Short answer: the Stormbox Blast for listening, the Partybox Encore 2 for hosting. The Blast ranks #2 in the 68-speaker boombox class at $199.99; the Encore 2 ranks #4 at $330.
Battery and weather are the Blast’s clearest wins. 30 hours against 15, and IPX7 against IPX4, meaning the Blast survives submersion while the Encore 2 handles splashes only. For a speaker you take to a beach, a campsite or a pool, that is close to decisive.
Sound. The Blast measures better and reaches 43 Hz, with bass almost as deep as a Partybox 100 from a much smaller box. It is quite neutral in default and XBass modes, and very good indeed with a reviewer EQ: Oluv’s preset became the factory default in firmware 3.5. Its weaknesses are a dip at 5.5 kHz and slightly less detail than the best speakers in other size classes. The Encore 2’s main measured complaint is a little missing upper bass.
Where the Encore 2 is genuinely the right tool:
- Microphone and guitar inputs. The Blast has none. For karaoke, speeches or a busking set this ends the argument immediately. See karaoke setups.
- Auracast, pairing with the wider JBL range. The Blast has no multi-speaker mode at all.
- A light show, if you want one, and 100 W RMS against 90 W.
Both are genuinely carryable, 5.45 kg (12 lbs) against 6.4 kg (14.1 lbs), which is the point of the boombox class.
Buy the Blast for sound per dollar, battery life and weatherproofing.
Buy the Encore 2 if you need microphone inputs or JBL pairing.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A boombox with bass and volume that rival bigger party speakers, quite neutral sound, and a 30 hour battery.
A compact karaoke party speaker with two wireless mics, better balanced sound than the original and a long battery.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| Tribit Stormbox Blast | JBL Partybox Encore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $330 |
| Ranked | #2 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Tribit App) | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (10 band) | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 66ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 12 lbs (5.45 kg) | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| FM Tuner | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| MicroSD Playback | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Amplifier Power | 90W RMS (140W peak) | 100W RMS |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 6.3” x 9.1” (400 x 160 x 230 mm) | 12.6” x 13.3” x 10.4” (319.5 x 338.6 x 263 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x ~107mm (4.2”) woofers + 2x ~25mm tweeters | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | No |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
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