If you’re in the market for a banging party speaker, there’s no way you can avoid looking at some of JBL’s party speakers. Not only are these portable speakers beautiful to look at, but the audio levels and sound clarity of these units truly hit the spot. Two of the more popular speakers from the catalog are the Partybox 300 and the Partybox 310 — and if you were caught up in a JBL Partybox 300 vs 310 comparison in your head, we don’t blame you! So we broke it down for you in the sections below, starting with a nice overview of both of these products.
JBL PartyBox 300 vs PartyBox 310 Specs Comparison
When the JBL Partybox 300 was launched in 2018, it found tremendous success thanks to buyers who were looking for a good speaker for parties at houses, beaches, camping trips, and of course, BBQ parties in the backyard. JBL packed this speaker with everything a party animal would want — loudness, RGB color modes, karaoke capabilities, and you can even plug in your guitar.
They did such a good job that there was little to improve in the Partybox 310 when it came out, but there were neat additions that we liked. But does buying the newer model make more sense than the old one?
Let’s look at the specs and features of these two speakers, side by side, followed by the pros and cons of both speakers.
| Model | JBL PartyBox 300 | JBL PartyBox 310 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 27.1 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches | 31.18 x 16.93 x 15.28 inches |
| Weight | 34.9 lbs | 38.4 lbs |
| IP Rating | None | IPX4 |
| Frequency Range | 45Hz to 20KHz | 45Hz to 20KHz |
| Power | 240 watts | 240 watts |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth+Wired | Bluetooth+Wired |
| I/O ports | 1 x 3.5mm 1 x USB-A 2 x 1/4″ TS ins (mic + guitar) 1 x stereo RCA input 1 x stereo RCA output | 1 x 3.5mm 1 x USB-A 2 x 1/4″ TS ins (mic + guitar) 1 x 3.5mm input (For Daisy chain) 1 x 3.5mm output (For Daisy chain) |
| Sound Enhancements | Bass Boost | Bass Boost Echo Basic EQ |
| Battery | Approximately 18 hours | Approximately 17 hours |
| Charging Time | 5 hours | 3.5 hours |
| App Support | None | JBL PartyBox (Android/iOS) |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
JBL Partybox 300
Pros
- Great value for money
- Sound levels are best in class
Cons
- The weight is tremendous at 35.1 lbs
- Does not support the JBL Partybox app
- Takes almost 5 hours to charge fully
- Lacks splash protection and can be easily damaged by rain/pool water
JBL Partybox 310
Pros
- Supports Bluetooth 5.1
- Is IPX4 certified
- Supports the JBL Partybox app
- Built-in Karaoke mode
- Can wirelessly connect to another JBL speaker for daisy-chain playing (simultaneously)
- Has a telescopic handle and wheels, making it easier to transport
- Has DJ effect sounds that you can play in between songs, so you can party even harder
Cons
- Is heavier than the JBL Partybox 300 at 37.7 lbs.
- Needs a better equalizer
- Partybox app is a bit buggy at times
- XLR ports would have been great
Partybox 310 vs 300 features comparison
On paper, these two speakers might seem way too similar, and in many ways, that is true. But the difference is in the details, so let’s get straight to it!
Style
Both of these speakers, the Partybox 300 and 310, are made of high-quality plastic, and thanks to all their features, you can be assured that they both have plenty of style! It’s evident that JBL has definitely worked a bit on the visual appeal of the Partybox 310, as it’s a bit sleeker and a bit more aesthetic than the 300. So right from round 1, which is the style round, the 310 nudges ahead.
Portability
Now this round is an easy win for the JBL Partybox 310. While the Partybox 300 has a well-designed handle, nothing quite beats the wheels and the telescopic handle on the Partybox 310. While you may not notice it while moving it inside a room or a small area, carrying this speaker from your car all the way to wherever the party is, gets a lot more convenient thanks to the sturdy wheels on the Partybox 310!
Speaking of portability, if you’re looking for smaller, more portable speakers, check out our comparison of the JBL Charge 4 vs Charge 5!
Design and Build Quality
We have to point out here that design-wise and in terms of build materials used, both the Partybox 300 and the 310 absolutely crush the competition. But between them, we really struggled to choose a winner, as the 310 has all the things we love most about the Partybox 300 — the metal grill, excellent LED lights, high-quality plastic, and impressive button feedback. We let the JBL brothers tie this round!
Controls
The Partybox 300 comes with simple and intuitive controls, and JBL improved upon this by making the Partybox 310’s controls even simpler and more intuitive. The new controls section of the 310 now has DJ controls, as well as bass, treble, and echo effect controls. What we really liked though, were the extra indicator LEDs, giving you a lot more information at a quick glance. The Partybox 310 wins the round for better controls!
Sound Quality
Now this is a critical round, and for that, we had to break this up into subsections!
Volume
The power rating on both the Partybox 300 and the Partybox 310 is the same, which means that we’re looking at similar SPL (sound pressure level) readings at the top. But in real-life scenarios, we felt that the Partybox 310 was louder and there are tons of online reviews that back this up too!
Bass frequency
The JBL Partybox 300 was a bass monster, and it seems the product team at Harman and Kardon decided to take it one step further because we can definitely vouch for the bass capabilities of the newer Partybox 310. And thankfully, this can be backed up with data as well, as response charts show a clear boost in the frequencies of the lower range. So when it comes to bass, the Partybox 310 is the clear winner!
Soundstage
While both speakers do offer stereo sound, the close proximity of their drivers means that you can’t really expect an iconic soundstage from either of these speakers. So if you were planning to listen to a classical concert, we would recommend the well-spaced speakers in your living room over either of these Partybox speakers. So when it comes to soundstage — it’s a tie in this JBL Partybox 300 vs 310!
Clarity
JBL speakers have always been well-known for amazing clarity from their speakers, and thankfully, that is still the case with both the Partybox 300 and the 310. The slightly better hardware components inside the Partybox 310 should make them even better at sound clarity, but we couldn’t really decide on a winner. So this round is a tie as well!
Speaking of audio quality, Bose makes some incredible portable speakers as well. But are Bose speakers worth the money? Read our article to find out!
Connectivity
As we’ve already mentioned, these party speakers are quite versatile — they offer many ways for you to connect to them and support daisy-chaining with other speakers. You can connect via Bluetooth, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-A port, and two TS (tip-sleeve) inputs for microphones and guitars. We also loved the individual gain controls for microphones and guitar-ins on both speakers.
The Partybox 310 gets an edge because it features Bluetooth 5.1, which is slightly superior to the Bluetooth 4.2 support on the Partybox 300. The 310 can also connect wirelessly to other JBL speakers with the touch of a single button. This is great when you want a multi-speaker party setup. The 310 also eliminates RCA inputs and switches to ⅛” inputs. With these three steps, the JBL Partybox 310 wins the connectivity round!
Related Read: How to Connect JBL Speakers to ANY Device or Each Other!
User Interface
Using the Partybox 300 and the 310 is fairly simple — most controls are a single touch, and there are warning sounds that play when you max out a setting. A tiny screen would have been a great addition, but one can’t complain. Using the Partybox 300 and the Partybox 310 is equally easy, so we gave this round to both speakers to share!
Compatibility
As long as your phone has Bluetooth or a headphone out, you will be able to play music on either of these speakers. Both the Partybox 300 and the 310 support Bluetooth. One thing we really liked about the Partybox 310 is that it supports the Partybox app from JBL. This means you can control the LED and sound settings of the speaker from your phone instead of having to get up each time. And the app is available for both Android and iOS users. We let the Partybox 310 have this round.
Weight and Dimensions
The Partybox 300 weighs in at 34.9 lbs, whereas its younger brother weighs approximately 38.4 lbs. The Partybox 310 is clearly heavier, and there is a slight difference in size as well, as it measures 31.18 x 16.93 x 15.28 inches. In comparison, the Partybox 300 measures 27.1 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches. The Partybox 300 wins the weight battle!
Power
Both of these JBL speakers run off AC and battery, and both units put up respectable power specs. We will break it down below:
Battery power
Both speakers are equipped with Lithium-ion batteries. Since both products can run on battery power, it’s a tie for this feature.
Battery life
Both the Partybox 300 and the 310 have a capacity of approximately 10,000mAh. This supplies the speakers with approximately 18 hours of battery life, though some tests indicate that the 300 may be slightly better. Based on this, we give the battery life round to the JBL Partybox 300!
Battery charge time
The Partybox 300 takes up to 5 hours to fully charge the battery from zero to a hundred, whereas the Partybox 310 takes about 3.5 hours. Clearly, JBL has done a great job of improving the battery on the Partybox 310 — and that’s why it wins this round.
Warranty and Durability
With both the Partybox 300 and the 310, you get the 1-year standard warranty from JBL, which covers parts and warranty. As for durability, these babies are quite sturdy! As long as you don’t drop them from a height or have them fall over hard, they should hold up quite well. And remember that the Partybox 310 has IPX4 protection, whereas the 310 does not!
Here’s a great video review comparing the two speakers:
Standout Features
Now that we’ve taken a microscopic look at both speakers, what are the key takeaways?
The JBL Partybox 300 is still a banger of a deal. It’s a fair bit cheaper than the Partybox 310 and still offers incredible value for money, so you aren’t missing out on much when you buy it.
The Partybox 310, on the other hand, is great if you tend to transport the unit more often. Another key difference is the charging time — the 310 takes approximately half the time that the 300 needs to fully charge. Another feather in the cap of the 310 is app support. To many, that can be a deal-breaker!
Price
You should always be on the lookout for deals on either of these speakers because we were able to find heavy discounts on both the Partybox 300 as well as the Partybox 310 online. While we can tell you that the price difference between the Partybox 300 and the 310 is about $100, it’s best if we take a quick look at Amazon for the current price of the Partybox 300 and the current price for the Partybox 310 as well.
You should be able to find a deal for the Partybox 300 in the $350 – $440 range whereas you can find a Partybox 310 for about $80 to $100 more than that.
Conclusion
We’ve wrapped up our JBL Partybox 300 vs 310 comparison article here, and we’re sure you’ve made up your mind about which one to buy! But if you ask us, we would roll with the JBL Partybox 310 for a simple reason — it’s newer, has app support, and has slightly better audio capabilities. Have a different opinion? We’d love to hear it in the comments below!
