JBL Boombox

Powerful, deep bass ; Unusually good ruggedisation for its size ; Airy and clear imaging

Quite heavy to use as an everyday portable speaker ; Expensive, particularly this Wi-Fi version ; Bullish appearance won’t suit some rooms

JBL reaches into new territory with one of its top speaker designs, making this roving party machine comfortable to settle down into the average living room. Does it belong there? That’s up for debate, but it can certainly deliver the home hi-fi goods.

Bombastic bass response ; Good outdoor performance ; Waterproof ; Charges two devices at once ; 24-hour battery life

A little heavy for backpacking or camping ; Poor clarity in treble register ; Limited EQ control

The Boombox didn’t blow us away with crisp clarity, but it doesn’t really need to. It’s sturdy, stylish, big enough to power a party for hours, and it can charge two phones at once. If you’re in search of some jams for your picnic, camping trip, beach...

Really loud and balanced sound Water-resistant + splash-proof 24-hour battery life

It’s pricey No audio cables included Buzzing sound at low battery

The JBL Boombox is a monstrous portable speaker that not only gets loud, but stays pretty crisp when pumping the volume. It’s heavy, and not the easiest thing to carry around, but it’s rugged enough to handle any pool or tailgate party

Exceptionally powerful audio performance with booming bass and crisp highs. Portable despite its power. Waterproof.

Expensive. App lacks EQ. Not for purists seeking flat response-style sound signature.

If the bass boosting sounds like it might be too full for you, there are Bluetooth speakers that still deliver solid low frequency presence in this price range (and lower), but don't necessarily sound like they're packing a subwoofer. The B&O Play...

Deep low-bass reach ; Balanced sound for a bass-driven speaker ; High maximum volume

Much heavier than JBL?s step-down Xtreme 3 ; Bullish design may not sit well with the price for some ; Limited EQ control

The big kahuna among JBL speakers, the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi has superior sub-bass power and, new for this model, true multi-room audio thanks to that built-in Wi-Fi. Its combo of audio power and poise is compelling, but it’s also the least approachable...

Thunderous bass ; IPX7 waterproofing ; Charges devices via USB

Expensive ; Average sound quality at this price ; Heavy

The JBL Boombox is far from the perfect Bluetooth speaker, but for many it will serve a purpose. It’s loud enough to fill a large room with party-scale audio and will also thump out the tracks outdoors. With the ability to link other JBL speakers...

Pumps the volume and bass ; Great overall sound ; Long battery life

Pricey ; Bulky and heavy (understandbly so, given its size)

The Boombox is easily the best-sounding large/loud Bluetooth speaker I’ve tested. I’d say compare it to the similarly-priced and -sized , but that speaker is no longer available from Zagg. Regardless, at $400, the JBL is the better deal unless you need...