Short answer: the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks #90 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $89; the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A ranks #95 and costs $150, 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 Yamaha True X Speaker 1A gets right: Doubles as a wireless surround speaker for Yamaha True X soundbars, or a standalone speaker via ‘Solo’ mode. The catch: Not very deep bass, upper mids peak that makes voices sibilant.
Buy the Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If water resistance matters to you, the Yamaha True X Speaker 1A 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 | Yamaha True X Speaker 1A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.00 | $150 |
| Ranked | #90 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #95 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 (Groove), none (Heritage Groove) | IP67 |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs / 770 g | 1.1 lbs / 500 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Dimensions | 5" x 6" x 2.6" (127 x 152 x 67 mm) | 4.1" x 3.5" x 3.5" (105 x 90 x 90 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 3" full-range driver + 2x side-firing passive radiators | 1x 55mm (2.2") full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| App | No | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Output Power | 10W RMS | 10W |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Ultimate Ears Boom 3 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove 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 Sony SRS-XB20
- Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
Yamaha True X Speaker 1A: $150 Amazon
Pros: Doubles as a wireless surround speaker for Yamaha True X soundbars, or a standalone speaker via ‘Solo’ mode. IP67 rated. Clear Voice technology boosts dialogue clarity.
Cons: Not very deep bass, upper mids peak that makes voices sibilant
Full Yamaha True X Speaker 1A review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 3.5" x 3.5" (105 x 90 x 90 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 55mm (2.2") full-range driver + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 10W |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs / 500 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Tribit Stormbox
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton III
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Marshall Emberton II
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Sony ULT Field 3