Short answer: the Sony SRS-XV500. It ranks #15 of 40 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $310. The Soundcore Rave 3S ranks #17, rated 3.8/5, at $299.99, $10.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Sony SRS-XV500: RTINGS measured a slightly warm sound with plenty of bass punch, and found it gets very loud for outdoor parties. The catch: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides.
What the Soundcore Rave 3S does well: 2 AA battery Wireless Microphones and remote control included. Watch for: Some upper bass and upper mids boost.
Buy the Sony SRS-XV500. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $10.01 saving on the Soundcore Rave 3S is not enough to make up the difference.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XV500 is rated for 25 hours versus 12 hours for the Soundcore Rave 3S.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XV500 | Soundcore Rave 3S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $310.00 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #15 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #17 of 40 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 2x 140mm woofers + 2x 60mm tweeters | 1x 6.5” (165mm) woofer + 3x 2.5” (63mm) full-range drivers |
| Battery Life | 25 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (two 6.3mm inputs) | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| 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) | 21.7”H x 11.1”W x 12”D (550 x 283 x 306 mm) |
| Weight | 24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
| App | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| TWS | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Amplifier Power | - | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to 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
- Sony ULT Tower 5 vs Sony SRS-XV500
- JBL Partybox Club 120 vs Sony SRS-XV500
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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: $310.00 Amazon eBay
Older model: the Sony SRS-XP500 (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 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) |
| 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 Zealot PT21
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs W-King T12
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Onn XL Wireless Party Speaker
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox 110
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox 130
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs JBL Partybox Club 120
- Sony SRS-XV500 vs Sony ULT Tower 5
- See all 11 comparisons
Soundcore Rave 3S: $299.99 Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Rave 3 (rated 3.8/5).
Pros: 2 AA battery Wireless Microphones and remote control included. AI voice removal feature for Karaoke
Cons: Some upper bass and upper mids boost. Not as deep of bass as a Partybox 110/120
Full Soundcore Rave 3S review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 21.7”H x 11.1”W x 12”D (550 x 283 x 306 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” (165mm) woofer + 3x 2.5” (63mm) full-range drivers |
| EQ | Yes |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with reverb effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes 2 Included |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Onn Large Party gen 2
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs W-King T12
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Sony SRS-XP500
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs LG XL7
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Sony SRS-XP700
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- Soundcore Rave 3S vs Zealot PT21
- See all 52 comparisons