Short answer: the JBL Partybox 330. It ranks #2 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $629.95. The LG Xboom Stage 501 ranks #24, rated 3.8/5, at $449.99, $179.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The LG Xboom Stage 501 is the longer-running, lighter pick. A party speaker with clear vocals, a 25 hour rating and a swappable battery. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 18 for the JBL Partybox 330. At 25.8 lbs (11.7 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the JBL Partybox 330 at 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg). It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the JBL Partybox 330 lacks. The catch: There are no tweeters, and HammoTech charted the high end falling from 5kHz and bass dropping off at 40Hz.
The JBL Partybox 330 is the better-sounding option. A rolling party speaker with deep bass, a removable battery, a light show and inputs for mics and a guitar. Watch for: It remains very large and heavy, and the sound improvement over the JBL Partybox Stage 320 is modest rather than transformational.
Buy the JBL Partybox 330. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $179.96 you would save on the LG Xboom Stage 501 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A party speaker with clear vocals, a 25 hour rating and a swappable battery.
A rolling party speaker with deep bass, a removable battery, a light show and inputs for mics and a guitar.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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
| LG Xboom Stage 501 | JBL Partybox 330 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $629.95 |
| Ranked | #24 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #2 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 220W (160W on battery) | 280W |
| App | Yes (LG ThinQ) | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 99.1Wh | - |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LC3, AAC, SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 23.4”H x 11.7”W x 11.6”D (594 x 298 x 294 mm) | 26.1”H x 13.1”W x 14.8”D (662.5 x 334 x 375 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers + 2x 2.5” midrange drivers (Peerless) | 2x 6.5” (165mm) woofers + 2x 1” (25mm) PEN dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | Yes (Smart EQ mode) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (1/4”) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-C, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| Strap | No (built-in handle) | No |
| USB Playback | Yes (USB-A) | Yes |
| Weight | 25.8 lbs (11.7 kg) | 37.7 lbs (17.1 kg) |
| Wheels | No | Yes |
| Inputs | - | Optical |
| TWS | - | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
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