JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Evaluate: 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 measurement and weight (even it is identify is a mouthful). I definitely did not assume I wanted it. I used to be then comforted by the sound when enjoying indoors, and later unnerved by taking it outdoors and seeing simply how loud it may well 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 inclined to desire smaller, transportable Bluetooth speakers, I undoubtedly know there’s worth — and quite a lot 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 out of doors, seeing what it presents and discovering out simply precisely how loud it may well get.

JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Beneficial

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

Professionals

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

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Massive footprint

Value, specs, and availability

Huge measurement 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, inexpensive and barely smaller than the PartyBox Final, however greater than the Encore and stronger than the PartyBox 120.

Maybe it is most necessary to be aware of the dimensions. It stands simply over two ft tall and over a foot broad and deep. Notably, it weighs in at about 36 kilos. That is beginning to method 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 sensible while 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 a wide range 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 favored concerning the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Clear audio and brilliant lights

For all of the figurative bells and whistles, it is price noting off the highest that the audio is most spectacular. When given the possibility, I instantly opted for the PartyBox over any variety of transportable 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 replenish 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 way more nuance and vary with the PartyBox 320. It is one thing I tremendously loved as a result of I undoubtedly need some bass and depth, however I do not need it to shake the muse or settle in my head.

I went all throughout the musical spectrum testing out totally different sounds and kinds, enjoying oldies early on a sunny day earlier than giving to some alt rock within the afternoon and a pop occasion at night time. 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 devoted audio throughout you.

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JBL boasts the PartyBox 320 can replenish a tennis court docket with sound, and whereas I did not take it to the tennis court docket down the road, I’ve no drawback believing it. It will get loud. I turned up the amount in my yard and I may hear it loud and clear inside by an open door some 50 or 60 ft away. I am positive 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 definitely 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 usually notably delicate to loud music as a result of I can hear when it begins to pontificate, which occurs loads while you blast sound from audio system that may deal with this. The JBL was as much as the duty.

Whereas the speaker itself boasts quite a lot of 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 in relation to each mild and sound.

I’ve to say the lightshow it presents. 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 must be darkish outdoors. I am joyful 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 many who do not care concerning the lights, you may flip them off from the speaker or by way of the app.

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What I did not like concerning the JBL PartyBox Stage 320

Cumbersome and full of extras

I definitely wasn’t naive to the truth that it is 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 important for navigating any stairs or obstacles. Even wheeling the speaker by my dwelling, I felt a bit nervous, with the ground rumbling beneath this behemoth.

There isn’t any USB cost for this measurement 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. Nevertheless, frequent use may current a problem in relation to charging. You may, nevertheless, be higher off investing in a separate charger and extra battery — simply swapping one out reasonably than lugging across the whole unit.

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

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Must you 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 totally positive that I would like it, or need one thing this measurement. 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’s quite a lot 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 quite a lot of the choice comes all the way down to area. Not solely asking when you 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