Bose S1 Pro System vs JBL PartyBox 520

The Bose S1 Pro System and the JBL PartyBox 520 are both capable speakers with different strengths and compromises. The Bose is much smaller, and you can carry it single-handedly with professional XLR inputs and software that's more akin to a digital mixer. Meanwhile, the JBL is designed as more of an all-in-one party speaker, bringing lighting and sound effects to the fore, with 1/4" mic inputs, and software geared at music playback, rather than live sound mixing. For most people, the JBL sounds better, thanks to a considerably deeper bass and a stereo soundstage (whereas the Bose is mono, and the expectation is most people own two). While you can run both models on batteries or via a power outlet, the JBL has roughly three times the battery life.