Along with improving your mood, listening to music can relieve anxiety, decrease fatigue, improve memory, and much more. So, of course, you should want to have the best speakers available so you can fully immerse yourself in the music and reap the benefits.
To attain the premium quality speakers you deserve, we will provide the information to guide you to the best speakers for your ears. So when considering Sony XG300 vs. Sony XB43 vs. JBL Xtreme 3, know that they are all excellent portable speakers that will surely get the job done for you.
But which of these speakers is without a doubt the best—or rather, the best for you? To answer this question, we will highlight each of the three speakers’ advantages and disadvantages. Learn all you need below to find the best speakers on the market.
Summary
The three speakers we will discuss are outstanding in their own right.
For instance, the Sony XB43 is a durable speaker with excellent sound quality that uses lighting to create the ideal ambiance for a smooth listening session. With the help of its Live Sound feature, you can experience your favorite songs as if you were at a live performance. It is also the least expensive of the group, capable of charging a cell phone via USB, and has a listed playtime of 24 hours.
The JBL Xtreme 3, on the other hand, is an expansion of the Xtreme series that surpasses its predecessors. With many features available, this waterproof speaker brings lots of volume as the most powerful speaker in the JBL portable lineup. This speaker offers 15 hours of bliss for your ears, and its PartyBoost feature allows you to pair compatible speakers together to keep the party going.
And we can’t forget to mention the Sony XG300. This speaker also brings the party wherever you go and transports you to a live concert at the push of a button. The speaker has a handle for portability but also provides upgraded lighting and a sleek grille that makes it perhaps the world’s most beautiful boombox. Additionally, you won’t need to worry about charging your speakers constantly because the battery lasts up to 25 hours.
Each speaker has distinctive qualities that set them apart from the others and shared traits that make choosing between them more challenging. Check out the differences and similarities in Sony XG300 vs. JBL Xtreme 3 vs. Sony XB43 below to decide the best fit for you.
~~~ Check Price: Sony XG300 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Sony XB43 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: JBL Xtreme 3 ~~~
Sound
The first question that comes to mind when comparing speakers is, “which has the better sound?” This makes or breaks buying a speaker because the audio quality is the most important factor at all times.
We will compare the highlights and lowlights of each speaker’s sound, starting with the Sony XG300.
The woofers, tweeters, and passive radiators of the Sony XG300 ensure your music has the potent bass and vocal clarity you long for. Its mega bass feature makes this possible by dialing up the bass without muddying the audio or causing distortions.
In fact, this speaker allows you to increase sound pressure and reduce distortion. The equalizer is simple (three toggle bars and nothing else), or you can choose ClearAudio+ for Sony’s preferred equalizer settings out-of-the-box.
Given that they were both produced by the same company, the Sony XB43 and the XG300 are similar in many respects. Both have comparable features like their extra/mega bass feature and many distinctions, like the XB43 being created to provide a three-dimensional experience.
With Sony’s DSP technology, you can embrace the festival-like atmosphere of any environment. Considering the relatively low price, the sound quality can’t get much better than the XB43 unless you encounter the slight distortion that occurs at times. Other than that, this speaker sounds exquisite.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is another of JBL’s top-notch speakers, well-known for being among the best money can buy. This speaker is among the better-built ones available, and it offers a rich, immersive sound with deep bass that shines when listening outdoors. Whether you are at the pool or a cook-out, the sound quality of this speaker will be at its best.
At maximum volume, the JBL Xtreme 3’s bass isn’t at its best, and the sound quality at low volumes leaves much to be desired. When it comes to sound, the superior sound has to go to the Sony XG300. This speaker barely has any audio issues and excels in practically any environment.
Sound winner: Sony XG300, but Xtreme 3 is close enough that it is honestly just personal preference; probably 55 people out of a hundred would choose XG300 while 45 would choose Xtreme 3
Design
When purchasing a product, the thing that attracts you is its exterior aesthetic. The design is what catches your eyes and makes you wonder about all it offers. The same is the case when looking for a speaker and, in this case, comparing speakers.
The design also matters when deciding its placement, whether you keep your speaker in the same place or you’re constantly on the move with it. As one of the most highly regarded audio equipment manufacturers, JBL always comes through with its design by considering all its customers’ needs.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is no different and allows you to customize your speaker to fit your taste. When purchasing through the JBL website, you can select various colors and patterns, write text, pick stickers, and even upload an image.
Although it is a relatively sizeable portable speaker, the Xtreme 3 is lightweight. The desired all-around sound is made possible by the cylindrical shape. Furthermore, this speaker’s attention to detail is evidenced by the built-in hooks and bottle opener. The only drawback to these speakers is their relatively long carrying strap, which is mainly a matter of personal preference.
Despite having the least visually appealing design of the three, the Sony XB43 is no slouch in the design department by any means. Unlike the Xtreme 3, this speaker comes with RGB lights so it can stand out when relaxing or partying.
The XB43 is also made to be tough so that it can withstand things like drops and water. The absence of a handle is the only significant flaw in the XB43’s design. The largest and heaviest of the three speakers should have a means of transporting it, right?
Not only was the Sony XG300 built with sustainability in mind, but it was also built to last. This dust and waterproof speaker means that it will be able to endure practically any environment. With this durability, you will enjoy this speaker’s sleek and stunning design for much longer.
This speaker has a retractable handle, making it the best portability out of the bunch. Furthermore, all the buttons are easily understandable and accessible. What is there not to love?
This decision comes down to the JBL Xtreme 3 and the Sony XG300, but the Xtreme 3 takes the cake. Both are great in nearly every aspect, but the personalization of the Xtreme gives it a slight edge.
Design winner: Xtreme 3 if you want to customize or if you like the oversized JBL logo, but XG300 for the sleek exterior and great light features
Durability
We briefly discussed the durability of the speakers above, but now it’s time to give a more in-depth look into each speaker. Everyone wants a resilient speaker to withstand almost any circumstance in case the worst-case scenario comes about. Speakers can get expensive, and having all that money go down the drain from an accident would be awful.
Fortunately, the build quality of each speaker here is top-of-the-line; they can all withstand water, sand, and much more. These speakers are top-notch, right down to the flaps that cover the input openings and the sturdy fabric netting that guarantees their durability.
However, when it comes to durability, the JBL Xtreme 3 wins. It’s a toss-up between them all because they share similar traits. The JBL Xtreme 3, however, was designed to be, well, extreme. Just by looking at this speaker, you can infer this conclusion.
Every speaker on the list has an IP67 waterproof/dustproof rating.
Durability winner: Tie (Xtreme 3 is probably the most durable, but the logo is prone to scratching)
Battery
The battery life of any device is very important in this day and age. Your phone, laptop, and speakers need to be charged, so you must act quickly to find an outlet if one of them dies when you’re in the middle of something.
The three speakers in this set have longer battery lives than your typical speakers, so you don’t have to worry. But which is the best?
The JBL Xtreme’s battery life, rounded to 15 hours, is the least impressive. However, the fact that the battery life on the worst device is better than most shows how great the next two are. The Sony XB43 blows the Xtreme 3 out of the water with its 24-hour battery life. So, if you wanted to, you could literally listen to your music all day.
You should also note that you can use any of these speakers to charge other devices. The Xtreme 3 and XG300 use the USB-C port, while the XB43 only uses the USB-A, making the Xtreme 3 and XG300 more convenient.
The pound-for-pound best battery life comes down to the XB43 and the XG300. These two are neck in neck in this department, but the XG300 manages to get the photo finish with its one-hour advantage.
The XG300 also gains the edge thanks to its Quick Charging and Battery Care features. With quick charging, a 10-minute charge can provide 70 minutes of music. Battery Care enables your device to prevent overcharging and prolongs the lifespan of your battery.
Battery winner: XG300, with Xtreme 3 the clear loser despite performing well
Software
A speaker’s software should significantly improve both the usability and overall enjoyment of the speaker.
The Sony Music Center app does just that, whereas the JBL Portable app does not. Usually, all that matters when it comes to these apps is the equalizer, which allows you to adjust your music to exactly how you want; but they offer more.
The Sony Music Center app offers many great functions such as Party Connect, Speaker Add, lighting controls, and more. You can control the lights, DJ mode, and a bunch of other settings that provide more customization than almost anyone would need.
The JBL Portable app has similar (albeit fewer) features, but it has a major downside—it doesn’t work.
Well, this isn’t exactly true; the equalizer is the most consistent of any of its features. But even though this app occasionally completes the task at hand, other features consistently fail.
This is the case when connecting your speaker and saving your configurations. Firmware updates occasionally fail to complete, and the battery life indicator is unreliable. This all can be very annoying, which is why Sony’s XG300 and XB43 are without a doubt the clear winners.
Software winner: Both Sony products — more options and smoother function.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, deciding between Sony XG300 vs. Sony XB43 vs. JBL Xtreme 3 rests on your preference.
Each speaker is great in their own right, but the one that wins in most of the categories mentioned is the Sony XG300. This outperforms in pretty much every category and is an excellent decision. So, get your Sony XG300 today to immerse yourself in the music.
The buying case for Xtreme 3 is quite simple — JBL loyalists are a reliable group, and the XG300 doesn’t outperform by a wide enough margin for the loyalists to justify purchasing a Sony rather than a JBL. As mentioned in the “Sound” section, the XG300 sounds better to my ear, but many reviewers and users will disagree. There is something to be said for the JBL sound profile, which is balanced and doesn’t have any noticeable flaws.
The buying case for XB43 is also quite simple — if you can find this thing on sale for less than $200, you are saving a big chunk of change relative to the other two speakers on our list.
If I had to rank the three (which, I guess I actually do…), XB43 comes in last place. However, it isn’t a bad speaker by any means.
Considering the fact that XB43 costs less than half of what the Xtreme 3 costs (at the time of publish), you could easily argue that XB43 is the best value of the bunch.
~~~ Check Price: Sony XG300 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Sony XB43 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: JBL Xtreme 3 ~~~
