JBL’s Most Portable Party Speaker Is Built for Tailgate Season — And It’s $80 Off

The PartyBox Encore features LED lights and inputs for mics and guitars, and it’s on sale at Best Buy 

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Football season is here, which means tailgate season is here. Beyond brats and brews, music is one of the best ways to make the most of any pregame hangout, and the right party speaker can set the mood. Party speakers, which are usually larger than Bluetooth speakers and often have features like LED lights, can range from handheld models to wheeled units the size of checked luggage. 

The right one for tailgating will be large enough for the whole crew, but small enough to actually take on the go. JBL’s PartyBox Encore is one option, with a relatively compact design that can be carried in one hand. Right now, JBL’s PartyBox is discounted to $250 at Best Buy, an $80 discount. 

JBL PartyBox

IPX4 splash-proof
Mic & Guitar Inputs
Up to 15 hours of battery life

The JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 features up to 15 hours of battery life, making it a solid option for tailgating, parties, and early fall beach and backyard hangs. It still has the bells and whistles of JBL’s larger party speakers, including customizable lights and even an input for microphones or guitars, but in a more portable package. 

There are also LED lights that sync with the music, which can be customized in the JBL app. There are an impressive number of connectivity options, too. Beyond Bluetooth, the speaker features an aux input to more easily swap devices, and you can connect a guitar or microphone for impromptu jam sessions and karaoke. 

And if the party outgrows the speaker, the JBL PartyBox also features Auracast. Auracast is a Bluetooth technology that lets you pair multiple speakers from one source — that means you can take two PartyBox speakers and move them around to fill a large space with sound. The speaker is also built to survive whatever you might throw at it — or spill on it. An IPX4 water-resistant rating also protects the speaker from splashes. 

It’s a more than capable speaker for $330, but a no-brainer for $250, but the Best Buy deal won’t last long.