Short answer: the Minirig Mini 2, because the Sony XB23 loses its bass when pushed. The Mini 2 is very neutral, though it calls itself splash resistant with no official water rating. The XB23 is reasonably neutral too, but its bass drops off a ton at high levels, so it suits quieter listening.
What the Minirig Mini 2 gets right: Very neutral. The tradeoff: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating.
On the Sony XB23 side: Reasonably neutral. The catch: Bass drops off a ton at high levels.
Buy the Minirig Mini 2 ($100) for a small speaker; the Sony XB23 ($100) suits a medium speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Minirig Mini 2 | Sony XB23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 | $100 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #3 of 47 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #67 of 142 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 0ms | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, AAC, SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.3" x 2.1" (84 x 53 mm) | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | 52mm custom neodymium | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Charging Time | 2.5-3.5 hours | - |
| Amplifier Power | 15W | 8W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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
Minirig Mini 2: $100 Minirigs eBay
Pros: Very neutral. Much deeper bass than most other speakers in the size. Modular, can easily attach a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 58Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Calls itself splash resistant and has no official water rating. App is buggy. Wireless TWS pairing is buggy.
Full Minirig Mini 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 15W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 0ms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 2.5-3.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.3" x 2.1" (84 x 53 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm custom neodymium |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | Splash resistant |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Proprietary USB cable |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes (Bluetooth or cable) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (320 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Minirig Mini
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Anker Soundcore Mini
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Sony XB23: $100 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3" x 8.6" x 3" (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus More from alanrossreviews →
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