JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23 (Comparison Review)

If you are in search of a decent Bluetooth speaker, then you are in luck? Today, we are going to discuss about two phenomenal Bluetooth speakers. Gone are the days when you had to connect a speaker to the audio device and then listen to music.

Today, things are a lot more advanced, and you can connect the device through Bluetooth. Besides, they are lightweight, portable, and come with a wide range of features in them. Isn’t that amazing?

We will be reviewing the JBL – Flip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker vs the Sony – SRS-XB23 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Two popular brand names produce them. JBL, as you know, has produced some amazing products over the years.

They specialize in sound equipment and devices. You can find their products among the top 5 in every market segment. Likewise, Sony is another tremendous brand. Their products are spectacular and sublime.

They come infused with amazing qualities and features, making them top-notch. You can find some of their products among the top-ranked in the market. The JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker comes with a fantastic design, and it is lightweight.

It provides you with amazing sound quality and is compact too. You can place the speaker anywhere you want to. It is priced under $130, which can be slightly expensive for a speaker of this range.

However, it is a top-ranked model from the Flip line-up speakers from JBL. It is shaped in a cylindrical design and is exceptionally built. The model has a carry strap that enables you to take it with you where you want effortlessly and in style.

Besides, it also comes in several colors of your choosing. The sound quality is good, but the bass is slightly low. The battery life is good at close to 12hours. Likewise, the Sony SRS-XB23 Bluetooth speaker has a similar design to the previous SRS-XB22 model.

You can notice that they have made some minor changes to the earlier model. However, the XB23 model comes with its own unique features and sound performance that we will be discussing in here. The appearance is pleasing and has a nice, elegant shape to it.

The model has a 360degree design to it and is immensely lightweight. You can take it with you wherever you want. Its sound performance is similar to the Flip 5 speaker. However, users can work on the graphic EQ provided in the companion app.

It is suitable for outdoor use and comes elegantly built. The speaker is somewhat cheaper than the Flip 5 model. To know the ideal speaker for your needs, read the detailed review. Besides, we have given the winner at the end of the post.

JBL FLIP 5	SONY SRS-XB23
PROS	PROS
The model comes with an elegant design. The unit provides you with outstanding sound performance. It is waterproof, and users do not want to worry if liquid falls on the unit. It can be paired with several devices of JBL. The product has an exceptional battery working life.	The model is nicely designed and lightweight. The unit has amazing highs for the small size. It comes with a phenomenal bass depth. It has stereo pairing along with the party mode. The product is waterproof and dustproof also.
CONS	CONS
The Bluetooth speaker requires pressing the top buttons for checking battery levels.	The Bluetooth speaker is not loud in outdoor areas.
CHECK ON AMAZON	CHECK ON AMAZON

JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23: Design & Features

The design & features of a Bluetooth speaker are crucial aspects of any model. That is because you do not want to find yourself having a model that cannot be used outside. In this sense, it should be lightweight, have top-notch sound quality, and be water-resistant.

The JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker has a cylindrical shape to it. The model comes opulently designed. You can notice that the unit has a tight-knit fabric present on it. A notable feature about the speaker is that you can place it vertically or horizontally.

Now, this is becoming a common feature among most Bluetooth speakers. You can find that most of them have it in them today. There is also a strap provided with it for easy carrying around.

You can remove it if you want. We liked the fact that it comes in several colors. Mostly, speakers come in black, blue, red, and green. Today, manufacturers realize that users solely purchase some speakers because of their color.

So, the tone that they come in a matter a lot too. When you are specific about the speaker’s color, then the JBL model will not disappoint you. Besides, users can personalize the model’s design using JBL official website.

As it is portable, you can take it around with you and listen to music. Perhaps, a small tea or coffee breaks around the portico. Maybe a small evening session with friends around the balcony.

If you own a swimming pool on your property, then so be it. The model is IPX7 rating and is waterproof. Moreover, it comes with a powerful 12-hour battery life. You can use it for listening to your favorite music for 8-9 hours on high volume outside.

When inside, then you may not require that kind of volume. It has an amazing build quality that makes it durable. We noted that there is no cover for the USB-C port. While that does not have to be a thing of worry, it would have been nice.

But it is a water-resistant product. So, you have nothing to worry about. It comes with several control options on it. You can adjust the volume, switch the speaker, and pair the speaker with other devices if you want.

It is one of the common features found on Bluetooth speakers in the market today. Consumers would like to use the Partyboost button to link to other speakers with the feature. You can skip the track forward but not go to the previous track.

This aspect of it could have been a handy feature, but it is alright. When you have reached the maximum volume, you are notified. Besides, you can find lights also on the product to let you know about pairing and other uses.

You are notified when the product is charging. If you want a speaker with more control options, you can see the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II. Our tester saw that the bass drivers found on the speaker provided amazing sound.

You have more than 10 color choices to choose from. So, when you do not prefer to use the traditional colors of black, blue, red, and green, you have a lot more to choose from. This aspect is a small but useful character of the product.

Likewise, the Sony XB23 Bluetooth speaker has a cylindrical design. It can be placed either horizontally or vertically. The sound quality is not going to change anyway. However, we suggest that you put it horizontally so that it does not fall down easily.

At times, you might trip on it. This usually happens when you have small kids or pets at home. Though it is durable and robust in design, you may not want to keep dropping it on purpose. The speaker comes protected with webbing.

We liked the fact that it is quite light. Though it weighs and seems similar to the Flip 5 model, the unit felt portable. You would delight in taking it outdoors. Perhaps, a pool party or an evening tea session with friends on the balcony.

You can take it with you wherever you want because it comes with a strap on it. You can suspend it through the hook that is present on it. The unit comes with a 12-hour working battery. You can use it for more than 10 hours.

It comes with the exceptional build quality. Of course, you do not want to drop down often. A thick netting around the speaker makes it waterproof and dustproof. It also comes with a removable strap.

It is pretty thick and nice to carry around. You won’t notice any discomfort because of it. Besides, you can adjust it based on your liking. As we said that it is water-resistant, you can place it inside water for 30 minutes or more.

It has physical controls that are present on the side of the speaker. You can now make use of it and manage your sound and calls if you want effortlessly. They are simple to use and work with. We liked that part of it.

Like the Flip 5 model, the lights are on, enabling you to know the speaker’s status. Some models do not come with these essential lights. You never know what is going on. For example, there is the battery indicator light.

It is more of a necessity to allow you to understand the battery level. Supposing you want to skip to the next track, you can do so by pressing the play button twice. Likewise, you can move to the previous track by pressing the play button thrice.

The extra bass feature on the speaker enables you to listen to eloquent music. However, you can turn it off to save the battery. Besides, you can find some suitable buttons for the party mode.

Overall, the design of both models is outstanding. You can place them vertically or horizontally. Besides, they are water and dustproof. So, you can keep them near the swimming pools and enjoy the sublime audio performance.

JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23: Sound Quality

Obviously, sound quality is the most vital aspect of any Bluetooth speaker. It is safe to say that both JBL and Sony are opulent makers of products that give you stellar audio quality. Let us read and find out which unit offers you the better sound performance.

The JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker offers an opulent sound quality. Though the bass is not where you would like to be, it is fantastic. The indoor usage gives you top-notch music quality, but the outdoor could have been louder.

It depends on the kind of outdoor setting in which you are listening to music outdoors. For example, when the surrounding area has a lot of background noise, it can affect the quality of the loudness of the speaker.

The audio is clear and deep. Users can listen to the vocals and the instruments quite nicely. Also, you can feel the difference between the mids and the lows. That is a good thing coming from a speaker.

Sadly, the sound quality becomes distorted when you increase the volume higher than 80%. Besides, the build quality also has a say on its sound performance. If you notice, the model is designed with a nice protective case.

The connectivity of the speaker is good too. Some models can take an eternity if the signal is lost. The rugged design of the speaker makes it an exceptional piece of device to own for yourself. We recommend the Flip 5 speaker as an outstanding model to own.

The Sony SRS-XB23 Bluetooth speaker offers you stunning bass and mids. That is probably the most important thing for any model. It has an immense effect on the compact size speaker. Even when you put the volume on 50%, you can hear the opulent sound emanating from the unit.

That is a notable feature. In fact, many Sony products tend to have this capability. It is not surprising to see that from this unit. But you do not want to keep the volume at 100%. That is because, like most speakers, the audio becomes distorted.

Though the battery life can work for 12 hours, you may want to have it at 60-70% volume. The maker claims that the tri-oval shape helps reduce the distortion and increase the sound pressure.

Overall, the sound quality was good, though it could have been improved. However, for the price point, the performance was magnificent.

JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23: Price

The JBL – Flip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is priced under $130. The unit comes with an amazing water-resistant design. It has an IPX7 rating that ensures you can place it near the swimming pool and enjoy it.

You can now connect with any device that is compatible with Bluetooth. You can connect with smartphones, tablets, and laptops to stream your favorite music. Another crucial aspect of any Bluetooth speaker is the battery working life, which is 12 hours on a single charge.

The Sony – SRS-XB23 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is priced under $110. There is a price difference of $20 between the two models. We feel that it should make users sway to the other Bluetooth speaker.

The sound performance of the unit is top-notch with the extra bass. It comes with a dual passive radiator that can work together with full-range speakers. You can now refine the low-end tones providing the bass a boost.

You can connect up to 100 compatible speakers using the party connect feature. You can think of having a massive party in a farmhouse or on a large property with several speakers. Using the speakerphone, you can have conference calls hands-free.

The model is IP67 rated, making it rustproof, waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. You can make use of it outdoors without much hassle. This aspect of it gives you immense flexibility in operating it anywhere and everywhere.

JBL Flip 5 vs Sony SRS-XB23: Verdict

We have ended our comparison review on the JBL – Flip 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker vs the Sony – SRS-XB23 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. We hope that you liked what you read and were able to make your decision.

We suggest that you read the post again if you were not able to decide on the model of choice. The JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker is ideal for listening to music. Its bass is second to none compared to most speakers in the market.

You can listen to the leads and vocals accurately. It does not come with customization features. It is lightweight, and you can take it with you where you want. The model also comes with an IPX7 rating and can remain 30 minutes inside the water at a depth of 1 meter.

The Sony SRS-XB23 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent option for listening to music. The model is waterproof and comes with an outstanding battery working life. Users can make use of the Sony Music Center app.

You can also find an adjustable strap on the speaker to attach the unit to your bag. It can be immersed inside water under 1 meter for 30 minutes. The JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker could be the better model as it comes with 26.6% less body volume.

You can also find 1.78x more battery power and 1.5h shorter charge time. The unit also comes with a sleep timer, which is 40g lighter and 2mm shorter. It is 37mm narrower and 7mm thinner. The Sony SRS-XB23 Bluetooth speaker is the ultimate model because it has a 45Hz lower low frequency.

Users would be glad to use 1 more driver and a 0.8 newer Bluetooth version. It also has voice commands, is much cheaper, and has voice prompts. Our winner in this comparison review between the JBL Flip 5 model vs Sony SRS-XB23 model is the Sony Bluetooth speaker.

It not only comes with more features but has a good sound performance. You can notice that the JBL Flip 5 has good bass, but the Sony unit makes use of more volume. Though the Flip 5 model has an edge in the bass, the SRS-XB23 model comes with a phenomenal audio performance.