Good music always livens up a party, but not all portable speakers are created equal. Some promise big sound but fall short on providing enough power to rise above the din in noisy spaces. Meanwhile, others might supply nice audio but fall short on bringing it in a sturdy design that can stand up to being outside.
Fortunately, JBL has understood the assignment with its Boombox 2, creating a sound system that can wake up the neighbors (not that we advise that — ask their permission first!), while being rugged enough to stand up to a whole night of partying outdoors if needed. Now on sale at Amazon for over $100 off list price, it ranks high on our list of must-have portable speakers, and it makes an excellent choice for the music fans on your holiday gifting list.
JBL Boombox 2, $299.95 (25% off)
One thing that separates a great standalone speaker for the competition is good, solid bass. The JBL Boombox 2 has that in spades, thanks to its 40-watt, 4-inch woofers and two passive radiators, which pump out dance-club-worthy bottom end. The Boombox 2 doesn’t ignore the top end either, with 30-watt tweeters, and best of all, you can sculpt the sound to your liking, using EQ control through a JBL mobile app.
To accommodate these beefy speakers, the Boombox is 19 inches long and 10 inches wide, which might seem hefty, but it’s easy to carry using the built-in handle. Plus, you’ll appreciate its size when you hear the mammoth sound it’s capable of producing, even in crowded rooms.
With Bluetooth, USB and regular 3.5-mm cord inputs, you have plenty of options for how you want to feed music into the JBL Boombox 2. We especially like how you can network it with other JBL speakers using its Partyboost mode to create an even bigger combined sound, as well as its ability to charge other devices through its USB port. And no need to worry if the Boombox 2 can handle the outdoors; it has a IPX7 rating, which means it can be submerged for over 30 minutes in water just over three feet deep. (Not that we’d recommend doing that, but it’s nice to know that it can stand up to a sudden rain shower or an accidental splash of water on the beach.)
Audio experts commend the JBL Boombox 2’s balanced, crisp sound while Amazon users also rave about its durability. No matter how you slice it, the Boombox 2 has got both the sonic quality and the construction to be the life of the party, no matter where the party is. Get it now while it’s on sale!
