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What’s The Best Party Speaker?
Summer might be coming to a close, but the party season is far from over. That’s why we’re excited to pick out the best party speakers and show you what they have to offer. Does one of them reign supreme? Maybe. But they’re all perfect for your next gathering, whether you’re hosting your first college party, an outdoor jam session with friends or a poolside hang.
What Is a Party Speaker?
If you’ve never heard of party speakers before, you might think that they’re the same as any portable Bluetooth speaker. But they’re actually in a class of their own with unique features and details. In short, they’re made to focus more on celebrations, prioritizing high volume and light shows along with special features. With some models, you can connect karaoke microphones or guitars to make the music truly a part of your gathering. Some are battery-powered, while others need to be plugged in as well. Because they’re so unique, we’re discussing some of our favorite models below to help you choose your best party speaker.
JBL Portable Party Speaker PartyBox On-The-Go Essential with Built-in Lights & Wireless Mic in Black - JBLPBOTGESAM
Our experts love JBL’s PartyBox line for a few reasons. They’re incredibly popular and stylish, and with multiple models, there’s a little something for everyone. These splash-proof models are perfect for beach trips and poolside bashes alike. We love three sizes, starting with the portable JBL PartyBox you can sling over your shoulder. The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Essential features six hours of playtime, has an input for both a guitar and mic, and delivers 100 watts of powerful sound. It’s small but mighty and delivers boosted bass and a gorgeous light show. If you’re looking for a party speaker on a budget, this budget-friendly model delivers all the must-haves.
JBL Portable Party Speaker PartyBox Stage 320 in Black - JBLPBSTAGE320AM
Next, meet the JBL PartyBox Stage 320. A mid-tier model, this JBL speaker ups the ante with 18 hours of playtime, 6.5-inch woofers that bring deep bass and 25mm dome tweeters for highs that soar. While it retains the colorful light show, microphone and guitar inputs, this party speaker levels up with extra features. One of them is AI Sound Boost: the JBL PartyBox uses its algorithm to detect incoming signals and optimize the speaker to best replicate the sound. Distortion is reduced, bass is boosted and you’ll get better sound quality for your volume. Finally, you can connect to other JBL Pro Sound speakers with Auracast to create surrounding concert-level audio. This stand-up model is relatively easy to move, too, thanks to a telescoping handle and wheels.
Your Price:
$1,399.95
Regular Price:
Comp. Value: $1,899.95
Finally, we have the JBL PartyBox Ultimate. With the ability to project sound across a massive space, this is the perfect pick for those who need volume. And between the dual drivers, midrange speaker, two subwoofers, Dolby Atmos sound and self-tuning technology, it’s a sonic experience like no other. With the ability to connect via Wi-Fi, you won’t have to worry about keeping your phone within range. Many would vote for the JBL PartyBox Ultimate as their pick for the best party speaker. But others might prefer a smaller, more portable version, especially since the Ultimate has no battery and is meant to stay plugged into the wall throughout your party.
Sony Black XV900 X-Series Bluetooth Wireless Party Speaker - SRSXV900
The Sony XV900 could be the best party speaker; we love it because it’s both large and rechargeable. Instead of being bound to a cord and wall all night, this pick by Sony is battery-operated and can last for up to 25 hours. It also supports optical connections, allowing you to connect the Sony XV900 to your TV. You’ll hear great sound during big game parties and won’t miss a single comment as footballs and basketballs fly. Thanks to the TV Sound Booster setting you’ll hear a realistic AV experience from anything onscreen. Because of this speaker’s TV Sound Booster, we think it’s the best party speaker for TV lovers.
Other pluses? The party speaker is designed with Omnidirectional party sound: six tweeters send music in every direction, while the X-balanced woofer projects bass throughout the space. Feeling like the party needs some karaoke? Plug in a microphone or guitar and invite your friends to sing.
LG Portable Party Speaker XBOOM XL7S Bluetooth in Black - XL7S.DUSALLK
Our in-house speaker buyer believes that this pick by LG is the best party speaker value option. It’s exciting not just audibly, but visually: instead of a classic light show, you can make custom words, phrases and graphic design elements scroll across the LED screen. A full charge gives you 20 hours of battery life, enough to last long into the night, all while a 7″ woofer and dual cone tweeters deliver high-quality sound. And with LG’s Dynamic Bass Optimizer, you’ll hear the perfect boom at every volume level.
The telescoping handle and wheels on this party speaker make it easy for you to pull it anywhere. Make all kinds of connections too thanks to Bluetooth, Dual ISB, mic and guitar inputs. You can play music and sing at the same time, all while controlling your playlists and lights from your phone and the LG XBOOM app.
This compact model by Bose is different from the other picks in this post. We consider the S1 Pro+ to be the best party speaker that’s compact, with a handle that can be grabbed by hand and 11+ hours of battery life. This choice is great not just for gatherings, but for real performances as well. It’s ready for your show thanks to four different position options depending on where your “stage” is. And with help from Auto EQ, this Bose speaker senses where it is and automatically adjusts the EQ to best fit the space. That’s tech that works with you to craft great entertainment. There are three channels: plug in a mic and instrument (or any combination) and sink into your show in channels one and two, or switch to channel three for music playback.
Our pick for the compact best party speaker is a great choice for musicians, DJs, MCs and anyone hoping to perform, and it’s great for casual and raging parties at home. If you’re low on space or love performing, this is the one for you.
Which Is The Best?
We went through six of our best party speakers here, so which one reigns supreme? That depends on what you want to use it for, how portable you need it to be, and what features you love. If you need something that can easily move with you, the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Essential or even the Bose S1 Pro+ would make a great choice. Larger models bring more sound and aren’t too tough to move around thanks to attached wheels. If you’re hoping to find the most sound possible in large spaces, the JBL PartyBox Ultimate is the obvious choice. For the perfect light show, opt for the LG XBOOM speaker, and TV lovers should choose the Sony XV900. And if you’re looking for an amazing all-around portable speaker, go with the JBL PartyBox Stage 320.
There are lots of choices here, but the best part is that you can’t make a mistake. We think they’re all amazing party speakers depending on your needs and music taste. If you have questions, call our specialists at 800-860-3577.
