Even if you don’t remember the days of carrying your boombox speaker with you on your shoulder wherever you went, it’s hard to ignore the impact that devices like this have had on the music industry.

Colors, Weight

Expensive, Durability

JBL Boombox: A thunderous outdoor Bluetooth speaker with stupendous bass

Thunderous bass; IPX7 waterproofing; Charges devices via USB

Expensive; Average sound quality at this price; Heavy

If you’ve ever seen Say Anything, the classic 1989 Cameron Crowe-John Cusack romance flick, you may have had fantasies about taking a boombox and serenading your crush in the wee hours of the morning, possibly to Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes. JBL’s new Boombox speaker can make that fantasy a reality — though it is a little hefty to hold above your head for hours on end. Not only is JBL’s Boombox massively powerful, it’s fully waterproof and capable of charging your phone. We put it through the wringer, and, for the most part, this stylish tube of sound proved itself worthy as a great outdoor option – if you’ve got the cash. Like most JBL products, the Boombox arrives encased in an orange-and-white cardboard box with lots of branding. It’s got more of a “fun” feel than a premium feel, but it’s a boombox, so that’s appropriate. Included with the speaker: Product literature (quick-start guide, warranty info, troubleshooting) and a two-piece, brick style power adapter. Presumably, such pow...

Bombastic bass response; Good outdoor performance; Waterproof; Charges two devices at once; 24-hour battery life;

A little heavy for backpacking or camping; Poor clarity in treble register; Limited EQ control;

This thing just blows everything out of the water. The bass is heavy, mids are out in front and clean while the treble does sound pushed a little, however still controlled. Bring it to 70% and this thing fills a massive area with sound and bass that can be felt.

No, really . You might recall that up to this point, my favorite portable speaker ever has been the also larger than normal Harman Kardon Go+Play - that's the speaker that replaced the Zeppelin Wireless in my living room.

Just when we thought JBL's wireless speakers couldn't get any bigger (or smaller for that matter), they go ahead and shock us with another portable player, the JBL Boombox. Get the details on this handheld speaker in our JBL Boombox Review.

is a musical beast. It's compact in size, but is massive in weight and price. The sound is exceptionally clear, powerful, and intense. Bluetooth wireless audio is robust and accurate, with an enormous line of sight playback range, well over seventy feet in distance.

Within the last couple of years, I've gotten to review some big (in size and sound) Bluetooth speakers. These massive new generation boomboxes have replaced the old cassette and CD driven monsters from the 80s with better sound and much better ease of use.

Solid build; Powerful; but tamed bass; Comfortable to carry; Can withstand outdoor elements

If you're going to throw a party, then you're definitely going to want the new JBL Boombox.

Forget small Bluetooth speakers, JBL's Boombox is your ultimate waterproof party companion.