Short answer: the Brane X. It ranks #4 of 115 large speakers by sound quality (rated 4.6/5) at $549 and is still sold new; the Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #57 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony SRS-XB43’s replacement, the Sony ULT Field 5, is rated 3.5/5 at $268.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the longer-running choice. A waterproof party speaker with lights, a long battery and an Extra Bass mode for heavier low end. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Brane X. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Brane X lacks. The tradeoff: Not as loud as others in the category.
The Brane X is the better-sounding, deeper-bass option. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its bass reaches about 31Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the Sony SRS-XB43. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 106dB at full volume, against 99dB for the Sony SRS-XB43. Watch for: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Brane X. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Sony SRS-XB43 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
A waterproof party speaker with lights, a long battery and an Extra Bass mode for heavier low end.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB43 | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 Discontinued | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #57 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #4 of 115 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 31Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) | No |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) | Yes (Brane app) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (5 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP57 |
| Power Input | USB-C | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS | 200W |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
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