A flagship with touch controls
JBL has announced the PartyBox Ultimate 2, a party speaker it calls the most powerful in its lineup (opens in a new tab). It goes on sale October 6 at €1,599 advised retail through JBL.com and selected retailers. JBL announced the speaker in Amsterdam on October 1.
- Price
- €1,599 advised retail
- Available
- October 6, 2026, on JBL.com and selected retailers
- Output
- 1,500W, 36% above the previous generation
- Wireless
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE Audio, Auracast, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Roon Ready
- Connections
- Optical input, XLR line-in, USB-C lossless audio playback
- Durability
- IPX4 splashproof design
Output is rated at 1,500W, which JBL says is 36 percent more than the previous generation. The driver array pairs dual 10-inch woofers with dual 5-inch mid-range drivers and dual pro-grade PEN tweeters with horns, backed by two bass ports. JBL positions the speaker for large indoor and outdoor events.
This is the first PartyBox to carry an integrated touchscreen, which displays the current song and the lightshow. The next-generation lightshow adds ripple effects and multilayer lighting, and a floor projection throws visuals across the room. A larger, sturdier set of wheels and an ergonomic handle help with moving it, and JBL says the speaker uses recycled materials.
What it connects to and who it is for
The speaker supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, along with AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Roon Ready. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Qobuz Connect are supported for streaming directly from those services. It can also pair with Auracast-enabled JBL speakers and with JBL EasySing Mics.
For wired setups there is an optical input for TV karaoke, an XLR line-in for DJ equipment and USB-C for lossless audio playback. AI Sound Boost analyzes audio in real time, and EasySing AI Vocal Removal is built in for karaoke, alongside a selection of party games. The JBL One App handles lighting, features and settings.
Carsten Olesen, President, Consumer Audio at HARMAN, said the model "represents the very best of JBL" and described the company as the global market leader in the party speaker category. HARMAN is wholly owned by Samsung Electronics and has approximately 30,000 employees worldwide. JBL also launched the Pulse 6 the same day, after announcing the PartyBox 330 and PartyBox 130 in May (opens in a new tab) and the PartyBox 720 in September 2025 (opens in a new tab).
JBL says the optical connection accommodates TV karaoke setups, while the XLR input supports DJ equipment.