I Tested All The JBL Bluetooth Speakers To Find Out Which Is The Loudest
Looking for the loudest JBL speaker? You’ve come to the right place. Did you know that JBL doesn’t specify how loud their speakers can get? That’s why I’ve worked with some local retail partners to listen to and test all of the JBL models and find out which is truly the loudest. Some say it’s the PartyBox 1000, while others suggest the Ultimate is more powerful. This is what I found out…
Winner
For Power, The JBL PartyBox Range Is The Way To Go
JBL’s range of speakers is broad, but for loudness, you should focus on the PartyBox series. This range of speakers is designed specifically for larger crowds, and while they do offer more compact and affordable speakers in this line (like the PartyBox Encore), it’s the larger PartyBox models that break through the 100dB threshold, providing enough sound to fill large rooms and get people onto the dance floor.
How I Tested These Speakers
To test the loudness of these speakers, I hooked up a laptop to a UMIK-II measuring microphone, which I placed a meter from the speakers. I then ran a pink noise signal through the speaker using a Bluetooth connection. This doesn’t necessarily give the highest theoretically possible reading, but it’s the one most close to what a listener would hear.
How The PartyBox Ultimate Compares With Other Loud JBL Speakers
Sure, the PartyBox Ultimate is the winner – producing more volume than other JBL models, but some noteworthy runners-up also get extremely loud, and are all more affordable. All PartyBox models support multi-speaker pairing using either JBL’s PartyBoost (PartyBox 1000, 710, 310, 110, Essential) or their newer Auracast technology (PartyBox 120, 320, Ultimate).
Here’s how these other speakers stack up.
The PartyBox Ultimate Is The Loudest At 110dB
Whether you’re throwing a party or just want the most volume possible, the PartyBox Ultimate is the ultimate choice, albeit a pricy one. It’s the loudest Bluetooth speaker in the JBL line-up and reached between 108 and 110 decibels at one meter from the speaker during our testing.
As with most speakers that have over 1000W (1100W), the Ultimate needs AC power and doesn’t have a built in battery. This minor inconvenience is negating by the speaker’s outstanding audio performance, which presents with deep, window-rattling bass and clear upper frequencies that bring out subtle nuances in tracks. The performance is owed largely to the speaker’s powerful and comprehensive driver setup which features 9″ woofers, 4.5″ midrange drivers, and 2.75″ tweeters. It can even adjust its sound automatically based on the area its in to provide the best audio experience every time.
Although it’s not well suited for frequent outdoor use, it still has an IPX4 water resistance rating that can protect the speaker from minor splashes of waters. With Wi-Fi support, the PartyBox Ultimate also integrates easily as a home audio speaker.
With 106-108dB Output, The PartyBox 1000 Is The Runner Up
The PartyBox 1000 is an older release, but it’s still completely viable in 2025. Like the PartyBox Ultimate, it has extremely powerful bass. Unsurprising given that it has a monstrous 12″ sub-woofer built in, a feature that’s found on only a handful of Bluetooth speakers.
I was blown away (almost literally) by this speaker’s ability to aggressively move sound across a room. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by its power when standing close.
The PartyBox 1000 had an average of 104 to 106dB, making it the second loudest JBL Bluetooth speaker and also the second most expensive, with a retail price of over $1000. The volume peaked at 106.8dB
If you’re curious about how else this speaker differs from the Ultimate, the 1000 lacks any weather resistance, compared to the Ultimate’s IPX4 protection. It’s also targeted towards party hosts, and has an integrated DJ pad. The Ultimate is more of a home speaker, while the PartyBox 1000 is more of a dedicated party speaker.
The PartyBox 710 Is Another Powerful Release With 105.2 dB
The PartyBox 710 is another one of JBL’s previous generation of speakers, but that doesn’t keep it from filling a large room with sound. In my test, it reached 105.2dB, falling just short of the PartyBox 1000.
This speaker’s powered by two large 8″ woofers, and although there isn’t a dedicated subwoofer, it excels in creating deep lows that aren’t found on the models under it. It’s not just the strong bass that makes the 710 appealing though, its overall sound is clear, with great dynamic range, especially for a slightly older release.
For many, the PartyBox 1000 is simply too large for practical purposes, making the PartyBox 710 a popular choice.
The PartyBox 320 Is JBL’s Loudest Battery Powered Speaker With 104.2 dB
The PartyBox 320 is one of JBL’s newer releases, having come out in 2024. It’s the loudest portable JBL speaker, and with a carry handle and built in wheels, it’s easy to take the 320 out into the garden or to a venue.
It’s not quite as loud as the PartyBox 710, reaching a peak of 104.2dB with the power plugged in. It can fill medium to large rooms with sound and cater to groups of 20 to 30 people with ease.
This speaker sounds great, and its dynamic range means its got a clear sound, even close to maximum volume. It can also be paired together with another PartyBox 320 using Auracast, which can increase volume and coverage. Not only does this speaker have a battery, but the battery is replaceable, a big step up from the previous generation PartyBox 310.
How To Get The Most Volume From Your JBL Speaker
Outside of simply buying a louder speaker, there are ways to increase the volume of your existing JBL speaker, depending on its model and features.
Bass Boost To Beefen Up The Low End
When the bass boost feature is toggled, speakers with it can see an increase in volume. This will impact the speaker’s sound profile, too, but if you’re looking for some added volume and bass, use it liberally.
Increase The Levels On A Custom EQ
Did you know that equalizers can do more than change the sound profile? They can also be used to increase the volume. If you notice certain frequencies seem too soft compared to others, use a custom EQ to dial in your sound and make your JBL speaker louder. This feature is available in the JBL app for many of their speakers.
Plugging Your JBL Speaker In Can Increase Its Volume
Some of JBL’s larger party speakers are known to get louder when plugged in, which is a fairly common occurrence across all brands. So if you’re truly looking to get the most out of your JBL speaker, try plugging it in and see if you notice a difference in the overall volume levels.
This is oftentimes due to how the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) is designed, where it automatically adjusts depending on the power source being used. It’s designed this way because playing a speaker at a high volume over an extended period can generate heat, which has the potential to damage batteries and performance in the long term.
The difference is sometimes within a couple of decibels, which may not seem like much – but for every 10-decibel increase, the perceived volume doubles.
Use JBL’s PartyBoost or Auracast Pairing
All speakers on this list feature multi-speaker pairing, where you can wirelessly connect more than one together, to play the same song. Doing this will improve the immersive soundstage, making the speakers sound more realistic, as well as increase the measured volume in most cases.
Place It Against A Wall
To truly get the most volume out of your JBL speaker, position it up against a wall at ear level. While this may introduce additional reflections that can lower sound quality, it can also increase the volume.
Why More Volume Often Results in Better Sound Quality
A loud Bluetooth speaker isn’t necessarily just about rattling windows; having more volume can improve audio quality. However, the closer we get to a speaker’s volume limits, the more degraded the audio becomes. This is often due to dynamics and the way compression kicks in near the end of a speaker’s volume limit.
This means that speakers with a higher volume limit when played side by side with a lower volume one, can retain more clarity when producing the same volume level.
When entertaining a group of people, especially a larger group, having more volume than you need is generally a good choice. You can always turn the volume down if it’s too loud, but there are only a few limited ways to make a speaker louder once you’ve maxed out the volume. And even then, it’s a best practice to keep your volume levels at 80 to 90% of the maximum volume potential to avoid distortion.
JBL Are Committed To Increased Clarity At Higher Volume
Every few years, Bluetooth speaker manufacturers focus on a new area and try to maximize its potential. In the mid-2010s, battery life was the focus. But over the last few years, JBL has focused on dynamic range.
Dynamic range is what determines how much detail is retained by the speaker, especially as the volume levels go up. So although some of the newer releases only offer marginal increases in volume (or in a few cases, decreases), the clarity of audio is better at high volume levels than it’s ever been.
This allows us to play music louder, without noticing the same levels of distortion or loss of clarity. This is just one of the reasons JBL has such a strong following.
Loud Bluetooth Speakers Can Cut Through Wind For Better Sound Quality Outdoors
Bluetooth speakers don’t carry sound as well outdoors as they do indoors. The lack of confined walls means there’s less reflection for sound to bounce off and carry, and it’s easy for audio, especially higher frequencies, to get lost out in the open air.
When buying a JBL Bluetooth speaker for outdoor use, you’ll want to prioritize models that project sound well and can cut through the wind and cover enough area. If it’s just you and a few friends, many portable options can do this, but for larger groups – you’ll want to ensure a powerful speaker like one of the PartyBox models is being used.
These larger speakers reach higher volume levels and are designed for use in open spaces. They have high-quality drivers that project well, even at volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the PartyBox Ultimate compare in volume to the Soundboks?
The PartyBox Ultimate has a comparable volume to the Soundboks 3 and 4. They both produce in the range of 110 dB at maximum volume, despite advertisements claiming a 126 dB output on the Soundboks.
Is The PartyBox Ultimate or PartyBox 1000 Louder?
Although both are significant loudspeakers, the PartyBox Ultimate produces a few more decibels than the PartyBox 1000.
Where can I find the decibel measurements of JBL speakers?
JBL doesn’t publish the decibel readings of their products. That’s why we’ve gone through the process of measuring each of these speakers.
I had bought JBL speakers at the PX in Augsburg Germany in 1982 .I can’t remember what model but the output was 250 watts 500 peak does JBL have anything close to that range
Sincerely Retired Sgt.William.G.Medina US ARMY
The closest JBL speaker to 250W power with a 500W peak is the JBL EON305. The JBL JRX112M, PRX812W, and JBL EON615 had similar power outputs. Unfortunately, all of these have been discontinued by JBL. JBL currently has quite a few speakers with a higher range than that – you can look at the JBL EON610, the JBL EON715, and the JBL PRX812, amongst others. If you’re specifically looking for something in the 200-500W range, consider the JBL Professional IRX112 and the JBL IRX108. I hope this helps.