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 Tronsmart Fiitune X30 ranks #48, rated 3.3/5, at $144.90, $74.10 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
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. Watch for: 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.
The case for the Tronsmart Fiitune X30: A three-way, six-driver design (racetrack woofer, two midranges, two tweeters and an upward-firing driver) with 80W, Hi-Res certification, LDAC, a claimed 14 hours of battery and IPX6. The tradeoff: Side by side it clearly lost to the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, the Soundcore Boom 2 and the EarFun UBoom X: listeners described muddy, dark mid-bass that fails to reproduce low notes, dull and underemphasized treble, and a boxy, sterile sound at low volume next to the JBL Xtreme 4.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $74.10 with the Tronsmart Fiitune X30 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | Tronsmart Fiitune X30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.00 | $144.90 |
| Ranked | #6 of 89 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #48 of 89 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | - |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX6 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| USB Playback | Yes | - |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 80W |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 14.6” x 7.7” x 5.1” (370 x 195 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters | Racetrack woofer + 2x midrange + 2x tweeters + upward-firing driver |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for 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
Tronsmart Fiitune X30: $144.90 AliExpress Tronsmart Best Buy eBay
Pros: A three-way, six-driver design (racetrack woofer, two midranges, two tweeters and an upward-firing driver) with 80W, Hi-Res certification, LDAC, a claimed 14 hours of battery and IPX6. It plays loud with a lot of mid-bass, reviewers found good separation of instruments and voices, and some listeners found it warm and full at high volume.
Cons: Side by side it clearly lost to the Harman Kardon Go + Play 3, the Soundcore Boom 2 and the EarFun UBoom X: listeners described muddy, dark mid-bass that fails to reproduce low notes, dull and underemphasized treble, and a boxy, sterile sound at low volume next to the JBL Xtreme 4.
Full Tronsmart Fiitune X30 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 14.6” x 7.7” x 5.1” (370 x 195 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | Racetrack woofer + 2x midrange + 2x tweeters + upward-firing driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jagist reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 Vs Harmon Kardon Go Plus Play 3!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs HK Go + Play 3 - No chance? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - Complete opposite of eachother? - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs Soundcore BOOM 2 - LETS BOOM! - Sound Test
- Dominik Reviews: Tronsmart Fiitune X30 vs Earfun UBOOM X - BOOMY SOUND! - Sound Test
- Storytripper HD: JBL Xtream 4 vs Tronsmart Fiitune X30 More from storytripperhd →
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