JBL Boombox 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review

The JBL Boombox 2 speaker is the perfect companion for outdoor parties.

Features:

Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz, equipped with 2 x 10.6cm mid/bass drivers, 2 x 2cm tweeters, battery life on a single charge: 24 hours, weight 5.9 kg, speaker power: 80 Watt. It is IPX7 rated, which means it is waterproof.

This portable speaker is designed specifically for outdoor use and is therefore capable of delivering very powerful sound output with powerful bass.

JBL Boombox 2-design

This design of the JBL Boombox 2 is almost identical to the previous model. We did notice a few small differences. There’s an exclamation mark on one side of the JBL logo and a little extra colour on the underside of the handle. The size and weight of the Boombox 2 is almost identical to its predecessor.

boombox-2-speaker

It features two passive radiators, dual 20 mm tweeters and two 10.6 cm woofers under the bonnet to produce intense bass. The knobs are arranged in much the same way as on the previous model, except for a few minor changes. JBL has moved the Bluetooth button to a different location, with the PartyBoost button in its place. There are also play/pause and volume buttons, and LEDs on the bottom to indicate battery life. Double-clicking play/pause skips a track.

The rear ports also retain the same layout as the previous Boombox. Here you’ll find the power adapter, the 3.5mm Aux-In, and a USB port for charging phones and other small devices, as well as a microUSB port. Apart from the power adapter, there are no cables in the box.

Connectivity and features

This model had a button called Connect+, which when paired with other JBL speakers, played the same music simultaneously – or in stereo. This feature has unfortunately been discontinued and can only be paired with another Boombox 2 speaker using the PartyBoost button.

JBL has also dropped the separate indoor and outdoor modes of the previous model this time. The manufacturer felt that its sound quality sounded great in both environments and didn’t require switching between them. Unfortunately, there is no volume control to adjust the speaker’s sound.

Although the Boombox 2 is a Bluetooth speaker, it does not support the two best codes: aptX and AAC. Of course, we are aware that most Bluetooth speakers don’t support both, but this speaker is quite expensive, so it would be expected.

Power

JBL-Boombox-2-review

The JBL Boombox 2 is IPX7 rated, making it ideal for use near splashing water and rain. It can be submerged in clean water for up to 30 minutes and even float on the surface.

For its size, it delivers a very solid volume and performance, and the sound hasn’t lost any clarity when the volume is increased. Bass is outstanding whatever you listen to.

As with all speakers, the Boombox 2 has a point where it starts to get distorted, and we found that the distortion starts to set in around 80-90%. Bear in mind, however, that it’s already very loud, so you probably only need to use such a high volume if you have a lot of people congregating in a large area.

We also tested the Boombox 2 in a small studio and outdoors. For a small, portable speaker, it delivered some serious sound performance. The acoustics in the studio were optimal, with sound absorption and diffuser panels on the walls and ceiling, as recommended in the acoustic design. In the corners, the studio owner added Giga sound absorbing membrane panels, making the sound absolutely ideal. The acoustics of the interior spaces have a significant impact on the sound, so it is very important to manage the acoustics of the studio!

The sound was virtually identical to its predecessor. The timbre is essentially the same, and it fills larger spaces very well.

Battery life was also about the same as before. JBL’s 24 hour estimate is only accurate if you stick to the default volume, but even at 60% you can easily reach 20 hours. The buzzing sound that we experienced with the previous Boombox when the battery was drained didn’t appear with this unit, so JBL seems to have solved that problem.

Judgment

Despite its small size, this Bluetooth portable speaker delivers powerful and serious sound performance. The sound quality is excellent outdoors, even at higher volume levels. It hasn’t changed much from the previous model in terms of looks or performance, but that’s OK. Water resistance is also a big plus, as neither rainwater nor water splashing from the pool will damage the speaker. The only drawback is that it can only be paired with another Boombox 2 speaker, not with previous JBL models. The price is quite high, not everyone will want to spend that much on a speaker for holidays or partying. But if you do invest in the JBL Boombox 2, you won’t regret it, because you’ll get fantastic sound even in noisy outdoor environments.

G.H.

Written by Róbert Polgár

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