The JBL PartyBox 310 is a large, battery-powered speaker with circular RGB lights. As the name implies, it's ready for your next party. It's positioned in the middle of JBL's line of party speakers: more powerful than the JBL PartyBox 100 but still lacking in volume compared to the PartyBox 710. It has a Bass Boost feature to add more thump and punch to its sound profile, and you can customize its sound to your liking using the graphic EQ in its companion app. It's also well-suited to musicians and buskers as it has a mic and guitar input alongside bass, treble, and echo controls for the mic.
Our Verdict
The JBL PartyBox 310 is very good for music. It has a slightly boomy sound profile that you can use to add even more bass using its Bass Boost feature. It can also play stereo content and can get really loud, although there are slight compression artifacts at max volume. You can also customize its sound to your liking using the graphic EQ featured in its companion app.
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Can get very loud.
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Bass Boost feature.
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Narrow-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is alright for videos and movies. It has a boomy sound profile that can help bring out the intensity of sound effects in action-packed movies. It can play stereo content, and it can get very loud. Sadly, its directivity isn't the best, so audio won't sound the same from every angle. While its latency on iOS will be okay for streaming video, you may notice more audio lag using an Android device. Some apps compensate for latency, so your experience may vary.
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Can get very loud.
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Narrow-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is decent for podcasts. It has a balanced mid-range, so vocals are clear and detailed. It can get very loud, although there are some compression artifacts at max volume. Unfortunately, it isn't very portable, and its directivity isn't very wide, so your podcasts won't sound clear from all angles.
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Can get very loud.
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Narrow-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is very good for outdoor use. Although it's not very portable, it has wheels and a carrying handle, making it easier to take it on the go. It lasts over 17 hours on a single charge and gets very loud, although some compression artifacts are present at max volume. Also, when placed vertically and the flaps protecting its inputs are tightly sealed, it's rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning it can withstand small water splashes.
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IPX4 rating for water resistance.
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Can get very loud.
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Not very portable.
- 7.8 Music
- 6.8 Videos/Movies
- 7.2 Podcasts
- 2.9 Voice Assistant
- 7.8 Outdoors
- Updated Apr 17, 2024: We've added a comparison between this speaker and the Sony SRS-XV500 in Controls.
- Updated Apr 12, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure it's up-to-date and the information contained is accurate. We also downloaded the latest firmware update, 1.32.0, and reran our tests for frequency response accuracy based on users' reports of the sound profile changing. However, we found no difference in results.
- Updated Feb 02, 2024: Added market comparison with the Klipsch GIG XXL in the Wired box.
- Updated Sep 08, 2023: Added market comparison with the Bose S1 Pro+ in the Controls box.
- Updated Jul 13, 2023: Retested the speaker's sound when positioned vertically. No changes in test results, but some additional information added to the Frequency Response Accuracy, Soundstage, and Dynamics boxes.
- Updated Jun 06, 2022: Updated review and test results to include graphic EQ with new firmware update.
- Updated Jan 13, 2022: Updated test results for 'Track Next/Previous' from 'Yes' to 'Yes (Physical)' in the Controls box.
- Updated Aug 19, 2021: Updated the text to provide more information regarding its performance while connected to a power source.
- Updated Mar 09, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 05, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 01, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 25, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Feb 03, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL PartyBox 310 comes in one color variant: 'Black.' You can see the label of our model here. If you come across another variant, please let us know in the forums and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a large party speaker. Like the JBL PartyBox 300 and JBL PartyBox 100, it has two circular RGB lights and dedicated inputs for guitar and microphone. However, the PartyBox 310 has a more balanced sound profile than these speakers and better build quality, featuring an IPX4 rating for water resistance. While it can get louder than the Klipsch GIG XXL, there's much more compression present at max volume, so you'll hear some pumping artifacts. The JBL has a considerably longer battery life, making it a better fit for outdoor parties.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers for parties, the best Bluetooth speakers for bass, and the best JBL speakers.
The JBL Boombox 3 and JBL PartyBox 310 are portable Bluetooth speakers with different feature sets that might sway you either way. The PartyBox 310 has a feature set that's perfect for parties, with an RGB light show, karaoke features, and more volume on tap. While its sound profile is more balanced overall, it skews towards being boomy, and there's even a Bass Boost feature you can enable for even more bass. By contrast, the Boombox 3 is more portable and has a longer battery life, so it's better suited for outdoor excursions. While the PartyBox 310 is IPX4 rated for protection against water splashes, the Boombox 3 will be better protected against the elements as it's rated IPX7 for submersibility in water and IPX6 for protection against dust.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker for music than the Bose S1 Pro System. The JBL can reproduce more low bass, play stereo content, and get louder. It also has longer-lasting battery life and is rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning it can withstand small water splashes. However, the Bose is more portable.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XP700 overall. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass than the Sony. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in a cleaner sound during loud listening sessions. It also has built-in wheels and a telescopic handle to help transport it.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is better than the Sony SRS-XP500. They're both party-oriented speakers with lots of cool add-ons to amp up the energy at your next event; however, the JBL gets louder and brings more thump in the bass. Its battery life lasts a little longer, and its built-in telescopic handle and wheels make it easier to transport.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a more premium alternative to the Klipsch GIG XXL. The JBL is better built with an IP rating for water resistance, which the Klipsch lacks. Plus, it can reproduce more low bass and comes with more sound customization tools. It gets louder, and it has a longer battery life.
The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a slightly better speaker than the JBL PartyBox 310, though they have different strengths. The Ultimate Ears has fewer compression artifacts at max volume and better soundstage performance. It's also more portable than the JBL. The JBL can produce a much deeper low bass and gets louder than the Ultimate Ears. It also has inputs to connect it to a mic or guitar.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is better for music than the Bose S1 Pro+. The JBL has a unique design with customizable RGB lights that may be more suitable for some users. Plus, it can reproduce a more extended low bass, so you get more thump and rumble in the mix. Its battery life is longer, too. While both speakers let you connect instruments like microphones, the Bose has a few more settings for this use. The Bose is smaller, too.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the SOUNDBOKS (Gen. 3). The JBL is more portable, has a better-balanced sound profile, and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It also has fewer compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volume settings. However, the SOUNDBOKS can produce deeper bass and gets louder than the JBL.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox 110. The PartyBox 310 can produce a more extended low bass and can get louder than the PartyBox 110. It has a longer-lasting battery life of over 17 hours from a single charge, which can vary depending on your usage. It also has a built-in telescopic handle and wheels to help transport it. That said, the PartyBox 110 is smaller, making it more portable.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a slightly better speaker for music than the JBL PartyBox 100. The 310 has better controls, can reproduce more low bass, and has a longer-lasting battery life. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app. However, some users may prefer the smaller-sized 100. It has a larger soundstage and a better dynamics performance.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3, though they have different strengths. The PartyBox 310 is a large party speaker with a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low bass than the Xtreme 3. It can also get much louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. The Xtreme 3 is much smaller and much more portable than the PartyBox 310. It's also better built and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. The PartyBox 310 has a better-balanced sound profile and can produce a more extended bass. Also, it gets louder without as much compression present at max volume. Its battery lasts around seventeen hours, while the On-The-Go only lasts 4.5 hours on a single charge. However, the On-The-Go is much smaller and more portable, which some users may prefer.
The SOUNDBOKS Go and the JBL PartyBox 310 are both versatile party speakers, but the JBL performs better. It reproduces more low bass, so you feel more rumble in genres like hip-hop and EDM. Unlike the SOUNDBOKS, it comes with lights to enhance the party and mic and guitar inputs for karaoke sessions. While it's a bit bigger than the SOUNDBOKS, its telescopic handle makes it easy to transport.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony GTK-XB90. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper low bass than the Sony. It can also get louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume and has an IPX4 rating for water resistance that certifies it to withstand small water splashes. However, the Sony supports voice assistants through your smartphone and offers a wider-sounding soundstage than the JBL.
Depending on your preferences, you may prefer either the JBL PartyBox 710 or the JBL PartyBox 310. The 710 is a larger speaker that can produce a more extended low bass than the 310. It has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. The 310 is battery-powered and comes with a 12 DC In port to charge it from your car's lighter port. It's smaller, lighter, and has a telescopic handle and wheels built-in, making it more portable. Also, it has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions.
The JBL PartyBox 1000 and the JBL PartyBox 310 are both designed to soundtrack parties and occasions. While the PartyBox 1000 has a slightly more balanced sound and can get a little louder, the PartyBox 310 represents better value in most other regards. It's more portable, has less compression present at max volume, and there's a companion app you can use to adjust parameters on the fly. The PartyBox 310's main selling point is its excellent 17-hour battery life, meaning it's a great fit for outdoor parties. By contrast, you can only use the PartyBox 1000 with a power supply, so you'll need to ensure you're always close to a power outlet.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker for music than the JBL PartyBox 300. The 310 has an IPX4 rating for water resistance that certifies it to withstand small splashes of water, and it has more sound enhancement features for mic audio. Its sound profile is better balanced and boomy, too, and it's compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which is nice if you like to customize features like its RGB lighting. It also has wheels to make it easier to move around. However, the 300 has fewer compression artifacts at max volume.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony GTK-XB72 overall. The JBL can get louder and produce deeper, thumpier bass than the Sony. It's also battery-powered and is more portable thanks to its built-in telescopic handle and wheels. Additionally, it's rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning it's certified to be protected from small water splashes. The Sony has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better party speaker than the ION Pathfinder 320. The JBL is larger, but since both speakers have built-in handles, they're pretty easy to transport. Still, the JBL stands out because it can reproduce a more extended low bass and gets louder, too. It also comes with microphone and guitar inputs, unlike the ION. Its battery doesn't last quite as long as the ION.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker for most uses than the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential. While it's less portable and has higher latency with iOS and Android devices, it can get quite a bit louder and has less compression at max volume. It also has a longer continuous battery life. Both speakers are well-built and compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, so you can alter the sound profile in the app via the graphic EQ.
The Sony SRS-XV500 and the JBL PartyBox 310 are both portable party speakers with built-in RGB lights. They boast very similar feature sets, with mic inputs and karaoke-specific controls, like echo. The Sony features a key transposition function, giving it a slight edge for karaoke. However, the JBL has a more balanced sound profile, and it can get louder, with less compression present as you approach max volume. It also has a slightly longer battery life, which may be useful if you plan on throwing an all-night rager.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker for music than the JBL Boombox 2. The PartyBox 310 can reproduce more bass. It can get much louder and offers inputs for mic and guitars. However, the Boombox 2 is good if you want something more portable. It's also rated IPX7 for water resistance, meaning it's certified to be immersed in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XG500, though this depends on your listening habits. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box and can produce a deeper low bass than the Sony. It can also get louder, with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. However, the Sony is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It's also better built with an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance and has a longer-lasting battery life.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is better than the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker. The JBL has a more neutral, balanced sound profile and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It has lots of inputs for guitars and microphones, and it can get much louder. Some listeners may prefer the Alpine Corporation's outdoor-friendly, rock-like design with a built-in solar panel. It also has a longer battery life than the JBL.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Monster Rockin' Roller 270X overall. It offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low bass. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and gets louder. That said, the Monster features radio capabilities and comes with an external microphone included in the box. It also features a Qi wireless charging pad to charge your Qi-compatible devices, and its battery lasts significantly longer than the JBL.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better overall speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass. It can also get much louder than the Anker, with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. However, the Anker is much smaller and more portable than the JBL. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-RA5000 overall. The JBL is more portable than the Sony since it's battery-powered and doesn't need to remain wired to an outlet to work. It can produce deeper bass and gets louder with slightly fewer compression artifacts at max volume. The Sony has much better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-RA3000, though they're designed for different uses. The JBL is a party speaker that can get louder than the Sony and produce more low bass. It's battery-powered and has a built-in handle and wheels, making it more portable than the Sony. It also has multiple inputs to connect a microphone or a guitar. That said, the Sony is designed to be used at home. It has fantastic directivity, resulting in a wider and more spacious-sounding soundstage.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better overall speaker than the Limitless Innovations TikiTunes. This large speaker gets a lot louder, and it even comes with customizable RGB lights and extra features for musicians, like guitar and microphone inputs. Its sound profile is better balanced, it reproduces more low bass, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Some users may prefer the TikiTunes' smaller, more portable design and its unique torch light style.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the ION Pathfinder 280. With 'Bass Boost' set to '1', the JBL can produce a much more extended low bass than the ION. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and can get louder. Also, there are mic and guitar inputs you can use to connect an external mic or guitar to the speaker. The ION is smaller and lighter, making it more portable. It also has radio capabilities that let you save up to 16 radio stations.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the TREBLAB HD77, though they're designed for different uses. The JBL is a large speaker designed for use at parties. It can get incredibly loud and produce a significantly more extended low bass than the TREBLAB. It also comes with customizable RGB lights and DJ effects and features mic and guitar inputs with their own volume and gain adjustments. That said, the TREBLAB is a smaller and better-built speaker. It's designed to be more portable and comes with a removable carrying strap and carabiner clip to help transport it. It also has better directivity, resulting in a wider, more natural-sounding soundstage.
Test Results
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a large speaker that's mostly made from plastic. It has two circular RGB lights that you can set to different colors via the companion app or by using the light button on the speaker, and a black metal grille to protect its drivers. Also, like the ION Pathfinder 280 and the Monster Rockin' Roller 270X, it has a telescopic handle and wheels to make it easier to transport. You can place this speaker vertically or horizontally.
The JBL PartyBox 310 isn't very portable. It's very tall and heavy, making moving it to different places difficult. Luckily, it has a handle and wheels, so you don't necessarily need to pick it up. Since it's battery-powered, you don't need to keep it connected to a power outlet to use it. Check out the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go if you want a similar speaker that's smaller and easier to take with you on the go.
The build quality is decent. It has the same solid and sturdy build as the JBL PartyBox 300 and JBL PartyBox 100, with a metal grille to protect its drivers and a plastic body. There's a groove on its top side to support a smartphone or tablet and a telescopic handle. There are also rubber feet on two sides, as well as on its bottom side, and two built-in wheels. It has an IPX4 rating for water resistance when the flaps protecting its inputs are tightly sealed, meaning it's certified to be protected from small water splashes.
This speaker has satisfactory controls. They're easy to press and intuitive to use. There are dedicated buttons for Bluetooth pairing, Bass Boost, Sound Effect (which you can customize in the app), Input, and Karaoke Setting, which allows you to adjust voice and mic volume knobs and gain adjustments for the mic and guitar inputs on the rear side. However it lacks the key transposition features of the Sony SRS-XV500 and the more musician-friendly features of the Bose S1 Pro+.
Some of the controls have feedback. When you're in Bluetooth pairing mode, there's a chime, and a blue indicator light comes on. There's also a battery life indicator, a chime when you've reached max volume, and an indicator light for the input you're currently using. There are also the following multi-function button commands.
'Play' button:
- Single tap: Plays audio.
- Double tap: Skips to next track.
- Triple tap: Skips back a track.
Volume (+/-) buttons:
- Single tap: Adjusts volume up/down.
- Press both buttons together: Mutes speaker.
The JBL PartyBox 310 has very good frequency response accuracy. It offers a slightly boomy sound profile with a little extra emphasis in the bass, though it's still suitable for listening to many different music genres. Plus, thanks to the graphic EQ in its companion app, you can customize its sound. The Bass Boost button can also help add even more bass to your audio. We tested this speaker in a horizontal position while operating on battery power. If you connect it to a power outlet, it gets a slight performance boost. Though this doesn't affect its overall sound profile, it does make audio playback slightly louder. You can find the graph for this test here. We also tested the speaker's performance when it's set up vertically as opposed to horizontally, and you can see that there's very little difference in the overall sound with the graph here, though the slope is a touch more neutral.
The soundstage performance is okay. Although it can play stereo content, it has a narrow and directional soundstage, so your audio doesn't sound as clear from all angles. Again, these results represent the speaker's performance in a horizontal position. There's no change in the overall score when you position it vertically, and you can see the resulting directivity graph here. For a party speaker with better directivity, check out the Sony GTK-XB90.
This speaker has an impressive dynamics performance. It can get very loud, which is ideal for parties. Remember that these results represent the speaker's performance when operating on battery power and positioned horizontally. However, it gets slightly louder when connected to a power source, reaching a maximum volume level of 106.6 dB. It doesn't get as loud when positioned vertically, though, with a max volume of 100.9 dB SPL. These results will be suitable for most uses, but if you're looking for a party speaker that can get even louder, check out the SOUNDBOKS (Gen. 3).
This speaker has an amazing battery performance. It has over 17 hours of continuous playback time and charges in under three hours. It also enters standby mode after 20 minutes without any operations. Battery performance can vary according to usage, so your real-life experience may differ. If you want an outdoor speaker with an even longer-lasting battery life that doesn't need an outlet to charge, check out the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is compatible with the JBL PartyBox app. This app allows you to customize the RGB lighting, pair it with another unit to create a stereo pair and link multiple units together to cover a large space. There are also some audio effects that you can use to enhance your listening experience. You can tweak the speaker's sound profile to your liking, thanks to its 3-band graphic EQ. There are also bass, treble, and echo parameters to adjust its voice and mic performance when using the Karaoke setting.
This speaker has several wired input options. There's a 12V DC In port so that you can connect it to your car's lighter port, an AUX In, a Mic input with its own volume knob and gain adjustment, and a 'Mic or Guitar' input. It doesn't have a microphone like the Klipsch GIG XXL, though. While there's a USB port, it only supports .mp3, .wma, and .wav files, which is quite limiting. This speaker also has In and Out ports, so you can daisy-chain speakers together.
This speaker has great Bluetooth connectivity. You can connect this speaker with up to two devices at a time, which is great if two people want to take turns playing audio from their smartphones. While it has high latency on Android devices, it's lower on iOS, which is suitable if you like to stream video. Some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary.