Sony SRS-XB3 Bluetooth Speakers Quick Review

Bluetooth Speakers are becoming more and more attractive nowadays thanks to it’s portability and design, but it has been hard finding a speaker that masters both fields, yet at the same time, durable, sounds great, and won’t break the bank – this is where the Sony SRS-XB3 comes in.

Design and Construction

Straight out of the box, the SRS-XB3 looks amazing. It is small and has a minimalistic design with curved edges in all sides and corners. The body is made using a combination of high-quality plastic and rubber. The added rubber grip on the sides as well as the top and bottom makes the product easy to hold and less likely to slip.

The speakers on the front are enclosed by a standard metal grid encasing the two speakers and passive bass radiator. There’s also another grill behind encasing a second passive bass radiator.

On the top of the speaker we have the controls, as well as the light indicators for power, the ‘extra bass’ feature, and Bluetooth pairing.

The unit has dimensiosn of of 8.3 x 3.3 x 3.1 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 0.93kg. Connectivity-wise, the speaker connects via Bluetooth and has an auxiliary-in (3.5mm) jack, reset button, DC-IN (for charging), and USB-port to charge your mobile phones – all located at the compartment behind the unit as seen above.

Amazingly, the SRS-XB3 is also water-resistant so it can take some splashes, but don’t submerge it as it is not completely waterproof.

As for its connectivity features, the SRS-XB3 supports the following profiles – Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), Hands Free Profile (HFP), and Headset Profile (HSP).

All the selections and controls are accessed on top and also includes controls for the volume, Bluetooth pairing, and extra bass feature. The “Add” button represents the pairing feature which allows it to connect to another SRS-XB3 for stereo sound.

While switched on, the power button emits a green light and the Bluetooth button also lights up when paired with a phone/tablet/mobile device. The extra bass button also lights up when using the feature. The L and R light represents whichever channel the speaker is in whenever in “pairing mode”.

Sound Quality and Connectivity

The number one factor to consider when buying speakers is the sound quality. It features 2 speakers and 2 passive radiators (1 on the front and 1 on the back), that is angled slightly upwards to give you a more “immersive” experience. Since it’s a portable speaker, we don’t expect it to match a high-end audio setup, still it was able to deliver an immersive sound with powerful bass. The overall soundstage was good with clear mids and highs.

Even with the extra bass feature on, it didn’t drown the mids and the lows – it just simply made the listening experience better. It is also capable of delivering music at high volumes with minimal distortion at the end. A definite plus point to Sony as their speakers were clearly well tuned and made.

Battery Life

The speaker is capable of delivering music smoothly without any connection issues as well as living up to it’s advertised battery life which is 24 hours. We tested the speaker for an entire day at full charge and managed to drive our playlist for 25 hours and 37 minutes at medium volume.

Conclusion

All in all, if you are on a tight budget and looking for a compact, great sounding yet durable and water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, the Sony SRS-XB3 might be the one for you. For Php6,499USD 111INR 9,388EUR 105CNY 807 you can purchase a wireless speaker with a good build and design, can deliver outstanding audio quality, and good battery life without breaking the bank.

Sony SRS-XB3 specs:
2 Channel Speakers and 2 Passive Radiators
8.3 x 3.3 x 3.1 inches (WxDxH)
0.93kg weight
5 available colors

Pros:
* Superb sound quality
* Small form factor
* Stable Rubber Grips
* Long battery life
* Water resistant
* Can be used as a power bank
* Wide Bluetooth range

Cons:
* Slightly heavy