Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #6 of 89 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $219. The Havit BassBlast Go ranks #47, rated 3.4/5, at $77.99, $141.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 does well: 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 tradeoff: 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.
Why pick the Havit BassBlast Go: Jagist found it a strong value for a medium size boombox, with a lot of bass for its size and a good balance on the Rock EQ. Watch for: In the only side by side against a rated speaker, listeners preferred the W-King H330, and Techder Audios found the Tribit Stormbox Lava clearly better in sound and build.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $141.01 you would save on the Havit BassBlast Go does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Havit BassBlast Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.00 | $77.99 |
| Ranked | #6 of 89 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 89 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | Yes (Havit Life) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (8 presets) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX6 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (6.35mm) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 120W peak (2x 50W woofers, 2x 10W tweeters) |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 8.7”H x 15.2”W x 5.9”D (222 x 385 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm (1.5”) tweeters + passive radiators |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Battery Capacity | - | 44Wh (7.4V, 6000mAh) |
| Charging Time | - | 3.5 hours |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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 30, 2026 at 2:57 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 Essential 2: $219.00 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential (ranked lower, 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 | Yes |
| 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
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Earfun Uboom X
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra
- See all 94 comparisons
Havit BassBlast Go: $77.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Jagist found it a strong value for a medium size boombox, with a lot of bass for its size and a good balance on the Rock EQ. Two woofers and two tweeters give true stereo from one unit, and it adds IPX6 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.3, the Havit Life app with 8 EQ presets, a 6.35mm microphone input with echo control, aux and USB playback, a small status screen, RGB lights, stereo pairing and a power bank output.
Cons: In the only side by side against a rated speaker, listeners preferred the W-King H330, and Techder Audios found the Tribit Stormbox Lava clearly better in sound and build. Vocals are weaker than rivals’, and owners report the battery drains far faster than its 12 hour rating. The evidence is thin: one comparison and a handful of listening reviews.
Full Havit BassBlast Go review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 120W peak (2x 50W woofers, 2x 10W tweeters) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Havit Life) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 44Wh (7.4V, 6000mAh) |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Dimensions | 8.7”H x 15.2”W x 5.9”D (222 x 385 x 150 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm (3”) woofers + 2x 38mm (1.5”) tweeters + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (8 presets) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (6.35mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Havit BassBlast Go vs Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2
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