JBL BandBox brings on-device AI stem separation to portable amps

JBL launches BandBox: AI-powered portable amps aimed at musicians

JBL is stepping into the musician’s practice space with BandBox, a new range of AI-powered portable amps and Bluetooth speakers designed to support creativity, practice, and performance. Unveiled at NAMM 2026, the BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio bring real-time vocal and instrument separation to the portable amp category, allowing musicians to isolate or remove elements of a song directly on the device—without needing internet access or cloud processing.

At the core of the BandBox lineup is JBL’s Stem AI technology, which can strip vocals, drums, or guitar parts from any streamed track. This feature enables players to jam along with just the rhythm section, practice lead lines with the original backing, or rehearse in new ways without needing pre-processed stems. Whether you’re working through a solo or laying down rhythm parts, BandBox aims to make practice sessions feel more like real performances.

The BandBox Solo is tailored for individual musicians and includes a single input for guitar or microphone, onboard amp modeling, a range of built-in effects, a looper, a pitch shifter, and USB-C audio interface for recording. It offers up to 6 hours of battery life and connects to the JBL One app for additional control over sound, presets, and practice tools. The compact speaker delivers 30W RMS via a single 2.25-inch full-range driver and includes a headphone jack for silent practice.

The BandBox Trio expands the feature set for group sessions, with four instrument inputs, a built-in four-channel mixer, 135W RMS output, and a 6.5-inch woofer paired with two 1-inch tweeters. It includes the same AI functionality and app control as the Solo but adds tactile physical controls and a replaceable 10-hour battery. The Trio also doubles as a monitor speaker with line-out for larger PA setups and includes more advanced microphone effects for vocalists.

Both the BandBox Solo ($249.95) and Trio ($599.95) are available for pre-order now and will ship beginning March 1, 2026. While JBL’s reputation for sound quality is well established, we’ll need to run these through our SoundGuys ringer to see how well the AI separation and onboard tools perform in real-world conditions.