Design and build:

Comparing Sony XE 300 vs JBL Charge 5, the SRS-XE 300 is slightly bigger and heavier. The Charge 5 has a cylindrical shape. Sony SRS-XE 300 has a cylindrical body but the top is not circular and has 5 sides. If you are looking for a funky speaker, the Charge 5 is a good choice with several color options. It has a rubberized body which is easy to grip. It sits on silicone lines that acts as a base.

The Sony SRS-XE300 has fabric like grille and the rest of the speaker is covered by silicone. A rubber flap covers the charging port. It has vertical lines on the speaker which is due to line-shaped diffuser. While both speakers have IP67 rating, Sony XE 300 is also drop resistant. It is slightly bigger and heavier than the Charge 5.

Performance:

Comparing Sony XE 300 vs JBL Charge 5, the Sony XE 300 can play in stereo mode and has deeper bass. You can switch from stereo to mono mode in the app. Sony XE 300 has good soundstage with average focus. It has 2 full range drivers that measures 49mm x 71mm along with 2 passive radiators. Low ends packs a punch but does not move into distortion thanks to the DSP.

Sony SRS-XE 300 is a X-Balanced speaker that has non-circular diaphragm. It has a Line-Shape Diffuser that emits sound from a narrow area. Sony claims this design is capable of delivering sound everywhere evenly. In case you think the Sony speaker sounds a bit flat, you can use EQ settings to optimize the sound. Use the ClearAudio+ if you think you need to adjust the sound depending on the type of music.

JBL Charge 5 has 0.75" dome tweeter and 2" x 3.5" woofer along with two 2.25" passive radiators. With independent drivers for different frequency range, JBL can produce highs and mids quite accurately. It produces detailed and rich sound that is full and balanced. Vocals and instrumental sounds are clear and precise. The bass is clear and present. It has an average soundstage but it maintains clarity in all case.

Both these speakers can get quite loud and can fill up medium sized rooms. Sony XE 300 can be increased up to 70 to 75% volume without reaching major distortion. Play the Charge 5 at around 60% of the volume level.

Connectivity:

Sony XE 300 and JBL Charge 5 have Bluetooth connectivity. They do not have any wired ports. You can use the JBL Charge 5 as a power bank to charge other devices. Sony SRS-XE 300 has very low latency which means it is great for movie or video watching.

Microphone:

Comparing Sony XE 300 vs JBL Charge 5, the Sony has a built-in microphone. Use the voice assistants of your smartphone to talk to Google Assistant or Siri. In case you want to maintain privacy, use the mic off button. It has good far field performance and can pick up your voice in any noisy environment. Use the microphone to answer phone calls.

Multiple speaker pairing:

Comparing Sony XE 300 vs JBL Charge 5, they use different technologies to connect speakers. Sony Party Connect allows you to connect the SRS-XE 300 to 100 other wireless speakers. The following speakers are compatible with it: Sony SRS-XB43, SRS-XB33, SRS-XB23, SRS-XP700, SRS-XP500, SRS-XG500, SRS-XG300, SRS-XE300, SRS-XE200, LSPX-S3.

JBL Charge 5 uses PartyBoost and can connect up to 100 more JBL PartyBoost compatible speakers like JBL Boombox 2, Xtreme 3, Pulse 4, Flip 5, Flip 6, etc. The Charge 5 comes with a dedicated PartyBoost button that makes pairing easier. There is no button in the SRS-XE 300 for pairing, you need to use the mobile app.

Battery life:

Comparing Sony XE 300 vs JBL Charge 5, the XE 300 has a longer battery life of 17 to 18 hours. It also takes less time to charge. You can use the Auto Standby option or Ambient Noise Sensing feature to preserve battery life. With quick charging, a 10 min charge will give a battery lifespan of 70 min. This is useful if you are in a hurry.

These features are not available in the Charge 5. The Charge 5 lasts around 12 to 13 hours. Although, the Charge 5 has lower battery lifetime compared to the XE 300 from Sony, they both have good lifespan for a portable speaker.

Control options:

The Sony SRS-XE 300 has the following options: Bluetooth, multifunction (play/pause, next/previous track, enable voice assistant and phones call), volume up and down, battery life and mute mic buttons. Once you press the battery button, a tone from the speaker will inform you the battery life. This button can also be used to enable ‘Stamina’ mode which will preserve battery. Unlike the Charge 5, the XE300 uses LED to indicate different functions.

Sony uses Sony Music Center app and for the Charge 5, you have JBL Portable app. Comparing these two, the Sony app offers more features. While both apps allow you to tweak EQ settings, with Sony Music Center, you can switch between modes, select DJ Effect, etc. With Sony Fiestable app, you have the option to choose party sound effects for the speaker too.

Cost:

The Sony XE 300 and JBL Charge 5 are similar priced speakers. They are available under $150.

FAQ:

How to connect Sony SRS-XE 300 to Bluetooth devices?

To connect the Sony SRS-XE 300 via Bluetooth, go the Bluetooth settings on your mobile and search for the speaker name. Look for the Bluetooth button and press it. When the Bluetooth indicator in the speaker blinks, it means the speaker is looking for the Bluetooth device. Once the light becomes stable, the pairing is complete.

Which JBL speaker has microphone facility?

You can check the JBL Flip 4 if you want voice assistant support. It works with Google Assistant and Siri through your smartphone. You can also use it to answer and end phone calls.