Short answer: the Sony SRS-XB43. It ranks #42 of 77 large speakers by sound quality at $150; the Klipsch Detroit ranks #54 and costs $274.10, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sony SRS-XB43 offers: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Watch for: Not as loud as others in the category.
On the Klipsch Detroit side: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. Set against that: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep.
Buy the Sony SRS-XB43. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Detroit and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB43 | Klipsch Detroit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $274.10 |
| Ranked | #42 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #54 of 77 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms | - |
| Max Volume | 99dB | 93dB |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) | 13.1" x 4.2" x 4.7" (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Output Power | 32W RMS | 30W RMS |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Marshall Middleton vs Sony ULT Field 5
- Sony ULT Field 5 vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Sony SRS-XG300 vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
- Klipsch Detroit vs LG PN7
- JBL Xtreme 2 vs Klipsch Detroit
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB43: $150
Pros: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Twin passive radiators deliver Extra Bass impact. IPX7 waterproof and rugged. Up to 24 hour battery (14 hours with lights on). Party lights for visual appeal.
Cons: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically.
Setup: Try out +3 +6 +3 as an EQ to get it as flat as possible as mentioned in the Alan Ross video
Full Sony SRS-XB43 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 99dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 32W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs / 2.95 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ?
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal.
- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XB43 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Klipsch Detroit: $274.10 Amazon
Pros: Dual 1” tweeters + 3” woofers deliver excellent sound detail and robust bass. IP67 dust/waterproof rating submersible 1m for 30 min. 20-hour battery life at moderate volume (12-15 hours at high volume). USB-C fast-charge in 2 hours with two-way power for device charging.
Cons: Weird boosted upper bass, bass not very deep. Boosted lower treble, somewhat harsh sounding like most other Klipsch speakers. Not very loud.
Full Klipsch Detroit review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 13.1" x 4.2" x 4.7" (334 x 107 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 76mm fullrange, 2x 25mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 30W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Walts TV: The Austin NEW Klipsch Bluetooth Speaker Review + Sound Test
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Xtreme 3 Hear With Me!!
- Audio Inside Scoop: Klipsch Detroit VS JBL Charge Hear With Me!!
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Middleton vs Klipsch Detroit
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroit - unboxing & first impressions
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: Klipsch Detroid vs SoundCore Boom 2 - outdoor test
- Reddit Search for Klipsch Detroit Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Detroit vs Sony SRS-XG300
- Klipsch Detroit vs Doss Soundbox XL
- Klipsch Detroit vs JBL Xtreme
- Klipsch Detroit vs Ultimate Ears Epicboom
- Klipsch Detroit vs B&O Beosound Level
- Klipsch Detroit vs Ultimate Ears Megablast
- Klipsch Detroit vs Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 4
- Klipsch Detroit vs Zealot S97
- See all 17 comparisons