If you are in the market for a smaller Party speaker, look no further than the two current offerings from JBL: the Partybox Encore Essential and the Partybox On-The-Go.
They are similarly sized and priced, so which one would be the best for you?
We’ll explore the features of each in this review to help you decide.
Spoiler alert: both are great and you really can’t go wrong with either but depending on your needs one might be better than the other.
What Are They Good For?
Both the Encore Essential and On-The-Go were designed with portability in mind. The On-The-Go even comes with a shoulder strap.
Bringing them along to the beach, or a cookout or poolside (both are IPX4 rated splash proof) was the idea.
They both have microphone inputs, but the On-The-Go actually comes with a JBL wireless microphone, and you can pair one more wireless mic up to it via the internal chip.
(To do that, turn off the speaker, turn on the mic, and lay it on top of the On-The-Go. Then turn the speaker back on. The mic will connect and pair within 3 minutes. I believe it must be a JBL Microphone, like the PBM 100.)
And unlike the Encore Essentials single Microphone input, the On-The-Go has another wired Mic Input along with a Guitar input.
So if busking or playing music is your thing, the On-The-Go is designed more along those lines than the Encore Essential.
Similar Features
The Encore Essential and On-The-Go share a number of features. Both have 100 watts of output power, so both sound great and have the same sound characteristics.
They both have 6 hours of playback time in the integrated battery, and can be used while plugged into the wall.
Both will charge a phone or device which is plugged into the rear USB port – but keep in mind you will reduce playback time on the speaker to do so.
Both have multiple inputs for music: USB stick, aux in, and Bluetooth.
The JBL TWS (True Wireless Stereo) lives on both devices, which enables you to create a wireless stereo set if you have 2 of the same speaker. You cannot however pair different speakers together (i.e. you aren’t paring an On-The-Go with and Encore Essential. Two of the same speakers only.)
Where to Get One
Head over to Amazon to grab one and get free shipping:
JBL Partybox Encore Essential $299.95
JBL Partybox On-The Go $349.95
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Slight Differences Between Models
There are a handful of difference between the two models, so depending on your needs, and if one or the other happens to be on sale, the decision to chose one over the other might be simplified.
JBL is on their 2nd generation of Partybox Speakers now, and the On-The-Go was part of the first group of speakers to come out, along with the Partybox 100, 200, 300 and Partybox 1000.
What that means is you don’t have some of the tech the Encore Essential has: Missing is the ability to use the JBL Partybox App which allows you to tweak every aspect of the speaker from your phone or tablet.
On the flipside however, The On-The-Go has multiple guitar and mic inputs, and even includes a wireless microphone, where the Encore Essential only has one mic input and no mic is included.
The On-The-Go has treble, mid, and bass control knobs right on the top panel, allowing you to really dial in the sound from your instruments.
Also the Partybox On-The-Go has Bluetooth version 4.2, which uses more power and has less range than the version 5.1 Version the Encore Essential uses technically, but I don’t think you will really see much of a difference in practice.
The On-The-Go weighs 16 pounds, and is 24″ long. The Encore Essential is 13 pounds and 13″ at its widest point.
Which One Do You Get?
If you are looking for a speaker to use for karaoke or busking, or even jamming out around the house with your guitar or bass, then the On-The-Go is the model you want.
(Although if you really want to bang, look into the Partybox 110 or 310)
If you are just looking for a great sounding, fun speaker which you might use from time to time with a mic, then the Encore Essential is the one you want.
Depending of course if either model happens to be on sale, which happens from time to time. Keep an eye out for them, as I’ve seen the On-The-Go drop down to $279.95 from time to time.
Where to Get One
Head over to Amazon to grab one and get free shipping:
JBL Partybox Encore Essential $299.95
JBL Partybox On-The Go $349.95
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.