Sony SRS-XB10 vs JBL Clip 2 - The big comparison
I have already reviewed both speakers and today I will do a full Sony SRS-XB10 vs JBL Clip 2 comparison.
The JBL Clip 2 is an excellent, portable speaker with a built-in carabiner on the top of it.
While the Sony SRS-XB10 is the smallest guy of the Sony’s popular Extra Bass line-up and promises a punchy bass in a compact size.
Both speakers are in the same price category, so let’s see which one is the better speaker.
You can find the reviews of the speakers here:
JBL Clip 2 review - The best ultra-portable speaker
Sony SRS-XB10 review - Big bass in your pocket
Bluetooth range
Battery life
Water protection
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
Bluetooth range:
- 20 feet
Battery life:
- 70% volume: 13 hours 20 minutes
- Maximum volume: 3 hours 40 minutes
Water protection:
- IPX7 certification
- It can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water for 30 minutes
Pros:
- Lightweight, easy to carry around
- Durable, waterproof design
- Good battery life
- The carabiner clip is very handy
Cons:
- Weak Bluetooth range
- Lacking bass
- Hard to reach the charging port
Bottom line:
The Clip 2 has a nicer treble and a clearer overall sound. It is not just splash-proof but completely waterproof. It is a more portable device thanks to its built-in carabiner.
Bluetooth range:
- 20 feet
Battery life:
- 70% volume: 15 hours
- Maximum volume: 6 hours 30 minutes
Water protection:
- IPX5 certified
- Splash-proof.
- It can be used in rain or as a shower speaker, however, you cannot submerge it into water.
Pros:
- Deep, powerful bass
- Splash-proof
- Strong battery life
- NFC tap-to-pair
Cons:
- Short Bluetooth range
- Muddy treble
- It tends to distort
Bottom line:
The XB10 has a much more powerful bass, however, its sound is not so clear as the sound of the Clip 2, it tends to distort at higher volume level. It has a longer battery life and the NFC as a plus feature.
JBL Clip 2 Vs Sony SRS-XB10 Comparison Video
Price
At the date of this review (20.11.2017), the JBL Clip 2 was available around $50 while you could buy the Sony SRS-XB10 around $60 depending on the selected color.
So their price is really similar, the XB10 is slightly more expensive.
Click here to check the current price of the JBL Clip 2
Click here to check the current price of the Sony SRS-XB10
The design
By both speakers, the speaker grill is situated on the top; it is made from metal by the XB10 and from a nice textured fabric by the Clip 2.
The outside of both speakers is covered by a soft, matte finished, rubberized plastic.
Both are solid, durable devices.
The XB10 looks like a can of soda just it is a bit shorter.
The benefit of this design is that it fits well into any drink holder slots of the bags and cars.
The Clip 2 got a drum-like shape and definitely, this is the more portable from the two speakers.
Due to its slim design, it is easier to put it into your bag or pocket.
I think both speakers look good and feel premium in hand.
Water protection
The JBL Clip 2 got an IPX7 water protection which means it is completely waterproof and can be submerged into 1-meter-deep water for 30 minutes.
The Sony SRS-XB10 got an IPX5 water protection, so it is only splash-proof which means you can use it as a shower speaker or you can wash it off, however, it cannot be submerged into water.
If you would like to use your speaker for watersports, then the Clip 2 is a safer choice since it is not a problem if you accidentally drop it into the water and it even floats on it so you can easily rescue it.
Attachment options
To improve their portability, both speakers got a built-in attachment option.
The JBL Clip 2 has a carabiner on its top which is sturdy and made from metal.
It is even replaceable if it gets damaged or if you prefer a different size or shape.
This is one of my favorite solutions, it works well and easy to attach the speaker with it to anything.
The Sony XB10 got a detachable strap what you can use to hang the speaker on your bike or to attach it to your backpack.
I think the carabiner of the JBL Clip 2 is much more versatile and useful.
It is a clever design solution that the plastic ring at the end of the XB10’s strap can be used as a stand, so you can lay the speaker on it and direct the sound towards you for example if you are watching a movie.
Waterproof doors
Since both speakers are water protected their ports are covered by a waterproof door.
Here I think the solution of the Sony is better, it is easier to open and close the door and to connect the cables to the ports.
By the Clip 2, the port is lying deep in the device and it can be cumbersome to connect the charging cable to it.
Connectivity, Bluetooth range
Both speakers can be connected via cable, the XB10 got an audio jack input port, while the Clip 2 has a built-in cable which is threaded along the speaker.
This built-in cable is nice because you do not have to buy a separate cable and carry it with you, however, it is not replaceable, so if it gets damaged you lose this connectivity option.
It is a plus that the XB10 has a built-in NFC chip which means you can pair your NFC-enabled smartphone just by touching it to the speaker.
It is still uncommon in this category and makes the pairing process much easier.
In my outdoor test, I measured around 20 feet Bluetooth range by both speakers.
This number is really low compared to the competitors, so I do not suggest any of the speakers if the Bluetooth range is an important factor for you.
Music control capability
Both speakers have limited music control capabilities, which means you can play/pause the music with the dedicated play button and you can skip a song by double pressing it.
However, it is not possible to jump back to the previously played song or forward/backward in a song.
If you have two XB10s you can connect them together for an amplified sound.
It is also possible by the Clip 2 however unlike the XB10 it does not support stereo mode.
Both speakers have a built-in microphone so they can be used as a loudspeaker to answer phone calls.
Battery life
In my test when I played various types of songs at 70% volume on the speakers, I got 13 hours 20 minutes playtime by the JBL Clip 2 and measured 15 hours by the Sony XB10.
So the XB10 has a longer battery life and this difference was even more significant when I repeated the same test on full volume and got 3 hours 40 minutes by the JBL Clip 2 and 6 hours 30 minutes by the Sony XB10.
So in terms of battery life definitely the XB10 is the winner.
It is a disadvantage of both speakers that they do not have battery level indicator, so they cannot tell you the exact remaining battery percentage.
Sony SRS-XB10 vs JBL Clip 2 Soundtest
The Sony SRS-XB10 has an exceptionally powerful bass which is really outstanding in this category.
The bass of the JBL Clip 2 is quite weak; you do not really get more what the smallest speakers provide like the JBL Go.
The highs and the mids of the Clip 2 are nice and clear, on the maximum value, there are some distortions here or there however it is not common.
The mids of the XB10 are a bit muddy and some songs can sound lifeless on the speaker.
Unfortunately, the sound of the Sony XB10 is not always clear, there are some noises sometimes and it also tends to distort on full volume.
So if you want a powerful bass than the XB10 can be a good choice otherwise I rather prefer the clearer sound of the JBL Clip 2.
Conclusion
To summarize, the XB10 has a more powerful bass, a longer battery life, and the NFC as a plus feature.
So if these are important factors for you then choose the Sony SRS-XB10.
However, the Clip 2 has a nicer treble and a clearer overall sound.
It is not just splash proof but completely waterproof.
I suggest the Clip 2 for those ones who need a really portable speaker which is easy to put into your bag or to attach to your belt.
Check also my full reviews about the speakers:
JBL Clip 2 review - The best ultra-portable speaker
Sony SRS-XB10 review - Big bass in your pocket
Click here to check the current price or to buy the JBL Clip 2
Click here to check the current price or to buy the Sony SRS-XB10
Alternatives
UE Roll 2
One alternative can be the UE Roll 2, which is slightly bigger but it is still a very portable unit.
Similarly to the Clip 2, it also has a useful attachment option: a built-in elastic cord, which is very handy if you want to fix the speaker to something.
It also got an IPX7 water protection, so it is fully waterproof.
It comes with an extra accessory, with a mini inflatable life preserver which helps the speaker to float on the water, so the Roll 2 is an ideal beach and pool speaker.
In terms of sound, the UE Roll 2 is around 20% louder than the Clip 2 and the XB10 and it has a nicer treble, however, its bass is quite weak.
One disadvantage of the speaker that it does not have a built-in microphone and any music control capability.
You can only adjust the volume level, you cannot even pause/play the music.
Click here to check the price and buy the UE Roll 2
Click here to read my full review about the UE Roll 2
Anker SoundCore 2
In this category, the Anker SoundCore 2 is a great value speaker.
It is a slightly bigger and heavier device but it is still quite portable.
It has a strong battery life and Bluetooth range and it provides a great sound for a low price.
Actually, its sound is much wider and richer than the sound of the Clip 2 and the XB10.
Compared to the Clip 2 it is only splash-proof, so it cannot be submerged into water.
Click here to check the current price and buy the Anker SoundCore 2.
Click here to read my full review about the Anker SoundCore 2.
Bose SoundLink Micro
If you are looking for a small speaker with an outstanding sound and do not mind to pay some extra bucks, then the Bose SoundLink Micro is an excellent choice.
It has a really good sound quality with much more bass than the most speakers in this category.
Currently, in my opinion, this is the best sounding pocket-sized speaker.
It got a rugged body and an IPX7 water protection, so it is completely waterproof.
On the back, it has an elastic strap, so just like the Clip 2, it is a very portable unit.
Its disadvantage is the relatively short battery life and the high price tag.
Click here to check the current price and buy the Bose SoundLink Micro.
Click here to read my full review about the Bose SoundLink Micro.
