Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #5 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $239; the JBL Boombox ranks #46 and costs $399, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 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. Better battery life than the first Encore. Watch for: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
What the JBL Boombox offers: Connect+ up to 100 speakers. Watch for: Treble isn’t very smooth
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Boombox and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the JBL Boombox is rated for 24 hours, the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 only 15 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | JBL Boombox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.00 | $399 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #5 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | No |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg | 11.5 lbs / 5.2 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Output Power | 100W RMS | 60W AC / 40W battery |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 10" x 18.1" x 7.7" (254.5 x 458.5 x 195.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 2x 65mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Zealot ZE41 vs Sony SRS-XG500
- JBL Boombox 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
- Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 5 vs Soundcore Motion Boom+
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Sony ULT Field 7
- Turtlebox Gen 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
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 Essential 2: $239.00 Amazon B&H Photo Video 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. Better battery life than the first Encore.
Cons: Missing a little bit of upper bass. No wireless Microphones like the non-Essential
Full JBL Partybox Encore Essential 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 13.5" 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 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| 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 Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- 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 Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 8
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6
- See all 46 comparisons
JBL Boombox: $399 Discontinued JBL Boombox eBay
Pros: Connect+ up to 100 speakers.
Cons: Treble isn’t very smooth. Discontinued.
Full JBL Boombox review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10" x 18.1" x 7.7" (254.5 x 458.5 x 195.5 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 65mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters with passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 60W AC / 40W battery |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs / 5.2 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons