JBL has announced two new accessories for its PartyBox line of LED-enhanced Bluetooth speakers: the PartyLight Stick, which looks like a glowing animated lightsaber, and the PartyLight Beam, that can cast a light show on walls or ceilings.
The $99.95 PartyLight Stick and the $149.95 PartyLight Beam can each function as standalone lights. You can adjust the intensity, speed, and motion of each light to match a party’s vibe using a mobile app, but they both include built-in microphones that will make their animated light shows match up to whatever music is playing in the room.
Both lights become more capable when wirelessly connected to one of JBL’s PartyBox speakers. Their glowing animations will be synchronized to the LEDs in the speakers and the music being played using Bluetooth Auracast — a feature that can broadcast a Bluetooth signal to an unlimited number of other devices. That also means that multiple PartyLight Sticks and Beams can be synchronized to help illuminate a larger space.
JBL says the PartyLight Stick, which uses 183 RGB LEDs, will run for about eight hours on a rechargeable battery making several of them easier to position around a room without creating tripping hazards from power cords. It also has an IPX4 splashproof rating so it can be used outdoors even if it rains, or near a pool, as long as it doesn’t get dunked.
The PartyLight Beam pairs three RGB LEDs with four white LEDs, but needs to be plugged into a wall outlet. That does introduce some limitations on where it can be positioned, particularly in a room full of revelers, but the angle of its light projection can be adjusted so it could be placed close to walls. JBL doesn’t specify an IP rating for the Beam, so you’ll want to keep it away from bad weather, fountains, and celebratory champagne sprayings.
The JBL PartyLight Stick and PartyLight Beam are now available in both North America and Europe.