Short answer: the Teufel Rockster Cross for better sound quality, the Sony SRS-XB43 for the lower price. The Teufel Rockster Cross ranks #21 of 78 large speakers at $199.99. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #42 at $150, $49.99 cheaper.
What the Sony SRS-XB43 offers: 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. Watch for: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically.
What the Teufel Rockster Cross offers: Pretty neutral frequency response. More vocal/midrange-focused than the JBL Xtreme 4, thanks to a larger mid/bass driver - better suited to rock and jazz. Nicer upper-bass detail than the JBL Xtreme 4. Punchy, well-controlled bass that suits rock music, unlike the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus’s overboosted, uncontrolled bass even at stock tuning. Clear, detailed audio with good vocal presence and solid Bluetooth codec support even a couple years after release. Watch for: Outdoor mode can sound somewhat harsh due to the 4khz peak. Not as deep or full-sounding in the bass as the JBL Xtreme 4.
Buy the Sony SRS-XB43 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Teufel Rockster Cross when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Sony SRS-XB43 is rated for 24 hours, the Teufel Rockster Cross only 16 hours.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB43 | Teufel Rockster Cross | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 | $199.99 |
| Ranked | #42 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #21 of 78 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 51Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) | Yes (USB-A) |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, aptX |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Power Input | USB-C | DC barrel jack |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 12.8" x 4.8" x 4.6" (325 x 123 x 117 mm) | 15" x 6.3" x 5.1" (380 x 160 x 130 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS | 30W |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators | 5" woofer, 2x textile dome tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Teufel Rockster Cross compares with other leading options:
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- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Teufel Rockster Cross
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- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Brane X
- Minirig 4 with subwoofer vs Teufel Rockster Cross
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony SRS-XB43: $150 eBay
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. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
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 →
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| 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) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ? More from alanrossreviews →
- 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. More from DLXWillington →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Teufel Rockster Cross: $199.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Pretty neutral frequency response. More vocal/midrange-focused than the JBL Xtreme 4, thanks to a larger mid/bass driver - better suited to rock and jazz. Nicer upper-bass detail than the JBL Xtreme 4. Punchy, well-controlled bass that suits rock music, unlike the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus’s overboosted, uncontrolled bass even at stock tuning. Clear, detailed audio with good vocal presence and solid Bluetooth codec support even a couple years after release. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Outdoor mode can sound somewhat harsh due to the 4khz peak. Not as deep or full-sounding in the bass as the JBL Xtreme 4.
Full Teufel Rockster Cross review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 30W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 51Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15" x 6.3" x 5.1" (380 x 160 x 130 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 2x textile dome tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | DC barrel jack |
| Stereo | Partially |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Bose SoundLink Plus
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Soundcore Motion X600
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs onn Portable FM Boombox
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs JBL Xtreme 3
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Soundcore Motion X500
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Sonos Move 2
- Teufel Rockster Cross vs Bose SoundLink Max
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