Short answer: the Sony ULT Field 3, if you are buying new. The Sony XB33 ranks higher than the Marshall Emberton III (#77 vs #126 of 175 medium speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Sony ULT Field 3, is rated 3.4/5 at $208 and is still sold new.
The Sony XB33 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). Its bass reaches about 50Hz before falling 10dB, against 62Hz for the Marshall Emberton III. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Marshall Emberton III lacks. Watch for: Not very loud.
The Marshall Emberton III is the longer-running, lighter option. 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. It is rated for 32 hours of battery against 24 for the Sony XB33. At 1.5 lbs (673 g) it weighs much less than the Sony XB33 at 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg). The catch: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors.
Buy the Sony ULT Field 3, the replacement for the discontinued Sony XB33; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Marshall Emberton III.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony XB33 | Marshall Emberton III | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 Discontinued | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #77 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #126 of 175 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms | - |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | No |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 9.7” x 3.8” x 4.2” (246 x 97 x 106 mm) | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS | 20W |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes | No |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| Strap | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sony XB33:
- Soundcore Motion 300 vs Sony XB33
- Soundcore Motion+ vs Sony XB33
- Soundcore Boost “upgraded” 2021 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Charge 6 vs Sony XB33
- JBL Flip 6 vs Sony XB33
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Sony XB33: $110 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 3, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5, released Apr 2025.
Older models: the Sony SRS-XB31 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5) and the Sony SRS-XB30 (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: IP67 rated and lightweight (2.4 lb). App-controlled color LED lighting, Party Connect links up to 100 speakers. ~19 hour real-world battery without lights. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not very loud. Upper bass peaks, midrange dip, upper midrange peaks, not very neutral. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
Full Sony XB33 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 16W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Connect App) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 110ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.7” x 3.8” x 4.2” (246 x 97 x 106 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48x70mm X-Balanced racetrack drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 97dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB33 vs XB32 vs JBL Charge 4 best £120 bluetooth speaker? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony XB23 vs XB33 - specs and measurements
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Plus and Sony XB33 - ultimate travel speaker 2021 🤗
- Alan Ross Reviews: LG Xboom Go PL7 vs JBL Charge 4 and Sony XB33 - best Bluetooth speaker?
- Alan Ross Reviews: Tribit Xsound Mega vs the world! (JBL Charge 5, Bose Flex, Sony XB33, LG PL7) 👍
- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess More from GYMCADDY →
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Marshall Emberton III: $129.99 Amazon $129.99 Lowest Marshall $179.99 eBay
Older models: the Marshall Emberton II (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5) and the Marshall Emberton (ranked lower, rated 2.6/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Middleton II (larger model, rated 4.1/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: 30 hour battery life: among the best in its class; a 20 min quick-charge gives 4 hours. IP67 rated, durable rubbery build using 50% recycled plastic. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Strange unnatural echo-like sound coloration, bass not as deep as competitors. Not technically a 360 speaker, only front and rear. Not very loud. Not really any different from the Marshall Emberton II except having the treble turned down a little bit.
Full Marshall Emberton III review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz |
| Battery Life | 32 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.3” x 2.7” x 3” (160 x 68 x 76 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2” full-range cone drivers + 2x 2” passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 presets via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (673 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Marshall Emberton III vs Bose SoundLink Color II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Marshall Emberton II
- Marshall Emberton III vs Yamaha True X Speaker 1A
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB20
- Marshall Emberton III vs Teufel Rockster Go
- Marshall Emberton III vs Sony SRS-XB30
- Marshall Emberton III vs Tribit Stormbox
- Marshall Emberton III vs Soundcore Flare 2
- See all 141 comparisons