Best party speakers

Top pick: JBL PartyBox 520 — the one that actually fills a yard. Big sound, deep bass, mic and guitar inputs for karaoke or a live set, and it's built to be carried outside. If you want a party speaker and nothing else, start here.

Who the others suit:

• JBL Boombox 4 — the best all-rounder if you want huge sound in a rugged, grab-and-go shape rather than a light show.
• Tribit StormBox Blast — the value pick: loud, punchy and well rated, without the PartyBox price.
• Rockville ROCK PARTY 8 / 9 — for a fixed spot like a garage or patio; dual woofers and real power, but shorter battery life.
• JBL Charge 6 / Marshall Emberton III — small-room and picnic speakers, not crowd-fillers.
• JLab / Go Party minis — stocking stuffers and desk speakers; fine for a few people, not a party.

Rule of thumb: match the speaker to the crowd — one big unit for a yard, two smaller ones paired for a room.