
The major difference between them is that the JBL 2 Portable can connect with the brand's latest speakers, while the JBL Boombox uses an older protocol, but for most people, this will not justify a higher price, which is why the JBL Boombox is still king.įor anyone older than 35 or so, the term boombox may immediately bring up images of people walking the streets in the 80s and early 90s blaring their favorite jams from a radio perched on their shoulder. It even beats out its successor, the JBL 2 Portable, because it costs less while still delivering quality audio. The JBL Boombox is still the top pick because it sounds good, has great battery life, and has an impressive waterproof rating. If those features are important to you, the tradeoff may be easy, but if not, there are plenty of other good options. The Dewalt MAX has range, but its roll cage is rather big and clunky, and the Doss Traveler is compact, but not powerful. The Monster Nomad has a 30-hour battery life, but doesn't have the Bluetooth range of many other units. Bumpboxx has many solid models, some of which are quite big and powerful, but the Bumpboxx Ultra stands out because its rechargeable battery can go for 22 hours between charges. If it's not, you can save a lot by going with the Venloic Home.īattery life is also something important to consider.

The Studebaker SB2145B is much more expensive, but includes Bluetooth capability, so if that's important to you, maybe it's worth the money. If you absolutely have to have a unit with a CD player, you can't do much better than the Venloic Home or Studebaker SB2145B. There are a lot of special requirements certain buyers have when seeking a boombox, and each person may weigh certain features differently.
