JBL PartyBox On-The-Go  Speaker Review

The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go is disappointing for videos and movies. It has high Bluetooth latency with both iOS and Android devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently. Its sound profile is fairly warm overall, but it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes. The mid-range is well-balanced, so dialogue is reproduced clearly, but the treble range is underemphasized, so sibilants like S and T sounds may be perceived as dull. It has poor directivity, so audio doesn't sound clear from all angles. Thankfully, it can play stereo content, which feels more immersive.

The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go is satisfactory for podcasts. It supports multi-device pairing, which is useful if you like switching your audio source frequently. It can also get quite loud, though there's some compression present at max volume. Its mid-range is fairly well-balanced, so dialogue is reproduced clearly. However, due to its underemphasized treble range, sibilants like S and T sounds may be perceived as dull or veiled. Also, its soundstage feels narrow, so your audio may not sound clear from all angles. Though it's large and quite heavy, you can transport it fairly easily using the built-in handles or by attaching a shoulder strap to the built-in hooks.

The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go is adequate for outdoor use. It has a solid build and comes with an IPX4 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Although it's fairly bulky and heavy, you can carry it using its built-in handles or by attaching a shoulder strap to the built-in hooks. You can also connect two devices at a time, which is useful. Unfortunately, its battery only lasts around 4.5 hours, and it has poor directivity, so audio doesn't sound clear from all angles. While it can get loud, there's quite a bit of compression present at max volume.