SRS-XB33 vs Charge 4 (and also a few cheaper models)
So I've been looking for my do-it-all BT speaker for a while, without spending too much, and of the ones I have owned, the Sony SRS-XB33 is the clear winner. Scroll down if you want to read the direct review of the Sony speaker. Previously, I've owned the Oontz Angle 3 Ultra, and briefly the Tribit Maxsound Plus, and JBL Charge 4. The Oontz speakers I still own, (two in paired stero), and they are a great value for the money, especially as a pair in stereo. That would be a clear winner for me for under $100 (for both!) However, as you might imagine, the small size and overall build prevents this from really producing deep, resonating bass, and the overall sound is a little thin without a ton of range. However, for a lot of people, these would be a perfectly acceptable choice for on-the-go music. The Tribit Maxsound was just not very good. I don't know how it seems to receive such high praise as an affordable, but great sounding speaker. It just isn't very good, very tinny, and the bass is really lacking. The Oontz speakers are a much better sound profile, and even slightly better bass. That model also cannot be paired in stereo (AFAIK). Not worth purchasing IMO. Now, for the XB33, and how it compared to a worthy competitor, the JBL Charge 4. The two speakers are of similar size (I didn't get exact measurements, but are more or less similar), and larger than I might have though. Perhaps because I was used to much smaller, cheaper BT speakers... These are definitely not as portable, at least for things like packing in luggage. Probably fine for road trips, but I would not want to pack this in my airplane luggage. In the box comes the speaker, a charging cord and some (terrible) instructions. The instructions now look like IKEA assembly instructions, just confusing pictures. The pairing process is pretty easy. SOUND: The sound quality of this speaker is outstanding. The overall sound profile is very rich, and it seems to carry farther than the volume would indicate. Meaning, some speakers are loud, but when you walk further away from it, the sound dissipates quickly. The Sony speaker's sound carries farther, I don't know why that is, or how that is quantified, other than when I walk away from it, the volume I hear decreases much more slowly than some other speakers I've had. Again, that's one of those possibly subjective things, but it's definitely true based on my experience. The bass is very robust and resonates well without simply thumping for the sake of being the deepest, hardest bass. The Charge 4 has deeper bass that hits harder, but this one just sounds better. It complements the mids and highs much better than the Charge 4. Speaking of which, the main issue I had with that speaker is the lack of clarity in the mid range. The profile was just too one-dimensional for me. Thumpy bass and decent highs, but there was no depth to the sound. I just could not get into the sound profile from that speaker. You'll see a common complaint about the Charge 4 is the mids, and it absolutely is true. A good speaker with very good bass, but no depth and dimension to it. Back to this speaker, the overall sound profile is the key point. The bass is very good, but the speaker isn't just a slapper. The mids and highs are all excellently rendered in a very three dimensional sound that works well together. There isn't one aspect of this speaker that is "the best", but as a total package, it's the best sound I've heard from speakers in and around this price point. Recently I purchased a second to pair in stereo, and I'm even more impressed now. One speaker by itself sounds so rich that you may not need a second, but you really can hear the difference in two of them. Hands down, this is the winner vs the Charge 4, and an excellent value in this price range. Oh, I forgot to mention the lights! They are customizeable in the app, and really add some additional flare to a great sounding speaker, for those big house parties. A few minor complaints I have. One is the volume of this speaker is surprisingly low. I have sensitive hearing, so I generally don't need extreme volume, but I find myself usually at about 80-90% volume outside, and maybe 70% inside, and that's just to listen at a decently loud, but comfortable volume. If you turn it all the way up, it's loud, but I could easily leave it turned up all the way without feeling like my ears would start bleeding immediately. Even my small Oontz speakers can get louder. Again, as a stereo pair, the overall volume is much louder, and that might be a solution, but as a solo speaker, some people might find the volume a bit low. Also, the battery life is pretty poor. Maybe I'm not used to these larger speakers, but I find myself charging the thing every few days, using it several hours a day. It is probably within spec, but it sure does seem like these need to be charged quite often. However, apart from that, this speaker is fantastic, and highly recommended. Read more