JBL Partybox Encore Essential

The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a mid-range portable speaker in JBL’s PartyBox lineup, offering a balance of powerful sound, portability, and vibrant features at a more accessible price point. It’s designed for those who want a fun, energetic audio experience for smaller to medium-sized parties, gatherings, and outdoor events, without going for the bigger, more expensive PartyBox models.

Key Features:

1. Sound Quality:

• The PartyBox Encore Essential delivers 100 watts of output power, making it ideal for medium-sized rooms, backyards, or smaller parties.
• It has two 5.25-inch woofers and two 1.75-inch tweeters, producing loud, clear, and bass-heavy sound with a strong emphasis on deep bass and crisp highs.
• While it may not have the extreme volume or bass power of larger PartyBox models like the PartyBox 300 or 120, it still provides impressive sound quality for its size, ideal for personal or smaller group settings.

2. Party Lights:

• The Encore Essential features a customizable light show that pulses, flashes, and changes colors in sync with the music. The lights are designed to add a lively, party atmosphere to any gathering, and you can choose from several different modes.
• Like other PartyBox speakers, you can control the lights using the JBL PartyBox app, or turn them off completely if you prefer a more traditional listening experience.

3. Portability:

• Weighing just 5.5 kg (12.1 lbs), the Encore Essential is much more portable than the larger PartyBox speakers like the 110 or 120, making it easy to transport to outdoor events, pool parties, or even carry from room to room.
• It comes with a built-in handle for easier carrying, which adds to its convenience if you’re taking it on the go.

4. Battery Life:

• The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential offers up to 6 hours of playtime on a full charge, depending on volume levels and usage. This is fairly typical for speakers in this class, but if you're using it at high volumes with the lights on, battery life may be reduced.
• Charging typically takes around 3.5 hours via the included AC power cable, and there’s no need to worry about swapping batteries mid-party.

5. Bluetooth Connectivity:

• The Bluetooth 5.1 technology ensures a stable, long-range connection with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It has a range of about 10 meters (33 feet), allowing you to move around the space while keeping your music playing.
• It also supports True Wireless Stereo (TWS), so you can wirelessly connect two PartyBox Encore Essentials for stereo sound if you need a more immersive audio experience.

6. Wired Inputs:

• The PartyBox Encore Essential has a USB port that allows you to play music directly from a USB drive, and a 3.5mm aux input for connecting non-Bluetooth devices like MP3 players or old-school audio sources.
• It also has a microphone input, so it’s perfect for karaoke sessions or live performances with a microphone (though a microphone is not included).

7. Durability:

• The IPX4 water resistance rating means the speaker is splashproof, so it can handle being near a pool, in the rain, or by the beach without being damaged by water splashes.
• However, it’s not fully waterproof, so it shouldn’t be submerged in water, but it’s still a great option for outdoor use and parties in less-than-ideal weather conditions.

8. App Control:

• The JBL PartyBox app (available for iOS and Android) allows you to control the light show, volume, and playback settings directly from your phone, giving you greater flexibility in managing the speaker from a distance.

Performance:

• Sound: The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is designed for party environments, offering a rich bass and clear treble for a balanced sound profile. It’s especially suitable for upbeat genres like pop, EDM, and hip-hop, where a good bass response and clear highs are key. While it won’t deliver the extreme low-end bass that larger PartyBox models offer, it’s still quite powerful for its size and delivers plenty of volume and clarity.

• Portability: One of the main advantages of the PartyBox Encore Essential is its portability. Unlike its larger siblings, this speaker is easy to carry, making it a better choice for casual gatherings, picnics, beach trips, or camping. Its lightweight design means you can take it to more spontaneous or outdoor events without much hassle.

• Lighting: The light show feature is a fun addition, particularly for parties or social events where you want to add a dynamic visual element. It’s not as elaborate as some larger PartyBox models, but it’s still very effective at setting the mood and keeping the energy high.

Ideal Use Cases:

• Small to Medium Parties: The PartyBox Encore Essential is ideal for smaller parties, backyard gatherings, BBQs, or even intimate events where you need loud sound but don’t need the immense power of larger PartyBox models.

• Outdoor Events: Its IPX4 water resistance makes it suitable for outdoor use, such as pool parties, beach trips, or picnics where you might get splashed by water.

• Karaoke: With the microphone input, it’s a great speaker for karaoke sessions, making it perfect for small karaoke nights with friends or family.

• Portability: If you're someone who likes to move around with your music, the Encore Essential's lightweight and compact design make it a much more portable option compared to the heavier PartyBox models.

Verdict:

The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a great choice for those looking for a portable, affordable, and fun speaker for small to medium-sized events. While it’s not as loud or bass-heavy as some of the larger PartyBox models (like the PartyBox 110 or 120), it offers a solid balance of sound, portability, and features that will satisfy most casual users.

If you’re hosting a small gathering, BBQ, or outdoor event, and you want a vibrant, party-ready speaker that’s easy to carry and offers great sound, the PartyBox Encore Essential will likely meet your needs. The built-in light show, Bluetooth connectivity, and karaoke features add extra fun, while the splashproof design makes it suitable for outdoor environments.

If you need something more powerful for a larger crowd or event, you might want to consider stepping up to one of the larger models in the PartyBox lineup, but for smaller, more portable gatherings, the Encore Essential is an excellent choice.

AMAZING JBL ORIGINAL PRO SOUND

Nothing beats amazing JBL Original Pro Sound with deep bass.

A LIGHT SHOW THAT SYNCS TO THE BEAT

The dynamic light show delivers with fun ring light and a cool strobe effect that syncs to the beat of your music.

UP TO 6 HOURS OF PLAY TIME

No plug? No problem. The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential keeps the party going wherever you are with up to 6 hours of play time.

General Specifications

Output power (W): 100

Audio Specifications

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 50 Hz - 20k Hz @-6dB

Dimensions

Dimensions (cm): 27.6 x 32.7 x 29.3

Dimensions (in): 10.87 x 12.87 x 11.54

Weight (kgs): 5.9

Weight (lbs): 13

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth profiles:A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6

Bluetooth frequency: 2.4 GHz - 2.4835 GHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 15 dBm (EIRP)

Bluetooth version: 5.1

Battery

Charging time (hrs): 3.5

Maximum music playing time (hrs): 6

Features

Bluetooth: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

Lightshow: Yes

Splashproof: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

IP Code: IPx4