Short answer: the Soundcore Motion+. It ranks #3 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen ranks #18 and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen gets right: Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes). The tradeoff: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass.
What the Soundcore Motion+ offers: The previous best sounding in class, still a great speaker with separate tweeters, more bass at full volume and better off-axis treble frequency response than the Uboom L. Set against that: Not quite as neutral or detailed as the Uboom L.
One note: the Soundcore Motion+ is discontinued, but it still ranks #3 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Soundcore Motion+. It ranks higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen is rated for 24 hours versus 12 hours for the Soundcore Motion+.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen | Soundcore Motion+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $79.99 used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #18 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #3 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (9 band) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 558 g | 2.3 lbs / 1050 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX Adaptive | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 1.8" x 5.2" (133 x 46 x 133 mm) | 10.1" x 3.1" x 3.2" (257 x 79 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter | 2x 70mm (2.75") neodymium woofers + 2x silk dome tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Output Power | 60W | 30W |
| Aux Latency | - | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 54Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 130ms |
| Max Volume | - | 104dB |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Vifa Helsinki
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Harman Kardon Luna
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs JBL Charge 5 Wifi
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Soundcore Motion 300
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus
The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen: $399.00 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes). IP67 rated with a serviceable, replaceable battery - the first Bluetooth speaker with Cradle to Cradle certification. Multipoint connectivity and aptX Adaptive.
Cons: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass. Dipped area in the upper mids. Not as deep of bass as the 2nd gen
Full B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 1.8" x 5.2" (133 x 46 x 133 mm) |
| Drivers | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 60W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 558 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beoplay/Beosound A1 - all 3 generations compared More from Oluv’Sone →
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen - outdoor sound test
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs 2nd gen - worth the premium?
- Oluv Patreon: B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen - soundcheck
- Oluv Patreon: B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen - outdoor test
- Reddit Search for B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Xiaomi Sound Party
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Tribit Xsound Mega
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Tribit Maxsound Plus V1/V2/Thunderbox Plus
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Harman Kardon Luna
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs JBL Flip 7
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs Soundcore Boost “original model” pre-2021
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs JBL Flip 6
- B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs JBL Charge 6
- See all 23 comparisons
Soundcore Motion+: $79.99 used, Discontinued Amazon
Pros: The previous best sounding in class, still a great speaker with separate tweeters, more bass at full volume and better off-axis treble frequency response than the Uboom L. Just okay with the default EQ, I highly recommend using this EQ setting from r/kai7895 to get it more neutral. To achieve the absolute best sound you’ll need the Wavelet app (Android only) and set the provided Wavelet EQ in there too. Turn off the wavelet EQ for outdoor use. An alternative is Oluv’s EQ which only needs the Soundcore app EQ.
Cons: Not quite as neutral or detailed as the Uboom L. Without the above EQ, this speaker will rank around #25 in the rankings. Discontinued.
Full Soundcore Motion+ review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 130ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.1" x 3.1" x 3.2" (257 x 79 x 81 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 70mm (2.75") neodymium woofers + 2x silk dome tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (9 band) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 104dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.3 lbs / 1050 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: 2x Soundcore Boost (stereo) vs Motion Boom and Motion+ - Best Soundcore speaker? 😋
- Alan Ross Reviews: Beats Pill vs Harman Luna vs Bose Flex vs Soundcore Motion Plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: W-King D8 speaker review 50 watts power against JBL xtreme 2 and soundcore Motion plus
- Alan Ross Reviews: Earfun Uboom Review - full test - vs tribit maxsound and motion plus!
- Alan Ross Reviews: W-King D8 Mini vs Anker Soundcore Motion Plus Speaker
- Reddit Search for Soundcore Motion+ Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Soundcore Motion 300
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Earfun Uboom L
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Denon Envaya DSB-250BT
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Minirig 4
- Soundcore Motion+ vs B&O Beosound A1
- Soundcore Motion+ vs B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen
- Soundcore Motion+ vs JBL Charge 6
- See all 23 comparisons