design, a flashlight, bottle opener, aux input, USB-C power-bank output and claimed 25-hour battery life. Independent testing found it gets very loud for its size, while its three ecoEQ presets let you choose a bass-heavy default, a more balanced indoor mode or a brighter outdoor mode. Watch for: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited. The default setting can be over-bassy at lower volumes, while there is no app, precise EQ, battery indicator or multi-speaker party mode.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore 2 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the EcoXGear Defender if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Skip the EcoXGear Defender if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 75 boombox speakers.
Battery life favors the EcoXGear Defender: rated for 25 hours against 15 hours for the JBL Partybox Encore 2.
If water resistance matters to you, the EcoXGear Defender at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Partybox Encore 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore 2 | EcoXGear Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #4 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #59 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 2 Included | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.1 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.3" x 10.4" (319.5 x 338.6 x 263 mm) | 6.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 52mm full-range driver |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Partybox Encore 2:
- Earfun Uboom X vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Tribit Stormbox Blast vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 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 Encore 2: $330 Samsclub eBay
Pros: The Encore 2 improves the original with dome tweeters, a less boomy balance, slightly deeper bass, longer battery life and two included wireless microphones. Its compact karaoke-ready design and 7-band EQ make it more adaptable indoors than the earlier Encore.
Cons: It still lacks some upper-bass punch and cannot match the scale of the larger PartyBoxes. The main value is compact karaoke convenience rather than full-range party output.
Full JBL Partybox Encore 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 13.3" x 10.4" (319.5 x 338.6 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 2 Included |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL giving it to us large! The good, The bad, The diabolical! More from alanrossreviews →
- M1M Tech Channel: Partybox Killer? 2x Earfun UBoom X stärker als JBL Encore 2 ? More from M1MTechChannel →
- M1M Tech Channel: JBL Partybox Encore 2 Ein fettes Bass Upgrade
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Partybox ENCORE 2👌FULL TEST🆚 JBL Partybox ENCORE 1 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Jbl Partybox Encore 2 📦UNBOXING. Short TEST AUDIO z ENCORE 1👌
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Encore 2 Partybox Deep Bass 🆚 Jbl Boombox 3 WiFi 🎶
- Dominik Reviews: JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Boombox 3 WiFi - Sound Test - Wide vs Narrow Soundstage! More from Dominik Reviews →
- M1M Tech Channel: JBL Partybox Encore 2 Ein fettes Bass Upgrade
- M1MTechChannel: Welche JBL Partybox ist die BESTE ? Alle Partyboxen im Vergleich | 2026
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Earfun Uboom X
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- See all 60 comparisons
EcoXGear Defender: $249.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A rugged 4.54kg outdoor speaker with IP67 protection, a floating design, a flashlight, bottle opener, aux input, USB-C power-bank output and claimed 25-hour battery life. Independent testing found it gets very loud for its size, while its three ecoEQ presets let you choose a bass-heavy default, a more balanced indoor mode or a brighter outdoor mode.
Cons: Its single front-facing driver layout has narrow dispersion: clarity and detail drop noticeably when you move off-axis, and the soundstage is limited. The default setting can be over-bassy at lower volumes, while there is no app, precise EQ, battery indicator or multi-speaker party mode.
Full EcoXGear Defender review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 15.4" x 9.6" (170.2 x 391.2 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm full-range driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 5V/2.1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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