The Sony XP700 is a niche speaker. But when it comes to audio, aren’t there so many applications and products that they’ve all become niches?
What makes this speaker “niche” is that we’re living an era of portability, and while this is a “portable” speaker, this is not something “conveniently loud but portable” you’d bring for a quick picnic at the park, where even my JBL Boombox 2 or my UE Hyperboom was considered huge to some who’ve believe a JBL Xtreme is as large as it’d get. This is either a “haul, but stays around the house”, take it to the backyard, or if have a pool (preferably private one as it gets very loud to annoy others in a community pool). Because if the day comes, and you’re taking it to the park, to a friends house for a BBQ, or anywhere else away from your home, it’s an event that WILL require planning, and some room in your vehicle.
Introducing: The Sony SRS XP700. Sony’s direct competitor to the JBL Partybox 310, or is it the other way around?
I read many reviews here and none we’re direct comparisons to its only competitor, the JBL PB310. To summarize, i purchased both, listened to them obsessively for a week, kept one and returned the other.
Looks & Build:
This speaker is aesthetically pleasing to me. It’s got aggressive curves but still looks elegant without making you look like a party animal. Yes it’s big, but has a modern touch to it without going far too wild.
I’ve never been a fan of lights in speakers. It’s a personal preference, yet i really liked the implementation on these ones, something that i didn’t like on the PB310 as much.
I would have much preferred that the handles would have been placed on the rear of the speaker but i understand the design had to do with the lights implementation.
Both are “splash” resistant IPX4 which means they’ll (probably) survive a moderate rain, just don’t soak them with a water hose or submerge them.
Compared to the PB310, which has a retractable handle, and WHEELS, i would have to call it a tie. The build quality is outstanding on both, i like the looks of the XP700 better than the PB310, the 310 looks like a party itself, with Exclamation Marks around (literally), i prefer the low key element of the XP700 over that look, but in this department each has strengths and weaknesses, so i’d call it a tie.
Sound:
This is not an audiophile-targeted speaker, can’t even call it a “balanced” speaker. It is boomy, even at lower volumes. For indoor use, i had to take the Bass slider on the app to 1/4 of the full bar, and boost the mids and highs so it’d for everyday use and still there’s some upper low frequencies that come a little bit strong on the mix due to resonating on enclosed spaces, but don’t get me wrong, sounds full and great at all distance, anywhere you’re in the house, or in the pool. I’ve yet to put this thing over 50% volume before i get too self-conscious.
Comparing the low end of these two speakers, i’d have to give it hands down to the JBL 310. I mean, it’s not only louder. It is cleaner and less boomy as it’s fuller, it goes deeper (lower frequencies that are just inaudible on the XP700) and i wish they could have made it on the XP700. Why didn’t they? I don’t know, the sound engineers most likely had a valid reason, probably to save the drivers from themselves or because it’d mud the mix too much. Oh yeah, the MEGABASS feature, or should i call it “gimmick” is something i never see myself using. It’s a boost to the upper low frequencies that make the speaker boomier, not bassier, but may be useful for large open spaces like in the middle of a park.
Now, on the mids and highs, the Sony sounds wider and detailed, while the JBL sounded narrower to me. That extra “omni” rear tweeter helps with the soundstage, and it helps A LOT, and this is something that i appreciate while listening in my living room and walking to the kitchen, the sound is fuller on the XP700 where the 310 gets lost on the bass/low frequencies unless you’re listening at higher volumes or head on.
To pick a winner here would come down to personal preference. If you’re a basshead, or plan to throw EDM parties all the time, or are mainly a hip-hop where physical bass/thump is your thing, the PB310 is your choice. It’s a physical experience you can feel, it’ll be an exciting party.
On the other hand, the Sony XP700 is a party speaker that will sound phenomenal on most genres, and it’s more adjustable (natively) than the JBL PB310, and don’t get me wrong, EDM, Hip-Hop and everything else also sounds amazing on this speaker, it’s just that for bass-heavy specifics the JBL may have the very slight edge.
For me, Sony XP700 wins in the sound department, as it allows me to enjoy music with a wider soundstage on a wider selection of genres while enjoying a more detailed sound.
Controls:
Physical controls on both speakers are great, straightforward and intuitive. But if we include the App, Sony wins.
Even if Music Center is not perfect, Sony gives you the option to adjust the sound signature with a paltry 3-band EQ and some “enhancements”, JBL gives you NONE. The light customization is straightforward on both apps and can be easily turned on and off on the speakers.
The XP700 wins, Mediocre EQ beats no EQ. Good job Sony.
Value:
At the time of this review, i paid $448 + tax for these speakers. The PB 310 are $499+tax at the time of this review.
I can’t conclude which one is a better value as purpose would make $50 irrelevant if you’re buying a speaker with this features.
However taking into account that these are similar speakers in performance, even with different targets, the XP700 are slightly (-11%) less expensive than the PB310. Both are pricy but a great addition to your everyday enjoyment.
Connectivity:
Both speakers are BT 5.0+, connection didn’t drop for either of these speakers once, with my walking around all my kitchen and outside around the pool and BBQ even thru some walls. but Sony’s XP700 got LDAC on board while JBL’s still stuck on SBC. Does it make a difference in the realm of party speakers? I don’t know, but Sony again inched JBL by giving you the option to use the codec.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, this is a Speaker. And now it’s my “main” speaker.
I kept the Sony XP700 over the JBL Partybox 310 based on the fact that both are extremely powerful but i preferred the “more balanced” sound of the Sony compared to the deep, deep JBL bass. Soundstage is better, cleaner, sound fill a room more evenly and balanced regardless of distance. I preferred the looks, controls (and EQ in the app) of the Sony, and while i’ll miss the wheels and the lower bass, overall, the XP700 was my winner as the heart of my home sound system, that now, it’s wireless as well.

Bass is soo heavy, but easily changeable. Lights are really cool. Sound is really clear. Battery lasts FOREVER. I love this speaker soo much

Excellent Bluetooth speaker. Great sound, ample loudness, and ability to connect multiple speakers together. I have used it for house parties, tailgating, and even working in the yard. I bought a second one because it is soo awesome!

Excellent sound sturdy built product. Quick no hassel connection bluetooth tech. Very loud, lots of bass, great for gatherings or for projector screen companion. It has a microphone and guitar connection in the back so you can use it as a karaoke machine or for playing an instrument.