Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 for better sound quality, the Sony SRS-XB20 for the lower price. The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ranks #83 of 136 medium speakers at $163. The Sony SRS-XB20 ranks #94 at $129, $34 cheaper.
What the Sony SRS-XB20 offers: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. Set against that: Sounds thin at higher volumes.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. The catch: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the Sony SRS-XB20 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 if sound quality matters more than the price.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Sony SRS-XB20.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB20 | Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $163 |
| Ranked | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g | 2 lbs / 925 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) | 3.4" x 8.9" x 3.4" (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| App | Yes (SongPal) | - |
| EQ | No | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 70Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 98dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 vs Minirig 4
- Yamaha True X Speaker 1A vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Sony SRS-XE300 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- JBL Flip Essential vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB20: $129
Pros: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. 12 hour battery life.
Cons: Sounds thin at higher volumes. Bass falls away quickly.
Full Sony SRS-XB20 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (SongPal) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Tribit Stormbox
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Marshall Emberton III
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- See all 22 comparisons
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3: $163 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and survives drops from up to 1 meter. 20 hour battery life - about double most speakers this size.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2018. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 70Hz |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.4" x 8.9" x 3.4" (87 x 225 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Max Volume | 98dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Weight | 2 lbs / 925 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Soundcore 2
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Tribit Stormbox 2
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 vs Tribit Xsound Surf
- See all 26 comparisons