The JBL Boombox 2 is a mid-sized speaker that's fairly suitable for most uses. Its mid and treble ranges are fairly well balanced, so it can clearly reproduce vocals and lead instruments. However, it lacks a bit of low bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and rumble of bass-heavy genres like EDM. Although it's fairly bulky, it's quite portable thanks to its carrying handle. Its battery also lasts almost 24 hours, and it has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. It can get quite loud, but there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. Unfortunately, it doesn't have voice assistant capabilities.
The JBL Boombox 2 is decent for music. Although it lacks a bit of low-bass, its mid and treble ranges are well-balanced, so vocals and lead instruments reproduce clearly. There's a graphic EQ in its companion app, which you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. It can also get quite loud, although there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in an immersive-sounding soundstage.
The JBL Boombox 2 is unremarkable for videos and movies. Its latency with iOS and Android devices is low, so it's suitable for watching videos. Unfortunately, it lacks some low-bass, so you might not feel the thump and deep rumble in action-packed movie scenes. However, it has a well-balanced mid-range that can clearly reproduce dialogue.
The JBL Boombox 2 is good for podcasts. It has a well-balanced mid-range that can clearly reproduce dialogue. This speaker can get quite loud, although there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. Its soundstage is also somewhat directional, so audio is perceived as a bit narrow. That said, it's very portable, so you can bring it with you from room to room.
The JBL Boombox 2 doesn't have voice assistant support.
The JBL Boombox 2 is decent for outdoor use. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Its battery can also last for almost 24 hours, which is very useful if you want to take it on longer excursions where you don't have access to an outlet. Although it can get quite loud, there are some compression artifacts present at max volume, and the soundstage can be perceived as narrow, so it doesn't feel very immersive.
The JBL Boombox 2 comes in 'Black' and 'Camo' color variants. The 'Camo' variant has a green handle, and the fabric around the speaker's body has a camouflage pattern. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect both variants to perform similarly in tests.
If you come across a version not listed here, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a mid-sized speaker that's well-suited to playing music. It has a fairly well-balanced sound profile, although it lacks a bit of low-bass, and doesn't produce as deep a bass as the next-generation JBL Boombox 3. It has an exceptionally long battery life, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. While it can get quite loud, there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. Thanks to its carrying handle on top, It's very portable, although it's somewhat heavy.
See also our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The JBL Boombox 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2. The Boombox 3 produces a noticeably deeper bass than its predecessor and offers a more balanced sound profile overall. While it doesn't get as loud, it has significantly less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner and clearer-sounding audio when you max out the volume. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 30 hours from a single charge, and it's better built.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. The Boombox 2 has a better-balanced sound profile and built-in voice assistant support for Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can tweak its sound using the bass/treble adjustment sliders on its companion app. It also supports Wi-Fi. However, the Xtreme 3 has lower Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL PartyBox 110 or the JBL Boombox 2. The PartyBox 110 is a large party speaker with customizable RGB lights, mic and guitar inputs, DJ effects, and karaoke settings. It can also produce a more extended low-bass than the Boombox 2. However, the Boombox 2 is smaller and lighter, making it more portable. It's better-built, and has an incredible battery life, lasting almost 24 hours from a single charge in our tests, though this can vary depending on your usage. It can also be paired to multiple other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. The Boombox 2 can produce deeper bass and can get louder than the Charge 5. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. The Charge 5 is smaller and more portable than the Boombox 2. It's also better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes.
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 Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. The Boombox 2 has a more neutral sound profile, and it can get slightly louder with less compression present at max volume. While the On-The-Go is rated IPX4 for water resistance, the Boombox 2 has an IPX7 rating. It also lasts close to 24 hours on a single charge, while the On-The-Go only lasts around 4.5 hours. However, the On-The-Go has Mic-in and Guitar-in ports, which are useful for musicians.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 2. The Boombox has a more balanced sound profile with a more extended low-bass. It can also get louder than the Xtreme, and its treble range sounds less dull and veiled. Although both speakers have an exceptionally long battery life, the Boombox can last almost 24 hours on a single charge. However, only the Xtreme 2 supports voice assistant.
The JBL PartyBox 300 and the JBL Boombox 2 are similar speakers with a few different features. The Boombox has a more open soundstage, and it's more portable thanks to its smaller size. It's also rated IPX7 for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, the PartyBox can get louder and it has much less compression at max volume.
You may prefer either the JBL Boombox 2 or the Sony SRS-XG500, depending on your preferences. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile and has slightly fewer compression artifacts present at max volume. It also has somewhat better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. That said, the Sony comes with a mic/guitar input you can use to wire an external mic or guitar to the speaker. It also comes with customizable RGB lights, and extra party features on its Fiestable app.
The JBL PartyBox 710 is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2, though they have different strengths. The PartyBox 710 is a much larger speaker designed for use at parties. It can get louder and can produce the deep thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM. You can also connect a microphone and guitar to the speaker. While the Boombox 2 is still fairly big, it's still significantly smaller than the PartyBox 710. It's also better-built and is battery-powered, making it better suited for long listening sessions spent outdoors.
The Sonos Move is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2. The Sonos offers a somewhat wider-sounding soundstage, as well as incredible voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. Its sound is also more customizable thanks to the bass and treble adjustments featured in its companion app. That said, the JBL can get a bit louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. It can also last up to almost 24 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage and your experience may differ.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Boombox has a more balanced sound profile, reproducing a more extended low-bass. It can get louder than the FLIP, and its battery lasts much longer. That being said, the FLIP has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design.
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 Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2 overall. The Ultimate Ears can get louder than the JBL, with signifianctly fewer compression artifacts at max volume, resulting in cleaner sounding audio when the volume is maxed out. Its soundstage is also perceived as wider, and you can hear your audio more clearly from all angles. That said, the JBL is better-built, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance.
The JBL PartyBox 100 is a better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2. While both speakers have fairly neutral sound profiles, the PartyBox gets louder with less compression at max volume. However, the Boombox has a longer battery life as well as an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. The JBL can produce much deeper bass than the Ultimate Ears. It can also get louder and can last up to almost 24 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage, and your experience may differ. That said, the Ultimate Ears has fantastic directivity, so your audio sounds clear from most angles. It's also smaller and more portable than the JBL.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Klipsch The Three II overall. The JBL is battery-powered and has a built-in carrying handle making it more portable. It has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Klipsch. It's also better-built, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. That said, the Klipsch can get louder than the JBL.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker for music than the Sony SRS-XG300 overall. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box and can produce a slightly more extended low-bass. It also gets a bit louder with slightly less compression present at max volume. Its battery life lasts significantly longer, making it better suited for longer listening sessions. That said, the Sony is better built and is smaller, making it more portable. You can use it to accept and reject phone calls, and it supports voice assistants through your smartphone. It comes with customizable RGB lights and is compatible with Sony's Fiestable app to access extra party features and effects.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Monster Rockin' Roller 270X overall. The JBL offers a better-balanced soundstage out of the box and can produce a slightly more extended low-bass. It's smaller, making it more portable. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage. That said, the Monster offers more party features. It comes with radio capabilities and mic and mic/guitar inputs. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 65 hours from a single charge.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore Motion+ overall. It offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Anker. It can get somewhat louder with slightly less compression at max volume. It also offers a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage, and your experience may vary. That said, the Anker is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.
The Bang & Olufsen and the JBL Boombox 2 have different strengths. Despite its smaller size, the B&O can produce a slightly more extended low-bass, and offers a wider-sounding soundstage. It's also smaller than the JBL, and features a wireless charging pad atop it to charge your devices. That said, the JBL Boombox 2 can get louder than the B&O with less compression at max volume, so audio quality doesn't degrade as much at louder volumes. It's also better suited for long listening sessions spent outdoors thanks to its IPX7 rating for water resistance and longer-lasting battery life of almost 24 hours.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43 overall. The JBL can produce deeper bass than the Sony and gets louder with slightly fewer compression artifacts at max volume. It also has an exceptionally long battery life, lasting almost 24 hours from a single charge, though this can vary depending on your usage. The Sony supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. It's also smaller, making it more portable.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. The JBL has a better soundstage performance, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It also gets louder, and it has longer battery life.
The Sony SRS-XP700 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Boombox 2 overall, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your preferences and listening habits. The Sony is a large party speaker with customizable RGB lights and it can get somewhat louder than the JBL. It comes with inputs you can use to wire an external mic and guitar to the speaker. That said, the JBL is smaller, more portable, and offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. This well-built speaker also offers a longer battery life of almost 24 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the SOUNDBOKS (Gen. 3) or the JBL Boombox 2. The JBL is smaller and is much more portable than the SOUNDBOKS, making it more convenient when you're on the move. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has less compression at max volume. That said, the SOUNDBOKS is more customizable than the JBL and is one of the loudest speakers we've tested. This party speaker can also last an outstanding 43.8 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the SOUNDBOKS Go overall. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and a wider and more immersive-sounding soundstage. It's smaller and lighter, making it more portable. It's also better-built with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, certifying it to be immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. However, SOUNDBOKS can get louder than the JBL and offers a much longer-lasting battery life of almost 36 hours.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker for most uses than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2. The JBL gets louder, has a longer battery life, and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It also has a more extended low-bass. That said, the Bang & Olufsen offers an incredible voice assistant performance with Alexa built-in.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper low-bass than that of the Alpine. It can also get louder and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. That said, some users may prefer the Alpine's outdoor-friendly, rock-like design and its built-in solar panel for charging.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the iFox iF012, though they're for different uses. The JBL is much larger and can produce a significantly more extended low-bass than the iFox. It has a much longer-lasting battery life and can get louder. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and has a better-balanced sound profile overall, making it suitable for listening to a variety of audio content. That said, the iFox is much smaller and designed for use in the shower. It comes with a removable suction cup to help secure it in your shower. You can also use it to answer and decline phone calls.
The JBL Boombox 2 and the Sony GTK-XB90 have different strengths. The JBL is smaller and more portable than the Sony. It also has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and is better-built, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't test for this. However, the Sony is a large party speaker with multiple party features like customizable RGB lights and a microphone input.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the TREBLAB HD77, though they have different strengths. The JBL is a large portable speaker with a built-in handle to help carry it. It offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than the TREBLAB. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume, so audio quality doesn't degrade as much as you bump up its volume. That said, the TREBLAB is a smaller portable speaker that's easier to bring along with you when you're out and about. It comes with a removable carrying strap and carabiner clip to help transport it. It also has better directivity, resulting in a more open and spacious-sounding soundstage.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-RA5000 overall. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile and can get louder than the Sony. While it's slightly larger than the Sony, it's battery-powered and has a built-in carrying handle making it more portable. It's also better built with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't test for this. That said, the Sony is a sleek-looking speaker that's designed to be used at home, and supports Sony's '360 Reality Audio' virtual surround format.
The JBL Boombox 2 is a mid-sized speaker meant to sit horizontally. It's mostly wrapped in a tight fabric, and it sits on a plastic base. Its large plastic handle has a grip pad on top for easy carrying. It has lights that indicate the battery level and whether it's connected to Bluetooth. You can also get it in two color variants, 'Black' or 'Camo'. For a portable speaker with a similar design, check out the Sony SRS-XG500.
This speaker is very portable. It's a bit bulky, but there's a top handle that lets you carry it with one hand. It also has a battery, so you can bring it outside without having to plug it into an outlet. For a smaller, more portable Bluetooth speaker, check out the Sony SRS-XG300, which comes with a retractable handle built-in.
It has a good build quality. It has a solid feel, and most of the speaker is wrapped in a tight fabric. The speaker sits on a small plastic base, and its large plastic handle has a grip pad along the top to make it easier to carry. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. The buttons located on the top of the speaker are texturized, making them easier to find by touch.
The JBL Boombox 2 has sub-par controls. Although you can skip tracks by pressing the play/pause button twice, you can't go to the previous track, which may be disappointing for some users. However, the buttons are all located on top of the speaker's body and they're easy to press. In addition to the play/pause button, there are volume buttons, Bluetooth pairing button, and PartyBoost button, which lets you pair two speakers to make a stereo pair. There's also a light that indicates the Bluetooth signal and a light at the bottom of the speaker that indicates the battery life.
The JBL Boombox 2 has a decent frequency response accuracy. Its sound profile is fairly neutral, so it's well-suited to playing most audio content. It has well-balanced mid and treble ranges, so vocals and lead instruments reproduce clearly. However, it struggles a bit to produce low-bass, although there's a bit of extra boom in the high-bass. Fortunately, there's a graphic EQ featured in its companion app you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. Check out the next generation JBL Boombox 3 for a similar speaker that can produce a deeper bass. That said, if you're looking for a similarly-sized speaker with a graphic EQ and additional presets, check out the Sony SRS-RA5000 instead. It isn't as portable as the JBL Boombox 2 due to its wired design.
It has a decent soundstage. It can play stereo content, which creates a more immersive listening experience. However, its soundstage may be perceived as somewhat narrow and directional. The treble range varies more than the bass depending on where you're standing, so it may sound uneven.
It has good dynamics. It can get pretty loud, which makes it suitable for playing in large rooms or outdoors. However, there are a lot of compression artifacts present at max volume. Check out the next generation JBL Boombox 3 for a speaker with less compression present at max volume. That said, it doesn't get quite as loud as the Boombox 2.
It has an excellent battery performance. It lasts almost 24 hours off a single charge, so you don't need to charge it every day. However, battery life can vary according to usage, so user experience may vary. This speaker also saves power by automatically turning off after around 20 minutes of no use. However, it takes almost 4 hours to charge from an empty battery, which may require some extra planning before use.
This speaker doesn't support voice assistant technology. Consider the JBL Xtreme 2 if you're looking for a speaker with voice assistant support.
The JBL Portable app is very good. There's a graphic EQ you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. You can use the Party Mode feature to pair your speaker with another JBL Boombox speaker to amplify the sound across large rooms. There's also a stereo pair mode, which lets you link two JBL Boombox speakers to create a more immersive stereo sound.
It has several wired inputs. There's a 3.5mm AUX port for connecting your phone directly to the speaker. It also has a micro-USB port for servicing the speaker and a USB-A port that lets you charge other devices.
This speaker has impressive Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair two devices to it at the same time, which is useful if you want to frequently switch your audio source between your phone and your laptop. Thanks to its low latency with iOS and Android devices, it's well suited to watching videos. However, some apps compensate differently for latency, so user experience may vary. It also has an excellent range, so it can stay connected even if your device is far away.