JBL PartyBox 720 Review

Design

• Built-in handle and roller wheels
• Multi-zone reactive RGB lighting
• IPX4 splash resistance

The JBL PartyBox 720 doesn’t shake things up too much in the design department. It looks a lot like the other speakers in the PartyBox line-up, and it isn’t dramatically different from the 710 that it replaces.

As usual, you get a black mesh grille covering the front, a prominent JBL logo in the centre, and rugged matte black plastic elsewhere. There’s a sculpted carry handle at the top rear and two rubberised wheelie-bin-style wheels so that you can roll it about.

It’s a very big speaker (noticeably taller than the 710), standing at over 2 and a half feet tall, and weighing in at just under 35kg. So while you can wheel it around, you probably won’t want to take it very far, and if you have a small car, you’ll probably struggle to fit it in the boot.

The physical controls are all on the top panel, and they look pretty much identical to the PartyBox 520’s controls. There are two large knobs that control the lighting effects and volume, four smaller knobs to adjust the sound of the microphone input, a Bluetooth pairing button, Auracast, Bass Boost, and power. You also get three programmable sound effect buttons.

On the back, there’s a large rubber bung that covers the I/O. Underneath, you get dual XLR/ 1/4-inch combo jacks for connecting microphones or a guitar, a 3.5 AUX-in, USB-C, and 3.5mm in/out for wired daisy chaining.

There’s also a plastic flap that covers the battery bay, and a figure-8 AC input towards the bottom. My sample didn’t come with the battery; that’s an optional add-on. I quite like this setup, as if you’re only using it at home or at a venue and don’t plan on moving it about too much, then you can save some cash and get it without the battery.

It’s worth noting, though, that these batteries don’t come cheap. The 720 uses the same JBL 600 battery as the 520, but it needs two of them, and they’re sold in a twin pack for around £150. So, if you need this to be truly portable, it’s a significant add-on cost.

As with most other PartyBox speakers, the 720 is rated IPX4 splash-proof. So while it’s safe to use near a paddling pool and a spilt drink or two should do much damage, you’ll want to bring it inside if it starts raining.

The built-in lights offer a similar overall effect to the previous model, but there have been a few tweaks that bring it more in line with the brand’s current models. The white LED strobes at the top have been removed, and you now get a slim RGB bar across the top and bottom, as well as down each side.

There’s still a massive diffused figure-8 light strip circling the woofers, and smaller single-point RGB strobes dotted around the front panel. JBL’s lighting effects are always among the best, and it’s the same story here – but more on that later.

Features

• JBL PartyBox companion app
• Auracast and daisy chaining
• Dual mic/guitar inputs

Another notable difference with this model is the upgraded I/O. Rather than only 1/4-inch jacks, you now have the option of hooking microphones or guitars (or anything else) with twin XLR inputs. Whether you’re building out a portable DJ rig, MC-ing an event, or busking on the streets, it’s easy to get his speaker set up and sounding great.

These XLRs are combo ports, so you can still use 1/4-inch jacks if needed, plus there’s a 3.5mm AUX port, which is perfect for hooking up a laptop or digital audio player. JBL also sells an optional wireless microphone kit, which would pair well with this speaker if you like a bit of karaoke.

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The older 710 only supported TWS stereo pairing, but the 720 adds full Auracast support. This means you can wirelessly daisy-chain up to 99 compatible speakers like the PartyBox 520, Xtreme 4, Boombox 4, and so on.

There’s also still 3.5mm daisy-chain in and out ports, so if you want to mix and match your gear, you can still wire up an absolutely mad sound system.

The PartyBox 720 works with the JBL PartyBox App for Android and iOS. This app lets you access a full 7-band EQ, various different sound modes, DJ effects and sound clips, and in-depth microphone/guitar input controls.

The app also lets you take control of the light show. You get six different animation styles, endless colour options, and the ability to individually toggle on and off each of the four lighting zones.

All the options are music-reactive, aside from one static colour mode, and they quickly react and pulsate along with the beat. I’ve tried party speakers from a bunch of different brands, and while many do a good job, JBL’s lighting effects still impress the most.

As I mentioned earlier, the PartyBox 720 can be powered by a battery pack. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sent a battery for testing; I only used it hooked up to the mains. JBL says it’ll go for up to 15 hours on a charge (probably with the lights turned off), and it’ll take about 3 hours to charge back up.

Sound Quality

• 2x 9-inch woofers, 2x 1.25-inch tweeters
• Crazy powerful
• Big bassy sound signature

Compared to the older model, JBL has increased the size of the woofers by an inch, while reducing the size of the tweeters. The output is still rated at 800W, but the bigger woofers make it seem even louder – and considering the 710 was already so powerful, that’s really saying something.

Around the house, if I pushed it to 20% volume, I felt like I was risking a noise complaint. This thing is an absolute monster, and it has more than enough power to be used in large outdoor spaces with lots of noisy guests. It’ll turn your back garden into a nightclub in an instant. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

As I’ve found with other JBL party speakers, though, this isn’t just some boisterous bass cannon with no substance; it actually sounds lovely. It’s as bass-forward as you’d expect, but the mids are well presented, vocals sound clean, and the high end is very detailed.

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Of course, with a speaker like this, bass is the order of the day, and it certainly doesn’t lack in that department. The newly enlarged woofers allow this speaker to dip down as low as 35Hz, and the Bass Boost mode enhances that further.

My sample shipped with Bass Boost active and set to the ‘Deep’ preset. This is the setup I preferred on the PartyBox 520, and it’s the same case here. Switching the Bass Boost to ‘Punchy’ enhances the lower mid-range instead, which works great for rock music – or anything with pounding kick drums.

I didn’t find the Bass Boost modes to be overpowering, but if you think they’re a bit much, they can be disabled. There’s also a Chill mode, which reduces the bass further, as well as a Vocal mode for podcasts and a Movie mode, if you decide to hook it up to your TV.

There’s also a 7-band EQ for further tuning, but honestly, I didn’t feel the need to mess with it. The PartyBox 720 sounds wonderful right out of the box, and so long as you’re into that bass-heavy live venue sound, you’ll likely enjoy it very much.

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The classic party genres allow the PartyBox 720 to flex its muscles the most. The speaker comes alive when you throw a punchy rap song at it, and even more so with a drum and bass drop. That said, you might be surprised by how good other genres sound.

I’ve been reliving my youth with some emo classics from the likes of Taking Back Sunday, and the PartyBox is a surprisingly complementary pairing. The drums hit hard without overshadowing the guitars and vocals. It’s almost like being at a gig, and it can certainly be as loud, if you want it to be.

Should you buy it?

You need more power than the PartyBox 520 can muster

The JBL PartyBox 720 offers a similar experience to the 520, it’s just larger, bassier, and more powerful. If you’re hosting a large event, and smaller party speakers can’t keep up, this is the one for you.

You want something properly portable

There’s no getting around the fact that this speaker is extremely large and heavy. Sure, there are wheels built in, but you won’t want to wheel it very far, and the battery is an optional add-on. If you value portability, there are better options.