With a price tag that’s surprisingly higher than its bigger sibling, the 710, the question naturally arises—does the PartyBox 520 have what it takes to stand on its own, or is it just there to fill a slot in JBL’s lineup? In this JBL PartyBox 520 review, I delve into its performance, features, and overall value to determine if it truly earns its place.
Unlike familiar top-rated wireless speakers for the home, such as the Club 120 or Stage 320, the JBL PartyBox 520 appears as a strategic factor, a chess piece placed in the gap that JBL itself created between its two brothers, the Stage 320 and PartyBox 710.
The JBL PartyBox 520 is not just a battery Bluetooth speaker but also JBL’s answer to an increasingly demanding user segment: those who crave the sound power of dedicated plug-in speakers but do not want to give up the freedom of a battery-powered device.
JBL PartyBox 520 Review
Familiar, Yet Functional Design
In this JBL PartyBox 520 review, we take a closer look at the speaker’s bold design and physical footprint. At first glance, the PartyBox 520 makes no secret of its origins. The distinctive design language of the PartyBox line is evident, giving a feeling of both familiarity and grandeur. In terms of overall shape, this Bluetooth battery speaker model appears to be a miniature version of the flagship PartyBox Ultimate, featuring square, strong lines and a characteristically “plump” figure. Specifically, with a width of 41.5 cm, a depth of 36.9 cm, and a height of up to 76.8 cm (including the handle), the PartyBox 520 creates a significant visual impression, affirming its position as a serious audio device.
The entire speaker housing is made of high-quality, rigid plastic, providing a solid and durable feel. A sturdy steel mesh grille protects the front. The PartyBox 520 weighs up to 25.5 kg—almost one and a half times more than the Stage 320—so calling it “portable” only makes sense in a relative context.
Recognizing this, JBL has equipped the 520 with an innovative moving system. The telescopic handle is very sturdy, combined with a pair of large wheels underneath, making it significantly easier to move the speaker on flat surfaces. However, one thing to note is that this handle cannot be completely folded into the speaker body, unlike on Stage 320. Although it’s a small detail, it can significantly impact the neatness of storage.
The front of the PartyBox 520 is a real “party” of light. The LED system is densely arranged on the front, top, and bottom edges, creating a vibrant and visually appealing effect. Not only is it large in quantity, but the brightness of the lights is also very high, and the colors are diverse. The ability to deeply customize through the JBL PartyBox application, allowing users to turn on or off each light zone and choose the desired effects and colors, is a significant plus, turning the speaker into the center of every party.
A notable change in design philosophy is the removal of the rubber feet on the two sides. This implicitly confirms that the PartyBox 520 was born to operate in only one position: standing. This was a deliberate decision by JBL acoustic engineers to ensure the optimal direction of sound and performance of the speaker system inside.
At the bottom of the speaker are four sturdy rubber feet and an extra handle, which is extremely useful in situations where the speaker needs to be carried horizontally, such as when holding it up and down stairs or in the trunk of a car. In particular, in the middle of the bottom surface is a round cover. When opened, it will reveal a standard jack with a diameter of 4 cm. This detail allows users to place the speaker on specialized stands, helping to raise the speaker’s position, thereby increasing sound coverage and improving the listening experience in large or crowded spaces.
Easy-to-Use Controls
Located on top of the speaker is a familiar and logically laid-out control panel, almost identical to the one on Stage 320. In the center is a large slot, large enough to safely hold a phone or tablet. Right next to it is a dedicated karaoke area with four physical knobs for adjusting Microphone Volume, Bass, Treble, and Echo. These effects are basic but work well enough for those with decent voices to perform confidently without the need for additional equipment.
To enhance the party atmosphere, JBL has integrated three DJ sound effect buttons, enabling users to play fun sounds such as cheers, claps, or scratching. These effects can be further customized in the accompanying app. The central control cluster includes a power button with an intuitive LED battery indicator strip above, a volume up/down knob with a multi-function key in the middle that allows users to press once to play/pause music, twice to skip to the next track, three times to go back to the previous track. A loud speaker with lights controlling system is also straightforward, featuring a knob to change the flashing mode and a button in the center to turn the lighting effects on or off completely. Overall, the 520’s control panel gives users quick access to most of the core features.
Powerful Sound, Built to Last
Hidden behind the 520’s steel grille is a promising audio configuration, the foundation for JBL’s claimed 400W RMS power. The battery Bluetooth speaker system consists of two 2.5cm dome tweeters and two 20.8cm long-travel woofers. This combination allows the speaker to reproduce a wide frequency range from 40 Hz to 20 kHz.
It is essential to note that JBL measures this 400W figure according to the international standard IEC 60268, a rigorous process that ensures accuracy and objectivity, which differs significantly from the “virtual” power numbers commonly found in the portable speaker market. The PartyBox 520’s volume is extremely loud, capable of filling rooms ranging from 60 to 100 square meters or serving large-scale outdoor events that accommodate hundreds of people.
However, the real “star” in the PartyBox 520’s structure lies at the back. That is the removable battery. JBL continues to promote its strengths with the removable battery design code “Battery 600”, the company’s largest battery line today. With a massive capacity of 21.6V – 4584mAh – 99.02Wh, approximately 45% larger than the 68Wh battery on Stage 320, this provides the speaker with continuous operation time of up to 15 hours. During this JBL PartyBox 520 review, the speaker can last approximately 14 hours and 45 minutes at 50% volume with full lighting effects enabled, which is close to the level announced by JBL.
The convenience of this design is undeniable. Users can easily replace the worn-out battery at home, avoiding the need to send the speaker to a warranty center or take it apart. Moreover, the removable battery also opens up the possibility of extending the fun endlessly, as you can equip an additional fully charged spare battery and be ready to replace it when needed. Users can even remove the battery and use the speaker by plugging it directly into the power source, a flexible solution for both indoor and outdoor needs.
Also see: JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review
Pro-Grade Ports and Features
The back of the PartyBox 520 features a series of connection ports, protected by rubber covers, which provide IPX4 water resistance—a necessary guarantee for outdoor parties.
The most valuable and exclusive upgrade on the PartyBox 520 at the time of launch is the microphone and instrument jack. JBL has equipped a 2-in-1 “combo” hybrid connection port, allowing users to plug in both a standard 6.35mm (1/4″) jack and an XLR jack. This is a significant step forward, enabling the PartyBox 520 to easily connect to professional sound systems, such as mixers or high-end microphones, thereby improving the quality of input sound for performances and karaoke. Mic 2 port can switch between microphone and instrument (guitar) mode via a toggle switch, accompanied by Gain adjustment knobs to optimize the input signal.
Additionally, the modern USB-C port is a notable highlight. This port not only supports music playback from storage devices (including popular formats such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, and WMA) but also features a reverse charging function for mobile devices, including phones and tablets with modern PDO and PPS fast charging standards, with a maximum charging capacity of up to 30W. The integration of a small LED light to illuminate the connection port area is a sophisticated design detail, demonstrating JBL’s concern for user experience in low light conditions.
In terms of wireless connectivity, the PartyBox 520 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring fast, stable, and low-latency connections. Auracast technology is also available, enabling wireless synchronization with an unlimited number of other JBL speakers that support the same technology. Notably, JBL has updated the 520 to be compatible with older models, such as the PartyBox 110, 310, and 710, a very welcome move.
Versatility at Its Best
If the physical control panel is convenient, the JBL PartyBox app unlocks the full potential of the speaker. In this JBL PartyBox 520 review, we found the app interface to be intuitively designed and divided into sections.
The most prominent is the ability to control the lighting system. Users can not only choose from the available flashing modes but also delve deeper, turning individual lighting zones on or off, such as the front, the light strip on the roof, or the two light rings on the top and bottom edges. Furthermore, a detailed color palette allows you to choose and assign any color to your liking, turning the speaker into a dynamic decoration that blends in with the space and theme of the party.
In terms of sound, the app offers a range of compelling tuning tools. The most valuable feature is the 7-band equalizer, which enables users to fine-tune the bass, mid, and treble ranges, thereby optimizing sound quality according to personal music preferences or room acoustics. In addition to preset modes such as Vocal, Chill, or Movie, this free customization ability is far superior to simple bass and treble adjustment buttons. In addition, the app also allows switching between two separate Bass Boost modes: “Deep” for deep, spreading bass and “Punchy” for intense, focused, and powerful bass.
Finally, connection management is also entirely handled through the app, from pairing two PartyBox 520 speakers to create a stereo sound effect to activating Auracast technology for seamless syncing with an unlimited PartyBox speaker system, including older models.
Powerful Yet Polished Sound
The PartyBox 520 combines the strengths of its two siblings, the 320 and the 710, to deliver impressive sound quality.
Although both the 520 and the 320 have a bass range of 40 Hz on paper, the actual experience is entirely different. Thanks to two 20.8 cm woofers and large capacity, the bass of the 520 has superior internal force, is deeper, stronger, and has a much better spread. This brings a feeling close to the PartyBox 710, reaching about 8/10 points when compared directly.
The bass is mighty, neat, and not dragged, performing well in electronic music genres such as EDM that require fast and strong rhythms.
In terms of mid and treble, the 520 shares many similarities with the Stage 320, likely due to the use of the same 2.5cm dome tweeter. The mid and treble ranges are bright, clean, and have good detail. The bass doesn’t overwhelm the singer’s voice, allowing it to come through clearly. There is a smooth transition between these two ranges, creating a pleasant listening experience that lasts for a long time without being harsh or shrill at normal volume levels.
Overall, the PartyBox 520 delivers a balanced, powerful, and energetic sound. There is one caveat, however. You get the best balance when you keep the volume below 80%. Push it higher—especially in a closed space—and the treble often becomes overly boosted, which might sound harsh to some listeners. This may be a deliberate adjustment by JBL so that the sound can “cut” through the noise of the crowd when used outdoors, but in a home environment, it can take away from the naturalness of the music. JBL promotes AI Sound Boost technology as a feature that analyzes and optimizes sound in real-time to reduce distortion. It effectively preserves the bass and prevents cracking, even at high volumes.
Final Line
With a list price of $879.95 on Amazon.com or £699.99 on Amazon.co.uk, the JBL PartyBox 520 is not a product for everyone, nor does it try to be. This is built with a clear purpose: to be the most powerful and versatile battery-powered Bluetooth speaker for parties on the market. It successfully fills a strategic gap in JBL’s portfolio, offering an attractive alternative for those who find the Stage 320 underpowered and the PartyBox 710 too bulky and reliant on a power source.
The high price tag is offset by a host of premium features that no other competitor in the same segment offers, including a replaceable battery and professional-grade connectivity ports.
Also see: JBL PartyBox Encore2 Quick Review: Portable Party Speaker with Karaoke Mic
Suppose you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that can also serve as a professional PA system and a light show. In that case, this JBL PartyBox 520 review confirms it’s one of the most capable options available in its class.
