Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore 2, if you are buying new. The JBL Partybox Encore ranks higher than the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra (#7 vs #11 of 112 boombox speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the JBL Partybox Encore 2, is rated 4.4/5 at $330 and is still sold new.
The Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra is the longer-running, tougher pick. A massively loud boombox with deep bass, long battery life, and HDMI ARC so it can double as a TV soundbar. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 6 for the JBL Partybox Encore. It is rated IPX6 against IPX4 for the JBL Partybox Encore. The tradeoff: The 500W peak-power rating doesn’t fully hold up: it gets noisy above roughly 80-90% volume, and the midrange isn’t fully refined, sometimes sitting a touch too forward.
The JBL Partybox Encore is the lighter pick. A great sounding stereo party speaker with two wireless mics included and plenty of volume; now discontinued but worth buying used. At 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) it weighs much less than the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra at 24.3 lbs (11 kg). It links with other speakers (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers), which the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra cannot. The tradeoff: Only IPX4 splash resistance.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore 2, the replacement for the discontinued JBL Partybox Encore; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A massively loud boombox with deep bass, long battery life, and HDMI ARC so it can double as a TV soundbar.
A great sounding stereo party speaker with two wireless mics included and plenty of volume; now discontinued but worth buying used.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yeahbox Sonic Boom Ultra | JBL Partybox Encore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $388.00 | $230 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #7 of 112 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 45000mAh (Reviewer estimated) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 23.4” x 9.8” x 12.3” (595 x 248 x 313 mm) | 10.9” x 12.9” x 11.5” (276 x 327 x 293 mm) |
| Drivers | 6x9in racetrack woofer (200W) + 2x 4.5in midrange (40W each) + 2x tweeters (20W each), true 3-way | 135mm woofer + 2x 20mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Country, Classic, and custom app EQ; custom settings don’t persist after the app closes) | Yes (3 band App EQ) |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC (in/out, usable as a TV soundbar), AUX in/out, USB drive, microSD, optional wired mic | - |
| IP Rating | IPX6 | IPX4 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Amplifier Power | 320W RMS / 500W Peak | 100W RMS |
| Party Mode | No (TWS stereo pairing of 2 units only, no Auracast) | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C (60W fast charging) | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 24.3 lbs (11 kg) | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) | SBC |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 6 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | No | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 17ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 38Hz |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1.5A) |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
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