Do you love to party? If you are a bass-head and love partying with friends all night long, then we have the perfect speaker for you. The JBL PartyBox 300 and Sony GTK-XB 90 are some of the most powerful battery-powered Bluetooth speakers.
Comparing JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB 90, we see the PartyBox 300 is the preferable one in terms of audio and features whereas the GTK-XB 90 has more flexibility along with features. The GTK-XB 90 comes with an app that has several options and settings.
Comparison between JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90:
| JBL PartyBox 300 | Sony GTK-XB90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Black | Black, wenge |
| Drivers | 3 2.5 inch tweeters 2 6.5 inch woofers | 3 2.36-inch tweeter 2 7 inch woofer |
| Frequency response | 45 hertz-20 kilohertz | unknown |
| Battery type | Li-ion | Li-ion |
| Battery life | 18 hours | 16 hours |
| USB input | yes | no |
| USB | USB Type-A | USB Type-A |
| Connections | RCA stereo input, RCA stereo output, headphone output | RCA stereo input, RCA stereo output |
| Bluetooth | yes | yes |
| Bluetooth version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth codec | unknown | ALAC, LDAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth profile | None | A2DP, AVRCP, SPP |
| Near field communication | no | yes |
| Waterproof | no | no |
| Dimension | 27.1" x 12.2" x 12.6" (H x W x D) | 13.2" x 26.4" x 13.2" (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 34.92lb | 30.86 |
How I differentiated the products: JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90
Design
The JBL PartyBox 300 has a meshed metal grille with a plastic body that is prone to scratches. It has rubber feet at three sides of the speaker so you can put it horizontally or vertically. The top of the speaker has a handle and control buttons like power, volume up/down, play/pause, lighting, bass boost. The built-in lights flashes, blinks, and follows the music rhythm and has 3 modes: Meter, Pulse, and Party.
The Sony GTK-XB90 has a mesh metal grille and textured hard plastic. It has three 2.36 -inch tweeters and 2 7-inch woofers. The top of the speaker has controls like power, play/pause, or answer a call, stamina, Function, Add, Wireless party chain, extra bass, volume up/down.
You can also place it vertically or horizontally. Comparing JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90, we see that Sony has more number of controls. Such as, the stamina button is a life-savior when you take it outdoors and the battery is running low.
Audio performance
Just like the name, the JBL PartyBox 300 is meant for parties. With a frequency response of 45Hz-20kHz, it has deep bass and if you turn the bass boost on, it will literally shake your walls. Based on our experience, we have seen that the audio can get very loud without being distorted and in most cases, you need to lower the volume.
The mids and highs are clean and clear. The speaker has mic and instrument inputs that have gain controls for karaoke function. The PartyBox 300 also has a rear bass port to enhance the bass along with that it has EQ settings.
The Sony GTK-XB90 has similar drivers like the PartyBox but the woofer is slightly larger. The datasheet or website doesn’t mention the frequency response but the bass is undoubtedly deep and punchy. It can get very loud that measures around 90dB at full volume. You can sing your favorite songs as it supports mic input.
Sony GTK-XB 90 has some audio effects like ClearAudio+, Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE). The DSEE assures that the compressed audio files retain the same quality and information as the original one. And the ClearAudio+ emphasizes on how clear and immersive the audio should sound for the users.
Connections
As the JBL PartyBox 300 is a Bluetooth speaker, you can connect it to your phone via Bluetooth. It has several connections like USB, Aux, Bluetooth, RCA, ¼-inch guitar, and mic input. So if you want to connect the XLR mic input you need to use an additional adapter.
You can use the USB to charge your phone. While the main source should be Bluetooth with a smartphone, you can use USB for a flash drive or RCA for a CD player or turntable. For USB, it supports MP3, WMA, and WAV music files but it doesn’t support playback from Apple iOS or Android OS.
The Sony GTK-XB90 has RCA ports, USB, mic in with mic level. Between JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90, the JBL doesn’t have NFC while the Sony doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio jack. The GTK-XB 90 has LDAC Bluetooth that ensures the best quality of audio in wireless connection. With the Audio input/output you can pair a TV or speaker as well.
Party mode
Why are these speakers called party speakers? Both these speakers have built-in light feature but the lights on PartyBox is more eye-catching. The PartyBox has a light ring and strobing lights on top and button. It also sheds light on tweeter and woofers. The built-in lights flashes, blinks, and follows the music rhythm and has 3 modes: Meter, Pulse, and Party.
Sony GTK-XB 90 uses an infinity mirror where lights reflect in such a way that boosts up the mood for the party. You can pair two JBL PartyBox 300 wirelessly by True Wireless Stereo or by RCA with wired. For playing music in a crowd the stereo pairing will be effective. Along with that, you can press the bass boost button to enhance the punch and creating a chest-thumping and room-shaking effect.
You can pair two or up to 10 Sony GTK-XB90 speakers. If you use a pair, the overall sound will be more powerful and will be ideal for partying outdoor or indoor. However, you can’t take them to a pool-party or by the beach because they are neither waterproof nor splash-proof.
It comes with a mobile app where you have several settings like Library, Pandora, Light color change, DJ effects, adjusting EQ, extra bass, etc. while there is no specific app for JBL PartyBox 300, you can use the JBL Music app to stream music and change EQ settings, lights, etc.
Also check out Bumpboxx which are specially made for doing party.
Portability
While the Partybox 300 isn’t built to grab and take anywhere you go, you can easily take it with you on the back of your car trunk. It has a battery with a 10400mAh capacity that needs only 5 hours to charge. And it can run for 18 hours which is pretty impressive. The LED on the top will flash red indicating low battery.
Comparing JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90, the Sony GTK-XB90 can give a playback time of up to 16 hours. The Stamina button will help in case you are outdoor. You can press this button when the battery is running low and it will give up to 4.5 hours of battery life.
Both these speakers have handles but are not small or compact Bluetooth speaker that you can carry anywhere. Rather they fit well in cars and ideal for large get-togethers or EDM parties.
What could be improved?
While both these speakers are packed with features, there are certain things that they can improve. Such as, the GTK-XB 90 could include the 3.5mm audio jack. They could also focus on the audio quality along with being the loudest. This is treble and mid-range of this speaker is not very impressive. the vocals and the musical instruments aren’t focused to stand out as well.
The JBL can include the NFC. They may also make it waterproof or splash-proof for poolside parties. They should have wires for audio connections or make an XLR for the mic input.
Product differentiators: JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90
Between JBL PartyBox vs Sony GTK-XB90, the main difference lies mostly in features and flexibility. The audio performance is not the same but they are decent in their own way. The JBL which belongs to Harman Kardon is well-known for aesthetics. While PartyBox reveals its specifications, Sony is quite secretive.
Both these speakers are best for partying or playing EDM, rock, pop, or jazz. If you are an audiophile who loves room-shaking bass with powerful and blasting audio these speakers are ideal for you. The PartyBox 300 doesn’t have NFC while GTK-XB 90 doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio jack.
The PartyBox is well-known immersive audio with clarity and deep bass. The GTK-XB 90 can get very loud without being distorted. It has punchy bass and overall balanced audio quality. Also, you can control it with an app.
It is heavier than GTK-XB90 and has mic and instrument input for karaoke with separate control knobs. The GTK-XB90 has only mic input. Also for more emphasis on low-frequency, the PartyBox has a rear-firing port whereas Sony doesn’t. Sony and JBL speakers are great rivals, no doubt about that.
Alternative Products: JBL PartyBox 300 vs Sony GTK-XB90
JBL Boombox
Pros
- Powerful bass with excellent audio quality
- Bass more than enough for indoors and ideal for outdoors
- Water-resistant and light-weight with handle
- Ideal for hikes, beaches, or pool parties
- Audio can get very loud without distortion
- The extra-long battery life of 24 hours
Cons
- No EQ to adjust treble and bass
- At 20% charge, there is a buzzing sound
- You can’t skip to the previous song
Sony GTK-XB60
Pros
- Powerful audio performance
- Serious bass depth
- High volume output.
- Built-in LED lights.
- Solid battery life.
Cons
- Highly sculpted sound signature.
- Heavy
Conclusion
JBL of Harman Kardon and Sony are some of the best brands running successfully. Comparing JBL PartyBox 300 vs GTK-XB 90, we see that they focus on producing the loudest music with wall-shaking bass. These speakers excel in different features and connections.
You can go for the JBL PartyBox 300 if you are a fan of JBL, their sturdy build quality, and aesthetics. The treble, mids, and lows are well-tuned with clarity. The bass is enhanced with a rear bass port. It has several connections like Bluetooth, RCA, etc. Along with being the loudest, it doesn’t compromise the overall audio quality.
The Sony GTK-XB 90 is also a loudspeaker that focuses on bass. Although the sound performance is not the worst, it might be improved. They are best for karaoke and have an app filled with several settings. It has TrueAudio+ and DSEE to enhance the audio. The speakers are different in their own way and you can choose the one based on your priorities.
FAQs
Here are some questions and answers for better understanding.
How to answer a phone with Sony GTK-XB 90?
If you want to answer your phone do as follows:
- When a call comes in, the speaker will stop playing and allow the call to ring to notify you.
- Select this button on the top of the speaker to receive the call.
- If you want to reject it, press and hold the button
- After answering, talk in the microphone of the speaker.
- To end the call, simply press the button again.
How to connect Bluetooth devices with Sony GTK-XB 90?
Follow these steps to connect the device via Bluetooth.
- Make sure the device is near the GTK-XB 90, around 1 meter.
- On the top panel, press Functions-Pairing multiple times so that the Bluetooth LED lights up
- The device will speak ‘Bluetooth pairing’
- Go to your device and turn on Bluetooth, search for Bluetooth devices
- From the list select the speaker GTK-XB 90
What is the function of TWS of JBL PartyBox 300?
The True Wireless Stereo is used to connect another speaker wirelessly with the PartyBox 300.
- Keep pressing the Bluetooth button on both speakers at the same time for 5s.
- The speaker that you paired with the smart device will be the master speaker and considered the L channel. The other speaker will be the R channel and will be the slave.
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