JBL Partybox Club 120 Review
Experience powerful sound and vibrant lighting with the JBL PartyBox Club 120. Discover its robust design, impressive sound quality, and versatile connectivity options.
check best priceSummary / TL;DR
The 120 is the smaller brother of the larger 320, 710 and Ultimate JBL Party Speakers. However, it still really packs a punch! Its sound quality is exceptional, delivering a balanced audio output with deep bass and clear highs, enhanced by customizable EQ settings. The speaker offers a range of connectivity options, including Bluetooth, auxiliary input, USB ports, and True Wireless Stereo functionality. Its lighting effects add a dynamic visual element to your music experience, making it a standout choice for party enthusiasts. With a robust battery life of up to 12 hours, the JBL Partybox Club 120 ensures uninterrupted entertainment. Despite its weight (obviously less heavy than its siblings), the speaker strikes a good balance between power and portability, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-performance mobile speaker.
If you like this review, you might also like our review on the JBL Partybox Stage 320 or JBL Partybox Ultimate or JBL Partybox 710.
Introduction
Stepping into the vibrant and diverse landscape of mobile speakers, a standout contender making its presence known is the JBL Partybox Club 120. This portable powerhouse is a part of JBL’s reputable line of audio equipment that boasts of delivering an immersive auditory experience. The Club 120 is equipped with features that cater to the needs of any music enthusiast, from casual listeners to dedicated audiophiles.
One of the key aspects of this speaker that sets it apart from its competition is its unique combination of audio performance and lighting effects. This makes it an excellent entertainment system for not just house parties or BBQs, but also professional DJ setups. I'll be diving into the specifics of these in the 'Lighting Effects' section.
While the Club 120 is packed with tech, it doesn't compromise on its design or portability. It carries JBL's classic aesthetic with a modern twist, which I'll be elaborating on in the 'Design and Build Quality' section. Additionally, despite its size, it offers a good degree of portability, making it a versatile option for your audio needs.
I must note that the JBL Partybox Club 120 is more than just a speaker. It's an entertainment powerhouse, a party starter, and a music lover's companion rolled into one. In this review, we'll be delving into the intricate details of what makes it such a compelling choice for mobile speakers. So, strap in and get ready for a detailed walkthrough of this exceptional audio device.
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Design and Build Quality
Sturdy and stylish, the JBL Partybox Club 120 boasts a robust build that promises longevity. Clad in a sleek, matte black finish, this mobile speaker is a sure eye-catcher. Its front grille is adorned with a vibrant LED light show, adding a touch of panache to its overall aesthetic.
The speaker measures 14.5 x 13.5 x 28.8 inches, providing a substantial yet manageable size for a party speaker. Weighing around 7.1 kg, it's neither lightweight nor overly hefty. The Club 120 is built with durability in mind, sporting a sturdy handle for easy transportation and rubber feet for stable placement.
Its exterior is a mix of high-grade plastic and metal, resulting in a solid, premium feel. The control buttons are neatly aligned on the top panel, allowing for hassle-free operation.
Behind the metal grille is where the sound magic happens. The JBL Partybox Club 120 houses two 5.25" woofers and two 2.25" tweeters, promising a powerful, balanced audio output. These components are well-protected by the rugged grille, safeguarding the speaker's audio integrity.
Overall, the design and build quality of the JBL Partybox Club 120 are impressive. It flaunts a sophisticated aura, yet maintains a rugged build suitable for any party scenario. It’s a classic example of how JBL successfully combines form and function in their audio products.
Sound Quality
When speaking of the JBL Partybox Club 120, sound quality is certainly a force to be reckoned with. The speaker utilizes JBL’s renowned audio technology, ensuring a powerful, clear, and immersive sound experience that truly brings the party to life.
The Partybox Club 120 is equipped with a 2-way speaker system, consisting of two 5.25-inch woofers and two 2-inch tweeters. This combination ensures a well-balanced sound, with crisp highs and deep, resonant lows. Music genres like electronic dance, pop, and even classical pieces are reproduced with excellent clarity and detail, without any noticeable distortion even at high volume levels.
Furthermore, the speaker incorporates JBL's proprietary Bass Boost function. When switched on, this feature enhances the lower-end frequencies and provides a more powerful and punchier bass response, creating an immersive sound experience that is sure to get your feet tapping. It's like having a mini nightclub right in your living room!
Another noteworthy feature is the speaker's ability to deliver a room-filling sound. Despite its compact size, the Partybox Club 120 can easily fill up a medium to large-sized room with vibrant, high-quality sound. This can largely be attributed to its high peak power output of 120W, which helps to amplify the sound across a broad range.
Lastly, the speaker offers an adjustable EQ (equalizer) feature. This allows you to tailor the sound quality to your personal preferences or the specific acoustics of your environment. Whether you like your music bass-heavy or prefer more emphasis on the mids and highs, the JBL Partybox Club 120 gives you the flexibility to choose.
In summary, the Partybox Club 120 delivers a sound quality that is truly impressive for a mobile speaker of its size. Its ability to reproduce loud, clear, and dynamic sound coupled with flexible sound customization options makes it a strong contender in its class.
Connectivity Options
The JBL Partybox Club 120 is not only about delivering powerful sounds, but it also offers a variety of connectivity options that makes it a versatile device for every party lover.
Firstly, it features Bluetooth 5.1, the latest standard, which provides a fast and stable wireless connection with your mobile devices. This allows users to stream music from their smartphones, tablets, or computers without any annoying interruptions or dropouts.
However, if you prefer wired connections, the speaker is also equipped with a 3.5mm auxiliary input, enabling connections with devices that don't support Bluetooth. This could be your old-school iPod, or even a vinyl player for some retro vibes.
Furthermore, the speaker boasts USB ports. It means you can plug in a flash drive and play your favorite tracks directly from it. This also enables charging your mobile devices on the go – a handy feature during long hours of playtime.
Let's not forget the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) functionality, a significant connectivity perk of the JBL Partybox Club 120. With this feature, you can wirelessly connect two speakers and create a more encapsulating stereo sound environment. If you're planning to throw a large outdoor party, this feature could definitely be a game-changer.
To sum up, the Partybox Club 120 is not just your regular mobile speaker – its extensive range of connectivity options gives it an upper hand, making it a truly versatile and adaptable party companion.
Lighting Effects
One of the standout features of the JBL Partybox Club 120 is undoubtedly its lighting effects. The device comes equipped with full panel lighting which can be customized to fit your mood or the atmosphere of your event. It's not just about making the speaker look good, it also adds a visual element to your music, making it a complete sensory experience.
Each of the speaker's sides is adorned with an array of LEDs that can be controlled through the accompanying JBL app. The colors are vibrant and the transitions smooth. The app itself allows you to choose between several different lighting modes, including meter, pulse, and party. Each one offers its own unique visual representation of your music, which can be quite mesmerizing.
Moreover, the light show function is not merely an aesthetic addition, it's also designed to be highly responsive to your music. Based on the rhythm and beats of the songs you're playing, the lights will change and pulse, adding a dynamic visual element to your audio experience.
Despite its many lighting options, the JBL Partybox Club 120 manages to keep things intuitive. The controls are easy to navigate, and even if you're not tech-savvy, you'll find it a breeze to customize your light show. This combines brilliantly with the speaker's impressive sound quality, a topic we cover in detail in the "Sound Quality" section of this review.
In conclusion, the lighting effects of the JBL Partybox Club 120 are not just a mere afterthought. They are an integral part of the speaker's identity, offering a unique way to enhance your music and parties. Whether you're using it at home or taking it along to a friend's party, the vibrant and responsive light show is sure to impress.
Battery Life
If there's one feature that can make or break a mobile speaker, it's its battery life. Fortunately, the JBL Partybox Club 120 does not disappoint in this aspect. Equipped with a robust rechargeable battery, it promises up to 12 hours of playtime depending on the volume and light show settings. This prolonged playback is quite impressive for a speaker of its size and power, allowing you to keep the party going all night long.
The speaker also includes a battery indicator on its top panel. This handy feature lets you know how much juice you have left, preventing any unexpected shutdowns in the middle of your favorite tracks. While the Partybox Club 120 can run for hours on a single charge, be mindful that higher volumes and intense light settings can drain the battery faster.
When it comes to recharging, the unit requires around 3.5 hours for a full charge using the included power adapter. While this may seem a tad long, do remember that the trade-off is a considerably longer battery life than many other models in the market.
In short, the JBL Partybox Club 120 offers robust battery performance. Whether you're hosting an all-night dance party or enjoying a chill outdoor gathering, you can count on this mobile speaker to deliver continuous, high-quality sound without worrying about the battery dying out on you.
However, for those constantly on the move, a power bank could be a good investment to supplement the built-in battery, especially if you intend to use the speaker for extended periods.
Portability
Let's touch upon one of the significant aspects of the JBL Partybox Club 120, the portability. Even though this speaker has dimensions that hint at the power within, JBL has managed to balance size and portability surprisingly well. With a weight of 9.7 kg, it's not feather-light, but its robust handle makes it easy to carry from place to place.
The JBL Partybox Club 120 is designed to deliver high-volume sound that can fill a room or a small outdoor area with ease. So, you might wonder, does this sheer power compromise its portability? The answer is a resounding 'No'. Despite its sound capabilities and a handful of advanced features, this speaker remains relatively portable compared to its cousins in the high-powered speaker space.
However, don't get the impression that you'll be able to slip this speaker into a small bag. It's not meant to be ultra-portable. Instead, it's designed for those who need a portable powerhouse for their parties or events. If you tend to host gatherings in different locations or enjoy outdoor activities with a side of booming music, the JBL Partybox Club 120 could be a fitting companion.
Few might argue that a speaker that weighs 9.7 kg falls short in terms of portability. However, given the impressive sound performance revealed in our 'Sound Quality' section and the battery life, discussed later in the 'Battery Life' section, the weight trade-off seems entirely reasonable. Remember, this isn't a pocket speaker; it's a party speaker.
To sum up, the JBL Partybox Club 120 delivers on portability, balancing power and size adequately. Whether you're hosting an indoor party or heading out for an outdoor gathering, this speaker's easy-to-carry design and powerful performance make it a standout choice in the realm of portable party speakers.
Ease of Use
One of the strong points of the JBL Partybox Club 120 is its ease of use. It is designed with a user-friendly interface, making it convenient for all types of users. The controls on the top panel are quite intuitive, with clear labels for each button. There's the power button, volume control, play/pause, and even a DJ-like feature for song mixing.
The speaker also features a dedicated app, available for both iOS and Android devices, which not only makes the set-up process a breeze but also gives you control over various features. The app lets you switch between different sound modes, manage the lighting effects, and even control the speaker remotely.
Another worth-mentioning aspect is its Bluetooth pairing. Unlike some mobile speakers which require you to go through a series of complicated steps, the JBL Partybox Club 120 pairs quickly and easily. Just activate your device's Bluetooth, find the speaker in your device's list of available Bluetooth devices, tap to connect, and you're good to go.
However, do note that while its user interface is generally straightforward, it may take a bit of time to get used to all the features and functionalities, especially if you are not familiar with JBL's products. But don't worry, the packaged user manual provides detailed instructions, and there are numerous online resources available as well.
In a nutshell, the JBL Partybox Club 120 is a highly user-friendly mobile speaker. It's not just about its superior sound quality or its fantastic lighting effects, but also about the ease with which you can control and navigate its features.
What's in the Box
When opening up the package, the JBL Partybox Club 120 reveals its versatile array of contents. The first item you'll notice is of course, the speaker itself, equipped with a sturdy handle, making it immediately apparent that this device is designed for on-the-go use.
Accompanying the speaker, you'll find a dedicated power adapter. This is a standard inclusion, allowing you to charge your speaker. It's worth mentioning here that the speaker also has a built-in battery, a feature covered more comprehensively in the 'Battery Life' section of this review.
Next, you'll find an audio cable. This 3.5mm cable, commonly known as an Aux cable, allows you to connect your device to the speaker in a more traditional, wired manner. This option is particularly valuable in situations where Bluetooth connectivity could potentially be unstable or unavailable.
The package also includes a user manual, which is pretty straightforward and easy to understand. For any queries or troubleshooting needs, this guide should have you covered. Nonetheless, you can always refer to the 'Ease of Use' section of this review for more information.
Lastly, there's a handy warranty card. JBL provides a standard one-year warranty with the Partybox Club 120, which is always a reassuring inclusion. It's a tangible testament to JBL's confidence in the build quality and longevity of their product.
In summary, the box contains the speaker, a power adapter, an Aux cable, a user manual and a warranty card. It's a comprehensive set, providing everything you need to enjoy your brand new JBL Partybox Club 120.
Conclusion
In wrapping up, the JBL PartyBox Club 120 is a mobile speaker that justifies its price tag with an impressive combination of power, versatility, and top-notch audio performance. With its robust design, variety of connectivity options, and lively light show, it's clear that this device is a great choice for anyone who loves to host parties or simply enjoys high-quality sound.
However, its considerable weight may somewhat limit its portability. While this factor could be off-putting to some, it's worth noting that the speaker’s powerful sound and the battery life are significantly impressive for a speaker of its size.
The speaker's ease of use is another feature that must be commended. Even those who are not tech-savvy will find the JBL PartyBox Club 120 simple to operate, thanks to its intuitive control panel and connectivity options.
As we mentioned in the 'What's in the Box' section, you're getting good value with the included accessories as well. The added microphone and cable make it a handy package for karaoke enthusiasts or event hosts.
The JBL PartyBox Club 120 is a solid mobile speaker that delivers in terms of sound quality, build quality, and overall functionality. Whether you're hosting a party, setting up a home theatre, or simply wanting to enjoy your music at its best, this unit promises to deliver.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a mobile speaker that offers a great balance of performance, versatility, and entertainment, the JBL PartyBox Club 120 is undoubtedly a solid choice.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Versatile connectivity options
- Robust build quality
- Long battery life
- Vibrant lighting effects
Cons
- Heavy for some users
- Not ultra-portable
- Long charging time
- May take time to learn all features
Technical specifications
Product Name | JBL Partybox Club 120 |
---|---|
Speaker Type | Portable Bluetooth Speaker |
Power Output | 240 Watts |
Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz |
Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
Battery Life | Up to 12 hours |
Input Terminals | USB, AUX, Mic/Guitar with volume control |
Dimensions | 310mm x 320mm x 690mm |
Weight | 15.32 kg |
Where to buy
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