Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #5 of 73 boombox speakers by sound quality at $239; the Marshall Tufton ranks #60 and costs $450, 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 Marshall Tufton offers: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating. Watch for: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Marshall Tufton and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
The Marshall Tufton is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 73 boombox speakers; there are better options higher up.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Marshall Tufton | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $239.00 | $450 |
| Ranked | #5 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #60 of 73 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX2 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Output Power | 100W RMS | 80W |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 9" x 6.4" x 13.8" (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 1x 5.25" woofer + 2x 2" full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| Max Volume | 110dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 42Hz |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Boombox 4 vs W-King X10-1
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 2
- Zealot S89 vs Marshall Tufton
- Zealot ZE21 vs Marshall Tufton
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
Marshall Tufton: $450 Amazon eBay
Pros: 20 hour battery life; 2.5 hour full charge, or 20-min quick-charge for 4 hours of play. 3-way speaker design covers full frequency range in 360°. Sturdy construction with IPX2 rating.
Cons: Not much lower bass, upper bass boomy, boosted treble, not very balanced overall. Not as loud as others in the class. Very low water rating
Full Marshall Tufton review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 6.4" x 13.8" (229.1 x 163.1 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 5.25" woofer + 2x 2" full-range + 1x 16mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (hidden bass and treble adjustment) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs / 4.9 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons