Short answer: the JBL Go 5. It ranks #24 of 47 small speakers by sound quality at $44.95; the Sony SRS-XB13 ranks #34 and costs $69.94, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Go 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-XB13 offers: Long battery life (~16 hours). Watch for: Not much bass.
Buy the JBL Go 5. 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 8 hours for the JBL Go 5.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Go 5 | Sony SRS-XB13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.95 | $69.94 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #34 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 | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs / 230 g | 0.6 lbs / 255 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) | 3" x 3.7"H (76 x 95 mm) (diameter) |
| Charging Time | 3 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Drivers | 45mm | 46mm |
| Output Power | 4.8W | 5W |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 88Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 88dB |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs JBL Clip
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs JBL Clip 3
- Sony SRS-XB100 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- JBL Clip 5 vs JBL Go 5
- Sony SRS-XB13 vs JBL Clip 3
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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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