Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. It ranks #85 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; the Sony SRS-XB20 ranks #94 and costs $129, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sony SRS-XB20 gets right: IPX5 rated pill shape slides easily into a bag. The tradeoff: Sounds thin at higher volumes.
What the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 offers: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. Set against that: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. 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 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 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 | 5.2 |
| 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 | No |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 42mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 76Hz |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 166ms |
| Max Volume | - | 87dB |
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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
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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3: $79.99 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. 14 hour battery - longer than the Wonderboom 2.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass. Boosted 93hz upper bass. Cuts bass heavily at high volume. 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 2022. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 76Hz |
| Battery Life | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 166ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| 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 (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 87dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | 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.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: The biggest upgrade since time began! 💪 More from alanrossreviews →
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- Danny Pops: Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker? Wonderboom 3 VS Sony XB-13 More from DannyPops →
- Reddit Search for Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 Review
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