The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a portable party speaker from JBL's PartyBox lineup. It rocks the same iconic style as other PartyBox speakers like the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go and the JBL PartyBox 110, with an RGB light ring surrounding its driver, though it's much smaller. This portable speaker comes with a handle built into its top so you can easily bring the party with you anywhere you go. Like other PartyBox speakers, it comes with a mic input that's great for karaoke lovers. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app which gives you access to the speaker's extra party features.
Our Verdict
The JBL PartyBox Encore is good for listening to music. With its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep', it has a neutral sound profile overall that's good for listening to different music genres. It can produce quite a deep bass for its size, which is great if you're a fan of bass-heavy music genres like hip-hop and EDM. If you want to bump the bass up even more, you can set Bass Boost to 'Punchy'. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, so you can access a graphic EQ that lets you customize its sound to your liking. This speaker gets loud enough to fill large spaces with sound, too but there's a lot of compression present at max volume.
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Gets pretty loud.
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Graphic EQ.
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Poor directivity.
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Compression present at max volume.
While the JBL PartyBox Encore is mainly designed to be a party speaker, you can still use it to watch videos and movies. It has low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, so there aren't any syncing issues between the audio you hear and the visuals you see on your screen. However, some apps compensate for latency differently. It plays stereo content, so you can hear sound effects move from the right side of the speaker to the left when they move on the screen. It can get pretty loud and can produce quite an extended low-bass for its size, which is great for watching action-packed scenes. That said, there's compression present at max volume that degrades audio quality.
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Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
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Graphic EQ.
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Poor directivity.
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Compression present at max volume.
While the JBL PartyBox Encore isn't designed for listening to dialogue-centric audio content like podcasts and audiobooks, it's still good for this usage. With its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep', it has a balanced sound profile that ensures voices and dialogue reproduce clearly and accurately in the mix. You can also disable its Bass Boost feature and customize its sound profile using its graphic EQ if you want to reduce the bass. It's incredibly portable with a built-in carrying handle atop it, meaning you can move your podcasts from room to room. It can also get pretty loud, so you hear your podcast from across the room.
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Incredibly portable.
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Gets pretty loud.
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Graphic EQ.
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Poor directivity.
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Compression present at max volume.
The JBL PartyBox Encore doesn't support voice assistants.
The JBL PartyBox Encore is good for outdoor use. It has an IPX4 rating for water resistance that certifies it to withstand small splashes of water, so you don't have to worry about it getting a bit wet when you bring the party outside with you. It's very portable for a party speaker and comes with a handle built-in, so you can easily transport it wherever you go. It gets loud and can produce a good amount of bass for its size, which is great for fans of bass-heavy music like hip-hop or EDM. That said, there's compression present at max volume that degrades the quality of your audio at louder volume levels.
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Incredibly portable.
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Gets pretty loud.
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IPX4 rating for water resistance.
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Mic input.
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Poor directivity.
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Compression present at max volume.
- 7.4 Music
- 6.6 Videos/Movies
- 7.5 Podcasts
- 2.7 Voice Assistant
- 7.5 Outdoors
- Updated Jan 24, 2024: We've made minor changes to the text of this review to ensure the information remains accurate. We've also added relevant comparisons to other speakers.
- Updated Aug 17, 2023: Updated the Portability picture for greater clarity and consistency between reviews.
- Updated Jun 29, 2023: Added market comparison with the Tribit StormBox Blast in the Style box.
- Updated Oct 21, 2022: Added a comparison to the JBL Boombox 3 in the 'Build Quality' box.
- Updated Aug 31, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Aug 25, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 23, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 22, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 30, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential comes in one color variant: Black. You can find the label for the model tested here. JBL also manufactures the JBL PartyBox Encore, that's geared more specifically towards karaoke. It has a longer, 10-hour advertised battery life and two wireless microphones included in the box.
If you encounter any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the forums, and we'll update the review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The JBL PartyBox Encore is a portable party speaker from JBL's PartyBox lineup, like the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. While it's the smallest speaker from this lineup that we've tested at the time of the review, it still packs a punch, with a bass that gets as deep as that of the larger JBL PartyBox 110, and it gets pretty loud too. Unlike the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go and the JBL PartyBox 100, it's compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which lets you access extra party features like sound effects and light show features. There's a graphic EQ to customize its sound to your liking. That said, unlike other speakers in this lineup, it has a mic input to connect an external microphone to the speaker.
Check out our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best speakers for parties, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.
The JBL Boombox 3 is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential, though they have different strengths. The Boombox 3 is much better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making it better suited for use outdoors. It's immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes, and it even floats, while the PartyBox can only withstand some splashes with an IPX4 rating. It also has a significantly longer-lasting battery life of almost 30 hours, so the speaker is less likely to die on you in the middle of the party. The PartyBox, on the other hand, gets a bit louder and offers a more balanced sound profile overall that can produce deeper bass than the Boombox 3. It comes with a mic input as well as party-related features like DJ sound effects, light show effects, and karaoke effects.
The JBL PartyBox 110 is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential. The 110 can get slightly louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 15 hours, making it better suited to longer listening sessions. It also comes with mic and guitar inputs. That said, the Encore packs the same amount of bass at a much smaller size and more at a more affordable price point. It still gets quite loud. While it doesn't come with a guitar input, you can still wire a mic to the speaker via its mic input.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. The Encore offers a better-balanced sound profile with its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep'. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which lets you access extra party features like sound effects and light show features. There's a graphic EQ you can use to tweak its sound profile to your liking. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of over 8 hours. The On-The-Go features an extra guitar input and comes with a microphone in the box.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2 for parties. The Encore Essential can produce a more extended low-bass with its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep', and has party features like a mic input with its own gain knob and a customizable RGB light ring. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app you can use to access extra sound effects and light show effects of the speaker. If you're looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker to take outdoors with you, the Boombox 2 is a bit lighter and is better built with an IPX7 rating for water resistance. It also has a significantly longer-lasting battery life of almost 24 hours. It gets a touch louder, with slightly less compression at max volume, and has a slightly wider-sounding soundstage, though these slight differences aren't too noticeable.
The JBL Xtreme 3 and the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential are speakers designed for different purposes. The Xtreme 3 is designed with portability in mind, and its rugged construction and IP67 rating against water and dust means that it can survive the elements. It also has a wider soundstage with better directivity and a longer continuous battery life. However, the PartyBox Encore Essential is the better speaker for playing music, thanks to its ability to better reproduce low-bass and its more balanced treble range. It can also get quite a bit louder, though there are more compression artifacts present at max volume than with the Xtreme 3.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is better than the Tribit StormBox Blast. They're both portable Bluetooth speakers designed with parties in mind, as they have integrated RGB lights to set the mood. However, the JBL has even more party-centric features like mic and guitar inputs. Plus, it has a better low-frequency extension, so you enjoy more rumble in the low-bass.
At a similar price point, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a slightly better speaker than the JBL PartyBox 100. The Encore is more feature-packed at a smaller and more portable size. It can produce a more extended low-bass with its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep'. It's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which features a graphic EQ to customize its sound, party sound effects, and light show effects. That said, since it's larger, the 100 can get louder with much less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. It has a slightly longer-lasting 10-hour battery life. It also offers a wider and more spacious soundstage and comes with an extra guitar input.
The JBL PartyBox Club 120 and the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential are party speakers within the same product line with slightly different uses. The Encore Essential is great for those who want a more affordable, portable party speaker with karaoke features. However, its small frame and lower price point come with some compromises. It can't get as loud as the PartyBox Club 120, and there's more compression at max volume. It also can't deliver as much bass, and its continuous battery life isn't as long. It does have lower audiovisual synchronization errors with both iOS and Android devices, though, so it's a better choice for those who need a larger Bluetooth speaker for movies.
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 Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a better speaker for music than the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential overall. The Ultimate Ears can get louder with significantly less compression present at max volume, so the audio quality is cleaner when you blast your music. It offers a wider-sounding soundstage too, and its battery life of almost 24 hours makes it much better suited for longer listening sessions. That said, if you're looking for a speaker packed with party features, the JBL is better. The JBL can produce a deeper and thumpier low bass. It comes with a customizable RGB light ring and a mic input. You can use its companion app to access extra sound effects and light show features, and you can customize the sound of your connected microphone.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XG500. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile with its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep' and can produce a deeper and thumpier low-bass at a more affordable price point. That said, while both speakers feature a mic input, you can use the Sony speaker's mic input to wire a guitar to the speaker. It has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 26 hours. It's compatible with Sony's Fiestable app, while the JBL is compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which lets you access the speaker's extra party features.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the ION Pathfinder 320 or the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential. They're both party-oriented speakers, and you can find graphic EQ in their respective companion apps to customize their sound. However, the JBL comes with microphone and guitar inputs for karaoke, unlike the ION. It's also able to reproduce a more extended low-bass. However, the ION's battery life lasts much longer.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a better speaker than the SOUNDBOKS Go. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper and thumpier low-bass. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage. It comes with a mic input whose sound you can customize in its companion app. It's also smaller and better built with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. However, the SOUNDBOKS can get much louder. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of over 35 hours from a single charge, so the speaker doesn't die on you in the middle of the party.
Test Results
The JBL PartyBox Encore is a portable party speaker with a similar style to other speakers from JBL's PartyBox lineup, like the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go and the JBL PartyBox 110, though it's smaller in size and shaped like a cube. It isn't designed to blend in with your home decor but rather to stand out while you party to your favorite tunes. It rocks JBL's iconic PartyBox RGB light ring surrounding its main driver and comes with a built-in carrying handle atop it to help you bring the party with you wherever you go. It also comes with more party-centric features than other devices like the Tribit StormBox Blast, including a 1/4" input.
The JBL PartyBox Encore is a very portable party speaker. While it's on the heavier side and a little bulky, you can easily carry it in one hand thanks to the built-in carrying handle atop it. You also don't need to keep it connected to a power outlet for it to work since it's battery-powered, which gives you the flexibility to bring the speaker with you wherever the party calls you.
This speaker has the same solid feel as other JBL speakers in the PartyBox lineup and sits on four rubber feet. It's mostly made of rigid plastic with a grille on its front to protect its drivers. There's a robust handle built into its top to help you transport it. With the flap protecting its inputs tightly sealed, it's rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning it's certified to withstand small splashes of water, so you don't have to worry about it getting a bit wet from some light rain when you bring the party outside. For a better-built JBL speaker, check out the JBL Boombox 3.
It has easy-to-use controls. You double-press its play/pause button to skip tracks and triple-press it to backtrack. There's also a knob around the play/pause button to control its volume, and the RGB light ring adjusts to let you know your chosen volume level. When you max out the volume, the RGB ring flashes and the sound cuts out for a quick second. The speaker chimes and displays a blue indicator light while in Bluetooth pairing mode. There's a battery life indicator light underneath the power button, and the power button itself turns orange when the speaker is off and is charging.
You can also use the Bass Boost button to bump up the bass in your audio. You can set it to two levels: Deep or Punchy. Its indicator light changes shade to inform you of your selected Bass Boost setting. You can use the TWS button to connect the speaker to another PartyBox Encore speaker to create a stereo pair; you can find its instructions here.
Its frequency response accuracy is very good. With its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep', it has a neutral sound profile overall, making it great for listening to a wide variety of audio content. If you're a fan of bass-heavy music, this mighty speaker can also produce quite an extended low-bass for its size, which can get deeper than that of the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. If you want to pump up the bass even more, you can set its Bass Boost feature to 'Punchy' too. Unlike the PartyBox On-The-Go, it's also compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, which features a graphic EQ you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.
Its soundstage performance is alright. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, so you can hear sound effects and instruments moving from one side of the speaker to the other. For example, if a song has the guitar on the left and the cymbals on the right, you'll hear the guitar coming from the left side of the Encore Essential and the cymbals from the right. However, it has a narrow and directional-sounding soundstage since it only projects audio from the front side of the speaker, as opposed to speakers with 360-degree designs. As a result, your audio sounds slightly different when listening from different angles, like when you're listening from behind the speaker.
The JBL PartyBox Encore has a decent dynamics performance. It gets loud enough to fill large spaces with sound, though it doesn't get quite as loud as the JBL PartyBox 110 and the JBL PartyBox 310. That said, much like the other JBL PartyBox speakers we've tested, it gets a slight performance boost in volume when connected to an outlet. The test results above represent the JBL Encore Essential's dynamics performance while operating on battery power.
Regardless of whether the speaker is running on battery power or not, there's quite a bit of compression present at max volume. This affects the quality of your audio at louder volume levels, so your audio doesn't sound as clear when it's at full volume.
This speaker has a good battery performance. While it's advertised to have a battery life of around six hours, it could reach up to over eight hours in our tests with its RGB lights off and its Bass Boost feature set to 'Deep'. It could also reach a complete charge in under three hours, as opposed to the advertised 3.5 hours, which is also great. That said, battery performance varies depending on your usage habits and chosen settings, like if you have the RGB lights on or off or if you use the speaker to charge devices like your phone. A power-saving feature shuts the speaker off after 20 minutes of inactivity.
Unlike the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go, the JBL PartyBox Encore is compatible with the JBL PartyBox app, so you have access to many features like a graphic EQ to tweak its sound, extra DJ sound effects, light show effects, and karaoke effects. If you're far from the speaker, you can also use the app to set its BassBoost feature to 'Deep' or 'Punchy' instead of setting it manually. You can use the app to connect the speaker to another Encore speaker to create a stereo pair, and you can assign each speaker either the left or right channel. You can also connect it to either a JBL PartyBox 110, JBL PartyBox 310, or a JBL PartyBox 710 to amplify your audio in a party mode, though you can't connect it to more than one speaker at a time. You can find the instructions for connecting it to compatible speakers here.
Aside from its charging port, this speaker comes with an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker. Like other PartyBox speakers we've tested, it comes with a 1/4" mic input with its very own gain knob, and you can even control its bass, treble, and echo via its companion app. There's also a USB-A port you can use to charge your devices, like your phone, via the speaker. That said, while this USB-A port can't be used to playback audio directly from your devices like your phone or your laptop, you can still use it to playback your audio from a USB stick.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential has excellent Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair up to two devices to the speaker simultaneously, which is great if you want to quickly and easily switch between audio sources. It has an outstanding range, so your paired devices remain paired to the speaker even from far away. Also, unlike the JBL PartyBox 110 and the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go, it has low latency with iOS and Android devices, so the audio you hear remains in sync with the visuals you see on your screen when using the speaker to watch videos and movies.