Short answer: the Marshall Stockwell 2 on measured sound quality, the Sony SRS-XB43 on price. The Marshall Stockwell 2 ranks #11 of 77 large speakers at $200. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #42 at $150, $50 cheaper.
What the Marshall Stockwell 2 offers: Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker. Excellent off-axis. Watch for: Not stereo. Not very loud. Uses added DSP reverb which audio purists may find annoying.
What the Sony SRS-XB43 offers: 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. 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 Stockwell 2 if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Sony SRS-XB43 if the price is the priority over sound quality.
There is a real gap in water resistance: the Sony SRS-XB43 at IP67 (brief submersion) against the Marshall Stockwell 2, which has IPX4 (splashing).
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stockwell 2 | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $150 |
| Ranked | #11 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #42 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms | 85ms |
| Max Volume | 96dB | 99dB |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
| App | No | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (3 band) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 6.3" x 2.8" (180 x 161 x 70 mm) | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 2x 2" fullrange tweeters | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Output Power | 20W | 32W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
A few more comparisons worth a look in the same class:
- Bogasing S8 Pro vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Soundcore Boom 2 vs Soundcore Trance/Rave Mega
- Sony ULT Field 5 vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Sony SRS-XB43 vs JBL Xtreme
Prices on this page were last checked August 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Stockwell 2: $200 Amazon eBay
Pros: Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker. Excellent off-axis.
Cons: Not stereo. Not very loud. Uses added DSP reverb which audio purists may find annoying.
Full Marshall Stockwell 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1" x 6.3" x 2.8" (180 x 161 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 3" woofer, 2x 2" fullrange tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Max Volume | 96dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom and Motion Plus! expensive is better? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Denon 250bt - little and large? 🙈
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Stockwell 2 - little guy goes louder?? 🤓
- Reddit Search for Marshall Stockwell 2 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Boom 2
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- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom
- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Select Pro
- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs B&O Beoplay A2 active
- Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Bose SoundLink Max
- See all 48 comparisons
Sony SRS-XB43: $150 eBay
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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ? More from alanrossreviews →
- 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. More from DLXWillington →
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB43 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons