Short answer: the Soundcore Rave+. It ranks #44 of 50 party speakers by sound quality at $240; the Sony GTK-XB90 ranks #46 and costs $429, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Soundcore Rave+: Excellent sound quality praised by customers with clarity, definition, and bass response. The tradeoff: Pretty big lack of deep bass.
What the Sony GTK-XB90 gets right: Deep punchy EXTRA BASS technology for party use. The catch: Bass is muddy and not deep, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning.
Buy the Soundcore Rave+. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony GTK-XB90 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 50 party speakers instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Soundcore Rave+ is rated for 24 hours versus 16 hours for the Sony GTK-XB90.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Rave+ | Sony GTK-XB90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $240 | $429 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #44 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #46 of 50 in Party Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 21.7" x 12.6" x 12.2" (550 x 320 x 310 mm) | - |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes | Yes (USB-A, 2.1A) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.49 kg | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg |
| Output Power | 160W | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25" (133mm) woofers + 2x 2" (51mm) tweeters | 12cm drivers + passive radiators |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Input | - | AC Power cord |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Mackie Thump Go vs Soundcore Rave
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Soundcore Rave
- Soundcore Rave 3/3s vs Sony GTK-XB72
- Soundcore Rave vs Sony GTK-XB90
- Mackie Thump Go vs Soundcore Rave+
The Two Speakers In Full
Soundcore Rave+: $240 Soundcore
Pros: Excellent sound quality praised by customers with clarity, definition, and bass response. Custom EQ option (Rave+ adds what original Rave lacked) for personalization. Long battery life exceeds JBL Partybox 100. IPX5 water rating for wet conditions (not submersible). Wireless connectivity and multi-device support.
Cons: Pretty big lack of deep bass
Full Soundcore Rave+ review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~60Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 21.7" x 12.6" x 12.2" (550 x 320 x 310 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25" (133mm) woofers + 2x 2" (51mm) tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 160W |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs / 3.49 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Soundcore Rave
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Sony GTK-XB72
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Sony GTK-XB60
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Altec Lansing AL500
- Soundcore Rave+ vs JBL Eon One Compact
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Mackie Thump Go
- Soundcore Rave+ vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- See all 10 comparisons
Sony GTK-XB90: $429 Discontinued
Pros: Deep punchy EXTRA BASS technology for party use. 3x 2.36” tweeters + 2x 7.09” woofers, built-in LED lights sync with beat. 16 hours battery claimed (9 hours real-world at moderate volume with lights). Built-in handle, portable one-box design. Fiestable plugin controls party settings and DJ effects. Three-device simultaneous Bluetooth pairing.
Cons: Bass is muddy and not deep, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning. Discontinued.
Full Sony GTK-XB90 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12cm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons