Short answer: the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks #90 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $89; the Sony SRS-XE300 ranks #92 and costs $137, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove offers: Pretty balanced sound. Watch for: Not stereo.
On the Sony SRS-XE300 side: IP67 rated. Set against that: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass.
Buy the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XE300 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XE300 is rated for 24 hours versus 8 hours for the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony SRS-XE300 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove at IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove | Sony SRS-XE300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 | $137 |
| Ranked | #90 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #92 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) | IP67 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Dimensions | 5" x 6" x 2.6" (127 x 152 x 67 mm) | 9.4" x 4.1" x 4.7" (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3" full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| App | No | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS | 16W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XB20
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- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Sony SRS-XE300
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 Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Tribit Stormbox
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
Sony SRS-XE300: $137 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated. Orientation-aware playback switches to stereo when laid flat. Party Connect links up to 100 speakers; fast charging (10 min charge = ~70 min playback).
Cons: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass. Hollow sounding. Worse than a XB43
Full Sony SRS-XE300 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.4" x 4.1" x 4.7" (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- New Stuff TV: Sony SRS-XE300 vs JBL Charge 5
- DLX Willington: FINALLY! Sony SRS XG300, SRS XE300, & SRS XE200 Are Here. Binaural Sound Samples & First Impressions
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 5 Vs Sony XE300 - How Can You Mess Up This Bad?
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XE300 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs DBSONO X-Blast F37
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- See all 11 comparisons