Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It ranks #88 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $105; the Sony SRS-XB30 ranks #104 and costs $199, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sony SRS-XB30 offers: IPX5 rated. Doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. Set against that: Muffled sound, worse than a XB20.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. The catch: Not much improvement over the old ones.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Boom 4. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XB30 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony SRS-XB30. It ranks near the bottom of the 136 medium speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XB30 is rated for 24 hours versus 15 hours for the Ultimate Ears Boom 4.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | Ultimate Ears Boom 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $105 |
| Ranked | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #88 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | - |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g | 1.4 lbs / 620 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 85dBC |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (via app) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB30: $199
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 |
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-XB30 vs Soundcore Flare 2
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Teufel Rockster Go
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs B&O Beosound Explore
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Marshall Emberton III
- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Bose SoundLink Color II
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- Sony SRS-XB30 vs Sony SRS-XB20
- See all 17 comparisons
Ultimate Ears Boom 4: $105 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated, floats, and finally charges via USB-C instead of the older Booms’ Micro-USB. 15 hour battery. Customizable EQ and speaker-pairing via the UE app.
Cons: Not much improvement over the old ones. Weak bass extension and thuddy bass. Gets distorted above 90%
Full Ultimate Ears Boom 4 review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2" x 2.9" x 2.9" (184 x 73 x 73 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.57" (40mm) active drivers + 2x 1.81" x 2.57" (46.1 x 65.2mm) passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 85dBC |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs / 620 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Boom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
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- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Sony SRS-XE300
- Ultimate Ears Boom 4 vs Tribit Stormbox
- See all 23 comparisons