Subj : I tested LGs new party speaker tuned by will.i.am and I Just Cant To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Sep 01 2025 16:30:10 I tested LGs new party speaker tuned by will.i.am and I Just Cant Get Enough heres why Date: Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:12:24 +0000 Description: The LG xboom Stage 301 is a hit, thanks to its brilliant sound, feature-rich companion app, and versatile design. FULL STORY ======================================================================LG xboom Stage 301: two-minute review If youre looking to get the party moving, the LG xboom Stage 301 could be the perfect Bluetooth speaker for you. This floor monitor-inspired party speaker aims to unleash powerful bass, AI-optimized sound, and karaoke features for casual users and performers alike. But can it live up to the hype? Well, yes yes it can. During my time testing the LG xboom Stage 301, I was hooked on its clean, impactful, yet controlled sound. Bass is meaty, sure, but it doesnt overwhelm sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. Theres also AI calibration and EQ modes so that you can uncover the perfect tuning for your space and the genre of music youre playing. Even when blasting bass-heavy house tunes at top volumes, the LG xboom Stage 301 didnt produce distorted or overly compressed audio like the best Bluetooth speakers around, its a disciplined, talented sonic companion. It may not be capable of hi-res Bluetooth audio, and its front-facing design means that you get pretty directional audio, but I was still very impressed with the speakers sonic capabilities. This thing doesnt only sound good, though, its also rammed full of features most of which are accessible through the LG ThinQ companion app. Auracast, multi-speaker pairing, a sleep timer you name it. There are even some fun (but kinda gimmicky) DJ sliders and sound effects, a karaoke mode (if youve got mics or a guitar to plug in), and Healing Therapy sounds, for when you want to wind down. Design-wise, this model is a hit too. It has a quality dual-bar LED light system, which can be synced to your music or customized from scratch in LGs companion app. Elsewhere, a classic black finish, well-sized buttons, and a classy speaker grille all combine for a solid overall look. You can also angle this speaker upwards, stand it upright, or mount it on a stand, making it a very versatile option. Whats more, this model is actually priced pretty well something LG hasnt always got right with its other Bluetooth speakers. It comes in with a list price of $299.99 / 299.99 / AU$449, but youll already spot it going for less in some territories. Now, you probably wont get the maximum 12 hour battery life LG quotes that is unless you have lights off and play music at a low volume, but you can use this speaker plugged in, which also enables the speaker to hit its maximum power output. You can also replace the battery, which is handy if you run out of juice and want to slot a second in to keep the party going. Overall, Im feeling highly positive about this model. The IPX4 waterproof rating is average for a stage-style model, but wont compete with typical party speakers like the IP67-rated Earfun UBoom X , for instance. There are a couple of small technical quirks in the app, too, but otherwise, its a really useful companion. And in the end, the LG xboom Stage 301 stands tall as a versatile, fantastic-sounding, and feature-rich model thats up there with some of the best party speakers Ive tested. LGs xboom range produced alongside will.i.am has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. But the Stage 301 is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of this line, and Im more than happy to recommend it. (Image credit: Future) LG xboom Stage 301 review: price and release date $299.99 / 299.99 / AU$449 Launched in April 2025 The LG xboom Stage 301 was announced at CES 2025 as part of a new Bluetooth speaker range, alongside the LG xboom Bounce and LG xboom Grab . Its the largest, and, as youd expect, priciest speaker in the line-up, which was launched in collaboration with producer and artist will.i.am. Although the Stage 301 has a list price of $299.99 / 299.99 / AU$449, Ive already seen it going for less its down to under 250 in the UK via LG's digital store, for instance. Its worth noting that theres no stand included for Concert Mode, so youll have to purchase one separately. LG xboom Stage 301 review: specs Weight 14.7lbs / 6.7kg Dimensions 12.3 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches / 312 x 311 x 282mm Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, USB (MP3 playback) Battery life 12 hours Speaker drivers 2x 2.5-inch midrange woofers, 1x 6.5-inch subwoofer Waterproofing IPX4 (Image credit: Future) LG xboom Stage 301 review: features Incredibly feature-rich companion app Customizable lights and EQ, room calibration, DJ and karaoke modes 12-hour battery life, but can play while charging As is usually the case, LG has packed a ton of neat smart features into this speaker. Theres classic stuff like multi-point connectivity and multi-speaker pairing (with xboom models), for example. But with the LG ThingQ companion app, you can access so much more. You can customize the speakers LED lights, with a variety of presets with differing colors and motion patterns. You can also enable AI Lighting, which analyzes playback and produces optimal lighting for your audio content. I made use of the AI mode and it worked great it really made my music come alive. The lights arent the only thing you can customize though. You can also adapt the speakers sound to fit your needs with EQ settings. There are a handful of presets here, such as Bass Boost and Voice Enhance, but the AI sound option was the one that piqued my interest the most. This performs a real-time genre analysis of the media being played, in order to output the best possible audio, and again, I could really hear the difference in the best way here. One issue I had, though, is that while listening to music, changing to a different EQ causes playback to cut out for a split second. That was a bit jarring when I simply wanted to activate Bass Boost in a pinch, say. In addition, the custom equalizer option only uses three bands, which is a bit basic compared to a Bluetooth speaker like the Sony ULT Field 3 , which has a seven-band alternative. Anyway, lets go back to the good stuff. Something I personally appreciated was an AI calibration tool, which tailors the speakers sound to your listening space. After you perform this, the app provides a before and after, making the difference more tangible to listeners. This is a really smart inclusion from LG, and it genuinely improved the clarity of my tunes. And really, I could go on all day about the apps copious options. Ive not even mentioned the Healing Therapy sounds, which are great if you want a bit of ambience or just want to wind down at night. On top of that, theres a sleep timer, Auracast, customizable shortcut button (called MY Button), and a tab that integrates locally stored music files. Whew. I did say there was a lot. But perhaps some of the more unique options are the DJ and karaoke related modes. DJ mode allows you to alter playback with delay, wah, phaser, and flanger effects, play drum and club sound effects, and even layer vocal samples that you can record in the companion app. These sounds arent perfectly responsive, but it's a fun little mode to play around with. Meanwhile, karaoke mode can be accessed if you hook a microphone or guitar up to the Stage 301. It includes vocal effects like helium, robot, and soprano if you fancy switching things up a bit, and you can alter volume or reverb using control knobs on the reverse side of the speaker. So, theres a lot of options at your fingertips with the LG xboom Stage 301, but does it have the battery life to keep the party moving? Well, even though LG quotes battery life at twelve hours, your mileage will almost certainly vary. See, if youre using AI sound mode with volume high and both lights on, you wont get close to that. With this setup, I lost 20% capacity in about 40 minutes. If youve got the lights off and youre keeping volume low-high in Clear Voice mode, though, you can expect a ton more playtime. That max 12 hours is standard for this type of speaker, though most users will probably struggle to get that much. Instead, I found it best to keep the Stage 301 playing while plugged into the power socket. You get louder max volume and dont have to worry about the speaker dying on you. Its worth noting, too, that the battery is replaceable. So, if youre not near a socket, you could insert a second battery to keep the tunes blasting well into the early hours. Features score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) LG xboom Stage 301 review: sound quality Clean, rhythmic bass Limited distortion and compression By design, sound is pretty directional When we tried the LG xboom Stage 301 at CES 2025, our Managing Editor of Entertainment, Matt Bolton , said that it offered bass that felt suitably deep but not overwhelming at all, while also providing tons of space for the rest of the music to leap out at you. So, after putting the speaker through its paces in our music testing space, does this still ring true? Well, before I give a definitive answer, lets talk bass, which is the most important aspect of the Stage 301s sonic abilities. Ill start by saying that our first impression was very much accurate. This speaker didnt spit out the heftiest bass Ive ever heard, but thats not inherently a bad thing. Low-end output remains meaty, but it doesnt smother sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. In addition, bass output is both clean and responsive. When blasting Fascinator by Max Dean, the hard-hitting kick drum sounded pleasingly deep and rapid, never sounding lethargic or unrhythmic. Sub-bass entering the fray around the minute-mark was also handled really well every note was clear and impactful, resulting in an immersive, almost hypnotic listening experience. If you feel like you do want a bit more low frequency weight, you can always enable Bass Boost in the speakers companion app or set your own custom EQ. When bumping various bass-heavy bangers, vocal chops in the mid-range as well as high-pitched percussion were both well-defined in the mix, so youll get a disciplined, yet exciting listen out of the Stage 301. Even with a ballad like Soljis Rains again , rain sound effects were true-to-life rather than staticky, while the delicate vocal performance was replicated adeptly, indicating that this model has the talent to handle a range of genres. I tested the Stage 301 at a range of volumes, even cranking it up to the max for a bit. Something I realized was that peak loudness is only available if youre using the speaker while its AC adapter is plugged in its a fair bit quieter while battery powered. But when listening at top volumes, I was impressed with the lack of distortion and noticeable signal compression. One shortcoming here, which may seem obvious, is that the Stage 301s front-facing design limits the soundstage to a degree. For example, I tried listening to music from behind the speaker, and both mid-range and treble sounds were a bit muffled and far less prominent. This speaker is designed to fire audio towards listeners, rather than be a true 360-degree stereophonic hub, like the Marshall Kilburn III , say, so just ensure you work around its build and most will love what they hear. And as one final note, there arent any hi-res Bluetooth codecs here. The best this speaker can manage is AAC theres no LDAC or Snapdragon sound to uncover, something LG has experimented with on other products like the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds, which are fantastic by the way. But still, you can expect a decently detailed, full-sound from the Stage 301. For so many speakers, hi-res Bluetooth audio really isnt the bottleneck. Its well engineered drivers and enclosures, quality materials, and intelligent tuning that make a world of difference. Sound quality score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) LG xboom Stage 301 review: design Classy, customizable LED lighting Three different ways to stand the speaker IPX4 waterproof rating When I reviewed the LG xboom Buds, I was very critical of their looks. How could a pair of buds designed alongside the fashion-savvy will.i.am look so plain and uninspired? Well, LG can consider itself redeemed, because I love the look of the Stage 301! First of all, Im a huge fan of the dual bar LED lights, which can sync up to your music for a highly immersive listening experience. Unlike a party speaker like the original Tribit Stormbox Blast , this model takes a much classier approach to LEDs. Theyre housed behind a speaker grille and dont appear cheap theres also a million ways to customize them via LGs companion app. The speaker itself also has a well-finished black exterior alongside red-detailed xboom logos on either side. Being able to see the drivers behind the grille is a nice touch too. The handle is conveniently placed as well, and 14.7lbs / 6.7kg is fairly lightweight for a model of this size and shape, making it fairly easy to transport. In addition, buttons on top of the speaker are well-sized and backlit, while the volume control can be twisted clockwise or anti-clockwise to crank things up (or tone them down). Something I really loved about this speaker, though, was its ability to be stood in various positions, enabling you to find the optimal sound and display type. It can be placed flat like a regular Bluetooth speaker, but I personally enjoyed using it in Street Mode, an upward-angled configuration that made me feel like I was at a rave. Theres also Concert Mode, but this requires a stand, which is sold separately. Finally, this speaker is IPX4-rated, essentially meaning it's splash resistant. Although thats disappointing against IP67-rated party speakers like the JBL Xtreme 4, say, IPX4 is fairly standard for a stage speaker like this. It may not be the best for outdoor environments, though, so if youre not totally sold on the wedge design, maybe look to a typical party speaker, such as those in the Also consider section. Design score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) LG xboom Stage 301 review: value Competitively priced against rivals Already on sale in some markets Very good all-round quality LG doesnt always get it right when it comes to pricing. I can recall testing out the LG XBoom Go XG8T and being totally bamboozled by its sky-high $379.99 / 400 (about AU$600) list price. We werent quite bowled over by the $179.99 / 139 / AU$299 cost of the LG xboom Bounce, either, which couldnt stack up to rivals in its price-class. But when it comes to the LG xboom Stage 301, its a different story. This speaker is priced competitively if you stack it against rivals like the JBL Partybox range or the Bose S1 Pro+ PA system. It's even on par in terms of cost against Bluetooth speaker/karaoke machine hybrids like the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, which has a list price of almost $300 / 260. For new DJs looking for a stage speaker, its fairly affordable too, with a lot of the more industry-specific models costing well upwards of $300 / 300 for similarly designed alternatives. Considering the versatility of the Stage 301 for casual listening, karaoke, and even DJing, its a strong value pick. Its already on sale in some territories too. In the UK, for instance, you can scoop the speaker up for less than 250, which is well worth it. Sure, this isnt a budget product, and if you want mics and a stand youll have to purchase them separately. But with a combination of great sound, features galore, and neat looks, you certainly get what you pay for. Value score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the LG xboom Stage 301? Attributes Notes Rating Features Standard battery life, but AI features rock and it has customizable sound and lights. 4.5/5 Sound quality Clean, impactful, but disciplined bass, controlled audio at higher volumes. 4.5/5 Design Attractive lights, neat positioning options, IPX4 waterproofing is average. 4.5/5 Value Well-priced against rivals, strong quality all round, overall well-worth it. 4.5/5 Buy it if... You want plenty of bass The LG xboom Stage 301 produces clean, impactful bass, but it never sounds overwhelming or muddy. When blasting a range of house tunes, I was treated to rapid, responsive, and rhythmic low-end output that had me hooked. Youre looking for a versatile party speaker The LG xboom Stage 301 is ideal for parties thanks to its floor speaker style design, immersive lighting, and pumping bass output. It even has DJ and karaoke modes if you want to make use of those. Wired connectivity is also handy if you want low-latency audio for performances. Don't buy it if... You want a rugged audio companion This model is only IPX4-rated, meaning its not going to be ideal for outdoor use if its raining, or if youre poolside, for example. IPX4 is normal for a model like this, but I wouldve liked to see LG push the boundaries. Youre expecting ultra-long battery life The LG xboom Stage 301 is a powerful stage speaker and wont have the battery life of typical party rivals, such as those listed down below. Even compared to rival options, it's got a fairly standard battery life, and youll have to keep things very minimal to get the max 12 hours of playtime, as listed. LG xboom Stage 301 review: also consider LG xboom Stage 301 Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 Sony ULT Field 7 Price $299.99 / 299.99 / AU$449 $299.99 / 257 (about AU$490) $499 / 399 (about AU$770) Weight 14.7lbs / 6.7kg 19.2lbs / 8.7kg 14 lbs / 6.3kg Dimensions 12.3 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches / 312 x 311 x 282mm 18.8 x 10.2 x 7.6 inches / 477.5 x 259.1 x 193mm 20 x 9 x 9 inches / 512 x 224 x 222mm Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, 6.3mm (mic/guitar) USB (MP3 playback) Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, mic ports Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm, 6.3mm (mic/guitar), USB Battery life 12 hours 30 hours 30 hours Speaker drivers 2x 2.5-inch midrange drivers; 1x 6.5-inch woofer 2x 45W mid-range drivers; 2x 15W tweeters 2x 46mm tweeters; 2 x 114mm woofers Waterproofing IPX4 IP67 IP67 Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 Its safe to say I was blown away by the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 when I tested it at the start of 2025. It offers phenomenal thumping bass, customizable LED lights, and wonderful battery life it really is the full package. Pair that with a karaoke mode, IP67 waterproofing, as well as a regularly discounted price, and youre looking at a class-leading party speaker. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review . Sony ULT Field 7 The Sony ULT Field 7 has a lot in common with LGs party-ready speaker, and thanks to price-cuts, its now well-worth considering. Both the Sony and LG are almost equal in weight, each offer ports for guitars and mics, and they each assume a unique build in what is a fairly same-y market. Youll get better battery life and wraparound sound from the ULT Field 7, but its build isnt as optimal for DJs as the LG speaker and the lighting isnt as classy. Read our full Sony ULT Field 7 review . How I tested the LG xboom Stage 301 (Image credit: Future) Tested across the course of one week Mainly used in the music testing space at Future Labs Predominantly tested using Tidal I tested the LG xboom Stage 301 Bluetooth speaker across the course of one week, spending most of my time with the unit in our music testing space at Future Labs. During the testing period, I spent hours on end blasting tunes from a variety of genres, though I did put more of an emphasis on bass-heavy tracks to get the best out of the model. On top of that, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist , which is standard practice for me when trialing audio gear. When listening to music, I typically used Tidal , but I also tried bumping some tunes from my library on Spotify . I listened at a variety of angles and volumes, exhausted all of the features in the LG companion app, messed around with various lighting calibrations, and used the speaker in its various standing positions. First reviewed: September 2025 Read more about how we test ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-bluetooth-speakers/lg-xboom-stage-301 -review --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .