Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore 2. It ranks #4 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $330; the Sony ULT Field 7 ranks #40 and costs $400, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the JBL Partybox Encore 2 offers: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Includes 2 wireless microphones. Better battery life than the first Encore. Watch for: Missing a little bit of upper bass.
What the Sony ULT Field 7 offers: Better sounding than the XG500 Watch for: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony ULT Field 7 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Battery life favors the Sony ULT Field 7: rated for 30 hours against 15 hours for the JBL Partybox Encore 2.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony ULT Field 7 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the JBL Partybox Encore 2 at IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore 2 | Sony ULT Field 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $400 |
| Ranked | #4 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #40 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 2 Included | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Output Power | 100W RMS | 100W |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.3" x 10.4" (319.5 x 338.6 x 263 mm) | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~52Hz |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
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- Harman Kardon Go + Play 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- Turtlebox Gen 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Xtreme 5
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 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 Encore 2: $330 Samsclub eBay
Pros: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. A little less rolled off in the highs than the first Encore. Goes slightly deeper than the old Encore. Includes 2 wireless microphones. Better battery life than the first Encore.
Cons: Missing a little bit of upper bass.
Full JBL Partybox Encore 2 review and specifications →
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| 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
- Reddit Search for JBL Partybox Encore 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
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Sony ULT Field 7: $400 Amazon eBay
Pros: Better sounding than the XG500
Cons: Still not as deep bass as the top ranked speakers. 8khz peak
Full Sony ULT Field 7 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~52Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 20.2" x 8.8" x 8.7" (512 x 224 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 114mm x 114mm X-Balanced woofers + 2x 46mm (1.9") tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + ULT button) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs / 6.3 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: SONY ULT Field 7 💣vs JBL Boombox 3 🧨 Showdown! 🪇Let’s Shake it Up! 🔋Battery Powered Basement Battle More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Sony ULT Field 7 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast Both good? 😂 More from Dominik Reviews →
- Reddit Search for Sony ULT Field 7 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Sony ULT Field 7 vs Sony SRS-XG500
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- Sony ULT Field 7 vs JBL Boombox
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- See all 48 comparisons