JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Overview: Occasion prepared

JBL’s newest PartyBoxspeaker despatched me on a rollercoaster of feelings. Initially unboxing the JBL PartyBox Stage 320, I used to be bewildered by its dimension and weight (even its identify is a mouthful). I actually did not suppose I wanted it, however then I used to be comforted by the sound when taking part in indoors, and later unnerved by taking it outdoors to see simply how loud it may get.

There’s a lot this huge, versatile, and highly effective speaker can do, and whereas I am nonetheless determining if that is one thing I personally ought to have in my speaker lineup, as I are likely to desire smaller, moveable Bluetooth speakers, I positively know there may be worth — and numerous enjoyable — available.

I spent a few weeks testing out this large leisure system, taking it round in my residence and out of doors, seeing what it affords and discovering out simply precisely how loud it could possibly get.

Beneficial

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

This large speaker affords energy, portability, and flexibility, with a light-weight present and karoake mode complementing the spectacular audio.

Execs

• Excessive-quality audio
• Sound and lightweight customization
• Highly effective bass and booming quantity

Cons

• Dear
• Heavy
• Giant footprint

Value, specs, and availability

Massive dimension and excessive value

This large speaker retails for $600 from Amazon, Greatest Purchase, or immediately from JBL. It is an providing positioned on the middle of the JBL’s PartyBox spectrum, cheaper and barely smaller than the PartyBox Final, however greater than the Encore and stronger than the PartyBox 120.

Maybe it is most vital to pay attention to the scale. It stands simply over two toes tall and over a foot extensive and deep. Notably, it weighs in at about 36 kilos. That is beginning to strategy full-size suitcase territory, which is amusing as a result of the PartyBox Stage 320 is designed with a telescopic deal with and a pair of sturdy wheels in an effort to roll it round like a chunk of bags. It is sensible once you perceive what’s inside. It contains two 6.5 inch woofers and a pair of 25mm dome tweeters with an influence output of 240 watts. The included ejectable battery can play for as much as 18 hours, and supposedly can get totally charged in simply three hours.

The speaker additionally boasts quite a lot of enter, permitting you to attach a guitar and microphone concurrently (or simply two microphones). It contains an aux-in and USB port as nicely. These can be found by way of the again of the speaker, secured by a protecting plastic flap.

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What I preferred in regards to the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Clear audio and vivid lights

For all of the figurative bells and whistles, it is value noting off the highest that the audio is most spectacular. When given the prospect, I instantly opted for the PartyBox over any variety of moveable Bluetooth audio system I’ve at residence, and never simply because I used to be testing it. I used to be content material positioning it within the nook of a room, and even in an adjoining room or outdoors, and letting the sound replenish the house.

The audio was crisp, clear, and layered; once I was feeling extra awake, I attempted boosting the bass. For too many audio system, there appears to be no center floor for the bass, however there was rather more nuance and vary with the PartyBox 320. It is one thing I enormously loved as a result of I positively need some bass and depth, however I do not need it to shake the inspiration or settle in my head.

I went all throughout the musical spectrum testing out totally different sounds and kinds, taking part in oldies early on a sunny day earlier than giving to some alt rock within the afternoon and a pop get together at evening. It was fully satisfying, by no means for a second appeared like I used to be lacking something. It was very straightforward to simply have on within the background and really feel such as you’re getting trustworthy audio throughout you.

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JBL boasts the PartyBox 320 can replenish a tennis courtroom with sound, and whereas I did not take it to the tennis courtroom down the road, I’ve no drawback believing it. It will get loud. I turned up the quantity in my yard and I may hear it loud and clear inside by an open door some 50 or 60 toes away. I am certain my neighbors may hear it from their homes if outdoors as nicely. All of that is to say that the PartyBox lives as much as its identify.

It actually appears designed for giant occasions and events, enveloping an area with sound. Even on the increased volumes, I by no means felt like I misplaced readability or distorted the music. I am typically significantly delicate to loud music as a result of I can hear when it begins to pontificate, which occurs loads once you blast sound from audio system that may deal with this. The JBL was as much as the duty.

Whereas the speaker itself boasts numerous controls, together with changes for quantity, bass and trebles, that there’s a particular app obtainable makes every part considerably simpler. From the PartyBox app, you will get much more particular with regards to each gentle and sound.

I’ve to say the lightshow it affords. It’s positively fully superfluous for me, its tons of enjoyable. No get together is required to take pleasure in altering colours and patterns on the speaker, and it does not even must be darkish outdoors. I am comfortable to let it run, transferring and pulsating to the sound of the music. And I can see the way it can improve a celebration after darkish. For individuals who do not care in regards to the lights, you’ll be able to flip them off from the speaker or by way of the app.

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What I did not like in regards to the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Cumbersome and full of extras

I actually wasn’t naive to the truth that it is a giant speaker, however it was far heavier than I imagined and extra cumbersome to navigate. The sturdy wheels and telescopic deal with are important, as is the sturdy grip built-in alongside the deal with, which is significant for navigating any stairs or obstacles. Even wheeling the speaker by my residence, I felt a bit nervous, with the ground rumbling beneath this behemoth.

There isn’t any USB cost for this dimension of a tool; you plug it into an outlet to juice it up. Fortunately, it appears to cost fairly rapidly and the battery lasts for fairly a while. Nonetheless, frequent use would possibly current a problem with regards to charging. You would possibly, nonetheless, be higher off investing in a separate charger and extra battery — simply swapping one out fairly than lugging across the whole unit.

One fully pointless inclusion for me personally was a “report scratch” impact, which is precisely prefer it sounds. It is enjoyable in principle, however I could not actually discover a objective for it in apply.

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Do you have to purchase the JBL PartyBox Stage 320?

A big funding for a big speaker

There’s a lot to take pleasure in about this large, sensory leisure system, and I do know that I prefer it, however I am not solely certain that I would like it, or need one thing this dimension. I am pretty assured in its bodily sturdiness, and with a replaceable battery, it ought to final for a few years with common use. There may be numerous emphasis on the “get together” side, and rightly so. I did not hook up a microphone or guitar, however I see the worth in that. The identical goes for the power to hook up a number of PartyBoxes or further audio system for an even bigger, louder occasion.

I believe numerous the choice comes all the way down to house. Not solely asking if in case you have the house to retailer it, however do you even have the house to let it rip?

Most repeated songs on the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

• Mr Blue Sky by Electrical Gentle Orchestra
• Pleasant Hearth by Linkin Park
• Obsessed by Olivia Rodrigo
• Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
• Shake It Off by Taylor Swift