Short answer: the JBL Partybox 300. It ranks #8 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $300; the Sony SRS-XP500 ranks #18 and costs $449.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Partybox 300 offers: Exceptional sound quality with crisp, crystal clear highs and midranges, hard punchy bass without muddiness. Watch for: Hard to carry, too tall, drags on the ground.
What the Sony SRS-XP500 gets right: 20W 3-way speaker system with dual passive radiators, well-balanced sound (clear highs, detailed mids, punchy bass). The catch: Not as loud and bass not as deep as a Partybox 100 or 110.
Buy the JBL Partybox 300. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XP500 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 300 | Sony SRS-XP500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 Discontinued | $449.99 |
| Ranked | #8 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #18 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 27" x 13" x 12.7" (685.8 x 330.2 x 322.6 mm) | 10.8" x 22.5" x 11.6" (275 x 572 x 295 mm) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes (lying down) | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 35.3 lbs / 16 kg | 24.7 lbs / 11.2 kg |
| Output Power | 120W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 50mm tweeters |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Charging Time | - | 3 hours |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox 110 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Sony SRS-XP700 vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- JBL Partybox 100 vs JBL Partybox 300
- JBL Partybox 300 vs Mackie Thump Go
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 300: $300 Discontinued
Pros: Exceptional sound quality with crisp, crystal clear highs and midranges, hard punchy bass without muddiness. 2x 6.5” woofers + 3x 2.25” tweeters, bass boost function, 45Hz-20kHz frequency range. 18-hour battery with 10400mAh capacity. Multiple inputs (RCA, USB, 3.5mm aux, mic, guitar). LED light modes (meter/pulse/party). True Wireless Stereo pairing up to 2 units.
Cons: Hard to carry, too tall, drags on the ground. Max spl and bass extension are only as good as the Partybox 100. No real reason to ever get one, get a Partybox 100 instead. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal. Discontinued.
Full JBL Partybox 300 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 27" x 13" x 12.7" (685.8 x 330.2 x 322.6 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" (165mm) woofers + 3x 2.25" (57mm) tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 120W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes (lying down) |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 35.3 lbs / 16 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 300 vs JBL Partybox 110
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- JBL Partybox 300 vs JBL Partybox 100
- JBL Partybox 300 vs Electrotec Stage One
- JBL Partybox 300 vs JBL Partybox 130
- JBL Partybox 300 vs Electro-Voice Everse 8
- JBL Partybox 300 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- JBL Partybox 300 vs JBL Partybox 310
- See all 19 comparisons
Sony SRS-XP500: $449.99 Amazon
Pros: 20W 3-way speaker system with dual passive radiators, well-balanced sound (clear highs, detailed mids, punchy bass). 20-hour battery life, immersive room-filling sound. Party Connect feature links multiple compatible Sony speakers. USB charging port for device charging on-the-go. Built-in handle and IPX4 water resistance. Microphone input and karaoke support.
Cons: Not as loud and bass not as deep as a Partybox 100 or 110
Full Sony SRS-XP500 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.8" x 22.5" x 11.6" (275 x 572 x 295 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 50mm tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs / 11.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons