Great review, loved the float test! These BT speakers and their oddities. The way listening level changes the sound so much. Its like they all are different speakers at different levels... Makes reviews all the more tricky. Lucky we have reviews like yours.
Sony XB43 Timecodes: 0:00 first listen 1:35 specs 6:15 water test 10:42 frequency response measurements 15:19 sound modes 18:14 eq tests 22:48 vs xb40 66% volume 27:43 maximum volume test
Great review Alan. I got the Sony XB43 mostly for use as a PS5 and PC speaker. It has a 3.5 mm jack and the low latancy means no lag. To my ears, it plays music really well and I'm looking forward to using it outdoors with your EQ settings. Maybe at an hour long fitness class? I've also tested an Anker PowerCore II 10000 Portable Charger to recharge the speaker and this works. So I may get more than the 2hr 20 mins at max volume.
I have black 33 and blue 43 too, and i'm very satisfied with them. The 33 has more natural, and 43 has more v-shaped sound. The leds looking absolutely gorgeous under the 43's blue grill. :)
I have two of these speakers and obviously use the stereo pair function and I think it sounds incredible Obviously , the sound source also plays a factor . For example , when connected to my television , they sound so much better than when connected to my old phone or vinyl player The speakers produce extra sounds my other blue tooth speaker fails to do
the question is, what is 50 watts? the drivers? the amp? rms? is that into the load of the actual speaker. for me these specs have become meaningless. an amp may be capable of driving a load but doesnt mean the manufacturer is utilising the full power. i just dont believe anything these companies say in terms of specs.
This speaker is amazing. The only con about it is it is heavy and it needs a handle THAT IS IT. The battery lasts me a full week at 70% volume playing it legit an hour a day working out.
I feel that the stamina mode is the most balanced as it does not have those boomy bass that are in the other modes, although they can be equalized, but the stamina is more precise or neutral for those who do not listen at exaggerated volumes.
Why do you think they call it stamina mode and not balanced mode? Unfortunately like most who claim to like a neutral sound what they actually like is a bass light sound which is not neutral. Music contains bass, no bass no neutrality.
@@alanrossreviews Resistance mode also means that there will be no lights or equalization, but what it does is remove that boom boom effect and leaves the sound very neutral without exaggerating bass or treble. This can be used to listen to other genres that would not sound natural in xbass mode. The interesting thing is that this speaker offers different signatures for each mode and it is up to whoever chooses the mode.
This bloke is funny as hell. I like his reviews because he like a stand up comic reviewing tech stuff. I like it when he says "does it float? " - and then just chucks it in the water violently and funnily! Excellent bloke and informative reviews..
Honestly I'm torn between jbl xtreme 2 and Sony xb43. I listen to a lot of house music and want something loud 2ith a lot of bass. Not sure which to go with. Now that sales are up I need help deciding which speaker to go with.
@@alanrossreviews the xb43 was rubbish and is going back to amazon lol. i got a partybox 100 and it sounds better than my mains powerd 5.1 system! ive got a external battery to keep it going for around 24 hours.
@@alanrossreviews lovely! Got that an the xtreme 2. £129 and £150 a piece couldn’t help it. Will keep whichever one I prefer until the xtreme 3 drops down in price or actually gets released 🤣🤣🤣
What's the warranty on the XB43? Just like that, my speakers are very crackley & hardly no volume. Sounds as if blown M8. Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦 Very helpful video
That info is very nice dude! Do you know anything about jbl xtreme 2's amplifier? Which speaker do you consider better? I would love to hear your answer you seem to know a lot about this thanks a lot for your time!
@@alanrossreviews Im worried about the Bass with the location of the new passive radiators with the new form factor 😪 but I'm going to buy the Srs-xb43 because of your analysis and because I have the 40 and 41.
Hi Alan. Great review. I've been doing some research as I'm after a new speaker for the garage/workshop. I've narrowed it down to this and the JBL Xtreme 2. I mostly listen to Drum & Bass, not at crazy volumes so not to annoy the neighbors and appreciate clarity. I'll also be utilising the 3.5mm jack to play audio from the TV (UA-cam, Redbull TV). Do you have a preference on either in this situation? Thanks.
@Alan Ross I love your reviews, please I have a technical question I have to choose between Sony srs xb43 and Soundcore Rave partycast, I understand that rave has better bass and Sony is better for indoor listening, can Rave partycast be used for indoor listening, I like the bass on the rave but can I also listen to soft songs indoor?
Got one yesterday, blue one is gorgeous. Its loud enough and its brilliant. And I got another usb C charger ! And for the price I can get another one soon and sell the huge 8inch krks.
Yeah, I got blue one as well but nearly yer ago. While it has possible best sound I have heard from speaker for that money I'm looking to get some jbl (yes as sony fan it hurts a bit) like party box on the go that is quite cheap and decently bassy
if i change the eq on the app, does it only work when i am connected or does the eq apply to the speaker itself, so that it also works when someone else connects to it?
@@alanrossreviews Thank you for answering! I had to decide between the xb43 and the soundcore rave neo and i kept the neo! I hope i made the right choice.
I guess I’ll still stick with my XB40, there’s not much different in bass level and only the highs is sharper (I actually thinking of buying one next year as it will have big discount everywhere but after hearing the samples I’m quite disappointing...) Thanks for this video, it really helps me out
Alan Ross Reviews Personally I listened to a lot of bass heavy tracks so I think the XB40 is better for me (as it still has decent highs and mids out there if the EQ was right)
@AlanRoss I just got this in the mail today and out of the box, Im finding it a bit inadequate in the bass category VS the Soundcore Motion Boom. Im honestly a bit disappointed. I played with the EQ a bit and compared both with Sak Noel Ft. Sean Paul - Trumpets and found the Motion Boom to hit the lower end bass. Is there something I can tweak on my XB43 or will the MB just perform better in the bass category overall? I do love the sound clarity of the XB43. I feel like this can be a versatile speaker for a lot of genres.
the xb43 as i have kept saying is a good safe all rounder but there is nothing great with. the boom is exceptional at price and size for how deep it goes and how flat it is. but dont you find the xb43 has a bigger sounstage?
@@alanrossreviews 100% bigger soundstage for sure. I think it can be used as a sound bar to be honest. In a plot twist for my search I got gifted a 2.1 Sony soundbar. My search for a workout speaker is over. This ought to scratch my bass itch. Thanks Alan!
Hi Alan ! I wish this video came out before I bought the xb43. Anyway, I'll go to party this weekend and... so, what EQ settings do you advice at high/max volume ? I don't manage to find the nicest settings by myself lol. thank you
my go to are +3 + 6 +3 but adjust bass to taste. the difference is more at high volume where you get a couple of extra db and less bass reduction. you simply dont have the leeway to adjust to taste. the problem being the eq used to be on top of clear audio but now its instead of.
@@alanrossreviews yup I must agree with you, the result is overwhelming. I still have a little hope for a firmware update to correct these misses. Thank you man for your work
Now that we have a true test + spec sheet with measurements for the XB43. Would you recommend it over the Anker Soundcore Motion+ or would that still be a better and cleaner option?
in terms of value no. you could buy two motion plsues for that same money and still have change over. with one motion plus the xb43 offers a bigger sound.
I agree with this review. It's very average sounding and may not hold your in interest long. However I find it a beautiful styled speaker and the lights are fun. I will keep mine.
@@alanrossreviews I ended up returning it, I have a Extreme 2 as well and kept going back and forth comparing the 2. The extreme 2 has beautiful sounds coming from it while the XB43 was flat and dull no matter how much EQ mixing I did. The design and lights were not enough.
This is on sale right now for $190 on Amazon/Best Buy. How does the overall volume compare to the W-King D8? I know this most likely sounds better, but a buddy of mine is looking to get an outdoor speaker and cares about overall volume more than anything.
Hi there, would you say the dockin d fine + 2 has more of a hifi quality than this? Also the dockin support aptx, but this has LDAC support for hi res music, have you taken advantage of these features?
i do think the dockin sounds more hifi in person IF you have an ear for it, its the nature of the soundstage, even more so with a pair of them. its not perfect by any means, recessed vocals and big dip around 2khz but for me is more immersive for critical listening.
@@alanrossreviews All good. I dont feel like im getting the best bang for my buck without your stamp if approval so i guess ill wait. The flip 4 still works so....
@@alanrossreviewsHA! I see you remembered! Im about to get 80 bucks in best buy points and when the xb33 goes on sale, which it has been as of late, it will only cost me 20 or 30 bucks out of pocket for a 150 dollar speaker, hard to top that. Ive heard good things about it but ill wait for your review as I think we have similar taste in sound preference.
@@ninji5226 may be a little wait, im working with tribit and bose micros right now then planning xb43 vs motion plus and a couple of mattresses before i will get to the xb33. i will get to it though :)
@@alanrossreviews I just realized that the xb43 is made in Vietnam which explains it's great build quality compared to other speakers that's made in China
Alan i really found helpful all your reviews, I bought my XB30 after I saw one of your reviews, now I am confusing if is good to upgrade my XB30 to a new XB43... what do you recommend? I found the following at Amazon reviews... is it real?. Xb43 has harsh highs and lot of bass but a lot of frequencies in between are completely gone. At one point while watching a short movie I thought why have the movie makers haven't put any background sounds and too my surprise they had - it's just that this speaker was not able to reproduce them. You can watch short movie nine minutes by dust on UA-cam to catch the subtle differences.
the xb43 would be my pick over the xb30. i would put the xb43 into custom mode to sort of those mids a bit. it will sound bigger than the xb30. it will never sound amazing but wont sound terrible either, its a safe sound. i do find myself plaything it just because of that reason. it could have had more deep bass but thats sony for you! i dont know what that reviewer was comprising it too but its not a soundbar and it wont do deep bass. in default mode mids are recessed.
Thank you so much Alan, review was comprising xb43 vs xb30... by the way could you give me your impressions on the mic performance of the xb43 vs xb30? I use to use my XB30 when I am in a videoconference (which is not the best but better than xb32 by far) so in this new normality it would be great if you also include you opinión on the mic performance in your reviews.
You made me think about the xb43... do you recommend another speaker better than Xb43 with good bass, quality sound and mic performance in the same range of price?
In general is what I see that nobody test the speakerphone functionality, I would be a great plus. With pandemic situation the videoconference is the new day to day so speakers are a great way to improve the experience. 👌🏽
Sony says right in the product literature that the XB43 is 32 watts RMS (minimum) at 100hz+. (Copied below) Amplifier section POWER OUTPUT AND TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION: With 4 ohms loads, both channels driven, from 100 Hz - 10,000 Hz; rated 16 watts per channel minimum RMS power at stereo mode, with no more than 1% total harmonic distortion from 250 milliwatts to rated output.
its underwhelming for the size and addition of tweeters, not terrible but just too much mid bass and too little deep bass for me given the possibilities at that size.
@aktunav oh yeah just not in doubt, motion plus cant be beat for value but sometimes i just need a bigger sound. Sony could have done so much better with this im sure, i guess we are not their target base
i doubt it needs a fix, i would think this is the tuning sony want for their target market. its a beach speaker but for me doesnt quite go loud enough for a beach party. maybe a pair would do it.
@@alanrossreviews if they made the XB43 comparable to the Xtreme 2 bass with nice mids and highs it would be a killer. I agree with what you were saying about the bass, wish there was nice crisp low end and not so much mid bass.. shame, they could've had a great speaker.
Thank you for another great review! and yes, it looks way too big and bulky, kind of loose the purpose of being a portable speaker. I'm still happy with my Charge 3.
Thanks for the Video! Again a sony speaker which is somehow...crap. Sorry thats hard and my personal opinion. It sounds still not good, too boomy. Better treble and more deep bass instead of the upper bass mess would be good. I think even a Tribit Maxsound plus sounds much better at normal levels which is smaller and cheaper. It is more comparable to a Dockin D Fine. But even not that good. The Motion Plus is also better and also my Harman Kardon Go&Play sounds better ^^....
i prefer the dockin d fine 2 to the xb43, the dockin had just the right amount of bass weight spreading from deep into low mids, the xb43 just mid bass and thats overblown.
Thanks for this video, you saved me from buying this. I’ve had the JBL flip 4 for 5 years and have absolutely loved it. Got the mkII 305’s last summer and the sound is perfect to me, however, not portable like the flip 4 which I’m interested in upgrading in the near future. Which Bluetooth speaker do you think is best for rock and metal?
You can't beat the motion boom for sheer value. For severe low end kick the onyx series will do the job but won't go too loud. Otherwise you are looking at bigger and more expensive speakers.
Lmao it's superior to any jbl lmao by far. Espeslly the trash flips. The new charge 5 may rival it in foot print but this will be louder and last longer and has more speakers. Also this speaker is perfect for metal. Bands like Emmure sound great on it
@@Ghost.uppercut Well of course it'll sound better than the flip due to it's bigger size by itself but it's bigger and has a different form factor that's less convenient for certain situations on the go. I can see that speaker being much better for other people and situations but for me I usually just go with bookshelf/studio equipment for a more serious listening session at home. Emmure's a great band btw.
@@alanrossreviews true that would be awsome but i remember like last week when me and my mate went out 2 eat and he bought his xb41 with him and we were blasting out some tunes but my speaker over powered him big time
What a dissapointment for its size. I guess the next one is Xtreme 3 mono :-/ Wish Anker or one of these chinese companies made, something this size for critical listening. Tribit Maxsound Ultra or Soundcore Motion Plus Plus ;)
@@dominiksx Thanks for the reply, that's a bummer as I was looking forward to getting it for critical listening, guess there is not many options out there apart from the two you mentioned in that price bracket.
Great review, loved the float test! These BT speakers and their oddities. The way listening level changes the sound so much. Its like they all are different speakers at different levels... Makes reviews all the more tricky. Lucky we have reviews like yours.
Couldn't agree more! 😋☺😝
Sony XB43 Timecodes:
0:00 first listen
1:35 specs
6:15 water test
10:42 frequency response measurements
15:19 sound modes
18:14 eq tests
22:48 vs xb40 66% volume
27:43 maximum volume test
Great review Alan. I got the Sony XB43 mostly for use as a PS5 and PC speaker. It has a 3.5 mm jack and the low latancy means no lag. To my ears, it plays music really well and I'm looking forward to using it outdoors with your EQ settings. Maybe at an hour long fitness class? I've also tested an Anker PowerCore II 10000 Portable Charger to recharge the speaker and this works. So I may get more than the 2hr 20 mins at max volume.
I have black 33 and blue 43 too, and i'm very satisfied with them. The 33 has more natural, and 43 has more v-shaped sound. The leds looking absolutely gorgeous under the 43's blue grill. :)
hows the bass for you?
Are you going to review the xb100
When it hits uk
Awesome reviews man I love the way you beak stuff down and truly explain it all and address common users concerns thank you!
Thank you 😁
I have two of these speakers and obviously use the stereo pair function and I think it sounds incredible
Obviously , the sound source also plays a factor . For example , when connected to my television , they sound so much better than when connected to my old phone or vinyl player
The speakers produce extra sounds my other blue tooth speaker fails to do
happy days! 😜
I love that it has LDAC
The xb41 and 43 are actually 50 watt acording to a sony japan we site which i will post a link as soon as I finf it again
the question is, what is 50 watts? the drivers? the amp? rms? is that into the load of the actual speaker. for me these specs have become meaningless. an amp may be capable of driving a load but doesnt mean the manufacturer is utilising the full power. i just dont believe anything these companies say in terms of specs.
This speaker is amazing. The only con about it is it is heavy and it needs a handle THAT IS IT. The battery lasts me a full week at 70% volume playing it legit an hour a day working out.
its ok, i wouldnt say it was amazing.
Does this speaker reduce the volume at a certain percentage like other Sony speakers?
in terms of battery management? then yes.
@@alanrossreviews thank you
I think you can turn notifications of for example the Bluetooth connected in the app
Excellent review as always...thank you!👍
youre welcome! 😝
On sale for $85 with secondipity on Ebay right now.
and good for weight lifting 😝
@@alanrossreviews HAHH! another use, compliments of Sony!
I'm thinking about picking two of them up to add to my XG500's to use them in party mode.
Do the lights return back to normal after submerged in water mine are not all working the side ones
They should do yes
Are you going to review the new xb100
Look at the size of it :0 for its size I thought it would really kick ass. great review and water test!!!!
it sounds ok just with that size and price, not enough.
Put it up against the pound for pound champ see how it does 👀
@@ams74 im saving that for a treat down the road :)
I feel that the stamina mode is the most balanced as it does not have those boomy bass that are in the other modes, although they can be equalized, but the stamina is more precise or neutral for those who do not listen at exaggerated volumes.
Why do you think they call it stamina mode and not balanced mode? Unfortunately like most who claim to like a neutral sound what they actually like is a bass light sound which is not neutral. Music contains bass, no bass no neutrality.
@@alanrossreviews Resistance mode also means that there will be no lights or equalization, but what it does is remove that boom boom effect and leaves the sound very neutral without exaggerating bass or treble. This can be used to listen to other genres that would not sound natural in xbass mode. The interesting thing is that this speaker offers different signatures for each mode and it is up to whoever chooses the mode.
@@capitanlevi203 no it removes the bass. You just dont like bass, don't kid yourself it in anyway balanced lol
Hey Alan love ur review ✨i wanna buy a sony speaker but don't hav any idea so among sony speaker which is the best so far?
well what size you looking for, xb33 and xb43 can do a job for sure.
Clear audio + or extra bass +eq or live sound +eq 10-5-7?
This bloke is funny as hell.
I like his reviews because he like a stand up comic reviewing tech stuff.
I like it when he says "does it float? " - and then just chucks it in the water violently and funnily!
Excellent bloke and informative reviews..
thank you 😝
@@alanrossreviews
Peace.
Honestly I'm torn between jbl xtreme 2 and Sony xb43. I listen to a lot of house music and want something loud 2ith a lot of bass. Not sure which to go with. Now that sales are up I need help deciding which speaker to go with.
The x2 has deep rumble missing on xb43 but xb43 more of an akk rounder
@@alanrossreviews thanks for replying back sexy. I love low bass, but at higher volumes. Does the x2 cut off at higher volumes?
yes limits from 80% like x3 👍
Is it 2:20hrs battery life to the speakers says it is on 20% and cuts down the music ot or is 2:20hrs with the 20% cut down volume
it doesnt do the 20% thing now, it just slowly reduces volume as you are playing all the time but stays above 20%.
im combinig the xb43 with the xb41 through a jack and keeping my fingers crossed it sounds good enough for outside playing football (soccer)
🤞
@@alanrossreviews the xb43 was rubbish and is going back to amazon lol. i got a partybox 100 and it sounds better than my mains powerd 5.1 system! ive got a external battery to keep it going for around 24 hours.
On sale for £129, couldn’t help myself and pulled the trigger. What you reckon?
bargain!
@@alanrossreviews lovely! Got that an the xtreme 2. £129 and £150 a piece couldn’t help it. Will keep whichever one I prefer until the xtreme 3 drops down in price or actually gets released 🤣🤣🤣
What do you think of the Sony Srs-xg500? Do you prefer it or the JBL Boombox 2?
Never bothered with it since reviews were underwhelming
What's the warranty on the XB43?
Just like that, my speakers are very crackley & hardly no volume. Sounds as if blown M8.
Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦
Very helpful video
Its gonna depend on the country, in uk its one year, dont know about Canada
The xb41 and 43 have the same amplifier Yamaha YDA174 so i think they just re-tuned the xb43 with the tweeters and woofers
That info is very nice dude! Do you know anything about jbl xtreme 2's amplifier? Which speaker do you consider better? I would love to hear your answer you seem to know a lot about this thanks a lot for your time!
But different drivers plus tweeters. So more than just different tuning, even different form factor.
@@Gilman93 I have been researching for a long time about Sony speakers but I think I can look out for Jbl portable speakers : D
@@alanrossreviews Im worried about the Bass with the location of the new passive radiators with the new form factor 😪 but I'm going to buy the Srs-xb43 because of your analysis and because I have the 40 and 41.
@@STDZ5 yes not huge upgrade over xb40 in terms of sound but more consistent now without having to keep messing with eq and bass mode.
Hi Alan. Great review. I've been doing some research as I'm after a new speaker for the garage/workshop. I've narrowed it down to this and the JBL Xtreme 2. I mostly listen to Drum & Bass, not at crazy volumes so not to annoy the neighbors and appreciate clarity. I'll also be utilising the 3.5mm jack to play audio from the TV (UA-cam, Redbull TV). Do you have a preference on either in this situation? Thanks.
xb43 will better for general viewing and xtreme 2 for movies for explosions. xb43 can be eqd in app for better voice clarity.
@Alan Ross I love your reviews, please I have a technical question I have to choose between Sony srs xb43 and Soundcore Rave partycast, I understand that rave has better bass and Sony is better for indoor listening, can Rave partycast be used for indoor listening, I like the bass on the rave but can I also listen to soft songs indoor?
If Sony's app EQ is so limited maybe some full featured EQ of audio player app could improve sound significantly? How do you think?
Yes anker style eq would transform it.
I use a different Equalizer than the one sony gives us. It makes a difference to me
@@DarkMalchi what eq do you use ?
@@moebius487 its only a 5 Band Eq called Bass Booster. Publisher is Coocent
@@DarkMalchi i installed it, I see 10 band EQ. What's your settings ?
Alan ross You have new firmware 3700????
Got one yesterday, blue one is gorgeous. Its loud enough and its brilliant. And I got another usb C charger ! And for the price I can get another one soon and sell the huge 8inch krks.
Yeah, I got blue one as well but nearly yer ago. While it has possible best sound I have heard from speaker for that money I'm looking to get some jbl (yes as sony fan it hurts a bit) like party box on the go that is quite cheap and decently bassy
Awesome review, I'm keeping my two xb40s 🙂👍🏻
they have a unique character, still a classic!
@@alanrossreviews yes, and two xb40s is not mutch larger than one xb43, they are really great in stereo 🙂👍🏻
I am considering to buy this speaker. I don't know these devices. Shortly, do you recommend me this speaker?
if i change the eq on the app, does it only work when i am connected or does the eq apply to the speaker itself, so that it also works when someone else connects to it?
its embedded into the speaker so works for all devices.
@@alanrossreviews Thank you for answering! I had to decide between the xb43 and the soundcore rave neo and i kept the neo! I hope i made the right choice.
I guess I’ll still stick with my XB40, there’s not much different in bass level and only the highs is sharper (I actually thinking of buying one next year as it will have big discount everywhere but after hearing the samples I’m quite disappointing...) Thanks for this video, it really helps me out
the plus for the xb43 is that the sound signature is consistent so its easier to tune in custom eq mode. but the xb40 is a much warmer sound.
Alan Ross Reviews Personally I listened to a lot of bass heavy tracks so I think the XB40 is better for me (as it still has decent highs and mids out there if the EQ was right)
@@speakerguy9468 Yoooo
one of the best bluetooth speaker ever,,,,and i own 20+ with a variety of prices and brandts,,,,,,but i do like your style,,,,it makes me laugh,,,,
😜😋👍
@AlanRoss
I just got this in the mail today and out of the box, Im finding it a bit inadequate in the bass category VS the Soundcore Motion Boom.
Im honestly a bit disappointed. I played with the EQ a bit and compared both with Sak Noel Ft. Sean Paul - Trumpets and found the Motion Boom to hit the lower end bass.
Is there something I can tweak on my XB43 or will the MB just perform better in the bass category overall? I do love the sound clarity of the XB43. I feel like this can be a versatile speaker for a lot of genres.
the xb43 as i have kept saying is a good safe all rounder but there is nothing great with. the boom is exceptional at price and size for how deep it goes and how flat it is. but dont you find the xb43 has a bigger sounstage?
@@alanrossreviews 100% bigger soundstage for sure. I think it can be used as a sound bar to be honest.
In a plot twist for my search I got gifted a 2.1 Sony soundbar. My search for a workout speaker is over. This ought to scratch my bass itch.
Thanks Alan!
How does the mini rig 3 compare to this? They are going for practicaly the same price
this is something i will need to try down the line, havent fired the mk3s up in a while due to just too busy.
*Buy online:
Sony xb43
geni.us/sonyxb43
Sony XB40:
geni.us/sonyxb40
*affiliate links. I get a small percentage of any sale.
Bro I still haven't gotten the minirig 3 and I'm pissed!😂 it's been almost 2 weeks
Hi Alan !
I wish this video came out before I bought the xb43. Anyway, I'll go to party this weekend and... so, what EQ settings do you advice at high/max volume ? I don't manage to find the nicest settings by myself lol.
thank you
my go to are +3 + 6 +3 but adjust bass to taste. the difference is more at high volume where you get a couple of extra db and less bass reduction. you simply dont have the leeway to adjust to taste. the problem being the eq used to be on top of clear audio but now its instead of.
@@alanrossreviews yup I must agree with you, the result is overwhelming. I still have a little hope for a firmware update to correct these misses.
Thank you man for your work
Now that we have a true test + spec sheet with measurements for the XB43. Would you recommend it over the Anker Soundcore Motion+ or would that still be a better and cleaner option?
in terms of value no. you could buy two motion plsues for that same money and still have change over. with one motion plus the xb43 offers a bigger sound.
Would you recommend this for a bedroom to listen to house music never really at full volume due to other family members?
its ok, will never sound bad but will never blow you away depending on what you are used to.
@@alanrossreviews hmm.. I’ve cancelled my order. Cheers for saving me the disappointment 😂👏🏻
I agree with this review. It's very average sounding and may not hold your in interest long. However I find it a beautiful styled speaker and the lights are fun. I will keep mine.
its a safe sound...never fantastic but never awful. for some that may be ok, and its heavy 🤭
@@alanrossreviews I ended up returning it, I have a Extreme 2 as well and kept going back and forth comparing the 2. The extreme 2 has beautiful sounds coming from it while the XB43 was flat and dull no matter how much EQ mixing I did. The design and lights were not enough.
This is on sale right now for $190 on Amazon/Best Buy. How does the overall volume compare to the W-King D8? I know this most likely sounds better, but a buddy of mine is looking to get an outdoor speaker and cares about overall volume more than anything.
not tested yet but bear in mind this is hardly louder than the xb40. also the high volume mode on w-king d8 sounds nasty.
@@alanrossreviews ok, w king it is ! When you say "sounds nasty" , you mean that in a good way, Right? Lol
ha! no i mean literally nasty! distorted and shrill. not sure how it would go default mode vs default mode. will try it out some time.
@@alanrossreviews I agree that the W-King doesn't sound amazing, but mine has zero distortion, even at full volume on EQ mode.
Hi there, would you say the dockin d fine + 2 has more of a hifi quality than this? Also the dockin support aptx, but this has LDAC support for hi res music, have you taken advantage of these features?
i do think the dockin sounds more hifi in person IF you have an ear for it, its the nature of the soundstage, even more so with a pair of them. its not perfect by any means, recessed vocals and big dip around 2khz but for me is more immersive for critical listening.
Dont mean to hijack but do you have an xb33 review? This one is a little big for grab and go sound. Curious on your opinion of the xb33.
not heard it yet.
@@alanrossreviews All good. I dont feel like im getting the best bang for my buck without your stamp if approval so i guess ill wait. The flip 4 still works so....
@Ninji522 you skipping on the motion plus then? wife putting her foot down? 🤒🤑
@@alanrossreviewsHA! I see you remembered! Im about to get 80 bucks in best buy points and when the xb33 goes on sale, which it has been as of late, it will only cost me 20 or 30 bucks out of pocket for a 150 dollar speaker, hard to top that. Ive heard good things about it but ill wait for your review as I think we have similar taste in sound preference.
@@ninji5226 may be a little wait, im working with tribit and bose micros right now then planning xb43 vs motion plus and a couple of mattresses before i will get to the xb33. i will get to it though :)
Xb43 excellent build quality and heft
heavy yes!
@@alanrossreviews I just realized that the xb43 is made in Vietnam which explains it's great build quality compared to other speakers that's made in China
What is mids?? What its stands for ?
How about compared it to the srs xb 501g?
well not top of my to-do list 😂
@@alanrossreviews yeah of course but it would be interesting because both are like the same weight and the same cost. I would happy
So detailed and so funny as usual
thanks for watching 😝
@@alanrossreviews if you keep bouncing the speakers into water like that i will lmao
So, is it worth it? Or i should tale the xtreme 2?
And are bass on this spesker good?
depends what you favour, mid bass or low bass? xtreme 2 is much better for low bass but xb43 more of an all round speaker.
@@alanrossreviews ok, on the xb43 if i use the eq can i increase bass and volume?
(Sorry I'm italian)
what to choose between xb43 or 2 pieces of motion +? the same price
2 motion pluses
Alan i really found helpful all your reviews, I bought my XB30 after I saw one of your reviews, now I am confusing if is good to upgrade my XB30 to a new XB43... what do you recommend?
I found the following at Amazon reviews... is it real?.
Xb43 has harsh highs and lot of bass but a lot of frequencies in between are completely gone. At one point while watching a short movie I thought why have the movie makers haven't put any background sounds and too my surprise they had - it's just that this speaker was not able to reproduce them. You can watch short movie nine minutes by dust on UA-cam to catch the subtle differences.
the xb43 would be my pick over the xb30. i would put the xb43 into custom mode to sort of those mids a bit. it will sound bigger than the xb30. it will never sound amazing but wont sound terrible either, its a safe sound. i do find myself plaything it just because of that reason. it could have had more deep bass but thats sony for you! i dont know what that reviewer was comprising it too but its not a soundbar and it wont do deep bass. in default mode mids are recessed.
Thank you so much Alan, review was comprising xb43 vs xb30... by the way could you give me your impressions on the mic performance of the xb43 vs xb30? I use to use my XB30 when I am in a videoconference (which is not the best but better than xb32 by far) so in this new normality it would be great if you also include you opinión on the mic performance in your reviews.
You made me think about the xb43... do you recommend another speaker better than Xb43 with good bass, quality sound and mic performance in the same range of price?
@@Zack_Mx to be honest i never try this :(
In general is what I see that nobody test the speakerphone functionality, I would be a great plus. With pandemic situation the videoconference is the new day to day so speakers are a great way to improve the experience. 👌🏽
Sony says right in the product literature that the XB43 is 32 watts RMS (minimum) at 100hz+. (Copied below)
Amplifier section POWER OUTPUT AND TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION: With 4 ohms loads, both channels driven, from 100 Hz - 10,000 Hz; rated 16 watts per channel minimum RMS power at stereo mode, with no more than 1% total harmonic distortion from 250 milliwatts to rated output.
I've read on the Japan website that it's 50 dunno if that's the amp drivers or rms
What is best EQ for Sony XB43 ??
the one you like.
How many watts in this speaker?
50w
On sale for $150 at Best Buy right now. I feel like that can’t be passed up. At retail price absolutely not.
yes a reasonable buy but still motion boom is half that price
@@alanrossreviews I trust your input wholeheartedly. I’m gonna return the XB43 for the motion boom. Thank you sir
Definitely i can see some improvements. But for the size, i am not impressed at all...
its underwhelming for the size and addition of tweeters, not terrible but just too much mid bass and too little deep bass for me given the possibilities at that size.
@@alanrossreviews If i had plan to buy a new speaker, i'd definitely buy motion +. Price-performance is best ...
@aktunav oh yeah just not in doubt, motion plus cant be beat for value but sometimes i just need a bigger sound. Sony could have done so much better with this im sure, i guess we are not their target base
@@alanrossreviews Absolutely true...Thank you for your nice work, very informative as always...
@@alanrossreviews Do you think the WKing D8 is the best value for the money in terms of big sound (louder than Motion+)?
WHATS THE
WATT OUTPUT??
what?
50w
Hey do you know that thing that the passive radiator do on jbl how they do a ocean wave does this do that
huh?
@@alanrossreviews never mind your kind would not understand. the question is to advance for you
@@jjjaden6534 lol! enjoy your smoke!
@@alanrossreviews ?
Do you think a firmware update could fix it? Or the 44 will address the issues
i doubt it needs a fix, i would think this is the tuning sony want for their target market. its a beach speaker but for me doesnt quite go loud enough for a beach party. maybe a pair would do it.
@@alanrossreviews if they made the XB43 comparable to the Xtreme 2 bass with nice mids and highs it would be a killer. I agree with what you were saying about the bass, wish there was nice crisp low end and not so much mid bass.. shame, they could've had a great speaker.
My turn to chime in. Purchased the xb43 and you summed it up perfectly. Quite disappointing in every regard. About to return.
safe but unexciting! and heavy!
Best EQ +7 +8 +7
Thank you for another great review! and yes, it looks way too big and bulky, kind of loose the purpose of being a portable speaker. I'm still happy with my Charge 3.
when you gonna get the motion plus 😝
@@alanrossreviews I'm waiting for the motion plus 2 😉😁
Thanks for the Video!
Again a sony speaker which is somehow...crap. Sorry thats hard and my personal opinion. It sounds still not good, too boomy. Better treble and more deep bass instead of the upper bass mess would be good. I think even a Tribit Maxsound plus sounds much better at normal levels which is smaller and cheaper. It is more comparable to a Dockin D Fine. But even not that good. The Motion Plus is also better and also my Harman Kardon Go&Play sounds better ^^....
i prefer the dockin d fine 2 to the xb43, the dockin had just the right amount of bass weight spreading from deep into low mids, the xb43 just mid bass and thats overblown.
Thanks for this video, you saved me from buying this. I’ve had the JBL flip 4 for 5 years and have absolutely loved it. Got the mkII 305’s last summer and the sound is perfect to me, however, not portable like the flip 4 which I’m interested in upgrading in the near future. Which Bluetooth speaker do you think is best for rock and metal?
You can't beat the motion boom for sheer value. For severe low end kick the onyx series will do the job but won't go too loud. Otherwise you are looking at bigger and more expensive speakers.
Lmao it's superior to any jbl lmao by far. Espeslly the trash flips. The new charge 5 may rival it in foot print but this will be louder and last longer and has more speakers. Also this speaker is perfect for metal. Bands like Emmure sound great on it
@@Ghost.uppercut Well of course it'll sound better than the flip due to it's bigger size by itself but it's bigger and has a different form factor that's less convenient for certain situations on the go. I can see that speaker being much better for other people and situations but for me I usually just go with bookshelf/studio equipment for a more serious listening session at home. Emmure's a great band btw.
how many watts ????
watt? did you watch the video??
USB-c is micro USB too alan :D
Huh?
Its ok but i think i will still stick with my minirig 3 🤣 lol not realy comparable but because of the differences in size, I would say why not eh 😊
well do you have the sub? cause the 2.1 would win the day
@@alanrossreviews true that would be awsome but i remember like last week when me and my mate went out 2 eat and he bought his xb41 with him and we were blasting out some tunes but my speaker over powered him big time
What a dissapointment for its size. I guess the next one is Xtreme 3 mono :-/ Wish Anker or one of these chinese companies made, something this size for critical listening. Tribit Maxsound Ultra or Soundcore Motion Plus Plus ;)
i guess the market is smaller for the larger speakers.
Try the WKing D8, it's bigger than Motion+ and Maxsound and great sound from what I hear.
@@AxemanMessiah Tried it, pretty good for parties, not much as a critical listen though, thanks for the suggestion m8!
@@dominiksx Thanks for the reply, that's a bummer as I was looking forward to getting it for critical listening, guess there is not many options out there apart from the two you mentioned in that price bracket.
@@AxemanMessiah nobody likes the dockin 2?
3kg for portable speaker? That's massive, unless it performs well, I guess
its ok, but could/should have been so much better.
@@alanrossreviews how were the xb 40/41/42 for you? Better in comparison? Or also disappointing?
XB43 only has a 4900mAh battery?? No way. The Xtreme 2's is 10000 mAh
Its 2x 4900mah =9800 mah for xb43 = 7.2v 4900 mah
Twice the size, much larger superfancy drivers, insane price...but where is low bass? It weights 3kg and plays 50hz even quiter than xb40...
yup it could have been so much more.
Looks to me like it is nuetrally bouyant. It wont sink
Xb43 vs lg pn7 vs motion boom 😀
could happen....😝
the size and volume does not justify the overall sound ...its too bulky, should have had a carry on strap
the only thing you can say is the actual soundstage is bigger, its bigger experience.
Anons sony xb 50
😛
So bass not as deep as a scuba diver 😁
not as deep an experienced scuba diver anyway 😊, to be fair its kinda deep but obscured by the mid bass boost.
Xb40 is better
43 is too chunky for such average sound
I think the BLUETOOTH CONECTED is still better than jbl´s BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR so everyone knows you have a 300$ speaker
yup! great feature 👍
🤣🤣🤣worst review ever
Alan ross You have new firmware 3700????
Awesome review man. Thank you very much!
no problem 👍
Alan ross You have new firmware 3700????