The best JBL speaker picks

Add some big sound to your life with a JBL speaker.

Best JBL speaker overall
JBL Charge 5
JBL Charge 5
From$169
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.1
Max output
40 Watts
Stand-out feature
20-hour playback
Best cheap JBL speaker
JBL GO 3
JBL Go 3
From$59
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.1
Max output
3 Watts
Stand-out feature
Waterproof and dustproof
Best JBL Bluetooth speaker
JBL Authentics 300
From$419.95
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 6
Max output
100 Watts
Stand-out feature
Retro design, modern features
Best JBL soundbar
JBL Bar 300
JBL BAR 300
From$346
Connectivity
USB, Bluetooth 5, WiFi 6, HDMI, optical
Max output
260 Watts
Stand-out feature
Dolby Atmos and MultiBeam
Best JBL party speaker
JBL PartyBox Club 120 Portable Speaker
JBL PartyBox Club 120
From$499
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3, aux
Max output
160 Watts
Stand-out feature
13-hour playback
Nathan Lawrence
Jul 30, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read

There are a lot of different types of speakers out there. Wired or wireless. Powerful inside or portable outside. Maybe you’re after a soundbar. Whatever your speaker needs, JBL is a popular first stop on your speaker-buying journey. The audio brand has made a name for itself with speakers, headphones and microphones across a range of types and budgets.

If you want something affordable, there are JBL Bluetooth speakers for under $100 with the cheapest scraping in below $50. Equally, if you want to invest, there are JBL Bluetooth, home audio and soundbar speakers for hundreds of dollars or up to $2,000.

Whether you’re a fan of JBL already or are keen to join the crowd, scroll on for our picks of the best JBL speaker options for inside and outside your home.

Compare the best JBL speakers

Best for
Product
View more
Connectivity
Max output
Stand-out feature
Icon Star Full  LightBest JBL speaker overall
Bluetooth 5.140 Watts20-hour playback
Icon Star Full  LightBest cheap JBL speaker
Bluetooth 5.13 WattsWaterproof and dustproof
Icon Star Full  LightBest JBL Bluetooth speaker
Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 6100 WattsRetro design, modern features
Icon Star Full  LightBest JBL soundbar
USB, Bluetooth 5, WiFi 6, HDMI, optical260 WattsDolby Atmos and MultiBeam
Icon Star Full  LightBest JBL party speaker
Bluetooth 5.3, aux160 Watts13-hour playback

JBL Charge 5

Best JBL speaker overall

Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.1
Max output
40 Watts
Stand-out feature
20-hour playback
Starts at$169

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

pro
Pros
pro Great sound
pro Lots of longevity
pro Waterproof and dustproof
con
Cons
con Wired connectivity would be nice
con Takes a while to charge
con May distort at max volume

JBL has dozens of speakers to choose from. So our best overall pick is a mix of powerful, practical and portable. The JBL Charge 5 has up to 20 hours of battery life and plenty of audio power thanks to 40-Watt output. You may not want to use all of that juice for playback, though: the Charge 5 also doubles as a power bank for charging devices. It’ll happily pump out tunes inside, but it’s built for the outdoors. With an IP67 rating, the Charge 5 is protected from the elements when you have a hankering for some outdoor audio. Just connect a compatible Bluetooth device to get playing.

Alternatively, consider any of the category winners below alongside the cheaper JBL Charge Essential 2 or the pricier but versatile JBL PartyBox Encore Essential.

JBL Go 3

Best cheap JBL speaker

Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.1
Max output
3 Watts
Stand-out feature
Waterproof and dustproof
Starts at$59

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

pro
Pros
pro Killer price
pro Solid sound
pro Good battery life
con
Cons
con Carry loop could be bigger
con Not the best bass
con Doesn’t get ear-bleedingly loud

There’s a lot to like about the JBL Go 3 outside of its cheap $59.95 asking price. For starters, there’s a choice of seven colours to personalise its look. Then there’s the inside/outside dual functionality. With an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, the Go 3 is as happy in the bathroom for shower karaoke as it is for your next trip to the beach. While it could be bigger, the integrated carry loop makes it easy to carry around, not to mention the compact design and manageable 209-gram weight. You should still expect good audio for this pocket rocket, plus up to five hours of playback.

For cheap alternatives, consider the cheaper JBL Go Essential or the pricier JBL Clip 4.

JBL Authentics 300

Best JBL Bluetooth speaker

Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 6
Max output
100 Watts
Stand-out feature
Retro design, modern features
Starts at$419.95

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

pro
Pros
pro Solid sound
pro Great retro design and build quality
pro Bluetooth and WiFi streaming
con
Cons
con Wait for a discount
con Heavy for long-distance lugging
con No IP rating

If you’re looking for a long-term speaker investment, consider the JBL Authentics 300. Sure, it’s not the cheapest option from JBL. But the attractive retro design is home to some great contemporary features. Get your tunes playing via low-latency Bluetooth 5.3 or WiFi 6. And with 100 Watts of power, the Authentics 300 can fill a room with well-balanced audio. That carry handle on top isn’t just for show, either. The Authentics 300 is built to shift to where you need it in the home, plus there are eight hours of playback for all-work-day audio. After initial setup, you can also use the Authentics 300 hands-free thanks to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration.

For Bluetooth alternatives, consider the cheaper JBL Flip 6 or the pricier JBL Authentics 500.

JBL BAR 300

Best JBL soundbar

Connectivity
USB, Bluetooth 5, WiFi 6, HDMI, optical
Max output
260 Watts
Stand-out feature
Dolby Atmos and MultiBeam
Starts at$346

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

pro
Pros
pro Great price
pro Solid sound (with clear dialogue)
pro Connection versatility
con
Cons
con Bigger bass, please
con Sound may suffer in larger rooms
con App needed for tweaks

Sure, soundbars aren’t as versatile as IP76-rated portable Bluetooth speakers. But they’re a great low-profile option in the home. Case in point, the JBL BAR 300. It’s built to go under a tele. But you’ve got more connectivity options thanks to Bluetooth and WiFi. With 260 Watts of output power, expect the BAR 300 to fill whatever room it’s in. We also like that the 5.0-channel soundbar offers crisp dialogue care of some clever inbuilt technology. Despite its comparatively cheaper price, this JBL soundbar has high-end features like Dolby Vision pass-through as well as Dolby Atmos and MultiBeam surround sound.

If you’re missing the subwoofer, consider the pricier JBL BAR 800 or JBL BAR 1000.

JBL PartyBox Club 120

Best JBL party speaker

Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Max output
160 Watts
Stand-out feature
13-hour playback
Starts at$499

Pricing and availability only accurate as of last page update.

pro
Pros
pro Well-balanced sound
pro Volume to spare
pro Battery-powered party pumper
con
Cons
con Quite hefty for one person
con Some app quirks
con Volume wasted on smaller homes

JBL refreshed its party speakers since we first wrote this round-up, which is why we’re recommending the JBL PartyBox Club 120 over its older, pricier PartyBox 310 sibling. It doesn’t have quite the same power or battery life, but you still get a respectable 160 Watts of well-balanced audio playback with around 13 hours of longevity via removable battery. Put some of that battery life towards charging devices via the inbuilt USB port or evolve beyond music playback to include a couple of microphones for ad-hoc karaoke or a mic and guitar for a singalong. The Club 120 has a robust build with dust and splash protection, plus there’s a foldable carry handle to help lug it around.

For party-audio alternatives, consider the cheaper older-model JBL PartyBox 110 and JBL PartyBox Encore, or the pricier JBL PartyBox 310, JBL PartyBox 710 and JBL PartyBox Ultimate.

What to look for in JBL speakers

We recommend thinking about what you want to use a JBL speaker for before purchasing. If you only want something for inside, browse JBL’s home audio, radio or soundbar range. Soundbars are more built for TVs but can also connect to audio sources.

For audio versatility, have a gander at the JBL Bluetooth or party range. Party speakers are bulkier but have more powerful output. Conversely, JBL’s Bluetooth speakers tend to be more compact and able to be moved inside or outside the home. For an outdoor speaker, keep an eye out for battery life appropriate to your intended use case, plus handy inclusions like waterproofing and/or dustproofing.

In terms of wattage, JBL advises under 10 Watts for smaller rooms, between 10 and 20 for medium-sized rooms and 20 to 30 Watts for larger spaces. That’s only for portable speakers, though, so increase the wattage based on the space size or how much audio power you want from your JBL speaker purchase.

icon-expertise

How we choose the best JBL speakers

We started by looking at every available JBL speaker in terms of the five core categories: Bluetooth, party, home audio, radio and soundbar. There was some category crossover between JBL speakers, which we factored in during our appraisals.

The next step was to rank the options in terms of price, JBL user reviews, and the number of available reviews per option. Connectivity, portability, features and available colours (for relevant categories) were also taken into consideration.

We created our categories around the most popular JBL speaker searches on Google. Pros and cons were taken from user and professional reviews for relevant products, which also helped to guide our category winners and contenders.

JBL speakers frequently asked JBL speakers

JBL speakers don’t necessarily sound better than Bose, but it really depends on what you’re after. If you’re after portable Bluetooth speakers, look to Bose. If you want a fixed speaker for your home, compare Bose and JBL speakers before buying.
Yes, JBL has a reputation for making quality speakers across a range of different sound categories.
Not all JBL speakers are expensive, but the pricier picks are generally more fully featured with batteries, higher Wattage speakers and other inclusions that up the RRP.
Nathan Lawrence
Written by
Nathan Lawrence has been banging out passionate tech and gaming words for more than 11 years. These days, you can find his work on outlets like IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull and AusGamers. Nathan adores PC gaming and the proof of his first-person-shooter prowess is at the top of a Battlefield V scoreboard.

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