Short answer: the Bose S1 Pro for better sound quality, the Sony GTK-XB60 for the lower price. The Bose S1 Pro ranks #16 of 50 party speakers at $699. The Sony GTK-XB60 ranks #48 at $299, $400 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.
What the Sony GTK-XB60 offers: 60W powerful sound performance with extra-bass technology for deep, punchy output. 2x 5.12” woofers + 2x 1.97” tweeters. Watch for: No deep bass at all, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning
Buy the Bose S1 Pro if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony GTK-XB60 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony GTK-XB60. It ranks near the bottom of the 50 party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose S1 Pro | Sony GTK-XB60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 Discontinued | $299 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #16 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #48 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 11 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 5 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 9.4" x 11" (332.7 x 238.8 x 279.4 mm) | - |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | No | Yes |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
| XLR Input | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters | 8cm driver + passive radiators |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Max Volume | 109dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose S1 Pro: $699.00 Discontinued Amazon
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 mic/line + 1 line/Bluetooth). Auto EQ adjusts sound based on orientation. Multiple angled surfaces for various positioning including tilted portrait mode. 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. 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. Discontinued.
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) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1x 6" (152mm) woofer + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Max Volume | 109dB |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| 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 |
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- 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
- Reddit Search for Bose S1 Pro Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony GTK-XB60: $299 Discontinued
Pros: 60W powerful sound performance with extra-bass technology for deep, punchy output. 2x 5.12” woofers + 2x 1.97” tweeters. Up to 14 hours battery at reasonable levels (3 hours at full volume with extra bass and lamps). NFC support, flashy party lights, app control for light moods. Pair two XB60s for wider soundfield. Works as mini PA system with RCA/USB/mic ports.
Cons: No deep bass at all, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning. Discontinued.
Full Sony GTK-XB60 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 8cm driver + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons