The JBL PartyBox 720 is a powerful party speaker equipped with karaoke features and festive RGB lighting. It comes with two detachable batteries for a purported 15 hours of playtime, along with other appointments seen across the PartyBox line, like Auracast support and a Bass Boost feature. Its wheeled design helps mitigate some of its hefty weight, too, so you can cart it around from party to party.
Our Verdict
The JBL PartyBox 720 is great for music. This powerful speaker is capable of outputting a balanced sound, with a prominent bass response, balanced mids, and detailed highs. If you're not a fan of the default sound, it's easy to change it up using the graphic EQ, presets, or Bass Boost adjustment. It can get very loud too, especially when operating off AC power, though it tends to compress the bass range at higher volumes. While it's capable of outputting audio in stereo, without downmixing to mono, the front-facing design and vertical driver arrangement mean audio delivery will vary depending on how you're positioned around the speaker. Still, it offers a party-ready sound that can easily be extended to other PartyBox speakers via Auracast.
Can get very loud.
Graphic EQ in app.
Middling directivity.
The JBL PartyBox 720 is decent for soundtracking videos or movies in a pinch. Its balanced sound will ensure movie dialogue doesn't get totally lost, and the deep low-frequency extension does justice to intense action sequences. It can get very loud without too much compression as well, so it's suitable for larger-scale events, like an impromptu drive-in movie screening. Just don't expect the kind of wide soundstage you get with dedicated home theater systems, as the front-facing design and vertical driver stack don't produce the most consistent sound across different listening angles. On the plus side, latency is low with both Android and iOS devices, though different devices and apps compensate for this in their own way.
Low latency with iOS and Android.
Middling directivity.
The JBL PartyBox 720 is good for podcasts, though its large size and high top volume might be overkill if you plan on using it exclusively for true crime podcasts. Its balanced sound and, in particular, the balanced mid-range mean your favorite hosts' voices sound natural and lifelike. There's plenty of volume on tap and minimal mid-range compression, too, which can be a boon if you like to fill the entire house with podcast audio. While its heavy design is somewhat mitigated by its wheeled base, you'll have to really roll up your sleeves if you need to bring it up a flight of stairs.
Can get very loud.
Graphic EQ in app.
Middling directivity.
The JBL PartyBox 720 isn't suitable for voice assistant use as it doesn't have a built-in microphone.
The JBL PartyBox 720 is very good for outdoor use. It's naturally well-suited to uses like garden parties and tailgating, thanks to its high top volume and almost 14-hour battery life. There's enough bass to get a dancefloor moving and enough mid-range and high-end clarity to do justice to a rendition of Pachabel's Canon, for more restrained events. While it can play back stereo content without downmixing, its design doesn't translate to great directivity, so not everyone will enjoy the same sound. Its robust, IPX4-rated design should hold up amid light showers and drink spillages too, though its wheeled base might not fare so well on bumpy or grassy terrain.
Can get very loud.
Graphic EQ in app.
Middling directivity.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL PartyBox 720 is available in 'Black,' and we took a picture of our unit's label. If you encounter another variant of this speaker, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL PartyBox 720 is one of the largest speakers in the popular PartyBox line of portable karaoke speakers. Its feature set and design are probably most akin to the JBL PartyBox 520, which is shorter and squatter, and the 720 is also IPX4-rated. There's not a huge amount separating them in terms of performance: the 720 compresses less at max volume and has lower latency with mobile devices, but their sound is very similar. If you're looking for something slightly more portable that keeps the karaoke features, the JBL PartyBox 310 is a good choice, though you lose some volume and bass extension. If you don't mind keeping things plugged in, the Sony ULT TOWER 9AC delivers an even louder, more bass-heavy sound, too, which could be useful if you plan on leaving the speaker in one place.
Check out the best speakers for parties, the best speakers for karaoke, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers if you want to see some other options for your next bash.
The Sony ULT TOWER 9AC is a less portable party speaker alternative to the JBL PartyBox 720. As the name implies, the Sony only runs off AC power, which limits its usage to indoor locations and outdoor locations that can be reached with a power cord. Looking past this, there still aren't many reasons to favor the Sony. It has a similar top volume to the JBL, with worse directivity and a less balanced sound that cranks the bass range for a boomy sound. Both are solid options for your next karaoke event, but the JBL has a bit more versatility for outside use.
The main difference between the JBL PartyBox 710 and the JBL PartyBox 720 is in how they're powered. The former runs only off AC power, while the latter features almost 14 hours of battery life via its detachable battery packs. This gives the PartyBox 720 a big advantage in terms of portability and outdoor use. The PartyBox 720 also has a more balanced sound overall, as the PartyBox 710 rolls off a bit of the treble range by comparison. That said, the PartyBox 710 has slightly better directivity, which could be an asset if the lack of battery power isn't a dealbreaker for you.
The JBL PartyBox 520 and the JBL PartyBox 720 are very similar party speakers with small performance and feature differences that can sway your buying decision. The two have extremely similar sound profiles, balanced across the mid and treble ranges, with prominent bass responses. They're also both rated IPX4 for protection against water splashes and come kitted out with the same Auracast tech for pairing multiple speakers together. However, the PartyBox 520 is slightly more portable, with a lighter design and a telescopic handle for easier transport. Still, while the two speakers have similar top volumes, the PartyBox 720 has the edge when it comes to dynamics, as it compresses less at max volume. It also has lower latency with both iOS and Android devices, which can be handy if you're planning on using it as a soundbar substitute from time to time.
The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 and the JBL PartyBox 720 are both mobile party speakers. Choosing between them ultimately comes down to the nature of the parties you want to throw. The Stage 320 is the more portable of the two, with a lighter design and a collapsible telescopic carrying handle. It also has a more intuitive control scheme and a much longer battery life at over 23 hours. That said, if you're okay with these trade-offs, the PartyBox 720 can deliver a louder sound that's also more balanced overall. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices, though different apps and devices compensate for this differently.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
