JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Evaluation: Get together 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 definitely 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 might get.

There’s a lot this massive, 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 want smaller, moveable Bluetooth speakers, I undoubtedly know there may be worth — and loads of enjoyable — available.

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I spent a few weeks testing out this large leisure system, taking it round in my dwelling and outdoors, seeing what it gives and discovering out simply precisely how loud it may get.

Advisable

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

This large speaker gives energy, portability, and flexibility, with a lightweight present and karoake mode complementing the spectacular audio.

Execs

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

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Giant footprint

Worth, specs, and availability

Massive dimension and excessive value

This large speaker retails for $600 from Amazon, Finest Purchase, or instantly 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 dimensions. It stands simply over two toes tall and over a foot large 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 so to roll it round like a chunk of bags. It is smart whenever 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 consists of 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 brilliant 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 dwelling, 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 refill the area.

The audio was crisp, clear, and layered; after 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 far more nuance and vary with the PartyBox 320. It is one thing I enormously loved as a result of I undoubtedly 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 types, taking part in oldies early on a sunny day earlier than giving to some alt rock within the afternoon and a pop occasion at evening. It was fully satisfying, by no means for a second appeared like I used to be lacking something. It was very simple 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 refill 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 might hear it loud and clear inside by way of an open door some 50 or 60 toes away. I am positive my neighbors might 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 definitely appears designed for large occasions and events, enveloping an area with sound. Even on the greater volumes, I by no means felt like I misplaced readability or distorted the music. I am usually significantly delicate to loud music as a result of I can hear when it begins to hold forth, which occurs rather a lot whenever you blast sound from audio system that may deal with this. The JBL was as much as the duty.

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

I’ve to say the lightshow it gives. It’s undoubtedly fully superfluous for me, its tons of enjoyable. No occasion is required to get pleasure from altering colours and patterns on the speaker, and it does not even should be darkish outdoors. I am blissful 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 possibly can 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 crammed with extras

I definitely wasn’t naive to the truth that this can be a giant speaker, but it surely 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 way of my dwelling, 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 shortly and the battery lasts for fairly a while. Nevertheless, frequent use may current a problem with regards to charging. You may, nevertheless, be higher off investing in a separate charger and extra battery — simply swapping one out slightly than lugging across the total unit.

One fully pointless inclusion for me personally was a “file 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 get pleasure from about this large, sensory leisure system, and I do know that I prefer it, however I am not solely positive 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 loads of emphasis on the “occasion” facet, 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 feel loads of the choice comes all the way down to area. Not solely asking you probably have the area to retailer it, however do you even have the area to let it rip?

Most repeated songs on the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

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