Buy the Charge 6 for the beach, the pool or a bike, or for a full day of battery. Buy the PartyBox Encore Essential 2 if it lives on a deck or in a living room. Pick it for bass people feel, or if anyone plans to sing.
Shopping for speakers? Start with these brands
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Anker audio
soundcore
Headphones, earbuds and speakers from Anker's soundcore
- Anker's audio brand: Bluetooth headphones, true wireless earbuds and speakers
- ArmorSound has reviewed the Liberty 4 NC, Space Q45 and AeroFit 2
- Opens soundcore's official Amazon store
Desk and home speakers
Edifier
Upgrade your desk or living room with Edifier speakers
- Speakers and headphones for home, desktop and portable listening
- Line-up includes the M90, MR5 and S1000 MKII
- Sold direct from Edifier's US store
These two speakers do different jobs. The Charge 6 is a rugged carry-anywhere speaker with a much longer battery. The PartyBox Encore Essential 2 is a small party box with more than twice the amplifier power. It adds a mic input and a light show. Both use Auracast, so they can play together in Party Mode.
How do the PartyBox Encore Essential 2 and Charge 6 specs compare?
| Feature | PartyBox Encore Essential 2 | Charge 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Output power | 100W RMS | 30W woofer + 15W tweeter (RMS) |
| Rated battery | Up to 15 hours | Up to 24 hours, plus 4 in battery-saving mode |
| Quick charge | 10 minutes for about 80 minutes of play | 10 minutes for 150 minutes of play |
| Low-end rating | 40Hz (-6dB) | 56Hz |
| Water and dust | IPX4 (splashes) | IP68, drop-proof from 1 m |
| Weight | 13.7 lb (6.2 kg) | 3 lb (1.37 kg) |
| Mic/guitar input | One 1/4-inch jack | None |
| Phone charging | USB-C out, speaker off only | Yes |
| Lights | RGB ring with strobe | None |
Specs come from JBL's product pages and spec sheets, as cited in our two reviews.
How big and heavy are the Encore Essential 2 and Charge 6?
The Charge 6 is the one to take to the beach, the pool or on a bike. JBL lists it at 3 lb (1.37 kg). It comes with a removable strap. It fits in a tote or a decent-sized backpack, but you will notice it there.
The Encore Essential 2 weighs 13.7 lb (6.2 kg) and measures 12.6 x 13.5 x 10.3 in. A built-in top handle lets you carry it with one hand. For a speaker with a 5.25-inch woofer, 13.7 pounds is light. It still suits a deck or a living room more than a backpack.
Which sounds better, the Encore Essential 2 or the Charge 6?
For parties, the Encore is the stronger pick. JBL rates it at 100W RMS through one 5.25-inch woofer and two 0.75-inch dome tweeters. The Charge 6 is rated at 30W woofer plus 15W tweeter (RMS), or 45W. JBL lists the Encore down to 40Hz (-6dB) and the Charge 6 at 56Hz.
Side-by-side listening reports say the two reach similar loudness at equal volume settings. The same reports say the Encore moves far more low bass. On a desk or patio table, it makes the surface buzz. The Charge 6 sounds clean and full for its size, but it never thumps.
The Encore faces forward, so voices sound muffled from behind it. Set it against a wall or fence, pointed at the crowd. It compresses heavily at maximum volume, so back off a notch or two once the room is full.
Which has longer battery life, the Charge 6 or the Encore Essential 2?
The Charge 6 lasts longer between charges. JBL rates it at up to 24 hours, plus 4 more in a battery-saving mode. That mode trims a little bass to stretch playback. JBL rates the Encore at up to 15 hours.
Encore runtime varies with volume and content. In independent lab testing, it ran just over 10 hours with the light ring on. With the ring off, it ran more than 12 hours. Plan on about 10 for an evening party with the lights running.
Quick charging favors the Charge 6. JBL says 10 minutes gives 150 minutes of play, against about 80 minutes on the Encore. The Charge 6 can charge your phone during playback, but JBL does not include a USB-C charging cable. The Encore's USB-C port charges a phone at up to 11V / 2A with the speaker off.
Can you do karaoke on the Encore Essential 2 or the Charge 6?
Only the Encore takes a microphone. Its rear panel has one 1/4-inch jack with a mic/guitar switch, a gain knob and a volume knob. That means one wired mic or one guitar at a time. The Charge 6 has no mic or guitar input.
No microphone comes in the Encore's box. Add a wired dynamic mic with a 1/4-inch plug or JBL's PartyBox Wireless Mic kit. The JBL PartyBox app gives you bass, treble and echo controls for the mic channel.
For music, the Encore takes a 3.5 mm aux cable or USB-C audio from a phone. It uses Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, so two phones stay connected. It adds an RGB light ring with a strobe. The Charge 6 has no light show.
Is the Charge 6 more durable than the Encore Essential 2?
Yes. JBL rates the Charge 6 at IP68 and drop-proof from 1 m. Thick rubber bumpers cap both ends. That makes it the pick for the pool or the beach.
The Encore is rated IPX4, which covers splashes. A spilled drink is fine, but steady rain or a pool dunk is not. Its hard plastic body has a metal grille. Owners commonly report that the plastic scuffs easily. A padded bag helps if it rides in a car trunk.
The Encore has one long-term plus: a replaceable battery. JBL's owner's manual shows a screwdriver-access compartment on the bottom. Replacement packs come from JBL Customer Service. The speaker runs on AC power with the battery removed.
Should I buy the Encore Essential 2 or the Charge 6?
Buy the Charge 6 if your speaker goes to the beach, the pool or on a bike. Pick it for a full day of battery and phone charging during playback. Its basic controls work from physical buttons, with no app needed.
Buy the Encore Essential 2 for small backyard or living-room parties with bass you can feel. It suits one singer or one guitar plugged straight in. It fits well if you own Auracast JBL speakers or want a replaceable battery.
Skip the Encore if duets on wired mics are the main event. Skip it if you watch a lot of video through it, since latency causes lip-sync drift. It suits a crowd in front of it, not one standing all around it. Older PartyBoost speakers such as the Charge 5 and Flip 6 won't join its Auracast group.
What do the Encore and Charge 6 numbers mean for a buyer?
The specs come from JBL's product pages and spec sheets. Each number points to a different use.
- The Encore's 100W RMS is more than twice the Charge 6's 45W, so it suits parties.
- JBL lists the Encore to 40Hz (-6dB) and the Charge 6 at 56Hz, so the Encore goes lower.
- Independent tests ran the Encore just over 10 hours with its ring on, so plan on about 10.
- The Charge 6 is rated IP68 and drop-proof from 1 m, so it suits the pool or the beach.
- At 3 lb (1.37 kg), the Charge 6 fits in a tote or a decent-sized backpack.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Encore Essential 2 and Charge 6 play together?
Yes. Both use Auracast, so they can play together in Party Mode. Older PartyBoost speakers such as the Charge 5 and Flip 6 won't join the Encore's Auracast group.
Which speaker charges faster, the Charge 6 or the Encore Essential 2?
The Charge 6. JBL says 10 minutes of charging gives 150 minutes of play. On the Encore, 10 minutes gives about 80 minutes of play.
Can the Charge 6 or the Encore Essential 2 charge my phone?
Both can. The Charge 6 charges a phone during playback, but JBL does not include a USB-C charging cable. The Encore's USB-C port charges a phone at up to 11V / 2A with the speaker off.
Does the Encore Essential 2 have a replaceable battery?
Yes. JBL's owner's manual shows a screwdriver-access compartment on the bottom. Replacement packs come from JBL Customer Service. The speaker runs on AC power with the battery removed.
Partner brands for speakers at a glance
| Brand | What they make | Where you buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| soundcore Anker audio | Anker's audio brand: Bluetooth headphones, true wireless earbuds and speakers | Official Amazon store | Shop soundcore → |
| Edifier Desk and home speakers | Speakers and headphones for home, desktop and portable listening | Brand's own store | Check price → |
