The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is great for poolside listening thanks to its IPX4 water resistance rating and bass-boosted sound. However, it doesn’t work as a speakerphone and is incompatible with voice assistants. Its sound output also deteriorates at max volume.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is an entry-level portable speaker first announced in early 2022. The portable speaker has an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand splashes of water, making it perfect for listening beside the pool. The speaker relies on Bluetooth connectivity for wireless playback, and like most highly-rated speakers, its sound output can be customized through its graphic equalizer.
The Encore Essential also has an 8.6-hour battery life, and although its 2.6-hour charge-time is pretty long compared to how long the best Bluetooth speakers take to power up, and the speaker comes with a well-laid-out control scheme that’s very easy to use.
Consensus
our Verdict
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a bulky yet portable party speaker that features JBL’s iconic RGB light ring and a special Bass Boost feature that adds significant bass depth to its otherwise neutral and well-balanced sound output. Those who want to fine-tune its sound output can do so through its intuitive JBL PartyBox app, and since the speaker also features a mic input, it is a great pick for karaoke or live performances, especially because of its 8.6-hour battery life. The speaker also takes up to 2.6 hours to get to a full charge and is IPX4-rated for water resistance, allowing it to withstand poolside splashes.
Connectivity is only through a 5.1 Bluetooth connection, with 57ms and 94ms latency for iOS and Android devices. Unfortunately, the Encore Essential cannot be used as a speakerphone, and its sound output tends to deteriorate at max volume. .
Reason to Buy
Good, well-balanced sound quality
The JBL PartBox has a good bass output that doesn’t under-emphasize the bass and mids, as long as its volume is not maxed out. Owners can also fine-tune the sound output through the user-friendly JBL PartyBox app.
Long battery life
With a playtime of up to 8.6 hours, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential works great for extended listening.
Good build quality
Made of rigid plastic, the Encore Essential has an IPX4 water-proof rating, allowing it to withstand poolside splashes or light rain. It also has a flap that protects its inputs and a handle on its top panel for easy carrying.
Reason to Avoid
Sound distortion at max volume
There’s a lot of sound distortion that occurs when the speaker is set to max volume.
JBL Partybox Encore Essential Specs
Battery Charge Time
3.5 hrs
Battery Life
6 hrs
Built In Microphone
n/a
Depth
11.54"
Height
12.87"
IPX Rating
IPX4
Size
10.87"(w) x 12.87"(h) x 11.54"(d)
Smart App
JBL PartyBox
Speaker Pairing
Yes
Water Resistant
Yes
Wattage
100W
Width
10.87"
Wireless Range
10 m
All Specs
Test Results
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The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is an entry-level portable speaker first announced in early 2022. The portable speaker has an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning…
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is an entry-level portable speaker first announced in early 2022. The portable speaker has an IPX4 water resistance rating, meaning it can withstand splashes of water, making it perfect for listening beside the pool. The speaker relies on Bluetooth connectivity for wireless playback, and like most highly-rated speakers, its sound output can be customized through its graphic equalizer.
The Encore Essential also has an 8.6-hour battery life, and although its 2.6-hour charge-time is pretty long compared to how long the best Bluetooth speakers take to power up, and the speaker comes with a well-laid-out control scheme that’s very easy to use.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential cannot be used as a speakerphone, making it inferior to the JBL Flip 4 in this regard, which can. The…
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential cannot be used as a speakerphone, making it inferior to the JBL Flip 4 in this regard, which can. The Flip 4 also features support for a voice assistant, which the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential lacks; however, the latter’s companion app has a graphic equalizer for more intricate sound customization, which the Flip 4 does not. Regarding battery life, the Flip 4 offers a slightly longer playtime, but the PartyBox Encore Essential offers a much longer Bluetooth range and is also more expensive. Here’s our JBL Flip 4 review for more information.
The graphic equalizer on the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential’s companion app allows for more precise sound customization than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go speaker, which does…
The graphic equalizer on the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential’s companion app allows for more precise sound customization than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go speaker, which does not have an Eq. The Encore Essential also has a longer battery life than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go, despite having the same charge time and roughly the same price range.
In terms of size, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is much larger than the Marshall Willen, making the latter significantly more portable. However, the Flip…
In terms of size, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is much larger than the Marshall Willen, making the latter significantly more portable. However, the Flip 4 has voice assistant support, which the Marshall Willen does not, but the Willen comes out on top as far as battery life is concerned, and it is also submersible in water courtesy of its IPX7 water resistance rating, which the JBL speaker is not. However, the JBL has a better option in terms of inputs, featuring an AUX and ¼” mic input. We’ve also covered it in our Marshall Willen review if you’re interested, and it is still the cheaper alternative between the two.
