Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 1, if you are buying new. The Sony XB23 ranks higher than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 (#84 vs #111 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Sony ULT Field 1, is rated 3.1/5 at $138 and is still sold new.
The Sony XB23 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Reasonably neutral. Its bass reaches about 67Hz before falling 10dB, against 82Hz for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 95dB at full volume, against 88dB for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 lacks. The catch: Bass drops off a ton at high levels.
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is the lighter, tougher option. IP67 rated and floats. At 0.9 lbs (420 g) it weighs noticeably less than the Sony XB23 at 1.3 lbs (580 g). It is rated IP67 against IPX4 for the Sony XB23. Watch for: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 1, the replacement for the discontinued Sony XB23; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB23 | Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 Discontinued | $80 |
| Ranked | #84 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #111 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 67Hz | 82Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | No |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs (580 g) | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 3” x 8.6” x 3” (76 x 218 x 76 mm) | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 8W RMS | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (3-band: bass, mid, treble) | No |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) | No |
| Drivers | 2x 42x51mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
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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
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2: $80 Amazon $80 eBay
Newer model: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4, ranked higher, rated 2.9/5, released Jun 2024.
Older model: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom (ranked lower, rated 2.9/5). See every Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Boom and Megaboom generation.
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact and light enough to toss in a bag. Measured bass extension of 82Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Slightly boosted 93Hz upper bass Dip at 9kHz. You can tell from the micro USB that they are just feeding you the same crap hardware over and over, this is inexcusable for a product released in 2019. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear.
Full Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 82Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 3.8” (104 x 95.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 88dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: The biggest upgrade since time began! 💪 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: UE Wonderboom 2 review and sound test - vs Flip 5 - Flip 4
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Flare 2 - mega 360 degree speaker shootout!
- Danny Pops: MICRO SPEAKERS - my take on JBL Clip 4 VS Wonderboom 2 VS Bose Micro More from DannyPops →
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