To ensure this, the new JBL Boombox 3 has a particularly robust design. The JBL Boombox 3 is IP67 certified and therefore resistant to water and dust, so in principle it can be used in any environment and in all weather conditions. On the classic side of transducer technology, the JBL engineers leave no stone unturned: The Boombox 3 is designed as a 2.1 configuration. A central, approximately rectangular subwoofer with the amazing membrane size of 19 x 11.5 cm is supported by the passive membranes installed in the sides. 80 watts are available for the subwoofer path alone. The sound capabilities of the Boombox 3 are excellent. With its 2 x tweeters, 2 x midrange speaker and subwoofer setup, this is a speaker that can get loud. It’s the loudest portable speaker JBL offers. It’s not surprising that the Boombox 3 is power-hungry and requires a mains connection for battery charging as well as for maximum power operation. Nevertheless, it needs a whopping 6.5 hours until an empty battery is full again. It’s important to know that not all JBL speakers work with PartyBoost, though, so it always pays to do some research before buying a load of them. As of now the speakers that are compatible with PartyBoost are the Flip 6, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, Boombox 3 and their predecessors. Battery

The JBL Boombox 3 is a good upgrade from the JBL Boombox 2 and delivers much better bass due to its built-in subwoofer, in addition to the two tweeters and two midrange drivers that both speakers already have. This new 3-way design allows the JBL Boombox 3 to have much better clarity when it comes with the highs, midranges and bass, without the sound bleeding into another frequency range; each woofer and tweeter is designed for a specific frequency band. We managed around 22 hours of use before needing to recharge the speaker. This was close to the maximum volume as well. The Boombox 3 looks quite similar to the older Boombox 2, with a familiar built-in handle and large passive radiators on either end. But there are some notable upgrades under the grille. The previous model had dual tweeters and woofers, as well as passive radiators at either end. The updated version uses a similar setup, but adds a subwoofer to the mix.

Impressive Power

Like JBL's smaller Bluetooth speakers, the Xtreme 3 is a versatile boom box that can be stood up vertically or placed horizontally. Though a tad bigger than the Xtreme 2, at first glance it doesn't look much different from the previous model, but it does have upgraded sound with slightly better bass and clarity while actually weighing slightly less. Here are the key differences between the two speakers, according to JBL:

In terms of design, the JBL Boombox 3 features a noticeable upgrade from the previous JBL Boombox 2 and looks sleeker and more modern with a nice metallic finish. It also comes with a sturdy metal handle with silicone grips which makes carrying this speaker around outdoors much easier. When we compared both the JBL Boombox 3 and Boombox 2 side by side, we felt that the JBL Boombox 3 looks much more sleek with nice curvy angles and a rubberized base to keep the speaker in place. Both speakers come with passive bass radiators at the side which pumps out massive bass and you can see the radiators moving while playing music which is really neat. The Verdict? Like the UE Hyperboom (see below), this has a USB-out port that allows you to charge external devices like your phone, and there's also an analog audio input if you want to go wired and connect a device without using Bluetooth connectivity (the Hyperboom adds an optical digital input).

There’s an equaliser, a user guide and a PartyBoost option. PartyBoost is JBL’s software that allows you to connect up to 100 different speakers wirelessly. It’s easy and works well.

Features: water/dustproof according to protection class IP67, JBL Party Boost, powerbank function, equalizer, integrated power supply unit It’s a portable speaker that can deliver a massive sound, and it delivers it well. The audio is crisp, clean, and precise and the bass booms. The battery lasts a massive 24 hours, and the IP67-resistant design allows you to take the speaker anywhere without worrying about it. JBL claims the Boombox 3 has a 24-hour battery. These claims are pretty accurate, and it’s very impressive. Sound While this speaker isn't fully waterproof and can't float like some speakers can, it's splash-proof, with an IPX4 rating, and has a microphone input with discrete gain and reverb controls (no microphone is included). In the companion app for iOS and Android, you can customize the sound profile and light show. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, but that number will drop if you crank the volume. The new JBL Boombox 3 already uses the new Bluetooth 5.3 standard, which is said to have advantages in that the connection to the source devices is more stable and this standard has once again been optimised in terms of energy consumption, theoretically leading to longer battery life.

One of the main features of a portable JBL speaker is its simplicity. Turn it on, connect via Bluetooth, and you’re away.