JBL has announced its new PartyBox speaker lineup at CES 2025. This lineup includes the PartyBox 520, PartyBox Encore 2, and PartyBox Encore Essential 2.
The PartyBox 520 sounds great for big events. It has strong sound, is splashproof, and is built to last with a telescopic handle and solid wheels for easy moving. The battery can be replaced, lasts up to 15 hours, and charges quickly for longer use. Plus, it comes with a cool light show that matches the music.
The PartyBox Encore 2 and PartyBox Encore Essential 2 are both compact and portable speakers that deliver great sound. They both come with Bluetooth 5.4 and LE Audio for better streaming quality, and redesigned handles make them easier to carry. The PartyBox Encore 2 has built-in wireless microphones for karaoke, while the PartyBox Encore Essential 2 features a fun light show. Both speakers can last up to 15 hours on a full charge and have a quick charging option that gives you 80 minutes of playtime after just 10 minutes of charging. They are also splashproof with an IPX4 rating.
The PartyBox 520 stands out because it has more power at 400 watts, compared to 100 watts for the Encore models, and it also offers extra connection options with USB-C ports and an XLR connector. The Encore 2 is unique because it comes with built-in wireless microphones, while the Encore Essential 2 has inputs for both a guitar and a microphone.
The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 is already out and has a higher power rating of 240 watts. This is more than the Encore 2 and Encore Essential 2’s 100 watts but lower than the PartyBox 520’s 400 watts. While higher wattage doesn’t automatically mean better sound, it does suggest that the Stage 320 can get louder, which might be better for larger spaces.
The Stage 320 also has inputs for microphones and guitars, which the new models mostly lack, except for the Encore Essential 2, which has a guitar input. It also has physical controls for adjusting the microphone settings (like treble, bass, and echo), while the newer models depend on an app for these adjustments. However, the new models offer Auracast for connecting multiple speakers, a feature unavailable on the Stage 320. So it’s a tradeoff when compared to what’s already out from JBL.
All models from the JBL lineup have JBL Pro Sound and AI Sound Boost technology, which is supposed to optimize audio for strong bass and clear treble. They also come with Auracast technology for easy multi-speaker connections.
The JBL PartyBox 520 is $799, the JBL PartyBox Encore 2 is $399, and the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 is $299. All will be available starting in June 2025 on the official website.
Source: JBL
