Short answer: the Bose SoundLink Color II. It ranks #98 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $139; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Bose SoundLink Color II offers: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. Set against that: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail.
On the Sony SRS-XB30 side: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume). The tradeoff: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20.
Buy the Bose SoundLink Color II. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB30 is rated for 24 hours versus 8 hours for the Bose SoundLink Color II.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose SoundLink Color II | Sony SRS-XB30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.00 Discontinued | $199 |
| Ranked | #98 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| EQ | No | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 55Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Output Power | - | 20W |
| Max Volume | - | 95dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Emberton II vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Soundcore Flare 2 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton II vs Sony SRS-XB30
The Two Speakers In Full
Bose SoundLink Color II: $139.00 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Soft-touch rubber coating is comfortable to hold and tough enough for bumps and scrapes. IPX4 splashproof. Supports multipoint pairing to two devices at once.
Cons: Boosted bass on Color II. Not as deep of bass as other models. Lacking midrange detail. Rolled off treble. Discontinued.
Full Bose SoundLink Color II review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Bose Connect) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 5" x 2.2" (132 x 127 x 56 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm full-range drivers |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Bose Party mode) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 600 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Marshall Emberton III
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Marshall Emberton II
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Cabasse Swell
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Tribit Stormbox
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Bose SoundLink Color II vs Sony SRS-XE300
Sony SRS-XB30: $199
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons