Short answer: the Sony SRS-XV500. It ranks #15 of 43 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $351.10; the Soundboks Mix ranks #28, rated 3.2/5, and costs $799, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the Sony SRS-XV500: 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.
Why pick the Soundboks Mix: USB-C fast charging (65W) for the swappable battery, up to 40 hours of battery life at mid-volume, IP65 dust/water resistance, and TeamUp linking with up to 5 other SKAA-equipped Soundboks speakers. The tradeoff: Doesn’t have as deep of bass as higher-ranked speakers, and can sound somewhat bright in the treble.
Buy the Sony SRS-XV500. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Soundboks Mix and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
There is a real battery-life gap here: the Soundboks Mix is rated for 40 hours, the Sony SRS-XV500 only 25 hours.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XV500 | Soundboks Mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $351.10 | $799 |
| Ranked | #15 of 43 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #28 of 43 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters | 10” woofer, 1.2” tweeter |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP65 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 4.2 |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) | - |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 10.6”W x 11.6”D (564 x 269 x 294 mm) | 19.1” x 13.5” x 10.9” (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
| Strap | No | - |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | - | Yes |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| TWS | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 72W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC (additional codecs unverified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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: $351.10 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
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Soundboks Mix: $799 Soundboks Amazon eBay
Older model: the Soundboks Go (ranked lower, rated 3.1/5).
Pros: USB-C fast charging (65W) for the swappable battery, up to 40 hours of battery life at mid-volume, IP65 dust/water resistance, and TeamUp linking with up to 5 other SKAA-equipped Soundboks speakers. High efficiency drivers reach 2-3x the volume of typical speakers for the same wattage.
Cons: Doesn’t have as deep of bass as higher-ranked speakers, and can sound somewhat bright in the treble. Only 72W of output and a single 10-inch woofer, less powerful than the Soundboks Go or Soundboks 4, and no microphone input for karaoke like the Pro Panel models.
Full Soundboks Mix review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 72W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 40 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.1” x 13.5” x 10.9” (484 x 342 x 276 mm) |
| Drivers | 10” woofer, 1.2” tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (TeamUp, up to 5 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Removable Battery | Yes |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundboks Mix vs Soundboks Go
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