Read our full review of the JBL PartyBox 520.
What party speaker you need partially depends on how big your party is, so if you’re gearing up for a large event — we’re talking 100 plus people — you need a speaker that can be heard over the crowd. The JBL PartyBox 520 does just that, clearly playing music whether you’re indoors or outside. If you want to be able to do it all — make a speech, sing karaoke, play a DJ set — all from one speaker, the JBL PartyBox 520 gives you that power.
There’s no bigger party than a wedding, and that’s exactly where I put the JBL PartyBox 520 to the test. I needed a speaker that could take us from the bachelorette party to the wedding ceremony, and the JBL PartyBox 520 came in clutch. At the bachelorette party, we used a set of wireless mics, and the JBL PartyBox 520 simultaneously played karaoke tracks while amplifying our surely on-key singing. The speaker delivered well-rounded sound, even in the back room of a dive bar.
Plus, the JBL PartyBox 520 helped keep our wedding day moving smoothly. It delivered gorgeous, clear sound for our processional, projected our officiant’s speech out to all of our guests, and then kept the party going during cocktail hour. Even among our crowd of 120 people, the speaker was loud enough to play music outdoors that could still be heard, but wasn’t overpowering.
The JBL PartyBox 520 is also just fun. It comes with a built-in light display that syncs to the tunes you have bumping. Plus, with JBL Auracast, you can connect the PartyBox 520 to multiple speakers if you need a little extra support at the gig.
If we thought the PartyBox 320 was heavy at 36 pounds, then the 520 is a beast at 56 pounds. Its weight definitely hinders its portability and makes it a real pain if you need to lift it, rather than wheel it around. Plus, at $879.95, this isn’t the most accessibly priced speaker and will be an investment to make in your party future.
