Short answer: these sit in different size classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Soundboks Go ranks #29 out of 43 party speakers, and the Turtlebox Gen 3 ranks #83 out of 89 boombox speakers, for $369 less.
One note: the Soundboks Go is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
The two aim at very different priorities. The Soundboks Go’s review praises exceptional 40-hour battery life at mid-volume, a swappable second battery, and 121dB max output from its 10-inch woofer, driven by high-efficiency drivers rated to reach 2 to 3 times the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Its real weaknesses are being not as neutral or bassy as the JBL Partyboxes it gets compared against, and having no stereo separation.
The Turtlebox Gen 3’s review is much harsher on fundamentals. It says the speaker sounds basically identical to the older Gen 1 and Gen 2, since each generation mainly added features rather than better sound, and adds bluntly that it sounds horrible in YouTube sound samples and has barely any bass, with the claimed loudness never reached at a proper 1-meter measuring distance. It does add real durability the Soundboks Go lacks: an IP67 water and dust rating versus no water resistance at all on the Go.
What the Turtlebox Gen 3 adds: IP67 water resistance, USB-C charging with power-bank output for other devices, true multi-speaker Party Mode, and MicroSD playback, none of which the discontinued Soundboks Go has.
What the Soundboks Go adds: true stereo sound, a swappable battery system, and a woofer built specifically for higher-efficiency output at party-speaker volumes.
Buy the Turtlebox Gen 3 if you specifically need a rugged, waterproof boombox and don’t mind its own review calling the sound weak on bass.
Buy the Soundboks Go, used since it’s discontinued, if you want genuine party-speaker output and battery life and don’t need water resistance.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundboks Go is rated for 40 hours versus 25 hours for the Turtlebox Gen 3.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundboks Go | Turtlebox Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 Discontinued | $430.00 |
| Ranked | #29 of 43 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 89 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | ~65Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 18” x 12” x 10” (457.2 x 304.8 x 254 mm) | 12” x 7” x 8.7” (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” woofer, 1” tweeter | 1x 6x9” (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1” (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | None | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) | 102dB (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | DC Barrel Connector (15V/3A) |
| Removable Battery | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs (9 kg) | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 2 x 72W | 50W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
| Microphone Input | - | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Capacity | - | 85Wh |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundboks Go:
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Soundboks Go
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Soundboks Go
- JBL Partybox 310 vs Soundboks Go
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Soundboks Go
- JBL Partybox 110 vs Soundboks Go
Prices on this page were last checked October 1, 2026 at 6:23 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
Soundboks Go: $799 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Soundboks Mix, ranked higher, rated 3.2/5.
Pros: Exceptional 40-hour battery life at mid-volume (10 hours at full volume), swappable design (second battery $200 available). 7.8Ah Li-ion with external charging option and pass-through charging capability. 121dB max volume (Bass+ mode). Premium audio quality, durable ABS polycarbonate with rubberized bumpers. Portable enough for vehicle adventures. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as loud as the other Soundboks. Not as neutral or as much bass as the above Partyboxes. Not stereo. External power brick for charging. Discontinued; Soundboks has removed it from their lineup and the product page is gone.
Full Soundboks Go review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 2 x 72W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 18” x 12” x 10” (457.2 x 304.8 x 254 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” woofer, 1” tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 19.8 lbs (9 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs Soundboks 3 - Which One Is Right For You? More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs JBL Partybox 310 Vs Sony XP700
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs JBL Partybox 110 Vs Sony XP500
- GYMCADDY: Soundboks Go Vs JBL Boombox 2 Vs UE Hyperboom Vs Sony XG500
- Everyday Man: Soundboks Go Vs Turttlebox Vs EcoXGear Defender
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundboks Go vs Soundboks Mix
- Soundboks Go vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Soundboks Go vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Soundboks Go vs JBL Partybox 110
- Soundboks Go vs JBL Partybox 130
- Soundboks Go vs JBL Partybox 310
- Soundboks Go vs JBL Partybox Stage 320
- Soundboks Go vs JBL Partybox 330
- See all 13 comparisons
Turtlebox Gen 3: $430.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Turtlebox Gen 2 (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5) and the Turtlebox (ranked lower, rated 2.1/5).
Pros: Waterproof (IP67, and it floats) and crushproof, with stainless steel hardware and quality amplifier parts inside. Loud for its class: Williston Audio Labs measured 102 dB at max volume, well above a Kicker BF400’s 96 dB. A big 85Wh battery rated for 25+ hours, a USB-C output that charges other devices, aux and microphone inputs, and true multi-speaker Party Mode on top of stereo pairing, plus Bluetooth 5.4. Measured bass extension of ~65Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Sounds basically identical to the original and the Gen 2: each generation mainly added features, not sound quality. The amp is tuned to a V shape, with boosted lows and highs and a dip in the mids, but the boost can’t make up for shallow extension: the bass is only down 10dB at about 65Hz, so there’s little real low end despite the boomy upper bass. The amp delivers only about 12W RMS at 1% distortion. In Williston Audio Labs’ side by side test most listeners preferred the much smaller Kicker BF400 for its cleaner sound, and a Pioneer PBM5 played louder at 105 dB. Nowhere near its claimed 120dB at a reasonable measuring distance. Rattles at high volume. It charges only from its own 15V barrel plug brick, not USB-C, and has no app or EQ. Inside is essentially a car audio 6x9 two way speaker in a plastic box.
Full Turtlebox Gen 3 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~65Hz |
| Battery Capacity | 85Wh |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7” x 8.7” (305 x 178 x 222 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6x9” (152x228mm) woofer + 1x 1” (25mm) tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 102dB (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Turtlebox Party Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | DC Barrel Connector (15V/3A) |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 10 lbs (4.54 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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