With its enhanced portability, more balance in basses, and lower price, the JBL PartyBox 100 (see image) seems to be the better buy overall.
If you’re looking for a portable, one-piece stereo speaker to listen to music to on the go that can double as a small PA system for small events, you will definitely want to have a look at the JBL Party Box 100 and JBL Partybox 300. Before you read further, please consider that while the sound quality on these is pro-grade, they are not meant for hi-fidelity listening. And while usable as a PA system, that is not their primary niche either. Portability is the forte here.
In summary, the JBL PartyBox 100 is more compact and portable than the two but needs more time to charge. The JBL PartyBox 300 offers longer battery life and sounds more powerful but doesn’t come with the handy pole-mount the smaller sibling does. The JBL PartyBox 300 is the more expensive of the two (by about $200). Both sound reasonably good in their price range, but the bass can get muddy on the JBL PartyBox 300
Now let’s have a closer look!
Design
Both these speakers come with a light show that some will love while others might find tacky. The good news is that you can always turn them off, depending on the kind of atmosphere you want to create. They definitely do add to a fun vibe to things, though! The otherwise black exteriors look pretty standard and include the signature JBL logo in the middle.
They feel rugged, heavy-duty, and like the kind of thing that would be just fine outdoors at a barbeque or beach party, just as much it would work indoors with guests over for dinner or a mid to small social event.
JBL PartyBox 100
Weighing in at 9.7kg, the JBL PartyBox 100 is the smaller and more portable of the two. It also comes with a pretty neat pole mount. This gives you more flexibility to position it so it sounds (and looks!) it's best in the specific environment you're in.
Dimensions: 29 x 28.8 x 55.1 cm
Check out the complete specifications of JBL PartyBox 100.
JBL PartyBox 300
The bigger sibling of the two is very similar in design. But weighs about 6kgs more (15.8kg). So while technically still portable, it’s definitely not the winner in this department, even though the carrying handles make it easy enough for the average adult.
Additionally, the pole mount feature is not available on it either. So you’ll have to place it like most other wireless one-piece speakers. On a flat surface, vertically or horizontally.
Dimensions:
31 x 32 x 69 cm
Note: Neither of the two is weatherproof.
The JBL PartyBox 300 (see image) offers longer battery life and sounds more powerful but doesn’t come with the handy pole-mount the smaller sibling does.
Battery Life
JBL PartyBox 100
The smaller sibling gives you 12 hours of battery life when fully charged, which takes about 6-7 hours to complete.
JBL PartyBox 300
The JBL PartyBox 300, on the other hand, outshines its smaller sibling by a considerable bit here with 18 hours of battery life on a full charge. Which takes about 5 hours.
Sound
Like I mentioned earlier, these are not high-fidelity speakers. But they do give you enough volume and clarity to get the party spirit rollin’. Both offer a nice, balanced sound with surprising clarity on all frequency ranges.
JBL PartyBox 100
With two 5.25 inch woofers and two 2.25-inch tweeters, this gives you a total output of 160 Watts. The frequency response range of 45 Hz – 18 kHz you get is pretty impressive for a party-speaker this portable as well.
JBL PartyBox 300
The bigger of the two does deliver more power and volume (240 Watts). And this without compromising on sound quality. That being said, as is often the case with a speaker this size which is neither really small nor really big, the bass can get a little muddy. Interestingly enough, the size of the woofers and tweeters remain the same.
Connectivity
This is where both speakers really blend the old with the new and have lots to offer.
Both the JBL PartyBox 100 and JBL PartyBox 300 come with :
Weighing in at 9.7kg, the JBL PartyBox 100 (see image) is the smaller and more portable of the two. It also comes with a pretty neat pole mount.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- A USB input
This means you can connect your devices in either manner to play your playlist.
Additionally, it also offers :
- A jack/aux input to plug in musical instruments like electric guitars/keyboards.
- A mic input for your microphone.
These open up a whole different world of possibilities making it an ideal fit for a karaoke party, or even small-scale, intimate concerts with live musicians. Buskers might find this to be a great solution as well.
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Price
- JBL PartyBox 100: $299.95
- JBL PartyBox 300: $492.00
(Please check your local dealers for deals)
Verdict
In conclusion, this is how the JBL PartyBox 100 and JBL PartyBox 300 stack up against each other:
- Design: The JBL PartyBox 100 is more portable.
- Battery Life: JBL PartyBox 300 wins.
- Sound: Close tie. But the JBL PartyBox 100 seems to be more compact in bass frequencies. The JBL PartyBox 300 is way more powerful though.
- Connectivity: Tie.
- Price: JBL PartyBox 100 wins.
With its enhanced portability, more balance in basses, and lower price, the JBL PartyBox 100 seems to be the better buy overall. The JBL PartyBox 300, however, is better suited for larger venues due to its higher power.
