Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom for better sound quality, the Sony GTK-XB90 for the lower price. The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom ranks #31 of 50 party speakers at $449.99. The Sony GTK-XB90 ranks #46 at $429, $20.99 cheaper.
What the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom gets right: Strong audio performance with 2x 4.5” woofers, 2x 1” tweeters, 2x passive radiators. The catch: Very expensive for what it does, a bit dull and muddy sound.
What the Sony GTK-XB90 offers: Deep punchy EXTRA BASS technology for party use. Watch for: Bass is muddy and not deep, weird midrange peak, rolled off treble and overall strange tuning.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony GTK-XB90 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sony GTK-XB90. It ranks near the bottom of the 50 party speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
If battery life is a priority, the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is rated for 24 hours versus 16 hours for the Sony GTK-XB90.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Hyperboom | Sony GTK-XB90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.99 | $429 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #31 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) | 55Hz | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 16 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Charging Time | 2.6 hours | - |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 7.5" x 14.3" (190 x 190 x 364 mm) | - |
| Drivers | 2x 5.66" woofers, 2x 0.98" tweeters, passive radiators | 12cm drivers + passive radiators |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) | Yes (Partychain up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No | Yes (USB-A, 2.1A) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| USB Playback | No | No |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg | 30.9 lbs / 14 kg |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Eon One Compact vs Soundcore Rave
- Soundboks Mix vs W-King T9 Pro
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Soundboks 2
- Mackie Thump Go vs Sony GTK-XB90
- JBL Partybox 130 vs Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom: $449.99 Amazon
Pros: Strong audio performance with 2x 4.5” woofers, 2x 1” tweeters, 2x passive radiators. Up to 24 hours battery at 50% volume (3 hours at max). Adaptive bass compensation for wall-reflective environments. Dual Bluetooth pairing, aux and optical inputs, USB-out for device charging. IPX4 splash-proof. Sliding rubber handle and compact square design.
Cons: Very expensive for what it does, a bit dull and muddy sound. Not as loud as others in the class. Bass not as deep as a Partybox 100. External power brick for charging.
Full Ultimate Ears Hyperboom review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Charging Time | 2.6 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.5" x 7.5" x 14.3" (190 x 190 x 364 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.66" woofers, 2x 0.98" tweeters, passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (PartyUp up to 50 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| USB Playback | No |
| Weight | 13 lbs / 5.9 kg |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Soundboks Mix
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Audiocase S10
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs JBL Eon One Compact
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Mackie Thump Go
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Samsung MX-ST50B
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Klipsch Gig XXL
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs LG XL7
- Ultimate Ears Hyperboom vs Soundcore Rave 3/3s
- See all 18 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