The JBL Boombox 3 is the latest Boombox speaker from JBL and is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the JBL Boombox 2. This speaker can pump out a massive 180W of peak power (136W RMS) and deliver some of the strongest bass you will ever hear. When connected to an AC power outlet, the JBL Boombox 3 is capable of deliver thunderous low-end bass with plenty of impact, superb midrange and really nice sparkling highs, making them great for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres. The JBL Boombox 3 is equipped with 1 dedicated woofer for greater bass output, 2 midrange drivers to deliver midrange frequencies and 2 tweeters for crystal clear vocals and highs. This speaker has a wide frequency response of 40 Hz to 20 kHz and comes with 10,000 mAh battery that can deliver up to 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. Furthermore, the JBL Boombox 3 comes with an upgraded silicone handle for better grip and is fully waterproof and dustproof, allowing you to take this to the beach or poolside without any issues.
The JBL Xtreme 3, by contrast, delivers a massive 100W of power output and comes with a power bank with 15 hours of playtime. This speaker weighs just a fraction of the JBL Boombox 3 at 1.83 kg (4 lbs), compared with the JBL Boombox 3’s 6.7 kg (14.8 lbs). It comes equipped with 2 X 70mm woofers and 2 X tweeters for detailed highs and deep low-end bass. The Xtreme 3 has a frequency range of 53.5 Hz to 20 kHz and a signal to noise ratio of 80dB, delivering very little distortion even at maximum volume levels. Just like the JBL Boombox 3, the JBL Xtreme 3 is IP67 waterproof and dustproof and is durable enough to withstand outdoor elements such as rain and water.
Read more: The 15 Loudest Bluetooth Speakers Ranked
Comparing the Specs
| Specification | JBL Boombox 3 | JBL Xtreme 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 1x 7.4 x 4.5″ / 189 x 114 mm Woofer 2x 3.2 x 3.2″ / 80.9 x 80.9 mm Midrange Drivers 2x 0.8″ / 20 mm Tweeters | 2x 2.76″ / 70 mm Woofers 2x 0.79″ / 20 mm Tweeters |
| Output Power | 136W (180W peak) | 100W |
| Battery life | 24 hours | 15 hours |
| Waterproof and Dustproof | IP67 | IP67 |
| Design | Waterproof design with a metal handle | Portable with carrying strap and bottle opener |
| Wireless Bluetooth Streaming | Yes, up to two smartphones or tablets | Yes, up to two smartphones or tablets |
| PartyBoost | Compatible with JBL PartyBoost | Compatible with JBL PartyBoost |
| App Support | JBL Portable app | JBL app |
| Packaging | Eco-friendly | Eco-friendly |
| Dimensions | 48.2 x 25.7 x 20.0 cm | 29.8 x 13.9 x 13.4 cm |
| Weight | 6.7 kg | 2.68 kg |
| Additional Features | Built-in powerbank | Built-in powerbank |
| Battery Capacity | 10,000 mAh | Not specified |
The JBL Boombox 3 is a higher-end model with superior sound output and longer playtime, suitable for those looking for a more robust audio experience and extended usage. The JBL Xtreme 3, while having a shorter playtime and lower output power, is more affordable and comes with the convenience of a carrying strap and a built-in power bank which makes it a great option for portability and outdoor use.
Sound Performance
We really liked the sound performance of both the JBL Boombox 3 and Xtreme 3. Both speakers are capable of delivering tremendous bass response due to the fact that both speakers have dedicated woofers, although the bass from the JBL Boombox 3 sounded much deeper and well-rounded as compared to the Xtreme 3. The bass on the Boombox 3 has plenty of depth and weight; it feels like the kind of bass that you would expect to hear from a high-end Bluetooth speaker that punches out deep bass notes that make EDM music feel punchy and vibrant. We also liked the midrange performance on the Boombox 3 – the midranges sound well defined and very detailed, and you can almost here every single detail in the music with great clarity from the highs to the lows.
The Xtreme 3, by contrast, delivers plenty of bass performance but is somewhat lacking in the midrange due to the fact that it does not come with any midrange drivers. That being said, they deliver superb highs and vocals which complement the bass output really well. We played a couple of EDM, rock and country folk music on the Xtreme 3 and they sounded really punchy and clean; the bass stays where it should be as bass and does not muddy into the midrange frequencies. While the Xtreme 3 does not have as much bass as the JBL Boombox 3, they still deliver superb sound performance with their dual tweeters and the treble ranges have plenty of sparkle in them. You can also play jazz and classical music on this speaker and enjoy the soundstage and stereo separation that the Xtreme 3 delivers.
We have no complaints when it comes to the sound performance of the JBL Boombox 3 and Xtreme 3. Both speakers deliver superb sound performance with crystal clear highs, and have tremendous amount of bass output. While the JBL Boombox 3 has more bass output purely due to its larger woofer and size, the Xtreme 3 is equally formidable at lower volume levels. The JBL Boombox 3 also has the added benefit of two dedicated midrange drivers which handle the mids really well with distinct clarity; you can pick up details in the music which you might not have noticed before. While the JBL Boombox 3 clearly outperforms the Xtreme 3 at louder volume levels, we felt that the Xtreme 3 offers a little more clarity at lower volume levels because of its sensitive dual tweeters. The bass remains consistently clear in both speakers and does not taper off even at lower volume levels.
Specs
The JBL Boombox 3 has quite a few advantages over the Xtreme 3 when it comes to specs. It has an incredibly large 10,000mAh battery that can double as a power bank for charging your smartphone devices, and delivers a massive 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. The Xtreme 3, by contrast, only delivers 15 hours of playtime with its built-in battery. The JBL Boombox 3 also has an upgraded 3-way speaker design that can handle the highs, midranges and bass with distinct clarity – you can push this speaker to maximum volume without hearing any hint of distortion which is great.
Having said that, the JBL Boombox 3 has a power output of 136W RMS while in battery mode, and can only go louder to 180W peak when connected to a power AC outlet. The JBL Xtreme 3, by contrast, delivers a consistent 100W of power with its built-in battery.
The JBL Boombox 3 also comes with a few updates that make it more advanced such as Bluetooth 5.3 capability with A2DP and AVRCP support, while the JBL Xtreme 3 only supports Bluetooth 5.1. Both speakers support 3.5mm stereo input and have USB outputs to connect your smartphone devices.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is much more portable as compared to the JBL Boombox 3 speaker. It comes with a detachable clip-on carry strap which you can use to carry the speaker around, and is fully waterproof and dustproof. The JBL Boombox 3 is a much heavier speaker with a weight of 6.7 kg (14.8lbs) and comes with a silicone carry handle at the top for portability.
Design
In terms of design, we found the JBL Xtreme 3 a much more portable speaker than the Boombox 3. The Xtreme 3 comes with an added clip-on carry strap that you can use to easily carry the speaker around. The JBL Boombox 3, by contrast, comes with a large handle with a silicone grip for you to carry the speaker around – this may be slightly inconvenient as the JBL Boombox 3 weighs a massive 6.7 kg and is rather bulky to hand carry.
Both the JBL Boombox 3 and JBL Xtreme 3 come with side bass radiators that deliver really nice bass performance. There are also volume control buttons at the top of both speaker to adjust the volume, and power on the speaker or activate wireless Bluetooth pairing.
The JBL Boombox 3 and Xtreme 3 both support JBL’s PartyBoost feature which allows you to pair two JBL PartyBoost compatible speakers together to create a stereo listening effect. You can also link up multiple JBL PartyBoost speakers together to create much wider listening field with louder sound performance from a single audio source.
In terms of durability, the JBL Boombox 3 and Xtreme 3 are both IP67 waterproof and dustproof and are designed to withstand harsh outdoor elements such as rain or water. They are great for taking outdoors or by the poolside where you can blast music and never have to worry about the speakers getting wet. With that said, we did find the JBL Xtreme 3 a slightly more portable option due to its relatively compact and portable design, while the JBL Boombox 3 feels bulky and heavy.
The Verdict?
We felt that both the JBL Boombox 3 and JBL Xtreme 3 are really good Bluetooth speakers that deliver tremendous power output and bass. While the JBL Boombox 3 has slightly louder sound performance with deeper bass, this is to be expected due to its larger size and dedicated woofer. The JBL Xtreme 3, by contrast, delivers really loud sound performance with a impressive 100W of power; it also comes with two dedicated woofers for deeper bass performance and can match the JBL Boombox 3 in terms of bass at lower volume levels.
Overall, we felt that the JBL Boombox 3 delivers better value than the JBL Xtreme 3 – both are really good speakers but the Boombox 3 provides much more powerful bass and clarity in the midrange frequencies at louder volume levels. The JBL Boombox 3 is also a much more versatile option that can be used to power small gatherings to large outdoor parties, while the JBL Xtreme 3 is limited to powering mid-sized parties due to its compact size. We also liked the ability to charge the JBL Boombox 3 while playing music and the added 180W peak power while on AC mode is great for blasting music outdoors. Having said that, the JBL Xtreme 3 is a much more portable option if you require a powerful and compact speaker due to its comparatively smaller size and weight. Either way, you cannot go wrong if you pick either speaker – it all depends on your personal preferences and how much portability you need in a Bluetooth speaker.