JBL Boombox 1 vs JBL Boombox 2

Without a doubt, JBL’s Boombox has made a reputation for itself for being one of the best party speakers in the market. On top of that, they are known for being big and easy to carry around because of their convenient handle.

With the JBL Boombox 1’s overwhelming success in sales back in August of 2017, audiophiles were definitely on the edge of their seats waiting for the JBL Boombox 2’s release, which was just last April 2020. 

But the question is, is the JBL Boombox 2 really better than the JBL Boombox 1? 

Here are the differences between these smart speakers broken down into different categories so, by the time you are done reading this article, you will be able to make an informed purchase decision.

Boombox 1 vs Boombox 2 Overview

Pros of the JBL Boombox 2	Cons of the JBL Boombox 2
Better Overall Design	Removed Indoor and Outdoor Mode
Bluetooth 5.1
Louder
More Bass
2 USB A Ports for Charging
Wider Sound Stage
40 Watts of Output Power
IPX7 Waterproof Rating

Pros of the JBL Boombox 1	Cons of the JBL Boombox 1
Cheaper	Outdated Features
Competitive Sound Quality
Decent Reach
Durable Design
Decent Reach

Price

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✖ $450-$480	✔ $370

To begin with, the JBL Boombox 1 had a retail price of $450 back in 2017 when it was just released but because of the increasing demand for this speaker, its price spiked up to $500 in mid-2019.

But this 2022, you can get the JBL Boombox 1 for more or less $370. On the other hand, the JBL Boombox 2 retailed for $500 when it was released but now you can get them for around $450-$480. 

Both speakers routinely go on sale in JBL stores so if you want to get a discount, you should wait for a sale day or event.

Colors

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✖ 2 Color Options	✔ 3 Color Options

Both the JBL Boombox 1 and JBL Boombox 2 do not have many color variants. 

The JBL Boombox 1 has 3 colors which are forest green, black, and camouflage while the JBL Boombox 2 only has 2 colors which are black and camouflage.

Design

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✔ Looks More Attractive	✖ Traditional Design
✔ Upgraded Carrying Handle	✖ Typical Carrying Handle
✔ More Prominent Battery Indicator	✖ Old Battery Indicator
✖ Slightly Heavier	✔ Lighter

In terms of the design, both the JBL Boombox 1 and JBL Boombox 2 almost have the same design.

Both speakers have their passive radiators exposed to the sides like the JBL Flip and JBL Charge series. In addition to that, both speakers’ whole body is covered in durable fabric so constant wear and tear would not be a problem.

Both speakers also have their control buttons located underneath the carrying handle.

For cosmetic changes, the JBL Boombox 2 looks more attractive than its predecessor. 

It has more stylish passive radiators since the logos on the passive radiators are the same as the passive radiators from JBL’s Charge 4 speaker in which the logos are more emphasized with added minimalist designs.

The carrying handle of the JBL Boombox 2 is also upgraded with grip lines to prevent slipping. 

Unlike the JBL Boombox 1, the JBL Boombox 2 has a more prominent indicator light for its battery life that is conveniently located beneath the JBL emblem logo so that you can easily see how much battery is left in one glance.

When it comes to the dimensions, the JBL Boombox 2 is a tad bigger than the JBL Boombox with a little more height and width added to it. The JBL Boombox 2 is heavier weighing 13 pounds while the JBL Boombox 1 only weighs 11.5 pounds.

Although a 1.5 difference in weight is not that much of a difference, it is noticeable.

Battery

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
= Same Battery Life	= Same Battery Life
✔ 2 USB A Ports for Charging	✖ 1 USB for Charging

Both the JBL Boombox 1 and JBL Boombox 2 have the same advertised battery life of 24 hours. Keep in mind that 24 hours of playtime is only achievable if used on medium volumes. 

Just like the JBL Charge speaker series, the JBL Boombox series also have USB A outputs for charging your devices which means you can use these speakers as a power bank.

The JBL Boombox 1 has 2 USB A outputs so you can charge 2 devices at the same time. The JBL Boombox 2 on the other hand only has 1.

The JBL Boombox 2’s speakers have been upgraded to 30-watt speakers whereas the JBL Boombox 1 is making use of 20-watt speakers which means there is a difference in both sound and power consumption.

Nonetheless, both speakers are capable of playing a solid 8 hours of high-volume listening.

Bluetooth Version

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✔ Bluetooth 5.1	✖ Bluetooth 4.2

The Bluetooth 5.1 version of the JBL Boombox 2 is without a doubt better than the JBL Boombox 1’s Bluetooth 4.2 version.

Nonetheless, the Bluetooth 4.2 version of the JBL Boombox 1 is still a stable Bluetooth connection but just with a little delay for watching videos and movies. In addition to that, its Bluetooth range is shorter.

This is a problem for those who watch videos or movies with the JBL Boombox 1 due to the latency or delay.

Although this is not a big deal for some people since you can still connect 2 devices to play DJ with your friends. 

The Bluetooth 5.1 version of the JBL Boombox 2 also has a little delay but is not as noticeable as the JBL Boombox 1’s Bluetooth 4.2 delay.

Both speakers are strictly utilizing low complexity subband coding or better known as SBC. There is no AAC or aptX support.

Waterproof Rating

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
= IPX7 Waterproof Rating	= IPX7 Waterproof Rating

Both the JBL Boombox 1 and JBL Boombox 2 have the same waterproof rating which is IPX7. This means that it is fully waterproof and it can be submerged in water for up to 1 meter and for 30 minutes.

With this rating, you won’t have to worry about rain or accidentally dropping the speaker into a pool. 

However, since it is not IP67-rated, it is not dust and sand-proof so it is recommended that you place it on a table if you go to beaches.

Speaker Specifications

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✔ 40-watt Speaker	✖ 30-watt Speaker

Surprisingly, both the JBL Boombox 1 and JBL Boombox 2 have the same speaker setups. Which are dual 4-inch woofers, dual 20 mm tweeters, and dual passive radiators at the sides.

But as mentioned, the JBL Boombox 2 has a more powerful output power since its speaker setups are upgraded.

Sound

JBL Boombox 2	JBL Boombox 1
✔  Louder✔ More Bass	✖ Lacks Volume✖ Lacks Bass

With the same speaker setup, does that mean that it has the same sound?

No, because the JBL Boombox 2 is 30 watts while the JBL Boombox 1 is only 20 watts. 

However, the JBL Boombox 2 no longer has an integrated Indoor mode and Outdoor mode. This means that the JBL Boombox 2 only has one sound signature while the JBL Boombox 1 is versatile.

If you plug your JBL Boombox 2 into its charger, the 30 watts will convert to 40 watts. You will significantly notice the speaker be louder with a little more bass.

The same goes for the JBL Boombox 1. When plugged in with its charger it will covert from 20 watts to 30 watts.

Final Thoughts

Basically, the JBL Boombox 2 is slightly better than the JBL Boombox 1. The JBL Boombox 2 has a little more bass and it is also a little louder.

Overall, if you were to turn around and guess which JBL Boombox is playing, you could hardly tell the difference.

The JBL Boombox 1 sounds a tad brighter with its Outdoor mode activated since this mode specifically reduces the bass a bit and then increases the mids and highs up a bit as well so that it sounds louder and spread out further.

So, is it worth the upgrade?

You would be surprised to find out that despite that, the JBL Boombox 1 still manages to catch up with the overall sound quality of the JBL Boombox 2 whether it is plugged in or not.

These two speakers have the same battery, speaker setup, and waterproof rating. Their speaker specifications, modes, price, colors, and Bluetooth connectivity are the only difference.

At the end of your purchase decision, it will have to come down to personal preference since the upgrade on the JBL Boombox 2 is minimal. Nevertheless, these are great party speakers that are easy to carry around!

If you have a need for JBL Xtreme speakers, read our review of them too.