Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #5 of 70 boombox speakers at $209; the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 ranks #22 and costs $300, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 side: Appears to have better off axis performance due to the move to dome tweeters over cone. Set against that: Missing a little bit of upper bass.
The case for the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: Pretty deep bass. The catch: Sounds quite muddy with the boosted lower and upper bass.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $209.00 | $300 |
| Ranked | #5 of 70 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #22 of 70 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 | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (10 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (2x 6.35mm) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg | 19.2 lbs / 8.7 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Output Power | 100W RMS | 200W AC / 180W battery |
| Dimensions | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 47.6cm x 19.3cm x 25.9cm |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters |
| Max Volume | 110dB | 110dB |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 40Hz |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $209.00 Amazon Bhphotovideo
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
| 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 |
| Dimensions | 12.58" x 13.46" x 10.25" (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 |
| Output Power | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- 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
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- 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 9
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Zealot ZE41
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- Links
Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: $300 Amazon
Pros: Pretty deep bass.
Cons: Sounds quite muddy with the boosted lower and upper bass. Boosted treble around 6khz. Xbass mode makes it sound even more muddy. Nowhere near as neutral and balanced as the first Blast and a big downgrade unless you only care about max volume
Setup: Try the EQ from Alan Ross at this timestamp of his video
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Dimensions | 47.6cm x 19.3cm x 25.9cm |
| Drivers | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 110dB |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x 6.35mm) |
| Output Power | 200W AC / 180W battery |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 19.2 lbs / 8.7 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - outdoor sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 - indoor sound test
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs 2 Earfun UBoom X - outdoor test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 custom EQ best settings! Alan Ross!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 firmware V11 update - earthquake warning!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review - fun fun fun! sometimes 😊
- Mateusz Cholewa: Soundcore Rave 3 🤗v🆚s Tribit Stormbox Blast 2👌🎶
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 😳 First Look, EQ and Light Modes Demo 🚨
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs JBL Boombox 3 🔊 Got Bass? Let’s See How They Compare 😲 Battery Powered 🔋
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Blast 😲 A Family Feud 🚗 Tailgater Special 🔋 Battery Powered 🎶 Old vs New
- Jagist reviews: Zealot Ze21 Vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2!!!
- Jagist reviews: Zealot S95 Vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2!!!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs JBL Boombox 4
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs W-King X20
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Zealot ZE21
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs Zealot ZE41
- Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- See all 14 comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.