Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 1 for better sound quality, the Tribit Stormbox 2 for the lower price. The Sony XB23 ranks higher than the Tribit Stormbox 2 (#84 vs #105 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued. Its replacement, the Sony ULT Field 1, is rated 3.1/5 at $138; the Tribit Stormbox 2 is rated 3.0/5 at $69.99, $68.01 cheaper.
What the Sony XB23 does well: Reasonably neutral. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Tribit Stormbox 2 lacks. It links with other speakers (Party Connect up to 100 speakers), which the Tribit Stormbox 2 cannot. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Tribit Stormbox 2. The catch: Bass drops off a ton at high levels.
The Tribit Stormbox 2 is the louder, longer-running choice. A little better sounding than the original Tribit Stormbox, less of a rolled off treble. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 99dB at full volume, against 95dB for the Sony XB23. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the Sony XB23. It is rated IPX7 against IPX4 for the Sony XB23. The catch: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Buy the Tribit Stormbox 2 if price matters most. For better sound quality, the Sony ULT Field 1, the replacement for the discontinued Sony XB23, is rated higher but costs $138.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB23 | Tribit Stormbox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #84 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #105 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) | 1.3 lbs (593 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS | 34W RMS |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX7 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No (front/rear drivers) |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 200ms |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Frequency Response | - | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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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 XB23: $100 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 1, ranked lower, rated 3.1/5, released Apr 2024.
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB20 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB21 (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: Reasonably neutral. IP67 rated with a strap hook for backpacks. USB-C charging; up to 12 hour battery life. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass drops off a ton at high levels. Reduces its own volume over time when turned to max. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB23 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Huawei Sound Joy vs Sony xb23 - worse or worser? 🤭 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs JBL Flip 5 v Tribit Maxsound Plus
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE200 Review And Compared to Sony XB23 - It Got The XE300 Treatment More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Tribit Stormbox 2: $69.99 Amazon $69.99 eBay
Older model: the Tribit Stormbox (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5). See every Tribit Stormbox and Stormbox 2 generation.
Pros: A little better sounding than the original Tribit Stormbox, less of a rolled off treble. Keep Xbass on for best frequency response.
Cons: Drivers on the side, so it will have a rolled off treble listening to it face on.
Full Tribit Stormbox 2 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 34W RMS |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Aux Latency | 200ms |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 400ms AAC, 400ms SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.1” x 2.7” x 2.7” (180 x 69 x 69 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm fullrange |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No (front/rear drivers) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (593 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Tribit Stormbox 2 - sound test More from Oluv’Sone →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Stormbox 2 - wow is this deliberate? 🤔 More from alanrossreviews →
- Storytripper HD: Tribit Micro 2 vs Tribit STormBox 2 vs Tribit StormBox Mini More from storytripperhd →
- Sole X Hunter: Zealot S51 Pro 40W vs Tribit StormBox 2 34W - Maximum OverDrive!
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