This comparison is between the JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23. There is unquestionably price difference between them, which is reflected in their features and capabilities.
To choose which one is the best to purchase, a detailed review is done below.
JBL Flip 5
The JBL Flip 5 features a lovely and portable design and pretty amazing audio. This speaker is now available on Amazon for roughly a hundred and twenty dollars. This is the most recent addition to JBL’s Flip series of speakers.
Pros-
- Waterproof
- Excellent sound quality,
- Excellent sound quality
- Simple design
- Extended battery life
- 11 color selections
- Good for outdoors
Cons
- There is no speakerphone
- No voice assistant feature
- To use PartyBoost, you must have compatible
SRS-XB23 Sony SRS-XB23
The Sony SRS-XB23 looks remarkably identical to the SRS-XB22, with only a few minor differences that distinguish the XB22 from the XB23. The XB23 has a nice sound and a nice design. It looks slightly like the JBL Flip 5 and it also features a strap like the Flip 5.
Pros
- Compact design
- Party Mode and stereo pairing
- very portable Waterproof and dustproof
Cons
- Without the extra bass option turned on, the sound is relatively weak
- Not outdoor friendly
SPECS COMPARISON TABLE
Design
JBL Flip 5
The top, base, and sides of the speaker are built of a good fabric material, with rubber on every side. Even though the USB Type-C charging port is not protected by any covers, the Flip 5 is waterproof thanks to its IPX7 certification.
The camouflage color of the speaker is my favorite, but you may choose from 11 different colors. The bass drivers are located on each side, and they not only look attractive, but they also contribute to a wonderful and balanced sound.
The Flip 5 is really portable, and the wrist strap fits snugly over our hand and the controls are immediately accessible while it’s in our palm.
Aside from a charging indication next to the Flip 5’s lone connector, the device has light-up power and Bluetooth buttons along its rubberized spine, as well as a play/pause button, volume controls, and a PartyBoost button on top.
Would you like to connect the Flip 4 and 5 in stereo or mono mode? Sadly, this isn’t possible, or there are any plans to update previous models’ firmware to incorporate the newer PartyBoost feature. The Flip 5’s possibilities for connection are now limited to more Flip 5s or the Pulse 4, which is a stumbling barrier for individuals who already possess one or more JBL speakers.
The speaker’s build quality is also outstanding, and it feels like a well-made piece of equipment. I didn’t drop it on purpose, but it appears and feels as if it could take a battering. You’ll also find all the controls you require. The power and Bluetooth keys both have a lovely LED lighting, and the party boost button uses real Wireless Stereo technology to pair two-party boost compatible speakers for full stereo music.
Sony SRS-XB23
In terms of design, Sony decided for a full cylinder shape, with the cloth mesh extending all the way around the body except for the ends. It’s not the soft touch rubber we saw on the XB33; instead, it’s more of a hard plastic, but only on the outside. There’s soft-touch rubber on the inside, and there are dual passive radiators on the outsides of this speaker.
Another nice touch is that the function buttons run straight along the center, and the battery, party, and stereo pair buttons have been moved out from below the flap to a more accessible location where the other buttons are. Sony has made yet another clever design choice by placing the USB Type-C port beneath the flap, but there is no USB Type-A port or 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack. So that’s one difference between XB22 and XB23.
The back panel continues through a rubberized control panel, including power buttons, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause and volume. A battery status button below this provides a voice readout of the remaining battery life. There are also controls for Party Mode (the SRS-XB23 can connect with up to 100 other SRS series speakers) and Stereo Pair (the SRS-XB23 can connect with up to 100 other SRS series speakers) (pressing this allows either the left or right channel to be assigned to one speaker in a paired duo).
Sound quality
JBL Flip 5
What is the most important feature of a Bluetooth speaker? unquestionably the sound quality is, and we can guarantee you that the JBL Flip 5 will deliver the best outcome. The sound is deep and clean, with a lot of bass. Also, the mids, highs, and lows are well separated, and the volume output is rather impressive for such a small package. It sounds okay at first, but when you turn up the level past 70%, it starts to sound distorted.
The problem is that, unlike many of its competitors, such as the UE Boom 3, this isn’t a 360-degree speaker. That isn’t necessary a deal breaker, but if you want the complete sound revolution, a few extra pounds can be spent on alternative product options.
Don’t be fooled by the Flip 5’s modest scale when it comes to sound. It has the courage to deliver powerful sound, and it’s not afraid of bass, which is typically lacking in compact speakers. Given the speaker’s chamber interior, with the side driver cones allowing for a lot of movement to resonate that low-end, this is achievable. That means heavy-hitting kick drums.
The Flip 5 also has a substantially larger battery than the Flip 4 (4,800mAh vs. 3,000mAh), which will provide you hours of listening time. Charging is also simple because to the easy access to the USB-C port, albeit it will take roughly two and a half hours to fully charge it.
SRS-XB23 Sony SRS-XB23
While experimenting around with the levels of the bass, mids, and trebles we found out that it has a big impact on this little speaker. Like other Bluetooth speakers, it sounds crystal-clear at fifty to seventy-five percent volume, but once you get to that hundred percent, everything tends to get a bit muffled, a little muddy, and I believe the XB23 is therefore no exception.
The Sony Music Center app for Android and iOS is a one-size-fits-all app with varied functionality based on the device you use it with. The SRS-XB23 connects to the app without a hitch and provides access to a few useful options. To begin, switch to stereo in the sound options window if you desire stereo audio instead of mono. (Mono seems to be more beneficial in cases when the SRS-XB23 is paired with another SRS-XB23 to form a stereo pair.) In the same section, there’s a user-adjustable EQ and an option to turn off the bass, which sounds terrible but saves battery life. You can also enable or disable many other power-saving options.
The SRS-XB23 tries its hardest to offer deep bass on The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” but it’s just not in the cards. It doesn’t distort because of some powerful DSP (digital signal processing) that dampens the deep lows as the volume is increased. As a result, at high volume levels, the bass is thinned down, and at intermediate volume levels, the bass is stronger. In any case, the SRS-XB23 isn’t capable of properly replicating sub-bass—and it shouldn’t be expected to be at this price and size.
Features
JBL Flip 5
The Flip 5 comes with a handy protective cover, so you can carry it with you wherever you go. The charging cable is also included in the package. We appreciate how little the speaker is despite the fact that it has a total volume output of 20 watts.
Despite having a large 4,800 mAh battery, the device is also rather light. We were able to listen to music for over 11 hours, which is quite near to the stated claims of 12 hours.
When we first checked the spec sheet, I was disappointed to see that the speaker still uses Bluetooth 4.2, that is clearly not the latest version. But there isn’t much of a change in sound quality, and I had no troubles with connectivity.
In general, when it comes to tiny Bluetooth speakers the sound quality is certainly one of the best. We really like the durable and waterproof design, as well as the long battery life all in all it looks a solid gear to have.
This is a little more expensive than the cheap speakers out there, but the Flip 5 is better in almost every way. So, if you’re searching for a great-sounding, loud, and tiny Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Flip 5 has no completion.
Sony SRS-XB23
This is being marketed by Sony as the ultimate compact portable party speaker. Black, taupe, light blue, olive green, and coral red are among the five new colors available. In terms of battery life, Sony promises a 12-hour battery life, although they also specify that this is in stamina mode at half volume. They claim about ten hours with the extra bass on, but in my testing, I got about eight hours with the extra bass on and about 75 percent volume on this speaker.
The XB23 stands 8.6 inches tall with a 3-inch diameter and weighs about 1.3 pounds. So, when you hold it in your palm, it seems incredibly light. The XB23 is IP67 rated. therefore the speaker is dustproof and waterproof. It’s also shockproof, and has a washable surface, much like the XB22. So, if you’re out all day listening to music and it gets dirty, just wipe it off with a washcloth.
Although the lack of an extra connection may surprise some, they did provide the Bluetooth 5.0, which is an upgrade from Bluetooth 4.2 in the XB23 and flip 5. Another change from last year’s XB22 is that there is no longer any LED light. It’s not a big concern that the LED light is visible; it’s not as spectacular, but it gives the room a cleaner appearance.
Sony’s new X balanced speaker unit is included in the new XB23. They just stretched out the circular diaphragms from the XB22 to achieve this. It has a tri-oval design, which they claim improves sound pressure and decreases distortion.
Battery Life
JBL Flip 5
The battery life of the speaker, according to the makers, lasted up to 12 hours. A 2-hour charge almost entirely charged the battery, making this Bluetooth speaker even more outstanding.
We didn’t hear any complaints concerning the battery life of the Flip 5, indicating that users were happy with it. We have no complaints because twelve hours of fun is more than plenty.
Overall, the JBL Flip 5’s high-quality audio and waterproof rating are two of this portable speaker’s best features. It’s well worth the money, especially if you enjoy hosting pool parties or traveling on adventures.
Sony SRS-XB23
Sony guarantees roughly 12 hours of playback on a full charge, but that is only when listening to music at 50% volume. We only got about seven to eight hours out of the speaker on the first charge due to the rigorous testing we put it through – but that was with the sound at 80-90 percent of its maximum volume. If you keep these at a low volume, you should be able to get near to the 12-hour battery life Sony claims on the box.
What irritated us was the speaker’s inability to tell us how much battery life was left, instead advising us to charge the speaker when it fell below 30%. We were irritated not only by the speaker’s continuous interruptions to notify us that it needed to be charged, but also by the fact that the speaker didn’t simply tell us that there was only 10% battery life left.
The good news is that the speaker charges slightly faster than Sony claims in the instructions , and if you really need the extra juice, you can use the Sony Music Center app to put the speaker in Stamina Mode, which saves battery life at the expense of sound quality.
Which Should You Buy?
JBL flip 5
If you want a compact, portable, and waterproof Bluetooth speaker, the JBL flip 5 is a perfect match. The JBL Flip 5 provides plenty of audio output while also checking all of the criteria, making it an enticing small portable.
It also improves on the previous Flip 4’s design by providing increased battery life, a lot easier-to-access connector (but the 3.5mm is no longer there), improved sound, and USB-C recharging convenience (not Micro-USB).
The JBL Flip 5 lacks that extra appeal in a crowded market because it lacks genuine 360-degree sound. You will not be disappointed if you purchase one.
Sony SRS-XB23
The Sony Extra Bass XB23 checks all the boxes in terms of durability, design, value, and audio quality, and it should be the first thing you grab when leaving the house.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a great value for a speaker of this size under $100. It has good audio quality, with deep bass and good high-frequency clarity. Those looking for extremely deep bass from a portable speaker should choose for a larger model, such as the SRS-XB43 or the $400 JBL Boombox 2. We like the $140 JBL Charge 4 and $150 Sony SRS-XB33 in the $75 to $150 range.
With its durable, waterproof design and app-based EQ adjustments, the SRS-XB23 is no slouch—but for some, spending a little more on its bigger, more powerful siblings will be worth it.
Verdict
The Sony SRS-XB23, in my opinion, is a fantastic purchase because it has more features than the Flip 5 and the overall sound quality is better in the XB23 than in the Flip 5. The JBL Flip 5 has a somewhat cleaner bass, but I believe the Sony XB23 had the loudness edge; I believe this simply blasts out a little bit more volume. I believe the Flip 5 has the edge in terms of pure bass, but the XB23 outperforms it in terms of overall sound quality.
Hi, my name is Afnan Bin Ibrahim, and I’m an aspiring freelance writer. Read more
