Short answer: the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. It ranks #86 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $80; the Sony SRS-XE300 ranks #92 and costs $137, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 offers: IP67 rated and floats. Compact and light enough to toss in a bag. Set against that: Not stereo, barely any bass, recessed treble. Slightly boosted 93hz upper bass Dip at 9khz.
What the Sony SRS-XE300 gets right: IP67 rated. Orientation-aware playback switches to stereo when laid flat. Watch for: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass. Hollow sounding. Worse than a XB43.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sony SRS-XE300 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Sony SRS-XE300 is rated for 24 hours versus 12 hours for the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2.
Specifications Side By Side
| Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 | Sony SRS-XE300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80 | $137 |
| Ranked | #86 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #92 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 82Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max Volume | 88dB | - |
| Power Input | Micro USB | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Yes | No |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 420 g | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 4.1" x 3.8" (104 x 95.3 mm) | 9.4" x 4.1" x 4.7" (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm active drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| App | No | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
| EQ | No | Yes (via app) |
| Built in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 16W |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2: $80 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated and floats. Compact and light enough to toss in a bag.
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 →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 82Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 |
| Max Volume | 88dB |
| Omnidirectional | Yes |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs / 420 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sony SRS-XE300: $137 Amazon
Pros: IP67 rated. Orientation-aware playback switches to stereo when laid flat. Party Connect links up to 100 speakers; fast charging (10 min charge = ~70 min playback).
Cons: Muffled sounding, not very deep bass. Hollow sounding. Worse than a XB43
Full Sony SRS-XE300 review and specifications →
| App | Yes (Sony Music Center) |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.4" x 4.1" x 4.7" (238 x 105 x 119 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 49x71mm X-Balanced speaker units + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (via app) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Connect up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- GYMCADDY: Sony XE300 Review And Compared to Sony XB33 - A Muffled Mess
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- Reddit Search for Sony SRS-XE300 Review
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