Short answer: the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks #90 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $89; the Sony SRS-XB20 ranks #94 and costs $129, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove: Pretty balanced sound. The tradeoff: Not stereo.
What the Sony SRS-XB20 gets right: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. The catch: Sounds thin at higher volumes.
Buy the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB20 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove | Sony SRS-XB20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 | $129 |
| Ranked | #90 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) | IPX5 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 5" x 6" x 2.6" (127 x 152 x 67 mm) | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3" full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| App | No | Yes (SongPal) |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS | 20W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
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- Tribit Stormbox vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XB20
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove: $89.00 Amazon
Pros: Pretty balanced sound. Distinctive mid-century design with real wood veneer and a woven grille, unlike most plastic/rubber portables. ~8 hour battery life.
Cons: Not stereo. Bass doesn’t go as deep as others its size. Gets distorted at higher levels. Wouldn’t generally recommend these old speakers as they can’t compete with modern speakers for bass performance and features.
Full Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 5" x 6" x 2.6" (127 x 152 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3" full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Tribit Stormbox
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
Sony SRS-XB20: $129
Pros: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. 12 hour battery life.
Cons: Sounds thin at higher volumes. Bass falls away quickly.
Full Sony SRS-XB20 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (SongPal) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons