Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2, for cleaner off axis sound. Its dome tweeters over cone appear to give better off axis performance, though it is missing a little bit of upper bass. The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 goes pretty deep, but it sounds quite muddy with the boosted lower and upper bass.
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. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 and costs less, so the other one has nothing left to offer.
Battery life favors the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: rated for 30 hours against 15 hours for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $254.12 | $279.99 |
| Ranked | #5 of 75 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 75 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 (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (2x 6.35mm) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| 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 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 200W AC / 180W battery |
| Dimensions | 12.6" x 13.5" x 10.3" (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 18.7" x 7.6" x 10.2" (476 x 193 x 259 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25") woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75") dome tweeters | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 40Hz |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
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- JBL Partybox Encore vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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: $254.12 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
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 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 |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
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Tribit Stormbox Blast 2: $279.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty deep bass. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-10dB).
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
Full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 200W AC / 180W battery |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18.7" x 7.6" x 10.2" (476 x 193 x 259 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x ~180x110mm rectangular subwoofer + 2x ~80mm mid drivers + 2x ~25mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) |
| FM Tuner | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | No |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x 6.35mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power Cable or 10w USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 19.2 lbs (8.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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