Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. It ranks #86 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $80; the Sony SRS-XB20 ranks #94 and costs $129, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sony SRS-XB20: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. The catch: Sounds thin at higher volumes.
On the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 side: IP67 rated and floats. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB20 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB20 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $80 |
| Ranked | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #86 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 mm) | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| App | Yes (SongPal) | No |
| EQ | No | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 82Hz |
| Max Volume | - | 88dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Marshall Emberton III vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- JBL Flip Essential vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Soundcore Flare 2
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 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 Wonderboom 2: $80 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact and light enough to toss in a bag.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Slightly boosted 93hz upper bass Dip at 9khz. 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 2019. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 82Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs LG Xboom Grab
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- See all 27 comparisons