Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 5, if you are buying new. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks higher than the Marshall Stockwell III (#57 vs #79 of 115 large speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Sony ULT Field 5, is rated 3.5/5 at $268 and is still sold new.
The Marshall Stockwell III is the longer-running, lighter choice. A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 24 for the Sony SRS-XB43. At 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) it weighs much less than the Sony SRS-XB43 at 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg). The catch: Highs are recessed by default and need the treble control maxed to compensate, still lacking detail even then.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the better-sounding, tougher choice. A waterproof party speaker with lights, a long battery and an Extra Bass mode for heavier low end. It is rated IP67 against IP55 for the Marshall Stockwell III. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Stockwell III lacks. The catch: Not as loud as others in the category.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 5, the replacement for the discontinued Sony SRS-XB43; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Stockwell III.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A stylish, rugged speaker with a very long battery you can swap yourself, a detailed app EQ, and power bank charging.
A waterproof party speaker with lights, a long battery and an Extra Bass mode for heavier low end.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Stockwell III | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 | $150 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #79 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #57 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 3” woofer, 2x 1.75” wide-band drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 44W | 32W RMS |
| Battery Life | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LE Audio with LC3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| IP Rating | IP55 | IP67 |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 6.4” x 2.9” (180 x 162 x 74 mm) | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| EQ | Yes (parametric, via app) | Yes (3 band) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 53Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 85ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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