JBL Boombox 2 review: an updated speaker with powerful sound in a familiar design

JBL Boombox 2 is a large portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers deep bass and high volume. It is very expensive - 35 thousand rubles, and some will probably be dissatisfied with the enhanced bass with too pronounced high frequencies.

But, fans of powerful sound will appreciate the capabilities of the Boombox 2. Of course, for this price you can find a device with a more academic sound, however, if you need a speaker with full water resistance, suitable for a large party, the updated model is for you.

Key Features of JBL Boombox 2

The best inexpensive boomboxes

First of all, we will consider the most inexpensive boomboxes, which have the best combination of price, functionality and characteristics. You can easily find many even cheaper models on the market, but they are mostly much inferior to these in important parameters.

Defender G104, 12 W, black

Rating: 4.4

First, let's look at the most budget boombox from the Russian brand Defender. As often happens, the manufacturer tried to compensate for some technical compromises with additional functionality, and for the most part the company succeeded.

Defender G104 is equipped with two speakers with 6W power each. At the same time, the sound is still single-channel, that is, mono. But this is not too much of a problem, since the speaker itself is small, and by definition you should not expect expressive surround sound from it.

But the sound itself is good, the signal-to-noise ratio is 70 dB, and there is a good volume reserve. Frequency range coverage - from 70 to 18 thousand Hz.

The boombox can be connected to a sound source via Bluetooth or wired through a 3.5 mm minijack input. You can also connect a USB flash drive with music or a microSD memory card. The interfaces are located at the top, for which many users are grateful to the developers - it’s just convenient.

In addition, the device is equipped with a built-in FM tuner. Radio stations are displayed on the display, and tracks read from memory cards are also displayed there. Defender G104 recognizes folders and reads files not only from the root of the flash drive.

The design of the boombox is bright and eye-catching, and the speaker areas are equipped with backlighting. The plastic of the case is not particularly remarkable, but the assembly is quite strong.

From a review of a confirmed purchase on Yandex.Market by a user with the status “Gadget Inspector Level 2”: “Multimedia connectors are on top (easily accessible). Reads music in folders. Compact size, light, loud enough, perfect for a picnic.”

Advantages

• fairly clear and loud sound;
• built-in display;
• support for flash drive and microSD;
• built-in FM tuner;
• convenient location of connectors;
• spectacular appearance with lighting.

Flaws

• Some users experience noise when charging at the same time.

SVEN PS-465, 18 W, black

Rating: 4.5

Next, we will consider a variant of the well-known SVEN brand in Russia. This boombox is only 500 rubles more expensive than the previous one, but it has noticeable advantages.

Firstly, here we already see full stereo. True, you shouldn’t delude yourself with a couple of additional small minion speakers - this is a fake decoration. The total power of the speakers is 18W, but in fact it may not be enough as the battery discharges. But the sound is still noticeably better and louder than the previous model.

It has its own battery, quite capacious - 1800 mAh, the boombox can work for up to 5-6 hours on one charge. Charging is via a USB cable, it is included in the kit.

You can connect to the speaker via Bluetooth; the radio module supports HSP, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP profiles. There is also a standard minijack audio jack. There is a microSD card slot. There is an FM radio and a bass/treble control. Tracks and stations are displayed on the built-in LED display.

The design of the boombox is more restrained, but far from passable, but well-designed, expressive, users like its certain brutality. The case is strong, made of not particularly expensive, but high-quality and durable ABS plastic.

Advantages

• high-quality sound in its class;
• Bluetooth supports A2DP and other popular profiles;
• LED display;
• FM radio;
• good autonomy;
• "brutal" design.

Flaws

• When turned on, it can play at high volume.

Ginzzu GM-984G, 20 W, black

Rating: 4.6

And the selection of inexpensive boomboxes will be completed by a model from the famous Taiwanese brand Ginzzu. This model is better in all respects than both of those described above; at Russian points of sale at the beginning of 2022, it costs about 3 thousand rubles.

The model is even more powerful than the previous one - a total of 20W for both speakers. Full stereo, passive subwoofer provides good lows. Signal to noise ratio - 65 dB.

Wireless signal transmission occurs via high-speed Bluetooth 5.0. In addition, there is a connector for a USB Type-A flash drive, a slot for a microSD memory card, and a 3.5 mm minijack audio input. Built-in FM tuner. There is even a TWS mode that allows you to connect additional acoustics via Bluetooth, creating a stereo pair with a boombox.

We also need to praise this model for its water resistance. It is basic - IPX5, that is, it only protects against splashes, but in case of sudden rain in nature, this will save the electronics of the device.

As for battery life, it is excellent here. The capacity of the built-in battery is 3000 mAh. The stated 5 hours of work means the manufacturer is even showing modesty. Tests show that the boombox can easily work non-stop for 6 hours at almost maximum volume, and much longer at medium volume.

The boombox is also good in appearance - the design is elegant, stylish, dynamic RGB lighting with effects. Some users complain about audible noise when the backlight is on, but it can be turned off if desired.

Advantages

• high-quality sound;
• fairly pronounced lows - passive subwoofer;
• TWS mode;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• decent autonomy;
• IPX5 splash protection;
• Elegant design and switchable backlight.

Flaws

• There is some noise when the backlight is on.

Design and changes

JBL Boombox 2 clearly does not belong to equipment that can be easily put into any bag - since the dimensions are 48.51 x 20.07 x 25.65 cm. There are two body colors: black and camouflage. The speaker itself is large and heavy, and has a built-in handle that you can use to carry it.

The IPX7 protection rating means that the device can even withstand submersion under water up to a depth of 1 m for up to 30 minutes. Of course, you shouldn’t do this, and Bluetooth doesn’t work well under water, but the point is that if you accidentally fall into the pool or get caught in the rain, nothing will happen to it.

The design of Boombox 2 is similar to its predecessor - a huge handle is built into a cylindrical body, covered with a grill over its entire area. Below it are two 30-watt 0.75-inch tweeters and two 40-watt 4-inch woofers, which together provide frequency reproduction in the range from 50 Hz to 20 kHz. On both sides of the body there are two passive radiators that add weight to the bass.

On the front there are keys for power on, Bluetooth connection, play and pause (a double press can start the next tune, although a triple press does not include the previous one), as well as plus/minus keys for changing the volume level. There is also a Partyboost button for connecting Boombox 2 with other JBL speakers and playing together. An LED strip on the front shows the battery status.

How to choose the perfect boombox

The market for portable speakers is huge - hundreds of models of different sizes, powers and functionality. But guided by a number of general principles, you can choose the most suitable option from all this diversity.

Sound

This includes such characteristics as boombox power, reproduced frequency range, number of channels (mono/stereo/2.1).

For small rooms without the need for high volume and deep bass, an inexpensive, compact boombox with a power of less than 10 W will be sufficient. In a small room, such a device will even provide some semblance of bass. If you are planning a party outdoors, the power requirements increase significantly.

The presence of at least two stereo channels is highly desirable, since even in an open space a stereo speaker will create a surround sound effect, while mono sound by definition lacks such a characteristic. It is already difficult to determine the quality of bass based on characteristics alone; you need to focus at least on user reviews and expert opinions, which is what we did when selecting candidates for this review.

Wireless connection

In the 20s of the 21st century, wired communication is a must have, but for boomboxes it is not discussed at all. But there are nuances here too. We looked at models that communicate with the sound source at least via Bluetooth. Ideally, the Bluetooth module should be the latest 5th generation, since it is Bluetooth 5.0 and higher that provides the maximum data transfer speed. This means that the boombox will be able to reproduce sound in high quality with a high bitrate and without annoying interruptions.

Also, some models can support Wi-Fi, AirPlay and other wireless add-ons, but Bluetooth is still the main reference point due to its versatility.

Autonomy

Another critically important point is autonomous power supply. Obviously, the boombox must be able to operate either from its own battery or from replaceable batteries. And the longer the operating time, the better. It is advisable to expect that the speaker will work for at least 6 hours at moderate volume from a full charge. For powerful models at high volume, autonomy will inevitably decrease. Therefore, it is important to ensure that it is possible to charge the boombox from a power bank without turning it off.

Moisture protection

Boomboxes are most often used outdoors and at parties where careful handling is not entirely possible. Therefore, it is desirable that the speaker has a durable body, and the filling of the device itself is not afraid of falls. It is highly desirable to have protection from at least splashes, and ideally, maximum protection from dust and moisture.

Additional functions

Many boomboxes have additional useful functionality - an equalizer, FM radio, a karake function with a microphone included, and so on. They should not be neglected either, since they do not critically affect the price, but can come in very handy at any time.

Design and decoration

The appearance of the boombox may seem like a minor point, but in fact, the impressive design of the speaker, and even with adaptive lighting, can create a special holiday atmosphere.

Connectors and communication

On the back of the JBL Boombox 2 speaker you can find connectors for connecting the included charger, USB for charging your smartphone, a micro-USB port for connecting a device and a 3.5 mm jack for headphones or other music sources. The only thing missing is an AUX cable in the box and an application for adjusting the equalizer.

Boombox 2 works over Bluetooth 5.1 wireless, but only supports the SBC codec. This is normal for inexpensive portable Bluetooth speakers, but for a model with a price of 35 thousand rubles it is a drawback.

Sound quality

When it comes to genres of music with a lot of bass, the JBL Boombox 2 performs admirably. At maximum volume, which is really powerful, the bass is not distorted, although the DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system comes in and makes it a little softer. However, even with DSP, the bass sounds deep and powerful, and this interference is not noticeable even at very high volumes.

Baritones are aided in their performance by rich reproduction of the lower midrange frequencies. Fortunately, they do not steal all the attention, and everything is balanced by emphasizing the upper frequencies. That is, the updated Boombox 2 reproduces the entire range well, and does not just try to fill the surrounding space with heavy bass.

The performers' voices are also very clear and distinct. When combining low frequencies with high frequencies, whistling often occurs, but JBL manages to cope with this. Even orchestral compositions sound natural, although, again, audiophiles will find many inaccuracies here.

Overall, the second version of the JBL Boombox manages to produce clear, balanced and spacious sound regardless of the genre.

Autonomy of JBL Boombox 2 and alternatives

JBL estimates that the battery in the updated model will last approximately 24 hours of continuous operation. However, these results are highly dependent on the volume level at which you listen to the music. During a week of testing, I only managed to completely drain the Boombox 2's battery twice. The average battery life was 22-23 hours, with maximum volume up to 70%.

When it comes to large speakers for a party, in addition to the JBL Boombox 2, we can recommend the Braven BRV-XXL/2 or the JBL PartyBox 300, which costs the same money, has larger dimensions and features a light show. Another alternative is the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom, although it doesn't have the same water resistance.

Nevertheless, JBL Boombox 2 is in no way inferior to competitive models and makes it easy to throw a cool party in a noisy company. Among portable Bluetooth speakers, this model will be one of the best.

The best mid-range boomboxes

In the second part of the review, we will look at more expensive and more technically advanced models. There will be boomboxes of different powers, and in other characteristics they differ significantly, and this reflects the overall market capacity - there are really a lot of portable speakers of this class on sale.

Xiaomi Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker, 16 W, blue

Rating: 4.6

Although Xiaomi is associated with inexpensive electronics, and this boombox model itself is not much more expensive than the previous Ginzzu, the class of the device is still clearly significantly higher.

This is a full-fledged stereo speaker with two speakers with a power of 8W each. It's not a lot, but it's not too little either. The main thing is decent sound quality, which both experts and ordinary users confidently talk about. There is a passive low-frequency radiator - the bass will not be record-breaking, but quite pronounced.

In its pure form, the boombox reproduces the frequency range from 80 to 20 thousand Hz. You can add bass using the built-in equalizer. It only has two operating modes, but it affects the sound quite clearly. However, you shouldn’t turn the volume up to maximum - the boombox may start to wheeze.

For wireless connection there is high-speed Bluetooth 5.0, and this is very good - the connection is stable, data transfer is fast without interruptions. But another solution is worthy of praise - the AUX connector - often this additional wired connection can help out.

Autonomous operation is ensured by a built-in 2600 mAh battery. When fully charged, the speaker will work all day without any problems. Not a very good solution with an annoying repeated voice message about low battery, an indicator light would be better.

From a review by a Yandex.Market user with the status “Level 7 Gadget Inspector”: “Build quality, water protection, deep bass. You can combine several speakers like JBL. Overall very cool for this price. The speaker is massive, but the volume is a little lacking.”

Advantages

• brand;
• water protection IPX7;
• Type-C for charging;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• wired AUX connector;
• built-in simple equalizer;
• good autonomy.

Flaws

• wheezing at maximum volume.

SVEN PS-520, 36 W, black

Rating: 4.7

We return to the SVEN brand again, now in the middle class. The SVEN PS-520 boombox pleases with twice the power; this speaker can be adapted to a really big and noisy party.

Just a note about power. The boombox sounds really impressive, but you won’t be able to get all 36W out of it. At maximum volume there will be distortion, so for very few compositions it makes sense to turn it up more than ¾. Nevertheless, the power is quite felt; it is suitable for both the beach and a large open space indoors.

In terms of sound, let’s also add that there is also a full-fledged stereo here, the main emitters are 10 cm in diameter. There is a large bass reflex port located in the center, so the bass response is also quite good.

The main advantage of this boombox, in addition to decent sound, is its versatility. So, here we see a microphone input with an adjustable echo function, an additional AUX connector, USB Type-A for a flash drive, a slot for microSD memory cards, FM radio, and an LED display. The kit comes with a very good remote control in terms of convenience and functionality. And, of course, there is Bluetooth.

The design of the boombox is not bad, with angular shapes, but the plastic is clearly budget-friendly. The inexpensive assembly is brightened up by the nice backlighting of the drivers; there is an adaptive mode when the backlight flashes to the beat of the music.

A huge plus of this model is its outstanding autonomy. There are two built-in batteries of 2000 mAh each. This kit provides 14 hours of loud sound with the backlight working. Charging via micro USB.

Advantages

• power;
• overall sound, including lows;
• microphone input with echo effect;
• FM radio with station storage;
• remote;
• versatility in general;
• adaptive backlight;
• top autonomy.

Flaws

• does not pull out the declared 36W.

JBL Flip 5, 20 W, black

Rating: 4.7

And now let’s look at one of the brand’s models, which took up as many as four positions in our review. This is JBL - a super popular American brand that breaks audio sales records in the USA, Russia, and the world. JBL boomboxes are the most popular, sold and discussed. In the middle class they are also the most expensive. Even this compact and not very powerful model costs more than 7 thousand rubles, and this is one of the most affordable options for a JBL portable speaker.

This is a mono speaker, which could be considered a disadvantage if it were not a JBL with all its advantages. And they are well known - clear sound, including even good bass. Speaker power - 20W. This is what experts and ordinary users praise in unison for this and many other boomboxes of the brand.

The second indisputably positive point is autonomy. The built-in 4800 mAh battery gives up to 12 hours of operation at medium volume. Charging is an hour less than the previous generation of this line - 2.5 hours. Charging via USB Type-C, which is also a plus.

Another plus is the presence of water protection class IPX7. In reviews on trading platforms, you can find indignation that the protection does not work, but independent tests show that, with proper use, the speaker can easily withstand even immersion in water.

The boombox is connected wirelessly via an outdated Bluetooth 4.2 module - this is a little frustrating, but the radio module works reliably. The device is also connected to the computer via USB Type-A. You can control it with buttons on the case or remotely via a smartphone.

The impressions from this model are the most positive, but we have to admit that the extremely poor functionality at this price still spoils the impression a little.

From a review by a Yandex.Market user with the status “Gadget Inspector Level 7”: “The lows and tweeters sound ok. The mono speaker sounds like stereo, the sound is not annoying, quite pleasant. Moisture protection will save you from falling into the bathtub. Type-C. The build quality is very good."

Advantages

• super popular brand;
• volume;
• clear sound;
• autonomy;
• water protection IPX7;
• USB Type-C for charging;
• control of buttons and from a smartphone.

Flaws

• limited functionality.

JBL Pulse 4, 20 W, black

Rating: 4.8

JBL again, and again it will be a 20W mono speaker, but only twice as expensive as the previous one. And, which is typical, in terms of other utilitarian characteristics it is not much different from the previous one.

The much higher cost is dictated by the fact that this is practically a premium model. But considering that the truly top-end JBL boomboxes are much more expensive, for the purposes of this review we still classify the fourth generation of the JBL Pulse series as the upper limit of the conventional middle class.

The main difference between the model is its concept itself. Here the emphasis is on visual impact. Indeed, visually, the speaker is capable of creating a unique atmosphere both at a party and at home.

JBL Pulse 4 is a bright color and music device in every sense. A special LED strip shimmers with colors to the beat of the music through the translucent front. It shimmers with amorphous shapes, and does not just blink, as in cheap boomboxes. It looks unusually impressive and atmospheric, especially in dim lighting or at dusk.

What's good is that the developers took care of battery life. A built-in battery with a capacity of 7260 mAh will provide up to 12 hours of operation. Charging via USB Type-C 3.5 hours.

The elegant body looks fragile, but the materials are actually high quality and durable. There is reliable IPX7 water protection, so the device can be used in open spaces without fear.

The speaker is connected to the source via the same Bluetooth 4, but the radio module supports A2DP V1.3, ACRCP V1.6, which means that the sound quality will be no worse than with a wired connection. Two identical speakers can be connected into a stereo pair wirelessly using PartyBoost technology.

From a review by a Yandex.Market user with the status “Gadget Inspector Level 9”: “This is just a bomb. I have never had such a beautiful speaker. I love the combination of technological excellence and build quality. It’s so good that I’m thinking about buying another one for another room.”

Advantages

• brand;
• sound quality;
• water protection IPX7;
• autonomy;
• USB Type-C for charging;
• control of buttons and from a smartphone;
• combining speakers into a stereo pair using PartyBoost technology;
• unusually stylish atmospheric design, decoration and lighting.

Flaws

• insignificant compared to the advantages.

Bottom line

The JBL Boombox 2 is a beautifully designed Bluetooth speaker. The bass here is simply amazing, and although you're now limited to just one audio setting, the unit sounds great both indoors and out.

Is it worth buying?

If you have the original Boombox, I'm hard pressed to find anything in the second version to recommend an upgrade. Of course, you get PartyBoost, a more stable Bluetooth connection, ergonomic handles, and slightly louder speakers with better overall sound quality. But, $500 is too much when there is something similar for much less money.

However, if you don't have the first generation JBL Boombox and want a speaker that will let you play your music anywhere, rain or shine, the Boombox 2 is worth a look.