Short answer: the Bose S1 Pro+ for better sound quality, the Sony SRS-XP500 for the lower price. The Bose S1 Pro+ ranks #16 of 51 party speakers at $699. The Sony SRS-XP500 ranks #18 at $549.99, $149.01 cheaper.
What the Bose S1 Pro offers: Extremely compact and light with flexible placement options. Watch for: With full range music, it becomes distorted above ⅔ volume.
The case for the Sony SRS-XP500: 20W 3-way speaker system with dual passive radiators, well-balanced sound (clear highs, detailed mids, punchy bass). The tradeoff: Not as loud and bass not as deep as a Partybox 100 or 110.
Buy the Bose S1 Pro+ if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony SRS-XP500 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XP500 is rated for 20 hours versus 11 hours for the Bose S1 Pro+.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose S1 Pro+ | Sony SRS-XP500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $549.99 |
| Ranked | #16 of 51 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 51 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 5 hours | 3 hours |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 9.4" x 11" (332.7 x 238.8 x 279.4 mm) | 10.8" x 22.5" x 11.6" (275 x 572 x 295 mm) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg | 24.7 lbs / 11.2 kg |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 50mm tweeters |
| Output Power | 150W | - |
| Max Volume | 109dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
Other pairings from the same speaker class worth checking:
- Electro-Voice Everse 12 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Teufel Rockster Neo vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs JBL Eon One Compact
- JBL Partybox 100 vs Bose S1 Pro+
Prices on this page were last checked September 2, 2026 at 4:47 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
Bose S1 Pro+: $699.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Extremely compact and light with flexible placement options. Full sound with no lack of low-end output, crystal-clear audio quality. Three-channel mixer (2 XLR/quarter-inch combo mic-instrument + 1 line/Bluetooth), each with its own OLED display for quick treble/bass/reverb adjustment. Auto EQ adjusts sound based on orientation. Multiple angled surfaces for various positioning including tilted portrait mode, plus a line out to daisy-chain a second unit. Optional WT-XLR/WT-INST wireless transmitters dock, pair, and charge right in the speaker for a cable-free mic or instrument. Up to 11 hours battery life. Professional build quality. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage.
Cons: With full range music, it becomes distorted above ⅔ volume, and reviewers describe it as screeching at max volume. Better suited for voice amplification. Not as much deep bass as the Everse 8, midrange sounds reasonably balanced. Treble is pretty boosted. Not stereo. Designed for more loudness than deeper bass. Ports are fully exposed with no water resistance. Charges via a less common three-prong AC cable instead of the two-prong barrel cable most rivals use.
Full Bose S1 Pro+ review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 9.4" x 11" (332.7 x 238.8 x 279.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 109dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 150W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Precision Drive Audio: Music test for BOSE S1 PRO& PD K8 & JBL EON ONE COMPACT
- Precision Drive Audio: Bose S1 pro VS PD K8 VS JBL EON ONE COMPACT
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: Bose S1 Pro vs. JBL PartyBox 100 Bass Sound Test 😱💥🔥
- briansredd: Electro-Voice Everse 8 VS Bose S1 Pro - Side By Side Shoot-Out (Attempt)
- briansredd: Q&A - Electro-Voice Everse 8 Vs Bose S1 Pro AND (Warning) My Opinion
- True Techy: BOSE S1 Pro vs JBLPartybox ENCORE This Comparison SHOCKED me!!!
- JPW Pro: EV Everse 8 vs JBL EON One Compact Review
- W. Weiss: Part 3 Shootout MACKIE THUMP GO vs BOSE S1 PRO vs JBL EON ONE COMPACT Max Volume Demo A New Winner!
- James from Canada: SOUND TESTS - Soundboks, Minirig 3, dB Technologies, Bose S1 Pro, etc - RAVE TEST
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro+ Review More from GYMCADDY →
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Partybox 120 & Sony XV500
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Partybox 320 & Sony XV800
- Aaron Strawn: The Battery Speaker Battle: QSC/EV/Mackie/LD/Bose
- GYMCADDY: Bose S1 Pro Vs JBL Boombox 3 & Sony ULT 7
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Zealot PT21
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Teufel Rockster Air 2
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Electro-Voice Everse 8
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Soundcore Rave 3S
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- Bose S1 Pro+ vs W-King T12
- See all 33 comparisons
Sony SRS-XP500: $549.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 20W 3-way speaker system with dual passive radiators, well-balanced sound (clear highs, detailed mids, punchy bass). 20-hour battery life, immersive room-filling sound. Party Connect feature links multiple compatible Sony speakers. USB charging port for device charging on-the-go. Built-in handle and IPX4 water resistance. Microphone input and karaoke support.
Cons: Not as loud and bass not as deep as a Partybox 100 or 110
Full Sony SRS-XP500 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.8" x 22.5" x 11.6" (275 x 572 x 295 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 50mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs / 11.2 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons