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 50 party speakers at $699. The Sony SRS-XP500 ranks #18 at $449.99, $249.01 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 Discontinued | $449.99 |
| Ranked | #16 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 50 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 |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Max Volume | 109dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs JBL Eon One Compact
- Electro-Voice Everse 12 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox 100 vs Bose S1 Pro
- Bose S1 Pro vs Mackie Thump Go
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 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- 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 SRS-XP500: $449.99 Amazon
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons


