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JBL Partybox 120: https://geni.us/GC-JBLPartybox120
JBL Easy Sing Mics: https://geni.us/GC-JBLEasySingMics
Soundcore Rave 3S: https://geni.us/GC-SoundcoreRave3S
JBL Partybox On The Go 2: https://geni.us/GC-JBLPartyboxOTG2
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 vs. PartyBox 120 vs. Soundcore Rave 3S: The Ultimate Karaoke Shootout
The newly released JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 arrives as an intriguing, highly specialized entry in the portable party speaker space. Packing a built-in shoulder strap, an included wireless microphone, and local real-time AI vocal removal, it promises a complete karaoke setup straight out of the box.
However, karaoke is fundamentally a social experience built for groups of friends. When you evaluate the high cost of expanding microphones on the On-The-Go 2 against heavyweight alternatives like the JBL PartyBox Club 120 and the value-focused Soundcore Rave 3S, justifying its price tag becomes tricky.
In this head-to-head breakdown, we examine their real-world pricing, chassis durability, battery architectures, microphone expansion capabilities, and acoustic setups to see which party speaker truly rules your next gathering.
Price and Market Positioning
The cost of entry and what you actually get in the box vary widely across these three models:
Soundcore Rave 3S: Retails at $350 and includes two wireless microphones in the box, representing the clear budget and value champion.
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2: Retails at $420 and includes one premium wireless microphone.
JBL PartyBox 120: Retails at $450, commanding the highest base price while omitting microphones entirely from the box.
The Value Verdict: If you want an out-of-the-box duet setup without buying extra accessories, the Soundcore Rave 3S gives you the most immediate hardware for the money. To check current retail inventory and active sales, use the links or the shopping button below.
Design and Portability: Shoulder Straps vs. Heavy Cabinets
While all three units fall into the portable party speaker category, their weight profiles put them in distinct portability classes:
The Lightweight Winner: The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 is the most compact and weighs in at just 14.5 lbs (6.5 kg). Combined with its heavy-duty included shoulder strap (which features a built-in bottle opener), carrying it to the park or beach is painless.
The Heavyweights: The Soundcore Rave 3S (23 lbs) and JBL PartyBox 120 (24 lbs) are significantly larger, heavier cabinets meant to be carried by their integrated top handles rather than slung over a shoulder.
[ Portability Index ]
Light & Slung Heavy Box Cabinets
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ JBL PartyBox OTG 2 │ │ JBL PartyBox Club 120 │
│ • 14.5 lbs │ │ • 24.0 lbs │
│ • Shoulder Strap Included│ │ Soundcore Rave 3S │
└─────────────────────────┘ │ • 23.0 lbs │
└─────────────────────────┘
Chassis Durability and Water Safety
All three speakers feature ruggedized plastic housings and front metal speaker grilles. While they are built for tailgates and parties, the plastic scuffs fairly easily and the grilles can dent under direct impact.
Every unit carries an IPX4 splash-proof rating, meaning light rain or poolside splashes won't harm them. However, if your lifestyle demands extreme drop protection or full water submersion, you should look toward rugged outdoor cylinders like the JBL Boombox 4 or a SOUNDBOKS Go.
Ambient Light Shows
Built-in lighting is standard across this trio, with each brand executing a distinct aesthetic:
Soundcore Rave 3S: Features a sharp, aggressive, angular LED light show that delivers vibrant effects and syncs tightly to your music via the Soundcore app.
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 & PartyBox 120: Feature JBL's signature dynamic light rings and strobe patterns. Furthermore, because both JBL models support Auracast, you can wirelessly sync them with external JBL PartyBox Light accessories to extend the show across your entire room.
(Note: Running dynamic light shows continuously at high volumes will noticeably reduce total battery runtime).
Battery Endurance and the Swappable Battery Ecosystem
Stamina ratings differ heavily depending on volume thresholds, active features, and driver loads:
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2: Advertised at 15 hours (measured at ~50% volume with lights and bass boost off).
Soundcore Rave 3S: Advertised at 12 hours (measured at 50% volume with lights and bass boost off).
JBL PartyBox 120: Advertised at 12 hours (measured at a conservative 20% background volume with lights and bass boost off, due to powering dual woofers).
The Removable Battery Advantage (JBL 200 Platform)
Both the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 and PartyBox 120 feature quick-access, user-replaceable battery cartridges. Both units run on the standardized JBL Battery 200 platform.
[ JBL Battery 200 Platform ]
/ \
JBL PartyBox OTG 2 JBL PartyBox 120
When a battery degrades after years of use, you only replace the cartridge rather than the whole speaker. Swapping packs also lets you keep the music playing indefinitely off-grid. The Soundcore Rave 3S features an internal, non-removable battery pack.
Charging, Port IO, and Wall Power Boosts
Power Inputs: The Soundcore Rave 3S charges via USB-C. Both JBL PartyBoxes charge via standard AC wall power cords.
The High-Voltage Wall Power Boost: When plugged into a live AC wall outlet, the JBL PartyBox 120 and On-The-Go 2 unlock higher internal amplifier wattage, delivering higher peak volume thresholds and deeper bass response. The Soundcore Rave 3S maintains identical output whether plugged in or running on battery.
Power Banks & Audio IO: The On-The-Go 2 and Rave 3S provide USB-C power bank charging for external phones, while the PartyBox 120 uses a USB-A port. All three units include a 3.5mm AUX input, but the PartyBox 120 adds a dedicated 3.5mm Audio-Out jack to daisy-chain analog signals directly to other speakers without latency.
The Karaoke Breakdown: Included Mics, Expansion, and AI Vocal Removal
If your primary goal is singing, the differences in inputs and microphone handling are critical
Feature JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2Soundcore Rave 3S JBL PartyBox 120 Mics Included in Box1x Wireless (USB-C Rechargeable)2x Wireless (AA Battery Powered)NonePhysical 1/4" Mic/Guitar InputsNone1x Dedicated 1/4" Input2x Dedicated 1/4" Inputs (Mic + Mic/Guitar)Max Microphone CapacityLimited (Requires USB-C EasySing)3 Mics (2 Wireless + 1 Wired)4+ Mics (Wired + Wireless Adapters)Mic Capsule Performance Cardioid pattern, low handling noiseProne to higher handling/ambient noiseDepends on connected microphone Local AI Vocal Removal Built-in hardware engine Built-in hardware engineAvailable via EasySing USB update
[ Microphone Expansion Limits ]
┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────┐
│ JBL PartyBox OTG 2 │ │ Soundcore Rave 3S │ │ JBL PartyBox Club 120 │
│ • 1 Included Mic │ │ • 2 Included Mics │ │ • 0 Included Mics │
│ • No 1/4" analog inputs │ │ • 1 Built-in 1/4" Jack │ │ • 2 Built-in 1/4" Jacks │
│ • Costly expansion path │ │ • 3 Mics supported out │ │ • Massive expansion via │
│ │ │ of the box │ │ PartyBox/EasySing mics│
└─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────┘
The Duet Problem on the On-The-Go 2: Because the On-The-Go 2 omits standard 1/4-inch analog microphone jacks, adding a second mic requires purchasing JBL's proprietary USB-C EasySing microphone kit. If you plan to spend extra on EasySing accessories anyway, stepping up to the PartyBox 120 gives you dual physical 1/4-inch ports and broader compatibility for multiple singers.
Acoustic Architecture and Real-World Sound Performance
Driver configurations determine how well these speakers project outdoors:
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2: 1x 5.25" front-firing woofer, 2x front-firing tweeters, and front-facing bass reflex ports.
Soundcore Rave 3S: 1x front-firing woofer, 3x front-firing drivers/tweeters, and a rear-firing bass reflex port.
JBL PartyBox 120: 2x 5.25" front-firing woofers, 2x front-firing tweeters, and a large rear-firing bass reflex port.
Sound Character (75% Volume Unplugged Test)
Soundcore Rave 3S Profile: Leans toward a brighter, treble-forward sound profile due to its 3-tweeter setup. The rear bass port delivers punchy low-end kick, but the sound leans thin at maximum volume thresholds.
JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Profile: Delivers a smooth, balanced midrange and clear vocal reproduction. Because its bass port exits the front baffle, low-end punch is softer and less aggressive than rear-ported designs.
JBL PartyBox 120 Profile: The clear acoustic powerhouse. Powered by dual 5.25" woofers and a rear exhaust port, it delivers massive low-end authority and deep bass impact that easily carries across 15 to 20 person outdoor parties.
Ecosystem Multi-Speaker Pairing and Auracast Nuances
Wireless Stereo: Pairing two identical models creates a true Left/Right stereo pair across all three systems.
Auracast Multi-Chaining: Both JBL speakers leverage Bluetooth Auracast, allowing you to sync with modern JBL models (PartyBox Encore 2, 120, 320, 720, Boombox 4, Xtreme 4/5, Flip 7). They can also pair with legacy TWS JBL models (Encore, 110, 310) in 2-speaker links.
Important Auracast Karaoke Limitations:
On the PartyBox On-The-Go 2, microphone audio only outputs from the host speaker, not across the Auracast broadcast chain.
Enabling Auracast multi-speaker broadcast disables the local AI Vocal Removal tool on the On-The-Go 2.
Conversely, if you connect the JBL PartyBox 120 to another speaker via its physical 3.5mm Audio-Out port, your full karaoke mix (music + vocal audio) routes to both speakers simultaneously.
Final Verdict: Which Party Speaker Should You Buy?
Choose the Soundcore Rave 3S if you want the absolute best value under $350 for casual group karaoke, requiring two included wireless microphones, a 1/4-inch guitar/mic expansion jack, and USB-C charging right out of the box.
Choose the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 if you want a dedicated, ultra-portable 14.5 lb speaker with a built-in shoulder strap, a studio-grade rechargeable wireless microphone, and local AI vocal removal primarily for solo singing.
Choose the JBL PartyBox 120 if you want maximum bass impact and acoustic volume, dual physical 1/4-inch instrument/mic inputs, the JBL 200 swappable battery platform, and an analog audio-out port to daisy-chain your full karaoke sound across multiple speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I plug a standard guitar or wired microphone into the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2?
No. The JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 omits physical 1/4-inch analog inputs. If you need standard 1/4-inch jacks for wired microphones or instruments, choose the Soundcore Rave 3S or JBL PartyBox 120.
Can I share batteries between the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 and the PartyBox 120?
Yes. Both the PartyBox On-The-Go 2 and the PartyBox 120 utilize the standardized JBL Battery 200 cartridge platform, allowing you to hot-swap power packs between both units freely.
Does the AI Vocal Removal tool work when broadcasting to other speakers over Auracast?
No. On the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2, engaging an Auracast multi-speaker broadcast disables the local AI Vocal Removal feature, and microphone audio will only project through the primary host speaker.
Does the Soundcore Rave 3S get louder when plugged into a wall outlet?
No. The Soundcore Rave 3S delivers identical acoustic volume on battery power and USB-C wall power. In contrast, the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 and PartyBox 120 feature an automated performance boost when connected to live AC power, raising total volume and bass response.
What kind of batteries do the included wireless microphones use?
The wireless microphone included with the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 features an internal battery rechargeable via USB-C. The two wireless microphones included with the Soundcore Rave 3S run on standard replaceable AA batteries.
The JBL Partybox On The Go 2 is a strange speaker. Its super portable thanks to its shoulder strap and its great for kakroke right out of the box thanks to its included microphone and AI Vocal removal tool. However if you plan on doing karaoke with friends, and lets face it, karaoke is only fun with friends… then it can be hard to justify. So today we’re going to compare the JBL partybox On The Go 2 with both the JBL Partybox 120 And the Soundcore Rave 3S. Lets see which one is right for you.
Regarding pricing, the JBL partybox On The Go 2 has a retail price of $420, nice. And it comes included with a wireless mic. Where as the JBL Partybox 120 has a retail price of $450, but it doesn’t come included with any mics. But then there’s the Soundcore Rave 3S, and this speaker has a retail price of $350 and it comes included with 2 wireless microphones. Now if you want to pick any of these speakers up they’ll be linked down below, or you can always press on the YouTube shopping button. And if you want to further support the channel then you can always watch some of the related videos in the description down below and you can also hit the subscribe button.
So first there’s the design of these speakers, the Partybox on the Go 2 is slightly smaller than these other two speakers and it is lighter cause it weighs in at 14 and a half pounds. Where as the 120 weighs in at 24 pounds and the Rave 3S weighs in at 23 pounds. But more importantly, the Partybox on the go comes included with a shoulder strap so its easier to just carry this speaker around, plus this shoulder strap has a built in bottle opener. But overall, yes, the On The Go 2 is more portable than both the 120 and Rave 3S.
But when it comes to durability, all of these speakers are the same, they all have a mostly plastic body so they can get scratched rather easily, and they all have a thin metal grill on the front which can get dented easily. So you do want to be mindful with these speakers. But all of these speakers are rocking an IPX4 rating so some water will be okay… but if you’re looking for something more durable and portable then you either want to look at the JBL Boombox 4 or even the Soundboks Mini.
But something that all of theses speakers do have is an impressive looking light feature. And I think all of these light feature look good cause they are very dynamic and through their apps you can choose from a few diffrent lighting modes. And im actually a big fan on Soundcore’s light feature cause cause I really like the angular design. But with both Partyboxes, since they are using Auracast, you can also pair them up with JBL’s Partybox lights and extend their light feature if you want. However, if you do decide to use these light features, that is going to take its toll on the battery life.
Now when it comes to battery life, the JBL Partybox On The Go 2 has an advertised battery life of 15 hours, which is a lot and thats with it playing a little over 50% volume but with the light feature turned off and the with bass boost feature turned off. Cause with the JBL Partybox 120, it has the same 34 watt hour battery as the OTG 2… but it has an advertised battery life of 12 hours and thats with it playing at 20% volume which is good for like ambiance and with the light feature turned off and with the bass boost feature turned off as well. But keep in mind the 120 has an extra woofer to power.
But then theres the Rave 3S which has an advertised battery life of 12 hours as well but that with it playing at 50% volume and with the light feature turned off and with the bass boost feature turned off… and the reason why it can keep up with the Partybox 120 is cause it only has one Woofer to power like with the OTG 2, so its not going to have as much bass.
However with both the 120 and OTG 2, both of these speakers have easy to remove batteries and they are both use the same 200 battery, so if you want you can either get multiple batteries and keep the party going, or if you want you can mix and match batteries between your 120 and OTG 2 or more realistically, this is going to allow you to extend the life of your speaker cause once the battery dries out instead of having to buy a new speaker, you just need to buy a new battery. Where as with the Soundcore Rave 3S, you can’t swap out the battery as easily.
And to charge these speakers, with the Rave 3S, it charges via a USB C port, which is conviente, where as with both of JBL’s speakers they charge via an AC port… however if you were to use either JBL speaker while they are plugged in, you are going to get a performance boost out of them, they’re going to get louder and they are going to have more bass… and this is something that just doesn’t happen on the Rave 3S.
Now when it comes to the ports on these speakers, these speakers are very different. With both the OTG 2 and Rave 3, they have a USB C port, which is great cause you can use this USB C port to charge your own devices. Where as the 120 has a USB A port. Now all of these speakers have an audio jack so you can use them with a wired connection that way… but with the 120, this speaker also has an Audio out jack so if you want you can daisy chain it up to any other speaker and get them to play in sync.
Also, both the Rave 3S and Partybox 120 have quarter inch inputs, so if you want you can plug in a wired microphone or you can plug in a guitar. Where as the OTG2, you can’t. However, the Partybox On The Go 2 comes included with a wireless microphone… which is great. But the Rave 3S also comes included with a pair of wireless microphones.
But these wireless microphones are very different. With the Rave 3S, these mics use double A batteries, where as JBL’s mic charges via a USB C. Also JBL’s mic sound better cause it has a tight cardiod pattern and it doesn’t collect as much noise pollution when you’re handling this mic. Where as with the Rave 3S mics, these mics can pick up more noise pollution and they pickup more noise pollution when you handle them.
But if you’re planning on doing lots of kakroke, and lets face it, karaoke is more fun with friends, then the Rave 3S is the better option here cause it comes included with 2 mics, and if you want you can get a third mic going cause you can plug on in to the quarter inch input. Where as with the Partybox on The Go, if you want to add more mics, the only option is to get JBL’s Easy Sing mic which plugs in via the USB C port.
And quite honestly I feel that if you’re going to get the easy sing mics with the OTG2, you’ll might as well get yourself the Partybox 120. Cause with the Partybox 120, you can still use the easy sing mics thank to the included USB A adaptor. And if you want you can plug in 2 more wired mics, OOOOOOOR you can get the Partybox Mics which also plug in via the quarter inch input… so you’ll have a total of 4 wireless mics and still have room for more.
But also, one of the most important features on the Partybox On The Go 2 is that it has its AI vocal removal tool, so you can remove the lyric from any song that’s playing, and it does all of this locally on the device. AI Demo
However, the Rave 3S also has this feature… and like I mentioned earlier, if you were to use the Partybox 120 with the easy sing mics, then you’ll also have access to this feature… all you have to do is update your speaker. So if you’re planning on doing karaoke with your friends, personally for me its hard to just the Partybox On The Go 2 given at how expensive it is to add more mics to this speaker, compared to the Rave 3S and Partybox 120.
But with all of that out of the way lets talk about sound. Regarding speaker set up, the JBL Partybox On the Go 2 has a single frontward firing woofer with exhaust ports that shoots out the front and dual frontward firing tweeters. Then theres the Soundcore Rave 3S which has a single frontward firing woofer with an exhaust port that shoots out the back, and it has a total of 3 frontward firing drivers. And then there are both the JBL Partybox 120 which has dual frontward firing woofers with an exhaust port that shoots out the back and dual frontward firing tweeters. And with all of these speakers you can go into their apps and you can adjust their EQ to your liking and they all have an extra bass feature. But now we’re going to jump into the sound test. All of these speakers are playing with their Stock EQ’s but with their bass features turned on, they’re all playing at 75% Volume and they are all playing while unplugged.
Sound Test
So when it comes to Sound, these three speakers sound very different. With the Soundcore Rave 3S, this speaker does like to leans more towards a brighter sound signature cause it does have a total of 3 tweeters. The Rave 3S also has more kick in its bass than the Partybox on the go 2 cause its exuhst port shots out the back. Where as the Partybox On The Go 2, since its exhaust port shoots out the front, the bass might not have as much kick to it, but it is smoother. But then theres the Partybox 120 which is the most thunderous speaker here cause it has dual woofers, and its exhaust port shoots out the back. Overall, the Partybox 120 is going to give you the most lively sound here cause its going to have the most amount of kick in its bass, which is good for crowds… where as both the Rave 3S and OTG2 are more tame by comparison.
And then there’s the max volume performance. Now all of these speakers are going to be good for like a 12 to 15 person party. Now the Rave 3S does get pretty loud, but since it leans towards a brighter sound siagutre, its doesn’t sound as full as the Partybox 120 at those higher volumes cause of the lack of kick in its bass. And like I mentioned earlier, with both Partybox’es if you were to use them while they are plugged in, you are going to get a performance boost out of them. They are going to get louder and they are going to have more bass. But still the Partybox 120 does get noticeably louder than the Partybox On The Go 2.
But finally lets talk about pairing these speakers up with other speakers. Now with all of these speakers if you have two of the exact same speakers then you can wirelessly pair them up and get them to play in left and right stereo mode… however they have to be 2 of the exact same speakers.
But then theres are all of these other speakers that are using Aura cast. Now the idea with aura cast is that you’re going to be able to wirelessly connect multiple aurcast speakers regardless of brand. But as of right now I haven’t been able to connect my Rave 3S to any of my other Aura Cast speakers. So to be on the safe side, if you plan on getting the Soundcore Rave 3S then you’ll might want other Soundcore speakers that are also using aura cast like lets say the Soundcore Boom Go 3i, which is a super versitael speaker.
But then there are JBL’s speakers which are also using Auracast, but these still have a lot going on here. you can pair them up to other speakers that are also using aura cast like lets set the JBL Partybox Encore 2, 120, 320, 520, 720 or ultimate and you can get them all to play in sync… but also you can pair your Partybox On The Go 2 or 120 to any of JBL’s smaller speakers that are also using aura cast like lets say a Boombox 4, a charge 6, an xtreme 4 Xtreme 5, flip 7, clip 5, Go 5 or go 4.
But also, you can pair your Partybox up to any of JBL’s older Partybox Speakers that are using TWS like either an original partybox encore, or 110, 310, or 710… however you can only have a total of 2 speakers wirelessly paired to one another. And another thing is, lets say you have your On The Go 2 paired up to any other speaker… if you’re using the mic, then your mic audio is only going to come out of the partybox On The Go 2.
Also keep in mind, if you have your partybox on the go connected to any other speaker using aura cast, you won’t be able to use the AI Vocal removal tool. Your music is going to play through all of your connected speakers, but you can’t turn on the AI Vocal removal tool and your mic audio is only going to come out of your On The Go 2. However, I you were to use the 120 with the easy sing mics and you have it daisy chained up to any other speaker… then that way you can have your karaoke audio playing though 2 speakers.
So with all of that being said, the JBL partybox On The Go 2 is a cool speaker, but I think that its only worth getting if you’re only going to use it with one Microphone, and lets be honest, kakroke is only fun with multiple friend and mics. So if you are planning on doing lots of kakroke, the Rave 3S is a more affordable option over the Partybox On The Go 2. You’re going to get 2 mics included, you can add a third mic if you want and you’re also going to have an AI vocal removal tool. Or you can always get the Partybox 120 with a pair of easy sing mics… this way you’re going to have the same setup as the Partybox On The Go 2, but your music is going to get louder and you’re going to have more bass, you can also easily plug in more microphones and potentially get a total of 6 wireless mics going, and if you were to daisy chain the 120 up using the easy sing system… you’re going to have an additional speaker playing your karaoke music.