It was so obvious, that i don't know how i missed this versus video. But I’m going to make it right now. Sony XB40 vs the JBL xtreme. For the past few months the Sony XB40 has been my go to speaker, but that was until I got the JBL xtreme. And if you're in the market for a larger portable speaker then you might be wondering which is right for you. So we’re about to find out. Don't forget to like comment and subscribe and check out some of my other versus videos here after you're done watching this video. 

Right now might be a good a time as any to pick either of these speakers up cause they're both on sale. The Sony XB40 usually retails for $248 but now you can get it for $198 and youcan get it in 3 color ways Black blue or red. The JBL xtreme also comes in black blue or red and you can get it for as low as $237. Keep in mind the JBL Xtreme usually retails for $300. if you want to pick either of these speakers up I’ll have links in the description below and i’ll keep them updated so you can get the best deals possible. 

For starters these speakers are very different from one another. The Sony XB40 is a rounded rectangular box with soft touch rubber on the majority of its body and a painted metal grill on the front. this speaker comes equipped with dual 61 millimeter full range speakers and dual passive radiators in the center. It even has a built in light feature. control buttons can be found on the top and theres even an NFC touch point. you can control your music playback, adjust the volume, answer or end calls, and activate siri. And on the back you will find a rather difficult to remove plastic grommet but under it you'll find an AUX jack, a charging port and one USB out so you can charge your own devices. The JBL Xtreme is a little larger than the Sony XB40 and weighs in at 2.1 kilos or a little more than 4.5 pounds. While the Sony XB40 weighs 3.3 pounds or 1.5 kilos. Just like all other JBL Products, the JBL Xtreme has the same cylindrical design. It has dual passive radiators on either side with a diameter of 63 millimeters. Its also wrapped in a tight nylon mesh weave and under it there are dual 35 millimeter tweeters and dual 63 millimeter transducers. On the top of the device you'll find your control buttons, you can do everything the Sony XB40 can do except you can't go back a track. Like I've said in past videos, not being able to go back a track by triple pressing the play button on JBL speakers is a pet peeve of mine. first world problems. On the back of the xtreme you'll find a zipper, and under the zipper you'll find 3 usb ports, an aux jack and a power port. One of these USB ports are used for servicing the xtreme and the other two can be used to charge your own devices just like the Sony XB40. 

Both of these speakers give you the option to lay them flat or stand them on their side. But honestly I think you're better off laying both of these speakers flat for a few reasons. The Sony XB40 is really easy to topple over and i find if you stand the JBL Xtreme on its side the passive radiator will hit the table if you're listening to something with a lot of bass and causing a lot of rattling. Due to their size and weight these speakers are a little hard to take with you on the go compared to smaller options on the market, but JBL made it a little easier by adding hooks on the Xtreme so you can attach a strap and carry the xtreme on your shoulder. Personally if i were getting either of these speakers I would just use them in my room, or use them around the house when i have guests over. But if you're going to be taking either of these speakers with you to the beach, pool, or lake just know the JBL Xtreme is just splash proof while the Sony XB40 is IPX 5 certified. You can get either one of these a little wet, but what ever you do don't submerge them. I do believe the Sony XB40 is a little more resistant to water than the JBL Xtreme cause if you pour too much water on the Xtreme its going to sound a little drowned out until it gets completely dry again. Im guessing water gets trapped inside. 

Concerning battery life, the JBL Xtreme has a 10,000 milliamp battery and advertises a battery life of 15 hours. But I’ve managed to squeeze out 17 hours of battery life with the volume set at 50% and asking very nicely. On the other hand, I’ve found the Sony XB40 has a battery life of around 20 hours with the volume set at 50% and the light feature turned ON. I suppose if you used the Sony XB40 with the light featured turned off you could get closer to the advertised battery life of 24 hours. But the JBL Xtreme makes it really easy to know how much battery you’ve got left thanks to the battery gauge on the front. On the other hand you have to press and hold the phone button on the Sony XB40 and wait for it to give you a verbal readout of its current battery state. Nonetheless, if battery life is your main concern you might be better off with the Sony XB40. But there is a catch, if the battery on the Sony XB40 gets below 20% It’ll abruptly stop the music, say please charge and you'll have no other option than too put the speaker back on the charger cause the volume wont go past 30%. this is a feature I'm still trying to figure out how to turn off. I hate it. But speaking of charing these speakers, both of these speakers come included with their own power cords. If you're going to take either of these speakers with you some where you have to remember to bring the charging cable cause they don't charge via micro usb cables like other portable speakers on the market. 

When it comes to connectivity, the JBL Xtreme is using bluetooth 4.1 while the Sony XB40 is using bluetooth 4.2. They can both connect to multiple devices at the same time but the JBL Xtreme has a range of 50 feet with direct line of sight while the Sony XB40 has a slightly shorter range of around 40 feet. But I did notice the Sony XB40 did manage to keep a clear connection through more walls than the JBL Xtreme. But more importantly I did notice the Sony XB40 does have more latency than the JBL Xtreme. This means when watching videos with the Sony XB40 audio and lips don't sync up when people are talking on screen like right now. where as the JBL Xtreme has a little less latency which is much less noticeable. 

Now for the moment you've all been waiting for… sound quality. Both of these in my opinion are good sounding speakers. But hands down the JBL Xtreme is the better sounding of the two. It has more bass than the Sony XB40 and it gets much louder. both of these speakers have a good amount of depth to them but the JBL Xtreme manages to sound a little clearer than the Sony XB40. If sound quality is you're number one priority then you're better off with the JBL Xtreme. And I’ll include a sound comparison at the end of this video. 

What really sets the Sony XB40 apart from the JBL Xtreme is its light feature on the front. You can control it using Sony’s app, but keep in mind its not the best app out there. But you've got a few light settings like Rave, Chill, Strobe, Rave without the strobe lights on the sides, and there are a few calm options. If you want a speaker with a little flare or if you want to pimp your dorm room out then the Sony XB40 might be what you're looking for. Its a decent light feature but personally I think the JBL Pulse 3 has the best light feature on the market right now. 

But to wrap things up, If you want something with a little flare, slightly more durable, slightly smaller and a slightly better battery life then go with the Sony XB40. But if sound quality and loudness is all that matters to you then you'll be better off with the JBL Xtreme. Its even great for using out doors. If i had to pick one i would go with the JBL Xtreme. But I’m willing to bet JBL will be announcing the new JBL Xtreme 2 at CES 2018. I wouldn't be surprised if it came with JBL connect plus (cause right now it only has the older JBL connect and cant pair with newer JBL speakers like the flip 4 or pulse 3) a longer battery life, IPX 7 certification and sound quality improvement. But comment below and tell me which one you have or plan on getting.