Short answer: the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus. It ranks #5 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $349.95; the JBL Boombox 3 ranks #27, rated 3.8/5, at $349.95. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus is the better-sounding option. A well balanced karaoke party speaker with clean bass, clear vocals, on-board vocal removal, an included wireless mic and a removable battery. It has an adjustable EQ, which the JBL Boombox 3 lacks. The tradeoff: The bass has less kick and physical impact than the JBL Partybox Encore 2 or JBL Partybox Club 120, and the JBL Partybox Club 120 gets noticeably louder.
The JBL Boombox 3 is the longer-running, tougher option. A loud, fully waterproof boombox with a dedicated subwoofer, a 24 hour battery and power bank charging. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus. Watch for: Dips in mid bass range which makes the bass sound undefined, bass boosted, peaky at 700Hz, not quite as good mids and treble as the Blast.
Buy the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Boombox 3 at the same price, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus | JBL Boombox 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.95 | $349.95 |
| Ranked | #5 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #27 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL One app) | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (app EQ, Deep and Punchy bass boost) | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 11V/2A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cable |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 14.2 lbs (6.45 kg) | 14.8 lbs (6.7 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 1 Included | - |
| Microphone Input | No (wireless only) | No |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, LC3 | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 180W AC / 136W battery |
| Dimensions | 19.7” x 10.2” x 8.7” (501 x 258 x 221 mm) | 19” x 10.1” x 7.9” (482 x 257 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters | 1x 189mm subwoofer + 2x 81mm woofers + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) | No |
| Aux Latency | - | 25ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| FM Tuner | - | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus: reviews by GYMCADDY and Peter Tyson Audio & Visual.
- JBL Boombox 3: reviews by JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show, Oluv and Alan Ross.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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