Which JBL speaker is right for you?

There's no single best speaker. The right one depends on where you'll play it, how many people will be listening, and whether anyone wants to sing. Start with how you'll use it, and the choice gets much simpler.

Everyday carry

If the speaker goes wherever you go (the beach, the office, a weekend out of town), size and toughness matter more than sheer power.

The JBL Go 4 fits in a pocket, is rated IP67 and has a carry loop to clip onto a bag. It plays for up to 7 hours on a charge.

The JBL Flip 7 is the step up: 35 W of output, an IP68 rating and a drop-tested body, with up to 14 hours of playtime.

House party

When the speaker is the centre of the party, step up to a PartyBox. These play louder and deeper and have a built-in light show, and most of them have mic and guitar inputs.

• The JBL PartyBox 130 gives you 200 W, dual mic and guitar inputs and a foldable handle. A good fit for the sala or a small garden.
• The JBL PartyBox 330 steps up to 280 W, with up to 18 hours on a replaceable battery. It weighs 17.1 kg, so it comes with wheels and a telescopic handle.
• The JBL PartyBox 720 is the biggest in our range: 800 W, bass down to 32 Hz, swappable batteries and wide wheels.

Karaoke

For singing, look at what's in the box. The Encore family is built for it. The JBL PartyBox Encore 2 Plus and the JBL PartyBox Encore 2 Plus V2 come with wireless microphones and holders, plus EasySing AI vocal removal. The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 has mic and guitar inputs but no mics in the box, so it suits singers who already own one.

Want to sing on the move? The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus adds a shoulder strap and has EasySing vocal removal too.

Our karaoke guide goes into more detail.

Events

For a barangay event, a small gig or a school programme, you'll want inputs, long playtime and an easy way to move the speaker.

The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 has dual mic and guitar inputs, wheels, a telescopic handle and up to 18 hours on a replaceable battery. For a bigger crowd, the JBL PartyBox 720 has two combo inputs for mics, guitars or DJ gear.

Questions to ask yourself

• Where will it live? In a bag, on a table, or on the floor?
• How many people will be listening? A few friends, the whole family, or a crowd?
• Will anyone sing or play? If so, check for mics in the box, or mic and guitar inputs.
• Will it get wet? For beach and pool days, the portables have the tougher rating: the Flip 7 is IP68, while the PartyBox speakers are IPX4.
• Who will carry it? Check the weight, and whether it has wheels or a strap.