Short answer: the JBL Partybox 520. It ranks #6 of 11 large party speakers by sound quality at $879.95; the Sony SRS-XV900 ranks #10 and costs $900, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
On the JBL Partybox 520 side: Handle and wheels are convenient. Set against that: Very large and heavy.
What the Sony SRS-XV900 offers: Can get slightly louder than a Partybox 310. Watch for: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume compared to the Partybox 310 and every other speaker on this page.
Buy the JBL Partybox 520. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XV900 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-XV900. It ranks near the bottom of the 11 large party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XV900 is rated for 25 hours versus 15 hours for the JBL Partybox 520.
If water resistance matters to you, the JBL Partybox 520 at IPX4 (splashing) holds up far better than the Sony SRS-XV900 at no water resistance.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox 520 | Sony SRS-XV900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $879.95 | $900 |
| Ranked | #6 of 11 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #10 of 11 in Large Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs / 25.5 kg | 58.6 lbs / 26.6 kg |
| Built in Microphone | No | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Wifi | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) | 16.1" x 34.6" x 17.3" (410 x 880 x 439 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter | 9 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" front tweeter, 2x 1.6" side tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| Output Power | 400W | 100W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 720 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 1000 vs JBL Partybox 710
- Teufel Rockster vs Sony SRS-XV900
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox 520: $879.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Handle and wheels are convenient. Lightshow ability. The biggest battery powered JBL currently.
Cons: Very large and heavy. Note, JBL daisychain is not compatible with any other non-JBL speaker and is possibly a fully digital signal.
Full JBL Partybox 520 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3" x 30.3" x 14.5" (415 x 769 x 369 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 7.5" woofer, 2x 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 400W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 56.2 lbs / 25.5 kg |
| Wifi | No |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 & 720 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs 720 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - indoor listening session
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 320 vs 520 - outdoor test
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster Neo
- Oluv Patreon: W-King T12 vs JBL Partybox 520
- AudioTribe: JBL PartyBox 520 Loudness & BASS Test Will Shock You!
- GYMCADDY: JBL Partybox 720 Vs JBL Partybox 520
- AudioTribe: JBL Partybox 720 vs JBL Partybox 520 Who’s Better?
- Reddit Search for JBL Partybox 520 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Teufel Rockster
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 710
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 720
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- JBL Partybox 520 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- JBL Partybox 520 vs JBL Partybox Ultimate
- See all 9 comparisons
Sony SRS-XV900: $900 Amazon
Pros: Can get slightly louder than a Partybox 310. Handle and wheels are convenient.
Cons: Not as deep of bass and loses more bass at high volume compared to the Partybox 310 and every other speaker on this page
Full Sony SRS-XV900 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 16.1" x 34.6" x 17.3" (410 x 880 x 439 mm) |
| Drivers | 9 drivers: 1x 12.6"x12.6" woofer, 2x 4.7" midrange, 2x 2" front tweeter, 2x 1.6" side tweeter, 2x 1.6" rear tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | None |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Output Power | 100W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Removable Battery | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 58.6 lbs / 26.6 kg |
| Wifi | No |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 310 - Can the JBL Middleweight 💪🏽 Compete With The Sony Heavyweight?
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: JBL Partybox 710 ☣️ vs Sony SRS XV900 ☢️- Basement Brawl Speaker Comparison. Can XV900 Top the 710❓
- GYMCADDY: Sony XV900 Review - Finally, A Good Speaker From Sony!
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XV900 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Sony ULT Tower 10
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Marshall Bromley 750
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Sony ULT Tower 9
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Teufel Rockster
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 710
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 720
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs Teufel Rockster 2
- Sony SRS-XV900 vs JBL Partybox 1000
- See all 12 comparisons