Short answer: the Marshall Kilburn II for better sound quality, the Sony SRS-XB43 for the lower price. The Marshall Kilburn II ranks #36 of 77 large speakers at $294.73. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #42 at $150, $144.73 cheaper.
What the Marshall Kilburn II gets right: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. The catch: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak.
The case for the Sony SRS-XB43: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. The tradeoff: Not as loud as others in the category.
Buy the Marshall Kilburn II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony SRS-XB43 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If water resistance matters to you, the Sony SRS-XB43 at IP67 (brief submersion) holds up far better than the Marshall Kilburn II at IPX2 (light drips).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Kilburn II | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.73 | $150 |
| Ranked | #36 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX2 | IP67 |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
| App | No | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Output Power | 36W | 32W RMS |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Max Volume | 102dB | 99dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 85ms |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Kilburn II: $294.73 Amazon
Pros: 20W Class D amp + dual 8W tweeters. 20+ hour battery with quick-charge (20 min charges 3 hours of play). Rugged design with leather handle and reinforced corners, IPX2 rated. Thrives with rock music. Bluetooth 5.0 with 30ft range.
Cons: Boosted upper bass, not very detailed, not as deep bass as competitors, upper mids peak. Very low IPX2 water rating. AC charging
Full Marshall Kilburn II review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~58Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.4" x 5.5" (243 x 162 x 140 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 4" (102mm) woofer + 2x 20mm dome tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX2 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 36W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.49 kg |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Xdobo Bucket /BMTL Bucket / Zicoroop Ts
- Marshall Kilburn II vs JBL Xtreme 4
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Ultimate Ears Everboom
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Marshall Middleton
- Marshall Kilburn II vs LG Xboom Bounce
- Marshall Kilburn II vs W-King D8
- Marshall Kilburn II vs Marshall Middleton II
- See all 16 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB43: $150
Pros: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Twin passive radiators deliver Extra Bass impact. IPX7 waterproof and rugged. Up to 24 hour battery (14 hours with lights on). Party lights for visual appeal.
Cons: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically.
Setup: Try out +3 +6 +3 as an EQ to get it as flat as possible as mentioned in the Alan Ross video
Full Sony SRS-XB43 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 32W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal.
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB43 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons