Short answer: the Sony SRS-XV500. It ranks #16 of 53 party speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $315.99. The Soundcore Rave 3S ranks #20, rated 3.8/5, at $299.99, $16 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Sony SRS-XV500 is the longer-running choice. A slightly warm party speaker with plenty of bass punch that gets very loud outdoors, plus karaoke inputs and a long battery. It is rated for 25 hours of battery against 12 for the Soundcore Rave 3S. The tradeoff: RTINGS measured poor directivity, so the sound changes noticeably as you move off to the sides.
What the Soundcore Rave 3S does well: A big party speaker with two wireless microphones, a remote, and a vocal removal feature for karaoke nights. Watch for: Some upper bass and upper mids boost.
Buy the Sony SRS-XV500. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $16 saving on the Soundcore Rave 3S is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony SRS-XV500 | Soundcore Rave 3S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $315.99 | $299.99 |
| Ranked | #16 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #20 of 53 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 55W RMS | 200W |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
| Strap | No | No |
| App | - | Yes |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Input | - | USB-C |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Wireless Microphones | - | Yes 2 Included |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| USB Playback | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
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