Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II for better sound quality, the Sony SRS-XB43 for the lower price. The Marshall Middleton II ranks #28 of 77 large speakers at $330. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #42 at $150, $180 cheaper.
What the Marshall Middleton II gets right: Very deep bass for the size/weight. The tradeoff: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200hz, peak at 1khz, dipped at 1.6khz.
On the Sony SRS-XB43 side: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Twin passive radiators deliver Extra Bass impact. Watch for: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony SRS-XB43 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $330 | $150 |
| Ranked | #28 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 4.3" (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 80W | 32W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 85ms |
| Max Volume | - | 99dB |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton II: $330 Amazon
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight.
Cons: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200hz, peak at 1khz, dipped at 1.6khz. Strange frequency response through the mids.
Full Marshall Middleton II review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1" x 3.9" x 4.3" (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625" tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 80W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs / 1.8 kg |
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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
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- 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
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