Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom. It ranks #87 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79; the Sony SRS-XB20 ranks #94 and costs $129, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 Wonderboom: IP67 rated and floats. The catch: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
One note: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom is discontinued, but it still ranks #87 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom. 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129 | $79 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #94 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #87 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs / 590 g | 0.9 lbs / 425 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX7 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 7.8" x 2.7" x 2.7" (198 x 68 x 69 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 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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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
- 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
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- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Sony SRS-XB20 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 4
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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom: $79 Discontinued
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact, light, and simple to use.
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Dip at 9khz. Low mid bass distortion. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Discontinued.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 1.6" active drivers + 2x 1.8" x 2.6" passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 425 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 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
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- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Klipsch Groove/Heritage Groove
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom vs Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3
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