Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 5 for better sound quality, the W-King D9 for the lower price. The Sony SRS-XB43 ranks higher than the W-King D9 (#56 vs #91 of 105 large speakers) but is discontinued. Its replacement, the Sony ULT Field 5, is rated 3.5/5 at $348; the W-King D9 is rated 2.5/5 at $71.24, $276.76 cheaper.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the better-sounding pick. Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the W-King D9 lacks. It links with other speakers (Party Connect up to 100 speakers), which the W-King D9 cannot. It has an adjustable EQ, which the W-King D9 lacks. Watch for: Not as loud as others in the category.
The W-King D9 is the louder, deeper-bass pick. A compact 4.4 lbs (2 kg) boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. Its bass reaches about 47Hz 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. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 24 for the Sony SRS-XB43. The catch: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume.
Buy the W-King D9 if price matters most. For better sound quality, the Sony ULT Field 5, the replacement for the discontinued Sony SRS-XB43, is rated higher but costs $348.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XB43 | W-King D9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $150 Discontinued | $71.24 |
| Ranked | #56 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #91 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 106dB (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) | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX6 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS | 60W RMS |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Strap | - | No |
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- Sony SRS-XB43 vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Tribit Stormbox Lava vs Sony SRS-XB43
- Sony SRS-XB43 vs Brane X
- Sony SRS-XB43 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM 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 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 5, ranked higher, rated 3.5/5, released Apr 2025. See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
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. Discontinued.
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 →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| 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
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb43 JBL Xtreme 2 W-King d8 Dockin D Fine
- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal. More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XG300 Review & Compared To Sony XB43 More from GYMCADDY →
- Sonido Pesado: Reacciono al sonido, tronsmart FORCE MAX vs SONY XB 43
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
W-King D9: $71.24 Amazon $71.24 eBay
Pros: A compact 2kg boombox with 60W RMS output, a claimed 106dB maximum level, a measured 47Hz -10dB bass point, IPX6 protection, power-bank output, USB-C charging, aux and microSD playback. Long-term owners praise its loud, punchy character and useful indoor/outdoor voicing for casual outdoor listening. Measured bass extension of 47Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Treble rolls off early, limiting air and fine detail, while owner reports note Bluetooth interference and some noise at maximum speaker volume. There is no app or adjustable EQ, and its bass does not reach as deep as larger rivals, so it is better suited to energetic background music than neutral listening.
Full W-King D9 review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2020 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 60W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.7” x 12.4” x 4.7” (120 x 315 x 120 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs (2.0 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons