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JBL Boombox 3 Review

Nikshep Myle Avatar
Updated Feb 14, 2024 11:05 AM

True Score

80
80
6

Experts

92
2,798

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

The JBL Boombox 3 offers impressive sound quality with great bass response and is excellent for outdoor use because of its long battery life and strong dust and water resistance. However, its 14.7-pound weight might hinder portability for some users.

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$549.99
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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The JBL Boombox 3 is a premium Bluetooth speaker first announced in late 2022. The speaker’s IP67 rating makes it both waterproof and dustproof, and therefore, the perfect music companion for outdoor listening. The speaker also has a built-in power bank that allows users to charge their devices, and this unique feature isn’t common even with the best speakers on the market.

The Boombox 3 also stands out with its 29.7-hour battery life, and a special feature known as JBL PartyBoost allows users to pair the Boombox 3 with another speaker for a stereo sound output. It also has a fairly high 94.4 dB max volume, which is pretty standard among many of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market.

Best For

  • Airplay

  • Bass

  • Best Overall

  • Boat

  • Boombox

  • Jbl

  • Multi-Room

  • Shower

  • Tailgate Speakers

Consensus

our Verdict

The JBL Boombox 3 is a great speaker to use outdoors mainly because of its IP67 rating (waterproof and dustproof) and its exceptional 29.7-hour battery life. Sound quality is impressive courtesy of a well-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and a pretty accurate frequency response, ranging between 46.2 and 19300 Hz.

Its low-frequency bass response is also likely to impress bass heads, and with a volume output of up to 94.45 decibels, it ranks in the top 20% on our list of verified tested speakers.

The Boombox 3 also has reliable connectivity, as its Bluetooth 5.3 connection works over a range of up to 334 ft, and its 143 ms and 141 ms latencies over both iOS and Android connections are great for in-sync audiovisuals. Also included is an AUX port and a USB-A out port for charging other devices are also included. Still, weighing 14.7 pounds, it may be heavy for some, so it isn’t very portable.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Great sound quality
    • The JBL Boombox 3 offers well-balanced sound quality, with good bass response and a max volume rating of 94.45 dB, which places it in the top 10% of speakers on our certified tested list. The sound also doesn’t distort at max volume.

  • Long battery life
    • The JBL Boombox 3’s battery lasts up to 29.7 hours, long enough for more than a day of listening. Its long play time earns it a top 10% ranking compared to other Bluetooth speakers in this regard.

  • Great build quality
    • The JBL Boombox 3 has a rigid exterior, a rubberized plastic casing, and sturdy rubber feet. Rated IP67, the speaker is designed to be both dust and water-resistant.

Reason to Avoid

  • 14.7-pound weight may be heavy for some
    • The speaker’s 14.7-pound weight may make it less portable compared to other alternatives.

JBL Boombox 3 Specs

Battery Charge TimeBattery Charge Time6.5 hrs
Battery LifeBattery Life24 hrs
Built In MicrophoneBuilt In MicrophoneNo
DepthDepth20"
HeightHeight25.7"
IPX RatingIPX RatingIP67
SizeSize
Smart AppSmart AppJBL Portable
Speaker PairingSpeaker PairingYes
Water ResistantWater ResistantYes
WattageWattage180 W
WidthWidth48.2"
Wireless RangeWireless Range30 ft

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)29.7
Volume Output (dB)94.45
Low End Roll Off (Hz)52.628
High End Roll Off (Hz)15,792.239

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Product Comparison

JBL Boombox 3 Review

True Score

80
80

Ranking

#

47

/

109

#

48

/

109

Market Context

The JBL Boombox 3 is a premium Bluetooth speaker first announced in late 2022. The speaker’s IP67 rating makes it both waterproof and dustproof, and…

The JBL Boombox 3 is a premium Bluetooth speaker first announced in late 2022. The speaker’s IP67 rating makes it both waterproof and dustproof, and therefore, the perfect music companion for outdoor listening. The speaker also has a built-in power bank that allows users to charge their devices, and this unique feature isn’t common even with the best speakers on the market.

The Boombox 3 also stands out with its 29.7-hour battery life, and a special feature known as JBL PartyBoost allows users to pair the Boombox 3 with another speaker for a stereo sound output. It also has a fairly high 94.4 dB max volume, which is pretty standard among many of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market.

While the JBL Boombox 3’s companion app only has a graphic equalizer, the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom’s companion app offers a graphic equalizer with presets. This…

While the JBL Boombox 3’s companion app only has a graphic equalizer, the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom’s companion app offers a graphic equalizer with presets. This makes the Ultimate Ears speaker a better alternative for sound customization. The JBL Boombox 3 is also dust-proof, while the Hyperboom is not, but they both go for around the same price. However, if you’re looking for speakers designed for outside use but not so much for portability, then you might like our Pohopa EF B210G review.

Battery Charge Time

6.5 hrs

2.6 hrs

Battery Life

24 hrs

24 hrs

Built In Microphone

No

Yes

Depth

20"

7.5"

Height

25.7"

14.3"

IPX Rating

IP67

IPX4

Size

Smart App

JBL Portable

Boom

Dig Deeper

Ultimate Ears Hyperboom Review →

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  • Save $115
    $549.99
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Score Card

E

Expert Score

80

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

92

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

80

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    100.6

    Category Trust Rating

    75
    The JBL Boombox 3 is good for music. It has a fairly balanced sound profile… Read More

    By:

    Mahmood Ahmed
  • Sound Guys
    81.17

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    A durable party speaker, whether you’re indoors or outdoors. The JBL Boombox 3 is IP67… Read More

    By:

    Sam Smart
  • PC Mag
    43.6

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    You won’t want to carry it too far, but the highly durable JBL Boombox 3… Read More

    By:

    Tim Gideon
  • Tom’s Guide
    65.58

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    JBL’s Boombox 3 has a wide sound with booming bass, and there’s plenty of power… Read More

    By:

    Michael Gowan
  • Pocket Lint
    52.7

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is, for some tastes, comfortably the best-sounding model in JBL’s… Read More

    By:

    Andrew Williams
  • Consumer Reports
    15.6

    Category Trust Rating

    By:

    Unknown