Weddings can be a test on your sanity and bank account, but as a product tester, they're also a ripe time for speaker testing. This year, I married my wife at a family home, which was the most beautiful and memorable backdrop for our wedding. However, it also meant that we didn't have the privilege of a venue with included amenities — in other words, we had to bring everything in ourselves. That's how, one day about two months out from the big day, I panicked, remembering we needed a speaker for the ceremony.
Like any experienced host (and product tester), we have a few Bluetooth speakers around the house, but these devices usually support our parties of 10 to 20 — not 150 people. Plus, we needed a party speaker with wireless microphone compatibility to take us from the ceremony to cocktail hour. That's how I stumbled into the new JBL PartyBox 520.
The 520 is the brand's newest and most expensive party speaker that's hefty but remains wireless and portable. From our bachelorette party to our outdoor wedding, the JBL PartyBox 520 kept the good vibes going all weekend long.
The sound is crisp and booming — indoors or outside
No matter where we stationed the JBL PartyBox 520, the sound rang out in clear, well-rounded sound. When in the low-ceilinged back room of a bar for our bachelorette party, we could turn up the volume and have it fill up the space without ever feeling tinny or blown out. However, when we didn't have the acoustics of an indoor space, the speaker still delivered smooth sound.
When we used it in the outdoor garden, the sound was beautiful. It worked equally well on older tracks like God Only Knows by the Beach Boys and modern pop like Love You For A Long Time by Maggie Rogers. And even among the crowd of 150 people who were chatting and mingling during cocktail hour, the speaker was still loud enough to hear the music soundtracking the afternoon.
It has adjustable treble, bass, and echo for audiophiles looking for a specific sound, as well as bass boost for any bass enthusiasts. Not to mention, you can pair multiple 520 speakers together with Auracast for even bigger events.
It runs for hours at a time wirelessly — plus it's waterproof
With an outdoor wedding, we knew we needed the fine balance of a wireless speaker, so that we didn't have to lay a power cord that someone might trip on, that was still big enough to fill the space without having blown out sound. The PartyBox 520 checked all of those boxes, quite literally functioning as the biggest Bluetooth speaker I've ever interacted with.
It runs for up to 15 hours when fully charged. While we didn't need the speaker to run for that long, it did give peace of mind that the speaker wouldn't suddenly kick it mid-vows.
Another factor while partying in the outdoors? Rain. The JBL PartyBox 520 has a waterproof rating of IPX4, designating it as splash-proof. Essentially, that means it's not meant to handle full downpour but a light sprinkle might handle it.
In true New England fashion, our beautiful sunny day turned to a light rain shower in just ten minutes, and thanks to the IPX rating, we didn't have to stress about the water.
With wireless mics, it becomes the ultimate karaoke machine
While looking for a wireless wedding speaker, we had one wild card need, the ability to plug in wireless mics to utilize during our ceremony and for karaoke. Luckily, JBL is well-equipped to handle this with their PartyBox mics that seamlessly connect to the brand's PartyBox speakers. Unfortunately, you do have to buy the mics separately.
On the rear of the JBL PartyBox 520 are to auxiliary inputs for a receiver. It's beyond easy to use the mics with the PartyBox as you just plug in the receiver and turn on the mics. The speaker and microphones work together to bring distinct sounds without any annoying feedback. During our ceremony, the crowd could hear our officiant perfectly; no one yelling to turn up the volume.
The best part is that you can even use multiple mics at a time. This was perfect for our joint bachelorette, where we wanted to do karaoke but the bar didn't have a setup. The JBL PartBox 520 was the perfect answer as it was able to play music and project the mics at the same time, allowing for both solos and duets. During our hours of karaoke, the mics and speakers did have occasional moments of sharp feedback, something to be aware of while using the two close together.
Added lights and sound effects make it a real party
In addition to the mics, the PartyBox 520 has two standout features to pump things up. It comes with a built-in light display that syncs to whatever music you're playing and performs a little light show. If you're not so into the lights or find it distracting for your event, you can also turn off the light feature.
For those looking to get into the DJ-ing spirit, the JBL PartyBox 520 comes with three built-in sound effects. Are they particularly useful? No. Are they extremely fun to press while you're having a good time and feeling silly? Oh, yeah.
Even with the wheels, it's a heavy lift
When you think of a Bluetooth speaker, you're probably thinking of an ultra-portable device that you can move around your home or even toss in a bag to take to your next party. While the PartyBox 520 is a wireless Bluetooth speaker, it is not that. This speaker is a big boy. At 30 inches tall, it's large and stands on its own. But more than its physical size, it's extremely heavy at 64.8 lbs..
Luckily, it does come on wheels with a handle, sort of like a suitcase. It moves easily on smooth surfaces; however, when pushing it over grass or rougher terrain, it tends to stick, and you really feel its weight.
Plus, if you're trying to transport it from place to place, it's a big lift and might not be feasible for the average person.
The price makes it an investment
Another hindrance with the PartyBox 520 is its price. At $879.95, it's quite the investment. If you're just looking for a big Bluetooth speaker, I think there are more affordable options. However, if you're looking for a party speaker that essentially functions as a sound system, it's a great investment.
Is the JBL PartyBox 520 worth it?
If you want to seriously invest in a sound system for your parties, the JBL PartyBox 520 is a great investment, and the best party speaker I've tested to date. It has a dazzling light show that syncs to music and the ability to use mics with it. Not to mention, it delivers really stellar sound with adjustable bass, treble, and echo.
However, if you don't need anything as heavy-duty, there are cheaper and more portable options like the JBL PartyBox 320, which has similar dimensions to the 520 but only weighs 36 pounds instead of 64.
