For this occasion, we bring you a comparison of two of our favorite speakers. We talk about the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus and of the JBL Xtreme 3 two powerful and rugged speakers that will perform very well both indoors and outdoors.
There are quite a few differences between them both, in size, price and sound quality, so in this comparison we are going to help you choose which one is better to buy.
Without further ado, we start now with our comparison of Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 speakers.
Design
The design and finishes are very different as well as the size and weight of each. For starters, the JBL Xtreme 3 has the advantage of a more compact design and a lower weight, which makes it more comfortable to carry. It includes a strap so that you can hang it on your shoulder and take it anywhere.
Differences in size between Motion Boom+ and Xtreme 3
Its design does not vary much with respect to the previous Xtreme generations, maintaining the cylindrical shape and the fabric coating that gives it good resistance and prevents scratches from being marked. The brand logo now has more presence, and the fastening of the lower part has also been changed, which now allows it to be more stable and not to roll.
The JBL Xtreme 3 seriesThe Xtreme 3 series is available in three different versions: black, blue and camouflage. The latter usually has a higher price, so if you do not particularly like it, it is more profitable to buy the blue or black version.
For its part the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, has a larger size that makes it not so portable, but fortunately its weight is relatively light with respect to the size it has. For easy transport, it also includes a strap to carry it over your shoulder, as well as a handle for you to grab it by hand and take it with you easily. It weighs 2.4 kilos but is easy to carry thanks to the handle and strap, so you won’t be too lazy to take it outdoors.
Soundcore Motion Boom+ with carrying handle and carrying strap.
The design, reveals the integrated speakers which are covered by a metal grille and the construction is plastic. Overall, the finish is good, but it’s not what we like most about this speaker. Visually it does not attract much attention and does not include eye-catching elements and it is only available in black.
Resistance
Both the Motion Boom+ as the Xtreme 3 have IP67 water and dust resistance. This means that both can be soaked in water (not salt water) without damage up to one meter deep for 30 minutes. Thanks to this and the dust resistance, you can take them to the pool or beach or use them in the shower. Of course, you must make sure to close the cover that protects the connections so that there is no damage to the equipment.
Connectivity
In terms of connections, in both cases an auxiliary input is included so you can connect your phone, tablet, PC or MP3 via cable. This is something that manufacturers are increasingly dispensing with it, but we find it very useful that they have it and we value very positively that they maintain this connection.
Motion Boom Plus Speaker Connections
Apart from this auxiliary input, there is a USB port on the speakers, which is not good for playing music, but is good for charging another device.
JBL Xtreme 3 Connections
Finally there is the USB-C port that they carry for charging the speaker itself.
Battery Life
Battery life is somewhat better in the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus by reaching up to 20 hours. In the case of the Xtreme 3 the maximum duration is 15 hours. These figures, however, are calculated at moderate volumes and connected via cable, so if you use them via Bluetooth and at maximum volume, the figure is reduced.
Charging is not excessively fast on either and on the Soundcore it takes about 5.5 hours to fully charge and in the case of the Xtreme 3, it takes about 4 hours.
Sound
We come to the sound section, where we are also going to find quite a few differences between these two speakers. Although the speaker configuration is the same with two woofers, two tweeters and two passive radiators, the size of the drivers is bigger in the Soundcore.
Motion Boom+ and Xtreme 3 Passive Radiators
The Motion Boom Plus integrates two 3.5-inch woofers, two 1-inch tweeters and two passive radiators at the ends to improve bass reproduction. The total power delivered is 80W.
Souncore Motion Boom Plus speaker configuration.
The Xtreme 3 mounts two 2.75-inch woofers, two 0.75-inch tweeters and also two passive radiators on the sides. The maximum power of the set is 50W.
Drivers integrated in the JBL Xtreme 3
The titanium drivers used in the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus helps reproduce better treble and allows you to go all the way up to 40 Khz.
On the Soundcore Motion Boom+, you have a button that allows you to enable or disable the ‘BassUp’ bass boost. We recommend you always have it on, as it increases the bass frequency and generally sounds better with the vast majority of musical styles.
Outdoors, the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus wins with clarity by delivering more power and at maximum volume it is able to maintain bass better. On the Xtreme 3 at 100% volume the bass flattens out a lot, while on the Motion Boom+, there is also a loss of presence but not as much loss.
Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 differences
The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus offers better definition in the highs and better hearing of small nuances. Voices are clear and are not masked by the powerful bass. The sound is wider and not as direct as with the JBL.
Indoors where the volume at which you use it is generally going to be lower the differences are no longer so noticeable although the we continue to stay with the Soundcore speaker.
The Xtreme 3 fares better when used indoors than outdoors and keeps distortion at bay and offers a fairly neutral balance with clear mids that make vocals sound good. Bass is powerful yet well controlled and allows you to enjoy urban or electronic music styles.
The Motion Boom Plus has better punch in the bass, but always maintaining a good balance that makes the rest of the frequencies heard clearly. Some users complained at the beginning of its release that the treble sounded too shrill and annoying. You may notice this when you first listen to it, but thanks to a firmware update, this problem has been solved. We noticed them but they didn’t bother us, but after updating the firmware from the app, the improvement is noticeable. Now the reproduction of high notes is more accurate and the high notes are heard very clear and without producing any discomfort.
A must-have for both models is to download the apps for your phone. With both the Soundcore app and the JBL app, you will be able to adjust the sound to your liking with an equalizer. Especially in the case of the JBL Xtreme 3, the improvement is substantial, as you can increase the frequency of bass and mid-bass to give a greater presence to these frequencies.
Here below we leave you our custom equalization for you to try if you choose the Xtreme 3 with which you will improve the balance and get a richer sound.
In the Soundcore app, you also have an equalizer, but in this case it is much more customizable as you will be able to adjust the sound in nine frequency bands. This gives you spectacular control to adjust it to your liking. But in addition, you can save your custom settings, to make different equalizations according to the style of music you listen to and you will be able to switch from one to another at the time.
You also have four preset modes to choose from which are: Soundcore Signature, Voice, Treble Enhancement and Balanced. The default and in our opinion the best equalized mode is the Soundcore Signature mode.
The only thing, the bass boost ‘BassUp’ is not available when you select custom EQ and can only be activated with any of the preset modes.
Apart from equalizing the sound, it is highly recommended to install the app to keep the firmware up to date, as the latest version has improved the sound on the Soundcore’s treble and made it less shrill.
Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 advantages
ADVANTAGES SOUNDCORE MOTION BOOM PLUS
More power
Deeper bass
Greater autonomy
More affordable price
ADVANTAGES JBL XTREME 3
More portable design
Motion Boom Plus vs Xtreme features comparison
Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 – Veredict
Soundcore Motion Boom Plus vs JBL Xtreme 3 review
We are facing two highly recommended speakers with a good quality sound, powerful and that you can take anywhere thanks to the water and dust resistance.
The choice between one and the other will depend primarily on the size of each one. The JBL is smaller and lighter, while the Soundcore is larger but not much heavier in relation to the size difference.
If you don’t mind having a larger speaker, the Motion Boom+ offers better sound performance and more battery life than the Xtreme 3.
The Motion Boom+, delivers more power with a more dynamic, better expanding sound and more intense bass and is especially recommended for outdoor use.
The price difference is another factor to appreciate, as you can buy the Motion Boom Plus for half of what the JBL Xtreme 3 is worth.
So, after everything we’ve told you, in our opinion, the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is our favorite choice.
See Soundcore Motion Boom Plus price
See JBL Xtreme 3 price
