Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB20 on price, the B&O Beosound Explore on ruggedness, though neither ranks well in its class. The IPX5 rated XB20 has a pill shape that slides easily into a bag and costs $129 against the Explore’s $294.99, but it sounds thin at higher volumes. The Explore is IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook, though it has a huge lack of bass extension and overly hot ringing treble. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 175 medium speakers, and the EarFun Uboom L, ranked #2 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 1, the replacement for the discontinued Sony SRS-XB20; it is rated higher for sound quality than the B&O Beosound Explore.
If battery life is a priority, the B&O Beosound Explore is rated for 27 hours versus 12 hours for the Sony SRS-XB20.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Sony SRS-XB20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.99 | $129 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #141 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #120 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) | 1.3 lbs (590 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 7.8” x 2.7” x 2.7” (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 20W |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) | Yes (SongPal) |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) | - |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Sony SRS-XB20 compares with other leading options:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- JBL Charge 6 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- JBL Flip 6 vs Sony SRS-XB20
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound Explore: $294.99 Amazon $294.99 eBay
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XE200
- B&O Beosound Explore vs DOSS E-Go II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs W-King D8 Mini
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Soundcore Flare 2
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
- See all 74 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB20: $129 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 1, ranked higher, rated 3.1/5, released Apr 2024. See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: Sony SRS-XB20 uses 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators. Its 590 g, claimed 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX5 protection, aux input and stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use.
Cons: No EQ adjustment. Sounds thin at higher volumes. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB20 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | Yes (SongPal) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 2.7” x 2.7” (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (590 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Klipsch Groove
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Marshall Emberton III
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- See all 74 comparisons