Short answer: the JBL Go 3. It ranks #26 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $39.95; the Sony SRS-XB13 ranks #34 and costs $69.94, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Go 3 side: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. Set against that: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
What the Sony SRS-XB13 gets right: Long battery life (~16 hours). The catch: Not much bass.
Buy the JBL Go 3. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB13 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB13 is rated for 16 hours versus 5 hours for the JBL Go 3.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 3 | Sony SRS-XB13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 | $69.94 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #34 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz | 88Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB | 88dB |
| Party Mode | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Pointing up |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g | 0.6 lbs / 255 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) | 3" x 3.7"H (76 x 95 mm) (diameter) |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Output Power | 4.2W | 5W |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver | 46mm |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Clip 5 vs JBL Go 4
- Bogasing G4 vs JBL Go 4
- JBL Clip 4 vs JBL Clip
- JBL Go 4 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- JBL Clip 5 vs JBL Go 3
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 3: $39.95 Amazon
Pros: Genuinely pocket-sized at 209g. IP67 rated, survives full submersion in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Rope loop for clipping to a bag.
Cons: Not much bass at all, strange mids peak.
Full JBL Go 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 87Hz |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 2.7" x 1.6" (86 x 69 x 40 mm) |
| Drivers | 36mm full-range driver |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 110Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 4.2W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 209 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL GO 3 Review - vs Tribit Stormbox Micro - best small cheap speaker?
- DLX Willington: Jbl Go 3 vs Sony XB12 Sound Battle With Sound Sample
- Stereo Specs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Is there more bass or not?Unboxing,Features,Specs,Sound Test & Comparison !
- StereoSpecs: JBL GO 4 vs JBL GO 3 : Worth the upgrade?
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS XIAOMI PORTABLE OUTDOOR SPEAKER “BEST COMPACT SPEAKERS!?”
- Techder Audios: HOPESTAR H54 VS JBL GO 3 “SIMILAR DESIGN BUT SOUND IS DIFFERENT?!’’
- Alan Ross Reviews: Harman Kardon Neo vs JBL GO 3 - best bluetooth micro speaker❗❗❗
- Techder Audios: JBL GO 3 VS ORTIZAN X10
- Reddit Search for JBL Go 3 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB13: $69.94 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Long battery life (~16 hours). IP67 rated. Compact with a removable strap for hanging on a bag/bike. USB-C charging.
Cons: Not much bass. Muddy sounding. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB13 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 88Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3" x 3.7"H (76 x 95 mm) (diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Output Power | 5W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs / 255 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons