JBL Boombox 4 vs JBL PartyBox Encore 2
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| JBLBoombox 4 | JBLPartyBox Encore 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2025 | June 2025 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Portable speaker | Portable speaker |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Drivers | Two 123 mm (5 in) woofers, two 20 mm tweeters and three passive radiators (two round, one racetrack); AI Sound Boost | 135 mm (5.25 in) woofer and two dome tweeters (20 mm on the spec sheet, 25 mm on JBL Singapore's page); AI Sound Boost |
| Amplifiers | 2 × 65 W RMS woofer + 2 × 40 W RMS tweeter on mains power; 2 × 60 W RMS woofer + 2 × 40 W RMS tweeter on battery | 100 W RMS (IEC 60268) |
| Frequency response | 37 Hz – 20 kHz; signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB | 40 Hz – 20 kHz (−6 dB); signal-to-noise ratio over 80 dB |
| Audio formats | Lossless audio over USB-C from a compatible source | MP3, WAV and FLAC from USB (not on European models) |
| Room tuning | Bass Boost with Deep Bass and Punchy Bass modes | EQ in the JBL PartyBox app; echo, bass and treble controls for the microphones |
| Connections | ||
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| AirPlay | No | No |
| Voice assistants | None | None |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4; A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6 | Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio; A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6, TMAP 1.0, PBP 1.0 |
| Ports | AC in; USB-C (audio in and power bank out) | AC in; USB-C (music playback, and charge out at up to 11 V / 2 A when the speaker is off); 3.5 mm aux in; microphone in; guitar in with gain control |
| Multi-room | Auracast stereo pairing of two Boombox 4s, and multi-speaker playback with other Auracast JBL speakers | Auracast stereo pairing of two Encore 2s, and multi-speaker playback with other Auracast JBL speakers |
| App | – | JBL PartyBox app (music, EQ and light show) |
| Design | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 28 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68 | IPX4 |
| Weight | 5.89 kg (better) | 6.4 kg |
| Battery life detail | Up to 28 hours, plus 6 hours with Playtime Boost; replaceable 99.02 Wh (21.6 V, 4,584 mAh) lithium-ion battery pack, sold separately; 3 hours to charge | Up to 15 hours; replaceable JBL Battery 200 (7.4 V, 4,722 mAh), spare sold separately; under 3.5 hours to charge; 10 minutes of charging gives 80 minutes of play; microphones up to 10 hours each (240 mAh) |
| Controls | Buttons on the top panel, including Bass Boost; the JBL logos on the passive radiators light up when Bass Boost is on | Top-panel buttons; guitar gain and volume knob |
| Microphones | – | Two digital wireless microphones (2.4 GHz, up to 30 m range, 50 Hz – 15 kHz) with holders |
| Mounting | – | Flexible carry handle |
| Size | 506.4 × 262.9 × 212.9 mm (W × H × D) | 319.5 × 338.6 × 263 mm (W × H × D) |
| Colours | Black, Blue, Squad | Black |
| In the box | Boombox 4, AC power cord (2 m), quick start guide, safety sheet, warranty card | PartyBox Encore 2, two wireless microphones, two microphone holders, AC power cord (2 m), quick start guide, safety instructions and warranty card |
