Sony SRS-XB23 Speaker Review

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a more premium speaker that's better than the Sony SRS-XB100. The SRS-XB23 is a little bigger but offers a better sound overall. It can playback stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and its companion app brings more customization tools to the table, like a graphic EQ. You may prefer the SRS-XB100 if you want a smaller, more portable speaker, especially since it has better battery performance.

The Sony SRS-XE300 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The XE300 can produce a more extended low-bass and gets slightly louder too. It has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 17 hours from a single charge, and it's compatible with Sony's 'Fiestable' app, which lets you access extra sound effects. When connected to the voice assistants from your smartphone, it does a significantly better job at registering your commands from far and in noisy rooms too. The XB23 is smaller and comes with a carrying strap, making it easier to bring along with you on the go. It also offers a more open and spacious-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is slightly better than the Anker Soundcore 3. Thanks to its 360-degree design, the Sony has better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage, so your audio sounds clear from most angles. You can also pair it with another speaker to create a stereo pair or multiple speakers when you want your audio to fill a large room. That said, while both speakers feature a graphic EQ, the Anker comes with presets you can use to customize its sound. It also has a longer battery life, though this can depend on your usage, so your experience may vary.

The Sony SRS-XB43 is a bit better than the Sony SRS-XB23. Both speakers have a somewhat uneven sound profile, but the XB43 has a more extended low-bass. It also gets louder, and it has longer battery life. While the XB23 lists an IK rating for impact resistance, the XB43 doesn't. The XB23 also has a better soundstage performance.

The Sony SRS-XE200 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23, though they have different strengths. The XE200 has a longer-lasting battery life of over 14 hours from a single charge. While both speakers are compatible with the voice assistants on your phone, the XE200 is significantly better at registering your commands than the XB23. You can also use the speaker to accept and reject phone calls. That said, The XB23 is a bit better for music. It offers a wider and more open-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design, while the XE200 projects audio only in one direction. Also, while it doesn't get as loud as the XE200, it has less compression present at max volume, so audio quality doesn't degrade as much when you increase the volume. Its sound profile is more neutral, making it suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. However, it doesn't produce as much low bass as the XE200.

The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. With its default settings and BassUp feature enabled, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has excellent directivity, resulting in a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. That said, the Sony is better-built, and can be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB13 overall. The XB23 can produce a more extended low-bass than the XB13, and is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ featured in its companion app, so you can tweak its sound to your liking. That said, the XB13 is smaller and more portable than the XB23. Also, while it doesn't get as loud, it has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. 

The Sonos Roam/Roam SL is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Sonos is better built and has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and the Roam variant supports voice assistants. While it comes with bass and treble adjustments, the Sony has a graphic EQ for sound customization. Also, the Sony supports stereo content and has a longer battery life.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB12. The XB23 can get louder and can produce a more extended low-bass than the XB12. It comes with a graphic EQ, meaning that you can customize its sound to your liking. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. That said, the XB12 is smaller, making it more portable. It also has less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears has a better soundstage and can get louder with a lot fewer compression artifacts. Its battery lasts longer too. However, the Sony has less latency via Bluetooth and it has a companion app with a graphic EQ to tweak its sound. It can also be paired with smartphones if you want voice assistant support.

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the JBL Flip 4 or the Sony SRS-XB23. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and can get a bit louder with less compression present at max volume, so audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. That said, the Sony offers a wider-sounding soundstage, and you can customize its sound profile to your liking via the graphic EQ featured in its companion app. It's also better-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Micro. The Sony is better-built, it can produce more low-bass, and it can get louder, although with more compression artifacts present. It also has a longer-lasting battery life as well as a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound. However, the Bose is smaller, which some people may prefer.

The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears offers a much wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design. It can get louder with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It can also last over 13 hours from a single charge, though this can vary depending on your usage. That said, the Sony offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper bass than that of the Ultimate Ears. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve II is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23 overall. The Bose does has better voice assistant performance than the Sony, and has no trouble understanding you from far away, and in noisy environments. It also has a more neutral and well-balanced sound profile in comparison to that of the Sony out-of-the-box. However, you can customize the Sony's sound thanks to the Graphic EQ feature available on its companion app. It can also play stereo content, resulting in a more immersive soundstage.

The Sony SRS-RA3000 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23, though they have different strengths. The SRS-RA3000 is a wired speaker designed for home use, with a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and an incredible soundstage performance. It can also get louder than the SRS-XB23, with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. That said, the SRS-XB23 is battery-powered, making it more portable than the SRS-RA3000. It also is better-built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23 overall. The Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the Sony. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. That said, the Sony has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Color II. The Sony has a somewhat more balanced sound profile, and its companion app has a full graphic EQ that lets you customize its sound to your liking. It also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, while the Bose is rated IPX4. That said, the Bose has less compression at max volume, and it understands you more easily when using the voice assistant from your paired smartphone.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the DOSS SoundBox Plus. The Sony is better-built. Its default sound profile is more neutral, and it has a better soundstage. Also, its graphic EQ allows for greater sound customization. However, the DOSS has less compression with played at max volume, and its voice assistant performance is better.

The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker for outdoor use than the JBL Clip 4. The Sony has better controls and a better-balanced sound profile. Since it's a 360-degree speaker, it can reproduce a wider soundstage. It also has a better battery life, and you can use your smartphone's voice assistant with it. It even has an app with a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound.

The Marshall Emberton is better for most uses than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Marshall's default sound profile is more neutral, and it has a better soundstage. However, the Sony offers a graphic EQ for sound customization. Also, the Sony is a better choice for outdoor use as it's better-built, and it supports voice assistants, unlike the Marshall.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a better speaker out-of-the-box than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Bose is capable of reproducing more low-bass and has a more even treble range. Its battery lasts longer too. However, the Sony has a companion app that offers a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound to your liking. It also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and it can be used in a stereo or mono mode.