Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Harman Kardon Citation 200 is the better pick: it ranks #13 of 105 large speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5), against #56 (rated 3.5/5) for the Sony SRS-XB43. If you want one new, the Sony ULT Field 5 replaces the Sony SRS-XB43 and is rated 3.5/5 at $348.
The Harman Kardon Citation 200 is the better-sounding option. Deeper bass than any Onyx. The tradeoff: Overly boomy by default, you can short press the Bluetooth and volume down buttons simultaneously to decrease the bass, and the Bluetooth and volume up buttons simultaneously to increase it.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the longer-running, tougher pick. Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 8 for the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Harman Kardon Citation 200. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Harman Kardon Citation 200 lacks. Watch for: Not as loud as others in the category.
Buy the Harman Kardon Citation 200 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, buy the Sony ULT Field 5, which replaces the Sony SRS-XB43.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Harman Kardon Citation 200 | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 Discontinued | $150 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon app) | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| USB Playback | No | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7” x 8.6” x 6.8” (178 x 219 x 172 mm) | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 1” tweeter | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W | 32W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 85ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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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
Harman Kardon Citation 200: $130 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Deeper bass than any Onyx.
Cons: Overly boomy by default, you can short press the Bluetooth and volume down buttons simultaneously to decrease the bass, and the Bluetooth and volume up buttons simultaneously to increase it. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Citation 200 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 50W |
| App | Yes (Harman Kardon app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7” x 8.6” x 6.8” (178 x 219 x 172 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” woofer, 1” tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant |
| Weight | 6.3 lbs (2.85 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Xtreme3 Sound & Bass test More from KULASTECHSHOW20 →
- KULAS TECH SHOW: Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 7 Bass comparison
- Ezekielo: Citation 200 vs Beolit 20 with Sound Comparison!
- Ezekielo: Citation 200 vs Onyx Studio 6 vs Bose Portable Speaker Sound Comparison
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs B&O Beosound A5
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Soundcore Boom 2
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- Harman Kardon Citation 200 vs JBL Xtreme 3
- See all 69 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB43: $150 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 5, ranked higher, rated 3.5/5, released Apr 2025. See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Twin passive radiators deliver Extra Bass impact. IPX7 waterproof and rugged. Up to 24 hour battery (14 hours with lights on). Party lights for visual appeal. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
Setup: Try out +3 +6 +3 as an EQ to get it as flat as possible as mentioned in the Alan Ross video
Full Sony SRS-XB43 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb43 JBL Xtreme 2 W-King d8 Dockin D Fine
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal. More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XG300 Review & Compared To Sony XB43 More from GYMCADDY →
- Sonido Pesado: Reacciono al sonido, tronsmart FORCE MAX vs SONY XB 43
- Head-to-Head Comparisons