For years, JBL has been dedicated to making parties louder and more spectacular. This time they have brought out two new products, the oversized PartyBox Ultimate 2 and the compact Pulse 6. One pushes its power output straight up to 1,500 watts, while the other gives its 360-degree light show a glowing metal handle.
Both products went on sale in early October, and both feature JBL’s latest AI Sound Boost technology.
PartyBox Ultimate 2: the loudest one yet
The Ultimate 2 is the most powerful PartyBox ever made.
Its output power has risen from 1,100 watts in the previous generation to 1,500 watts, an increase of more than a third. The driver configuration has been upgraded across the board, with a larger line-up from bass through to treble. Working with the AI Sound Boost feature, the speaker analyses the music being played in real time, so that even at very high volumes the detail and clarity hold together rather than turning into a muddy mess.
There are new tricks on the lighting front too. The Ultimate 2 supports multi-layered lighting effects and can even project beat-synced visuals directly onto the floor, turning the whole room into a dance floor.
More practically, it is the first PartyBox to come with a touchscreen. The volume knob on top is itself a small display, so a quick glance down tells you what song is playing and which lighting mode is active, without having to reach for your phone every time.
Karaoke fans will appreciate the EasySing feature. With one tap it removes the lead vocal from a song, instantly turning it into a karaoke backing track, and the speaker also has some party games built in. The connectivity has been carefully thought out as well. An optical port lets you hook it up to a TV for karaoke, microphones and guitars can be plugged straight in, and connecting DJ equipment or playing from a USB drive is no problem either.
The Ultimate 2 is a genuine giant, standing over a metre tall and weighing close to 48 kilograms. Although it comes with large wheels and sturdy handles that make it reasonably easy to move around, it can only run on mains power.
The recommended retail price is around €1,599.99 / £1,399.99.
Pulse 6: a light show you can carry around
If the Ultimate 2’s job is to make the noise, the Pulse 6’s task is to set the mood.
The Pulse range has always been about music you can see, and this sixth generation keeps the transparent cylindrical design. The biggest change is the addition of a glowing metal handle. The light is no longer confined to the body of the speaker but extends along the handle, creating a more complete 360-degree lighting effect. A gentle double tap switches the speaker into a warm-toned bedside lamp mode. There is also a sunset mode, which lets you set a countdown so the light gradually dims as you drift off to sleep.
In terms of sound, the Pulse 6 has a total output of 40 watts and likewise carries the AI Sound Boost technology. According to JBL, this generation sounds more balanced than its predecessor, with more solid bass. The built-in battery lasts up to 12 hours, and the whole unit weighs roughly 1.5 kilograms.
The recommended retail price is around €299.99 / £279.99.