Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. It ranks #85 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $79.99; 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 Wonderboom 3: IP67 rated, floats, and is rated to survive a 5 ft drop onto hard surfaces. The catch: Not stereo, barely any bass.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. 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 14 hours for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB30 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $79.99 |
| Ranked | #104 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #85 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz | 76Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 14 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1000 g | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
| IP Rating | IPX5 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | - |
| Dimensions | 9" x 3.2" x 3.4" (228 x 82 x 86 mm) | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | No |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Power Input | Micro USB | Micro USB |
| Output Power | 20W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm full-range drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators (46.1 x 65.2mm) |
| Max Volume | 95dB | 87dB |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 166ms |
| EQ | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
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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
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- See all 17 comparisons
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
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