Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB30 on price, the B&O Beosound Explore for durability, though neither ranks well in its class. The Explore is IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook, but it has a huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors and overly hot, ringing treble. The Sony costs $95.99 less and is IPX5 rated, though its sound is muffled and worse than the XB20’s. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 151 medium speakers, and the Earfun Uboom L, ranked #1 at $49.79, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Buy the B&O Beosound Explore, since the Sony SRS-XB30 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | B&O Beosound Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 Discontinued | $294.99 |
| Ranked | #116 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #121 of 151 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.2” x 3.4” (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 60W |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (App EQ) |
| Strap | - | Yes (carabiner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony SRS-XB30:
- Earfun Uboom L vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Minirig 4 vs Sony SRS-XB30
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Sony SRS-XB30: $199 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
Pros: A compact 1kg portable with IPX5 splash protection, aux input, LDAC/AAC support, Sony’s app, speakerphone capability, power-bank output, stereo pairing and Party Chain linking. It reaches a useful 95dB maximum level and has a claimed 24-hour battery life at moderate volume, making it a convenient older outdoor option. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Independent lab listening rates music fidelity only fair: bass has impact but is boomy and lacks the deepest notes, while the midrange can sound hazy, muffled and grainy. Its micro-USB charging and older Bluetooth 4.2 platform now feel dated, so it is best considered for features and used-market value rather than sound quality. Discontinued.
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9” x 3.2” x 3.4” (228 x 82 x 86 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs (1000 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs W-King D8 Mini
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Marshall Emberton II
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Marshall Emberton III
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Sony SRS-XE200
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B&O Beosound Explore: $294.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: IP67 rated with a rugged ‘seatbelt’ strap and carabiner hook. Real-world battery life around 20-24 hours. Distinctive anodized-aluminum design. Measured bass extension of ~70Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble. Colored midrange. Just not great sounding overall.
Full B&O Beosound Explore review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 60W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Tribit Stormbox Mini+
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Sony SRS-XE200
- B&O Beosound Explore vs W-King D8 Mini
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Soundcore Flare 2
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Doss E-Go II
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom Go PL5
- B&O Beosound Explore vs Teufel Rockster Go
- B&O Beosound Explore vs LG Xboom XG5
- See all 72 comparisons