Short answer: the JBL Go 5. It ranks #24 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $44.95; the Sony SRS-XB12 ranks #39 and costs $79, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Go 5 side: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. Set against that: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights.
What the Sony SRS-XB12 offers: Aux in. Watch for: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble.
Buy the JBL Go 5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB12 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-XB12. It ranks near the bottom of the 47 small speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB12 is rated for 16 hours versus 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Sony SRS-XB12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | AAC, SBC |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 | 4.2 |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 46mm |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 7W |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 97Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 240ms |
| Max Volume | - | 93dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Muzen Wild Mini vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- JBL Go 4 vs Klipsch Austin
- Bose Soundlink Micro 2 vs Soundcore Select 4 Go
- Klipsch Austin vs JBL Go 5
- JBL Clip 3 vs Sony SRS-XB12
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Go 5: $44.95 Amazon
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4" x 3" x 1.7" (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 4.8W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SRS-XB12: $79 Discontinued
Pros: Aux in. 16 hour battery life. IP67 rated, palm-sized with a detachable strap for hanging on a bag or belt.
Cons: Muddy, not much bass, peaky treble. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB12 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 97Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 240ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 4.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 2.9" x 3.6"H (74 x 92 mm) (diameter) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 46mm |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 7W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 243 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Harman Kardon Neo
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs JBL Clip
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Lenovo 700 Ultraportable Bluetooth Speaker
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB13
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Sony SRS-XB100
- Sony SRS-XB12 vs Tribit PocketGo
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