Sony SRS-XB100 review

Sony has a stable observe report in relation to compact Bluetooth audio system. I’ve owned just a few myself over time, so when the corporate introduced a brand new mannequin it instantly went to the highest of my assessment record. The not-so-catchy named SRS-XB100.

However, does this little speaker have what it takes to obtain the composer’s baton from its predecessors? Time to crank it and discover out. 

Design & Construct

• Light-weight
• Good chunky buttons
• IP67 water and dirt score
• Makes use of sustainable supplies

Once you first take the SRS-XB100 out of its packaging, which is non-plastic for a welcome change, the quick shock is that the speaker itself is so mild within the hand. At 274g, it’s not way more than most smartphones, so you possibly can positively see how that is the form of gadget you possibly can throw in a bag and even the pocket of a jacket if you wish to take it with you. 

The 75 x 95mm cylindrical form additionally makes it simple to carry within the hand when you favor to hold it that method, with the textured plastic giving grip. Sony features a removable wrist strap so that you received’t have to fret about dropping it within the pool throughout these summer season BBQs or any clumsy mishaps with onerous flooring. 

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Ought to the previous occur, then the XB100’s IP67 waterproof score means you’ll be capable to fish it out as soon as extra with out lacking a beat. The waterproofing is useful in one other method, because the physique does generally tend to choose up marks from the oils in palms and fingers, which might take a little bit of effort to take away.

The highest of the XB100 is residence to the speaker unit and grill, whereas the decrease part has cutouts to permit the passive radiator to emit its tones. Above it is a choice of controls, together with energy on/off, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, and quantity. They’re all raised symbols that give a satisfying clicky response and are massive sufficient to be sure you discover the precise one rapidly. 

On the finish of the controls is a lined panel that homes the USB-C charging port. The field features a cable, however no adapter, so that you’ll want to make use of the one out of your smartphone or in any other case.  

The design is straightforward and considerably utilitarian, not less than within the darker liveries, however appears fashionable and tidy. The XB100 is available in Orange, Blue, Mild Gray and Black, so you possibly can add a little bit of sparkle with the lighter tones if that’s extra your factor.

Sony additionally claims that the XB100 is partially produced from sustainable supplies, in order that’s factor or reasonably {a partially} good factor. 

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Sound High quality & Options

• Sound diffusion processor
• Passive radiator for bass
• Microphone for hands-free calls

For such a small and light-weight gadget, you’d be properly inside your rights to count on a sound that was just a little skinny. That’s definitely not the case with the XB100, though there may be some context to grasp. 

The way in which the unit is constructed, you might have the primary speaker firing out of the highest, aided by a sound diffusion processor to steadiness the output frequencies. On the backside, there’s a passive radiator. Mainly, this works by reverberating to the sounds kicked out by the speaker, which it amplifies by transferring that power into the floor beneath. 

It’s a design that’s been round for some time, however the upshot is that the tones that come out of the XB100 are closely influenced by what it’s sat on. For instance, once I listened to the speaker with it on my picket desk in the lounge, the bass actually rumbled. This was as a result of the passive radiator pushed the power down into the picket high, which then traveled down the legs into the slate flooring. 

This resulted in loopy ranges of bass at instances, and I may really feel a delicate throb within the flooring itself. Ought to I choose up the XB100 and maintain it in my hand, practically all the low frequencies disappeared as they’d little to work with. 

So, you can find you can fine-tune or tame the frequencies that the speaker places out by merely transferring it to a different floor. That is good, as there are not any EQ controls or sound profiles out there, even within the accompanying app that Sony affords. 

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Typically use, the speaker can sound excellent, relying on the music you select (and the floor it’s on). Curiously, I discovered that fashionable rock tracks, which normally are fairly compressed throughout the combination, sounded quieter and fewer wealthy than singer-songwriter or basic jazz tunes.

For instance, the brand new Nita Strauss album with its guitar gymnastics and hard-driving songs, truly felt just a little smaller than the newest Elephant Revival album with its light harmonies and folkish instrumentals. 

I’m guessing it is because there’s more room between the frequencies, which is simpler to deal with with the one speaker setup within the XB100. In order for you a extra highly effective and wider frequency scope, then I’d advocate attempting a bigger unit with an array of audio system for increased and decrease frequencies. 

That’s to not say you possibly can’t hearken to fashionable mixes on the Sony SRS-XB100. They do sound first rate, however I positively really feel that the unit affords extra spacious and rewarding audio when coping with much less busy songs. 

There’s the choice of shopping for two XB100s after which pairing them for a stereo setup. This may be a good suggestion when you and a good friend have been every contemplating choosing one up, in any other case a single, however higher speaker would make extra sense.  

As a conveyable speaker, it’s an incredible little gadget to have in your bag. You received’t be capable to energy a celebration with it, because the sounds don’t actually carry that properly open air. However, when you’re sitting round with associates having a picnic or drink within the backyard, then the XB100 can add some good-sounding background music with out annoying the neighbours. 

It’s additionally an incredible possibility for individuals who get pleasure from, as I do, audiobooks and podcasts however need greater volumes than these provided by a smartphone. There’s additionally a microphone built-in, so you possibly can take calls hands-free whereas utilizing the speaker. In my exams, the recipients stated all of it sounded good, which is all you possibly can hope for with this sort of characteristic.

Fortunately, you received’t need to cost the XB100 too usually, because the 16-hour battery life will get you thru fairly just a few albums earlier than it runs dry. Charging time is round three hours, so that you’ll need to plug it in properly earlier than you propose to pack for a day trip. 

Value & Availability

Sony affords the SRS-XB100 for $59.99/£54.99/€64.99 and you may also buy it by means of varied retailers together with Sony, Amazon, Currys and Argos within the UK.

Within the US you should buy it from Sony, Amazon, Adorama, BestBuy, Dell and B&H Photograph.

On the time of writing, these costs had been dropped by the corporate to across the $40/£40/€40 mark, so it appears like this may be the true worth on the road. For that cash, you’re getting a stunning little journey companion that’s able to some nice sounds. 

Alternatively, you would possibly attempt the cool JBL Clip 4, which prices round $50/£50/€50, is compact, sounds good however doesn’t have a built-in mic for hands-free calls. There’s additionally the Edifier MP100 Plus which is one other extremely transportable speaker that’s waterproof and might spin tune for across the identical worth because the Sony XB100.

Don’t neglect to take a look at our greatest low-cost bluetooth audio system for extra concepts.  

Must you purchase the Sony SRS-XB100?

As a conveyable speaker you can tackle vacation, round the home or out into the backyard, the Sony XB100 is a really good possibility.

Sound high quality is nice (though you’ll have to be cautious the place you place it) and the straightforward pairing and battery life imply you possibly can simply get on with listening to your audio with none faff.

An EQ setting would have been good, as would extra quantity to be used exterior, however this little speaker stays a high quality selection for individuals who desire a compact and well-built method to pay attention on the transfer with out breaking the financial institution.

Specs

• Full vary, off-centre diaphragm speaker
• Sound Diffusion Processor
• Passive radiator 
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Helps SBC and AAC codecs
• A2DP, AVRCP, HFP appropriate profiles
• 20Hz – 20,000Hz frequency transmission vary (sampling frequency 44.1kHz)
• 2.4GHz frequency vary
• Constructed-in microphone
• Onboard controls
• IP67
• USB-C charging port
• Included wrist strap
• 76mm x 95mm
• 274g