Short answer: the Partybox Ultimate 2 for output, deep bass and inputs, the Soundboks 4 for loudness per kilogram and all-weather battery power.
The Soundboks 4 is the one built to travel. It weighs 15.4kg against the Partybox Ultimate 2’s 47.68kg, runs on a removable battery rated for 40 hours and carries an IP65 rating that covers dust as well as water, where the JBL is IPX4 splash resistance only. SOUNDBOKS rates it at 126dB maximum output from just 216W, using high-efficiency drivers that reach two to three times the volume of a typical speaker for the same wattage.
The Partybox Ultimate 2 is the bigger, deeper, better-connected system. JBL rates it at 1500W RMS with extension to 28Hz (-6dB), against the Soundboks 4’s 40Hz to 20kHz response and 52Hz (-10dB) bass, and the Soundboks is not as neutral or as deep in the bass. The JBL also adds Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect, plus mic, guitar, aux, optical and USB playback inputs. The Soundboks 4 has no USB playback and uses Bluetooth 5.0 against the JBL’s 5.3.
Both link multiple speakers, but neither has a battery on the JBL side. SOUNDBOKS uses TeamUp for up to five speakers and Bluetooth 5.0; the Partybox Ultimate 2 uses Auracast. The JBL has no battery at all, so it always needs mains power, while the Soundboks 4 runs from its removable pack and can also run on AC.
Buy the Partybox Ultimate 2 if you have mains power and want maximum output, deeper bass, Wi-Fi streaming and the widest input set.
Buy the Soundboks 4 if you need a battery-powered speaker you can actually carry, and the IP65 rating and 40-hour battery matter more than deep bass.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 | Soundboks 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,399.00 | $1199 |
| Ranked | - | #8 of 14 in Battery-Powered PA Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS | 216W (3x 72W) |
| App | JBL One | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Dimensions | 466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm | 25.6” x 17” x 13” (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter | 2x 10” woofers, 1” compression driver |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP65 |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Microphone Input | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Optical Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | No |
| Weight | 47.68 kg | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Wheels | Yes | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 52Hz |
| Inputs | - | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | - | 126dB |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| SKAA | - | Yes |
| Configuration | - | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| Cabinet Material | - | Poplar plywood |
| DSP | - | App EQ |
| Rigging | - | 35mm pole mount socket |
Prices on this page were last checked September 28, 2026 at 4:33 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 Ultimate 2: £1,399.00 Peter Tyson eBay
Older model: the JBL Partybox Ultimate (rated 4.7/5).
Pros: A 1500W RMS system (up from the original Ultimate’s 1100W) driving dual 264mm subwoofers, dual 124mm mid-range drivers and dual 30mm horn-loaded PEN tweeters, with manufacturer-rated extension to 28Hz (-6dB) from a 1.05m-tall cabinet. Wi-Fi streaming with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect sits alongside Bluetooth 5.3 and Auracast multi-speaker linking. Inputs cover an XLR line-in, mic, guitar, aux, optical and USB-C playback, and karaoke gets AI vocal removal. JBL One app control, a full-panel light show with floor projection, and wheels plus a handle for its 47.68kg. IPX4 splash resistance.
Cons: AC-only: there is no battery, so it needs mains power wherever it goes. At 47.68kg and just over a metre tall it is still a two-person lift despite the wheels, and 47.68kg is heavier than the 39kg model it replaces. IPX4 only shrugs off splashes, not rain or dust. No independent measurements have been published yet, so its real output and sound quality can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Not yet sold in the US.
Full JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 1500W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | JBL One |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 466.7 x 1052.5 x 493.3 mm |
| Drivers | 2x 264mm subwoofer, 2x 124mm mid-range, 2x 30mm horn-loaded tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Smart EQ Mode) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (EasySing AI vocal removal) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C PD, up to 20V/1.5A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 47.68 kg |
| Wheels | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox Ultimate 2 vs Electro-Voice Everse 12
Soundboks 4: $1199 Soundboks Amazon eBay
Older models: the Soundboks 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5) and the Soundboks 2 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Tied for the loudest battery powered speaker. Removable 40 hour battery. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Very large. Not as neutral or as deep of bass as the above Partyboxes. Not stereo. External power brick for charging.
Full Soundboks 4 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 216W (3x 72W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 52Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Cabinet Material | Poplar plywood |
| Configuration | Battery-powered 3-way active PA |
| DSP | App EQ |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 25.6” x 17” x 13” (650.2 x 431.8 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 10” woofers, 1” compression driver |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Inputs | 2x XLR/6.3mm combo (mic/instrument), 3.5mm stereo, Bluetooth |
| Maximum SPL | 126dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Rigging | 35mm pole mount socket |
| SKAA | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- GYMCADDY: SOUNDBOKS Gen 4 Review - Better Sound And More Power Efficient More from GYMCADDY →
- Flossy Carter: SOUNDBOKS 4 - The World’s LOUDEST Bluetooth Speaker! More from FlossyCarter →
- Oluv Patreon: SoundBoks 4 vs Stormbox Blast - first impressions More from Oluv’Sone →
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox Ultimate Vs SOUNDBOKS 4 & Sony XV900 - Is It Worth It?
- M1MTechChannel: SOUNDBOKS hat gekocht: Die neue MIX liefert brutal ab! More from M1MTechChannel →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons