Short answer: the Soundcore Rave Neo 2. It ranks #21 of 105 large speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $84.99 and is still sold new; the Sony SRS-XB43 ranks #56 (rated 3.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Sony SRS-XB43’s replacement, the Sony ULT Field 5, is rated 3.5/5 at $348.
The Soundcore Rave Neo 2 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass choice. BassUp helps at higher volumes but is best left off at lower volumes. Its bass reaches about 44Hz before falling 10dB, against 53Hz for the Sony SRS-XB43. Alan Ross Reviews measured it at 107dB at full volume, against 99dB for the Sony SRS-XB43. The tradeoff: Slight treble rolloff.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is the longer-running pick. Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 18 for the Soundcore Rave Neo 2. It supports LDAC Bluetooth, which the Soundcore Rave Neo 2 lacks. The tradeoff: Not as loud as others in the category.
Buy the Soundcore Rave Neo 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Sony SRS-XB43 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Soundcore Rave Neo 2 | Sony SRS-XB43 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $84.99 | $150 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #21 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP67 |
| Maximum SPL | 107dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 6.1” x 11.8” (198 x 154 x 299 mm) | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 32W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 85ms |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Soundcore Rave Neo 2:
- Soundcore Rave Neo 2 vs Vifa Helsinki
- JBL Xtreme 5 vs Soundcore Rave Neo 2
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- Soundcore Rave Neo 2 vs Minirig 4 with subwoofer
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
Soundcore Rave Neo 2: $84.99 Amazon $119.29 B&H Photo Video Woot $84.99 Lowest eBay
Older model: the Soundcore Rave Neo (ranked lower, rated 2.7/5). See every Soundcore Rave Neo generation.
Pros: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 uses 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters. Its 3.6 kg, claimed 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) battery life, IPX7 protection, aux input, up to 107dB and limited-stereo playback make it a practical option for its intended room or portable use. BassUp helps at higher volumes but is best left off at lower volumes. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass is limited by its 44Hz specification. Slight treble rolloff.
Full Soundcore Rave Neo 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.8” x 6.1” x 11.8” (198 x 154 x 299 mm) |
| Drivers | 4” woofer, 2x 2” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 107dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyCast 2.0 up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Partially (1 woofer) |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: Rave To The Max With The Soundcore Rave Neo 2! 👆 More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: Longest I have ever been, and I don’t care who sees it! ❤
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Soundcore Rave Party 2 🎇 & Rave Neo 2 🎉 Head to Head Off The Floor. A Family Battle❗️ More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: $350 Ultimate Ears EpicBoom gets Epic Beat-Down 😮by $120 Soundcore Rave Neo 2. Bluetooth Speaker KO🤛
- Flossy Carter: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 / Rave Party 2 - Affordable Party Speakers with RGB Lights More from FlossyCarter →
- Technoid: Soundcore Rave Neo 2 Review - Get the Grill & Pool Ready!!
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Sony SRS-XB43: $150 Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony ULT Field 5, ranked higher, rated 3.5/5, released Apr 2025. See every Sony XB and ULT generation.
Pros: Full, warm sound with deep, rich bass. Twin passive radiators deliver Extra Bass impact. IPX7 waterproof and rugged. Up to 24 hour battery (14 hours with lights on). Party lights for visual appeal. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not as loud as others in the category. Speaker will not remain at max volume and will turn itself down automatically. Discontinued.
Setup: Try out +3 +6 +3 as an EQ to get it as flat as possible as mentioned in the Alan Ross video
Full Sony SRS-XB43 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 32W RMS |
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center App) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Latency | 85ms |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8” x 4.8” x 4.6” (325 x 123 x 117 mm) |
| Drivers | 63mm woofer + 12.5mm tweeter + passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (3 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 99dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/1A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs (2.95 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 3 vs Sony XB43 - boombox champ? More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 5 vs Motion Boom vs Sony XB43 - a step to far? 🤪
- Alan Ross Reviews: Sony xb33 vs xb43 vs Soundcore Motion Plus speakers test
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- DLX Willington: Who Sounds The Best Of Sony XG300, XB43 & JBL XTREME3 With Sound Sample BLIND CHALLENGE Reveal. More from DLXWillington →
- GYMCADDY: Sony XG300 Review & Compared To Sony XB43 More from GYMCADDY →
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