Short answer: the Sony SRS-XV500. It ranks #16 of 44 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $315; the Marshall Bromley 450 ranks #24, rated 3.7/5, and costs $649.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sony SRS-XV500 does well: RTINGS measured a slightly warm sound with plenty of bass punch, and found it gets very loud for outdoor parties. Watch for: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides.
The Marshall Bromley 450 is the longer-running pick. A balanced, warm sound with a flat midrange that keeps vocals and instruments clear, plenty of bass rumble and enough treble for energetic vocals, per RTINGS’ lab tests. It is rated for 40 hours of battery against 25 for the Sony SRS-XV500. Watch for: It is the quietest of its rivals: both the Soundboks Mix and Teufel Rockster Air 2 play louder, and near max volume the bass recedes and the sound gets less composed.
Buy the Sony SRS-XV500. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Bromley 450 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XV500 | Marshall Bromley 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $315.00 | $649.95 |
| Ranked | #16 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #24 of 44 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters | 2x 6.5” woofers, 4x 2” full-range drivers, 2 passive radiators |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes (3.5mm, RCA) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) | Yes (2x XLR/6.35mm combo) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | Yes |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) | 14.4” x 19.4” x 10.3” (366 x 492 x 261 mm) |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Strap | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 400W |
| Frequency Response | - | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | - | 3.5 hours |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| XLR Input | - | Yes (2x combo) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| App | - | Yes (Marshall Bluetooth app) |
| EQ | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | No |
| TWS | - | No |
| Stereo | - | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | - | Yes |
| Wheels | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony SRS-XV500:
- Sony ULT Tower 7 vs Sony SRS-XV500
- JBL Partybox 330 vs Sony SRS-XV500
- JBL Partybox Stage 320 vs Sony SRS-XV500
- JBL Partybox 310 vs Sony SRS-XV500
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony SRS-XV500
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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-XV500: $315.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XP500 (ranked higher, rated 4/5).
Pros: RTINGS measured a slightly warm sound with plenty of bass punch, and found it gets very loud for outdoor parties. Two 140mm woofers and two 60mm tweeters in a bass reflex cabinet, with a claimed 25 hours of battery life and a 10 minute quick charge for about 2.5 hours of play. Two 6.3mm inputs switch between microphone and guitar, with karaoke controls for key, echo and per-input volume, plus a 3.5mm aux input. IPX4 splash resistance and built-in lighting.
Cons: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides. Bass compresses and pumps as you approach maximum volume. At 11.2 kg it is heavy to carry, and IPX4 only covers splashes.
Full Sony SRS-XV500 review and specifications →
| Aux Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) |
| Strap | No |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Tronsmart Halo 300
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Soundcore Rave 3S
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Zealot PT21
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs W-King T12
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- See all 26 comparisons
Marshall Bromley 450: $649.95 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A balanced, warm sound with a flat midrange that keeps vocals and instruments clear, plenty of bass rumble and enough treble for energetic vocals, per RTINGS’ lab tests. Drivers on all four sides keep the tonal balance nearly the same from any angle, and M1M Tech Channel found it more open and airy than the Soundboks Mix and Teufel Rockster Air 2, with deeper bass than both. RTINGS measured 18.8 hours of battery from a swappable LiFePO4 pack shared with the Bromley 750, and it adds IP55 protection, two XLR/6.35mm combo inputs, USB-C audio, Auracast and physical bass and treble knobs.
Cons: It is the quietest of its rivals: both the Soundboks Mix and Teufel Rockster Air 2 play louder, and near max volume the bass recedes and the sound gets less composed. The warm tuning lacks some fine treble detail. There is no graphic EQ, only bass and treble knobs, and its stereo spreads left and right channels around the cabinet, so panned elements can land on the wrong side. At 12.3 kg it has a carry handle but no wheels.
Full Marshall Bromley 450 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Marshall Bluetooth app) |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm, RCA) |
| Battery Life | 40+ hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 14.4” x 19.4” x 10.3” (366 x 492 x 261 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” woofers, 4x 2” full-range drivers, 2 passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (2x XLR/6.35mm combo) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Wheels | No |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| XLR Input | Yes (2x combo) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- RTINGS: Marshall Bromley 450 Review More from Rtings.com →
- M1M Tech Channel: The best in its class? Marshall Bromley 450 vs. Soundboks & Teufel More from M1MTechChannel →
- HeadphoneCheck: Marshall Bromley 450 test
- Tom’s Guide: Marshall Bromley 450 vs Bromley 750 face-off
- Smart Home Sounds: Marshall Bromley 450 review More from Smart Home Sounds →
- Storytripper HD: JBL Partybox 120 vs Marshall Bromley 450 (Indoor) More from storytripperhd →
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Bromley 450 vs Marshall Bromley 750 (outdoor)
- Storytripper HD: Marshall Woburn III vs Marshall Bromley 450
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Rider
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs W-King T12
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Mix
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Soundboks Go
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Tronsmart Halo 300
- Marshall Bromley 450 vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- See all 28 comparisons