Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks #104 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $199; the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 ranks #120 and costs $200, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Sony SRS-XB30 offers: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume). Watch for: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
What the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 offers: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone. Watch for: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume
Buy the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Neither of these is a sound-quality pick. Look higher up the 136 medium speakers if that is what you are optimizing for.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony SRS-XB30 is rated for 24 hours, the Harman Kardon Esquire 2 only 8 hours.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | Harman Kardon Esquire 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $200 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #120 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | - |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Output Power | 20W | 16W |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| Max Volume | 95dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB30: $199 eBay
Pros: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Long claimed battery life (up to 24 hours at moderate volume).
Cons: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20
Full Sony SRS-XB30 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 95dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W |
| 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
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Harman Kardon Esquire 2: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Doubles as a conferencing speakerphone with a 4-mic array and noise/echo cancellation. Flat, compact design packs easily. USB charge-out for topping off a phone.
Cons: Bass is weak, vocal and instrument separation is underwhelming and sounds tinny at high volume. Discontinued.
Full Harman Kardon Esquire 2 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 5.1" x 1.3" (190 x 130 x 34 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x 1.25" (32mm) full-range drivers |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs / 0.35 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Harman Kardon Esquire 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Mini
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