JBL Partybox Encore Essential Review: 100W Power Portable Speaker
The new JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is the most compact and powerful portable speaker in the JBL PartyBox Series. It boasts 100W of power and the RGB light ring, music-synchronized JBL PartyBox light display in a more compact design.
Incorporating a colorful ring light and a dynamic light effect that syncs with the beat of the music, the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a portable party speaker great for outdoor parties.
Design and Built
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential has an IPX4 splashproof design, a portable handle, and durable construction, making it ideal for any party.
The speaker is compact and portable, it's just over 30cm2 and weighs 5.9kg it can fit in a car trunk along with all the party supplies, or it can be carried using the portable handlebar. However, unlike the JBL Partybox On-the-Go, it lacks a shoulder strap, which could have made it more convenient to carry.
At the back of the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential are ports, including the microphone jack, volume knob, and gain dial. With its USB port, you can plug in your USB flash drive with your favorite music or charge your smartphone. You can use the 3.5 mm AUX IN jack to plug in an external music source, and the TWS button will enable Bluetooth pairing.
The simple controls are located at the top, where double-press the play/pause button allows you to skip tracks, and triple-pressing allows you to rewind. The volume can be adjusted using the knob, and the ring of RGB lights will change color to reflect the volume setting. When the speaker is turned off and plug-in, the power button glows orange to indicate that it is charging. The audio's bass can be enhanced by pressing the button "Bass Boost."
Also, when a USB storage device is plugged in, the speaker automatically changes its input to the inserted device and begins playing any compatible audio tracks. There's a 3.5-millimeter jack for connecting an external audio source to the speaker but need to buy the cable since it's not included in the package.
JBL PartyBox App
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential's lights and sound can be customized with the use of a new PartyBox app, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play and Apple App stores.
The app lets you choose between Stereo and Party Mode, change microphone bass, treble, and echo, and modify the equalizer. While bass, mids, and treble aren't precise, this option gives you more control compared to other Bluetooth speakers. The app features nine DJ effect buttons to spice up your party playlist. You can choose from a horn, clap, dog bark, thumbs up, boo, "ready," or three record scratch sound effects.
The Light Show can also be controlled through the app. Every JBL PartyBox speaker has either one or two LED light rings that dance and change color to the beat of the music or according to your preferences. You can choose between Rock, flow, cross, ripple, flash, or off for light effect modes.
Party Sound Quality
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential holds its own in terms of soundstage performance. It can handle stereo tracks with its 5.25-inch woofer without converting them to mono, so you can hear instruments and effects that pan from speaker to speaker. If a song has a guitar on the left and a piano on the right, you'll hear the guitar from the left and the piano from the right since the speaker uses a left-right stereo array.
The soundstage is limited and front-heavy since the sound is only projected in front of the speaker rather than all around it. If you're sitting behind the speaker, for instance, you'll hear a somewhat different sound than if you were in front of it.
When the bass spills into the mid, the overall mix can sound muddy, but it improves when the bass is really not there for the entire song. The speaker's two 1.75-inch tweeters did a great job conveying the mellow vibe of smooth jam music, and the voice quality in podcasts was unexpectedly high. The speaker sounds fantastic with the Bass boost turned up and the volume all the way when used outside, making it an excellent speaker for outdoor parties.
Battery
The Li-ion polymer battery in the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential has a capacity of 4800 mAh. While JBL claims it will last for six, we were able to get well over eight hours out of it when we turned off the RGB lights and used the 'Deep' setting on the Bass Boost feature.
A full charge can be achieved in under three hours, rather than the 3.5 hours claimed by JBL, which is also great. However, battery life can be affected by many factors such as whether the RGB lights are on or off and whether or not you use the speaker to charge other electronic devices. The JBL Encore Essential has a power-saving mode that turns it off after 20 minutes of being idle.
Pros
Compact and portable speaker
Easy to carry
Durable built quality
Impressive sound quality
Wireless and wired connection
Supports USB flash drive
Splash resistant
Long battery
Light Effect
App support both Android and iOS devices
Graphic equalizer
Cons
What's In The Box?
JBL PartyBox Encore Essential speaker
Power cable (4 sets AC plug)
Quick Start Guide
Safety Booklet
JBL PartyBox Encore Essential speaker
Power cable (4 sets AC plug)
Quick Start Guide
Safety Booklet
Design and Built
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential has an IPX4 splashproof design, a portable handle, and durable construction, making it ideal for any party.
The speaker is compact and portable, it's just over 30cm2 and weighs 5.9kg it can fit in a car trunk along with all the party supplies, or it can be carried using the portable handlebar. However, unlike the JBL Partybox On-the-Go, it lacks a shoulder strap, which could have made it more convenient to carry.
Also read JBL PartyBox On-The-Go
Similar to other JBL PartyBox speakers, this speaker features a sturdy construction and rests firmly on non-slip rubber feet. The front grille is built of rigid plastic to keep the drivers safe. It's water-resistant with an IPX4 rating, meaning it handles minor splashes of water, so you can take the party outside without worrying about it getting damaged by a little rain.
At the back of the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential are ports, including the microphone jack, volume knob, and gain dial. With its USB port, you can plug in your USB flash drive with your favorite music or charge your smartphone. You can use the 3.5 mm AUX IN jack to plug in an external music source, and the TWS button will enable Bluetooth pairing.
While the rubber cover safeguards both the ports and the AC outlet from moisture, but its still accessible.
The simple controls are located at the top, where double-press the play/pause button allows you to skip tracks, and triple-pressing allows you to rewind. The volume can be adjusted using the knob, and the ring of RGB lights will change color to reflect the volume setting. When the speaker is turned off and plug-in, the power button glows orange to indicate that it is charging. The audio's bass can be enhanced by pressing the button "Bass Boost."
JBL PartyBox Encore Essential Specs:
1 x 5.25-inch woofer
2 x 1.75-inch tweeter
100W RMS Output power
100-240 Vac/50/60Hz Power input
50Hz – 20kHz@-6dB Frequency response
>80dB Signal-to-noise ratio
USB format: FAT16, FAT32
USB file format: .mp3, .wma, .wav
USB charge out: 5V/0.5A (maximum)
Cable type: AC Power Cable
Cable length: 2000mm/78.7"
Bluetooth 5.1 - A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6
17.76Wh (3.7V 4800mAh) Li-ion polymer battery
3.5 hours charge time
Up to 6 hours of Music playtime
7.27kg/16.03 lbs
Setting up the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
Since it uses Bluetooth 5.1 and includes support for the A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 profiles, this speaker is not only lightweight but also wireless. Just press the TWS button to start pairing mode, then go to your device's Bluetooth settings and choose JBL PB Encore Essential to complete the pairing process.
1 x 5.25-inch woofer
2 x 1.75-inch tweeter
100W RMS Output power
100-240 Vac/50/60Hz Power input
50Hz – 20kHz@-6dB Frequency response
>80dB Signal-to-noise ratio
USB format: FAT16, FAT32
USB file format: .mp3, .wma, .wav
USB charge out: 5V/0.5A (maximum)
Cable type: AC Power Cable
Cable length: 2000mm/78.7"
Bluetooth 5.1 - A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6
17.76Wh (3.7V 4800mAh) Li-ion polymer battery
3.5 hours charge time
Up to 6 hours of Music playtime
7.27kg/16.03 lbs
Setting up the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential
Since it uses Bluetooth 5.1 and includes support for the A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 profiles, this speaker is not only lightweight but also wireless. Just press the TWS button to start pairing mode, then go to your device's Bluetooth settings and choose JBL PB Encore Essential to complete the pairing process.
Also, when a USB storage device is plugged in, the speaker automatically changes its input to the inserted device and begins playing any compatible audio tracks. There's a 3.5-millimeter jack for connecting an external audio source to the speaker but need to buy the cable since it's not included in the package.
JBL PartyBox App
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential's lights and sound can be customized with the use of a new PartyBox app, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play and Apple App stores.
The app lets you choose between Stereo and Party Mode, change microphone bass, treble, and echo, and modify the equalizer. While bass, mids, and treble aren't precise, this option gives you more control compared to other Bluetooth speakers. The app features nine DJ effect buttons to spice up your party playlist. You can choose from a horn, clap, dog bark, thumbs up, boo, "ready," or three record scratch sound effects.
The Light Show can also be controlled through the app. Every JBL PartyBox speaker has either one or two LED light rings that dance and change color to the beat of the music or according to your preferences. You can choose between Rock, flow, cross, ripple, flash, or off for light effect modes.
Party Sound Quality
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential holds its own in terms of soundstage performance. It can handle stereo tracks with its 5.25-inch woofer without converting them to mono, so you can hear instruments and effects that pan from speaker to speaker. If a song has a guitar on the left and a piano on the right, you'll hear the guitar from the left and the piano from the right since the speaker uses a left-right stereo array.
The soundstage is limited and front-heavy since the sound is only projected in front of the speaker rather than all around it. If you're sitting behind the speaker, for instance, you'll hear a somewhat different sound than if you were in front of it.
When the bass spills into the mid, the overall mix can sound muddy, but it improves when the bass is really not there for the entire song. The speaker's two 1.75-inch tweeters did a great job conveying the mellow vibe of smooth jam music, and the voice quality in podcasts was unexpectedly high. The speaker sounds fantastic with the Bass boost turned up and the volume all the way when used outside, making it an excellent speaker for outdoor parties.
Battery
The Li-ion polymer battery in the JBL PartyBox Encore Essential has a capacity of 4800 mAh. While JBL claims it will last for six, we were able to get well over eight hours out of it when we turned off the RGB lights and used the 'Deep' setting on the Bass Boost feature.
A full charge can be achieved in under three hours, rather than the 3.5 hours claimed by JBL, which is also great. However, battery life can be affected by many factors such as whether the RGB lights are on or off and whether or not you use the speaker to charge other electronic devices. The JBL Encore Essential has a power-saving mode that turns it off after 20 minutes of being idle.
Compact and portable speaker
Easy to carry
Durable built quality
Impressive sound quality
Wireless and wired connection
Supports USB flash drive
Splash resistant
Long battery
Light Effect
App support both Android and iOS devices
Graphic equalizer
Cons
No shoulder strap included
No 3.5mm cable included
Narrow-sound soundstage
The verdict
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a great portable speaker for outdoor parties. The added functions are a nice touch, and the bold aesthetic is just what you need to keep the party buzzing. Karaoke is always a favorite feature at parties, and guests will love playing with different Light Show modes. The long battery life and multiple connection options of the speaker are nice features. The Encore Essential is not exactly a "budget-friendly" speaker, but it does offer excellent value for the money.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential speaker is priced at ₱16,999 and is available at all JBL concept shops in addition to online retailers Lazada and Shopee.
No 3.5mm cable included
Narrow-sound soundstage
The verdict
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential is a great portable speaker for outdoor parties. The added functions are a nice touch, and the bold aesthetic is just what you need to keep the party buzzing. Karaoke is always a favorite feature at parties, and guests will love playing with different Light Show modes. The long battery life and multiple connection options of the speaker are nice features. The Encore Essential is not exactly a "budget-friendly" speaker, but it does offer excellent value for the money.
The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential speaker is priced at ₱16,999 and is available at all JBL concept shops in addition to online retailers Lazada and Shopee.
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