Short answer: the Marshall Stockwell II. It ranks #11 of 105 large speakers by sound quality (rated 4.5/5) at $226 and is still sold new; the Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #56 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony SRS-XB43’s replacement, the Sony ULT Field 5, is rated 3.5/5 at $348.
The Marshall Stockwell II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker, with excellent off-axis sound. Its bass reaches about 44Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the Sony SRS-XB43. At 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony SRS-XB43 at 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg). The catch: Not very loud, and the added DSP reverb may annoy purists.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the louder, tougher choice. Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 99dB at full volume, against 96dB for the Marshall Stockwell II. It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Marshall Stockwell II. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Stockwell II lacks. The catch: Not as loud as others in the category.
Buy the Marshall Stockwell II. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sony SRS-XB43 is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stockwell II | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $226.00 | $150 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 105 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 50ms | 85ms |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| 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) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 32W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | - |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Marshall Stockwell II compares with other leading options:
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Tribit Stormbox Lava
- Brane X vs Marshall Stockwell II
- Marshall Stockwell II vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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 II: $226.00 Amazon $226.00 eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Stockwell III, ranked lower, rated 3/5, released Jun 2026. It adds power bank charging, app control, adjustable EQ and AAC. Water resistance goes from IPX4 to IP55. See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Pros: Marshall Stockwell II uses 3” woofer, 2x 2” fullrange tweeters. Its 1.4 kg, claimed 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX4 protection, aux input, up to 96dB and mono playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. Possibly the most natural sounding Marshall speaker, with excellent off-axis sound. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 44Hz specification. There is no companion app. No EQ adjustment. Not very loud, and the added DSP reverb may annoy purists.
Full Marshall Stockwell II review and specifications →
| Released | May 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Maximum SPL | 96dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Marshall Stockwell III vs II - sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Stockwell III vs Stockwell II
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 Review and huge sound test! - vs JBL Charge 5! 💯 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Stockwell 2 - little guy goes louder?? 🤓
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Soundcore Motion Boom and Motion Plus! expensive is better?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Marshall Stockwell 2 vs Denon 250bt - little and large? 🙈
- Alan Ross Reviews: Dali Katch G2 high end audio takes on the entire world of bluetooth speakers! 👌👋
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Sony SRS-XB43: $150 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 5, ranked higher, rated 3.5/5, released Apr 2025. See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
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. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
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 →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb43 JBL Xtreme 2 W-King d8 Dockin D Fine
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal. More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XG300 Review & Compared To Sony XB43 More from GYMCADDY →
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