JBL PartyBox Encore Essential Portable Party Speaker

This speaker fits very well into the product line between true smaller sizes portable speakers, larger portable “boom boxes” and significantly larger semi-pro loud speakers. Plenty of volume, three powerful bass modes, light show options controllable from an app, a karaoke mode with mic jack, all in a rechargeable package that is perfect for indoor and outdoor parties. This may be my favorite speaker for it’s size, features, and price point.

Upon arrival I quickly opened the JBL Party Box Encore Essential. I found the product to be very well packaged and protected by large styrofoam pieces and a protective plastic type bag. The unit has good documentation and a simple yet informative startup guide. The package comes with the Party Box itself, a charging cable, and detailed setup instructions. The unit is shown on the box and some websites with a microphone (for PA or karaoke type activites) but it must be purchased separately as the ESSENTIAL model does not include the microphone but I believe the regular Party Box Encore does comes with a wireless microphone.

The unit comes partially charged but I removed the weatherproof/splash proof cover to reveal the charging port and gave it a full charge. The full charge took around 2 hours but this charge easily gives you a full 6 hours PLUS of playback at any volume or light show setting!

The Party Box includes the Bluetooth Quick Connect feature so it quickly detects any 'area' active Bluetooth connection for input and mates effortlessly! Upon connection to an audio source either wireless (or wired port in rear/USB or Aux In) the unit comes alive with the famous sound quality that JBL is so famous for producing! I love the JBL Powerful Bass Boost feature which easily takes any party or boat outing/swim party to the next level. The Pro Sound (full 100W) has very crisp highs and amazingly LOW bass for such a small unit.

The unit also has an active light show that syncs to the music and has several settings from a solid type show to a flashy party style multi color mode. Unit is also Splash Proof for those boating or poolside activities that get wild... no it will not withstand being thrown IN the POOL but is not phased by an occasional splash. The ports in the rear (pictured) that are vulnerable even have nice weatherproof covers to keep the moisture and sand out of the unit!

Another great feature which I have not utilized is the ability to 'bridge' 2 of these units together. If you should happen to have 2 of the units you can connect them for a truly incredible sound experience in stereo so to speak.

The unit is portable and lightweight with a rubber gripped handle for easy transportation. The top control panel offers the ON/OFF Button, Light Show Customization Setting Button, Bass Boost button, Blue Tooth pairing button and a convenient rotary type volume control. You can control volume either on the unit or from whatever source you have connected!

In summary this JBL unit lives up to the reputation for famous sound quality and reliable fun for any occasion. Our family has enjoyed the unit for a month and absolutely love it! We have not really found any 'cons' to the unit. It charges, booms, and just works for all the activities we have used it for! We even use it in our basement or around the house to make our time at home more enjoyable as well. One of the best products we have purchased that JBL produces!

Everywhere I take this box, it is a PARTY! Excellent sound, synchronized lights, Bluetooth connectivity (5.1), excellent bass/volume, and the ability to add dj sounds via the app. It is lightweight, and the right size to take to the pool, beach, or just listen to it at the house. The built in sturdy handle makes it easy to transport. It truly can be your only music source. If you wish to expand it by buying multiple JBL Partyboxes…you can! I also have bought the microphone and have taken to car show events where I am able to make announcements. Karaoke is a possibility too. The app that one can download supports google and Apple. From the app you can pair two speakers together, apply sound effects (dog barks/claps etc), adjust Equalizer, select light show patterns/colors and control karaoke. Super Cool Stuff! It is splashproof IPX4 rated and the built in battery lasts about 6 hours. Mine has gone to 6.5hrs before. Size is perfect too to transport around. It only weighs 13 lbs and about 11’’Wx12”Hx16”D. It truly has big sound that is clear and loud without being harsh. It is a true JBL sound that I appreciate. If you dont want to stream music from your phone for fear of running down the battery on the phone, there is a plug in USB that will charge it while the phone plays. You can also avoid this issue all together and use a flash drive that plugs into the rear of the unit. If that isn’t enough, JBL even gave the option for a 3.5mm stereo plug so you can play from ANY device you wish. Brilliant! The speaker is a 5 1/4” woofer with 2x 1 3/4” tweeters but with 100RMS of pure amplified power. It is hard to overpower this unit. It sounds fantastic all the way through the end of the volume curve. What more is there to like? Just buy the darn thing, it is a bargain for a unit that literally can do it all for most needs.

Requested this because I wanted decent music player to use outside by the pool. I've used other JBL wireless speakers for this purpose and I've always felt that I wanted a little bit more volume and bass than they were able to provide.
When the party box arrived, I was immediately impressed by how substantial it was. It appeared solidly-built and had a good weight to it. Not too heavy, but it let you know that there was a serious speaker inside. I couldn't wait to turn it on. It quickly paired with my phone via Bluetooth and the music started pouring out. This thing really blew me away. All the volume you could ask for along with tight bass. To raise the bar a little bit more, the front of the speaker lights up with an adjustable array of light that circles the speaker cone. Very cool Extra Touch in my opinion. I took it outside play sit next to the pool and walked across the yard to hear how loud it was. As I turned the volume up I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to max this thing out without having the police called.
This thing was stylish and a monster at the same time. I found myself playing all different types of music just to hear how good this thing really was.. and it is that good. If you're looking for a Wireless speaker to take you to the next level, this is for you. I failed to mention it has a nice carry handle integrated into the top of the speaker making it very easy to pick up and move around. This thing would be great for tailgates, the beach, the pool or any other outdoor activity. In fact I use it in my house quite a bit as my main music source because I like the lights so much. No going wrong with this one. JBL continues to impress me with it's audio products. I would definitely recommend this highly to just about anyone looking for a substantial boombox.

I used the product in my apartment and at an outdoor party where several people were spread out across a street. The product was used to play music as well as audio for a video. The speaker was used alone, so TWS was never used.

Such a great product, with features you wouldn't expect from a portable speaker. I was initially worried about the size of the speaker but was pleasantly surprised about the size, weight and craftsmanship. This is a well made speaker that redefines its purpose. The microphone input and TWS capability was perfect when needing to make announcements during outdoor gatherings. The weight distribution is slightly off balance when grabbing the top handle but barely noticeable.

I think this is a winner in the party-box field! I have not had enough time to really talk about durability, but it certainly blasts the expected JBL volume, base and clarity I expect! It has all the features of the larger boxes with Bluetooth, Karaoke Mic input, aux input, etc. The one thing I really hate about MOST of these things is the silly LED lights on the speaker, so I was glad to see these can be changed and turned off! My son used it on battery while washing his car one day and another day while working on his truck and the power lasted for hors without issue. I also like that it CAN be used on AC power.
It quickly and easily and connected to my phone via Bluetooth, the sound was HUGE and crystal clear. This beats the (sometimes more expensive off-brand party speakers hands-down

I am absolutely in love with this speaker! It is a party box basically cut in half and can produce the same amount of sound so it is definitely more convenient to bring around and really make your party “on the go”. The sound quality is astounding and the light show is always a sick bonus! I brought it to the football field to see how well it sounds outside in an open environment and people were telling me they can hear the music from the 2 fields away and they were extremely impressed to say the least. Next spot is the beach for a beach party! Overall an amazing speaker! It also has a microphone jack so lets see how my next karaoke night will go!

Wow! this speaker is amazing! Music with deep bass sounds super clear and punchy without distorting clarity. The best part about it is that you can download the Partybox app and update how deep you want the bass to sound; customizations on this speaker are awesome. The light patterns can be adjusted however you'd like or if you decide that the light show is not you're taste, you can turn them off. So far, I've been setting up my speaker in my living room, bedroom and outside out in the yard. The handle at the top makes it so much easier to move around and the handle itself blends in nicely withing the speaker. The gloss trim around some of the edges makes this really nice to have displayed. I do have to say, my favorite part about this speaker is it's amazing sound clarity and punchy deep bass. I can't wait to show it off at my next family gathering this summer!

To begin, battery life is exceptional, built quality superv, and we alk know the sound jbl always delivers. Find myself carrying this everywhere inbthe house, backyard, garage, pool, and in the car. Will need to get a couple of more. The base and connectivity always consumer driven. Nice to see that quality has not changed even after the world is seeing cuts in every direction.

This is an excellent small party speaker. It is light enough to be very portable. When using indoors the bass is excellent on the middle bass boost setting. Outside, I found the upper bass boost setting to be the best. I like the lights on the front, although they don't seem to move exactly with the music. The sound is great (as expected from JBL). I like that you can plug and aux cable into it to use it with any audio equipment (DJ gear). I like that it has a battery so it can be used away from the electrical outlet! All-in-all it is an excellent party speaker. My only complaint about it is there is no on-board storage for the cable. It does, however, fit in the handle area.

I've had a lot of fun with the JBL Partybox Encore Essential over the last few weeks. This portable speaker has plenty of power, and so much better than my JBL Xtreme 1. I was very happy about being able to use a microphone with this Partybox speaker. I'm very happy with what this speaker offers in sound quality and portability.

The Partybox Encore Essential is absolutely fantastic! From the moment this came out of the box, I haven't stopped using it.
At first, I tried it just as a standalone speaker for my phone in the office. The sound is unbelievable and honestly, I could only put the sound up to ~70-80% before I was worried about the neighbors would complain. I also tried the speaker paired to the TV which was equally amazing. Movies were incredible getting to experience the theatre on my couch.
The setup is incredibly simple with easy-to-access buttons on the top and a convenient fold-down panel access in the back for microphone and auxiliary feeds.

I needed a speaker to fill a large outdoor church pavilion with music at my son's graduation open-house. When it arrived, I was a little concerned about the smaller size (I've seen some much larger versions in stores), but I was blown away by the big sound that this thing puts out. When I tried it indoors, the highest bass setting seemed to be a bit exaggerated. Once I had it in an open space though, I realized that the bass fades in the open air and needs that extra boost to keep up with the highs and mid-range.

I originally considered the dancing LED lights to be more of a novelty than a necessity, but I have to admit that they do grow on you after a while.

The microphone jack with adjustable gain and echo was an unexpected treat. I didn't buy it for this purpose, but the ability for it to double as a P.A speaker and/or for karaoke is really cool! I downloaded the party box app (android), and applied an update, then played around with the custom light patterns and sound effects. I highly recommend the app, as it can be a lot of fun to play with.

I haven't tried to charge another device using the usb port. I'm not sure that I'll use this feature, but what good would a great bluetooth speaker such as this be if your phone died and you had no way to charge it?

I'm also a scout leader, so my future plans are to take it to outdoor scouting events. It's supposed to be splash-proof, so it should make for a nice P.A. speaker and music source. It's a great combination of size, weight, and volume. Being wireless and splash-proof is icing on the cake.

You're supposed to be able to pair this with another partybox-series speaker for stereo sound. I'm curious to hear how that works out, but for the time being, one seems to fit my needs just fine for the time being.

I highly recommend this speaker. I have a couple of speakers that can fill a room with sound, but this little over-achiever can fill a much larger space and takes things to the next level.

Wow!!! Received the JBL party box Encore Essential and was first impressed with its great packaging. Pulled it out and connected my phone to it with ease. The Bluetooth is strong and has a huge distance. We rocked this thing at half volume in our backyard, across the pool and it sounded FANTASTIC!! I love the choice of the bass boost especially outside. Inside, no need…this thing BOOMS! After friends and family got out of the pool we hooked up a mic in the back of the Encore and the kids sang along to the POP station…they had a blast. I love that the mic input has a “gain” and a volume knob. Made getting the right balance so easy. Oh…and we did all this on ONE charge…lasted all day and still had juice. I can’t wait to use this as our outdoor movie speaker this summer.

The JBL PartyBox Essential speaker is a more compact version in the PartyBox family...however, don't be misled...this box will bring some sound! Built for it's mobility and size the JBL PartyBox Essential is a must have for those who want to bring the party with them on the road, to the beach, the camp site, or really anywhere!

Sound Quality :
The very first thing I look for in JBL products in superior sound quality. Clarity and crispness is a must however I like the bass just as much. JBL does not disappoint here! When playing hip/rap music the lows carry through the room and can sometimes even rattle the wall depending on the volume. Rock music was clear and punchy. Country music surrounded you in an immersive experience. I will say that in larger rooms this speaker tended to fade into the background noise though. In smaller spaces is really where this speaker should live. Also, when full volume was reached I noticed that the bass couldn't quite keep up with the rest of the sound. The bass peaks around 75% volume I believe (still a punch in chest though).

Technology & Features:
With every new JBL product you can expect new upgrades of technology and the PartyBox Essential is proof of that statement. Though smaller in size, JBL has found a way to pack the same JBL immersive sound in it. The battery I have found will last anywhere between 6-7 hours at 25-50% volume and less at higher volume levels. The ability to wireless pair another speaker through its "TWS" pairing system is almost flawless. Very simple. Also, this speaker is water resistant meaning it is splash resistant and rain resistant making it ready for pool, beach, or camping trips. The light show is a customizable through the JBL PartyBox App or through adjusting on the PartyBox itself.

Feel and Look :
The JBL PartyBox has always had a "boxy" look with "curvy" edges and this design did not veer from that much. Other than the removal of the phone slot and mounting hole on the bottom this speaker is very similar in design. It's about 1/2 the size of the JBL PartyBox 110 and about 1/3 of the weight. The classic JBL matte black grids on the speaker cover the the JBL orange logo make it stand out from the competition in looks and the hard plastic cutter core should protect from small drops and dings. All in all, this speaker looks about the same as the other JBL PartBox's but 1/3 of the weight.

Conclusion :
JBL continues to impress with more compact technology and the same signature sound. This PartyBox would make a great travel companion for anyone looking to take the music wherever they are.

the BEST SPEAKER out there right now i got this hooked it up nearby set the Bluetooth and now ots the BEST SPEAKER that i have seen at first i was wondering how easy it was then i got it and hooked it up with NO PROBLLEMS AT ALL and its VERY POWERFUL

This thing is great, it is very portable and easy to carry and sounds amazing. We used it on a beach trip and it was a huge hit because it was loud and full in sound to where everyone close to us could hear it. This box is nice that it has the microphone input so you could do sing a longs if you like. It does not come with the mic but we had one and tried it out and it was great. The light show that it displays beats and changes with the music. Overall I would highly recommend it great quality for the price and it packs a big punch for a small package.

Where to begin with this amazing speaker? Especially for it's copact size, the sound is amazing. The bass is as deep as you want it with two options of bass boost. Using the 'PARTYBOX' app gives even more options to change bass, mid and treble. The app gives Dj sound effects along with karaoke effects (bass, breble, echo). Now the lights...on the unit and app, I can control the light sequesnce. With the app, I can specify one color to be chosen to stay steady or looped.
The unit itself is well constructed and easy to carry with its rubber lined handle. In short...this is a great speaker and I want another one!

Has a grab-and-go handle for easy transport, with an impressive built-in light show that syncs to the beat. Easily controlled & access many features with your smartphone using a free/dedicated PartyBox app. You can also plug in or run on rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Has Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectivity. The "box" really does sound great! The bass is incredible but not distorted. through the built-in and customizable strobe lights--- hours of music playback--- feature that may come in handy is that you can use the USB port to recharge your mobile device. In addition to streaming wirelessly via Bluetooth, you can also connect sound sources directly. The speaker also has a 1/4" jack for an optional wired microphone. There's also a 3.5mm stereo minijack input for another compatible audio source. This is truly an all-in-one speaker. Battery life is more than good enough for my requirements, even at higher volume with the lights on, while the sound quality is very crisp and clean. This JBL offering goes beyond the basics and offers additional functionality that is actually genuinely useful. Highly recommend!!!

I cannot describe the excitement that I saw when I turned this speaker on a locker room full of 11 year old boys. We typically pump music in my son's locker room prior to hockey games. The sound is clear and crisp. The users have the ability to adjust the amount of bass output by using a convenient button on the speaker. I did not show any of the boys this button! The volume is easily controlled using the volume of the paired device or with the turn of the knob this may allow the boys to crank up the music when I turn my back.

Pairing to our cellphones was easy to do and within a matter of minutes we had 3 different phones paired up. The weight of the speaker is surprisingly light and the cube shape so happens to fit really well in my trunk next to an organizer. Another nice feature of the Partybox is the power cord is just that, a cord. It is nice not having to carry around a brick when traveling with the speaker. While we love our Boombox 2, the lights, volume knob and Bass Boost make this the speaker that our team will use throughout our spring season and into the fall season. The

The Partybox lives up to its name by pumping out 100 watts of power through my 1000 sq ft house party at 75% volume and can be heard from the backyard also.. Easy to carry handle and lightweight, very portable!