A few months ago, Sony introduced a whole line of portable speakers aimed at young audiences. In today's review I will consider two older models: Sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40. Is there a wow effect from these devices? Definitely.
Equipment
Seeing the size of the boxes, I immediately dreamed of a giant complete set of speakers Sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40... After all, these devices are not of the cheapest class, so the manufacturer must justify the cost with the maximum satisfaction of its customers. But no. The package is extremely minimalistic and the same.
- the column itself
- charger (SRS-XB30 power supply has 5V parameters<–> 3A, and SRS-XB40 - 9.5V<–> 2.2A)
- instruction (which had to be used, for the first time in a long time)
In general, in terms of the configuration, Sony could not surprise me. It's just that everything is very high quality and tightly packed, nothing more. 
Design
Quite frankly, when I waited for these speakers, I was more concerned about design than sound quality. As for the latter, I didn't bother at all, knowing who the manufacturer was. Sony is one of the few companies that still continues to release their branded audio players under the Walkman brand. This means that, thanks to many years of experience and the availability of technology, they have every opportunity to create the best devices on the loudspeaker market.
A characteristic design feature of the entire line is a rectangle with rounded edges. And the older the model, the more it resembles a brick. This is probably due to the fact that each subsequent model increases in size and weight. Here's a size comparison with the Creative D100.
If the Sony SRS-XB30 can still be called a portable and portable speaker system, then its older brother, the Sony SRS-XB40, is a stretch. This is due to the weight of the device (1.5 kg), not its dimensions. But I believe that both devices are designed for stationary use at home or at a party.
Sony offers several color options depending on the model. Of course, these are the most popular colors: black, red and blue (the Sony SRS-XB30 also has green and white versions). But the black version seems to me the coolest and brutal. 
By the way, I'll tell you right away about the case. The material of both speakers is very easily soiled and literally gets dirty from everything! Even for photographs, I could not bring them to perfect condition. 
Initially, I thought that the case was made of metal, the devices are so confident and heavy in the hands, but in fact it is plastic, which very much resembles rubber in tactile sensations. This also provides moisture protection, because both models are IPx5 standard. 
The rest sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40 design excellent! I'll tell you separately about each side.
The front side is covered with a metal mesh that protects the two speakers and a passive radiator. Along the perimeter of this mesh, from the outside, there is one of the lighting elements. 
On the upper side are all buttons and an NFC tag (I wonder if it is possible to pay for purchases in the store?):
- Extra Bass - a regular press activates an additional bass effect, and a long press turns on the backlight.
- A set of standard buttons: volume, start / pause, call acceptance (holding this button will allow you to find out the percentage of the battery charge), single mode / pairing from another column.
- The main button turns on or off the column by pressing. Long hold turns on Bluetooth to pair with a mobile device.
The rear passive radiator is also covered with a metal mesh. Next to it is a cover with rubberized seals, under which there are the following ports: 3.5 mm audio input, charging input and USB port.
Now the speakers can not only play music, but also charge mobile devices. Quite a handy feature if you often go to a picnic.
By the way, here's an example of how the backlight works: the Sony SRS-XB40 is shown on the left, the Sony SRS-XB30 on the right.
Surely everyone immediately noticed the difference. Unfortunately, the Sony SRS-XB30 lacks a backlight for the speakers themselves. Although this element occupies the largest area of \u200b\u200bthe older model and looks more spectacular than a strobe and neon tape around the perimeter.
What makes it special is that the light passes through the metal mesh. The walls of the dark room are immediately painted with characteristic patterns.
Specifications
The differences between the two speakers are minimal: mainly in size, weight and amount of backlighting. Although Sony has announced a smaller battery for the SRS-XB30, official documentation speaks of up to 24 hours of continuous use on both models.
I think that due to the lack of speaker backlighting, the operating time of the younger model is on par with the older one.
Sony SRS-XB30
- rated power 64 W (but this is not accurate, later, I will explain why this is so)
- bluetooth 4.2 and NFC support
- protection against water at the level of IPx5
- hands-free mode support
- 2 backlight elements: around the perimeter of the metal mesh and strobe function
- dimensions: 228 x 82 x 86 mm
- weight 980 grams
Sony SRS-XB40
- frequency range: 20-20,000 Hz (sampling at 44.1 kHz)
- rated power 64 W (that's for sure)
- bluetooth 4.2 and NFC support
- there is a 3.5 mm audio port and 1 input for USB
- battery up to 24 hours of continuous work
- protection against water at the level of IPx5
- hands-free mode support
- 3 lighting elements: perimeter, strobe function and speaker light
- dimensions: 279 x 100 x 105 mm
- weight 1500 grams
Sound quality
For the past few years, I've been using the Creative D100 portable speaker. I must admit - the device is morally and technically outdated. True, I hadn't thought about it that often before.
After listening to just a couple of tracks on Sony speakers, I realized that it was time to change my device. In just a few years, wireless sound technology has leaped very far. The difference in sound is felt instantly.
But we must remember that first of all sound Sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB 40 created for electronic music. After all, the manufacturer himself positions its own line as a replacement for nightclubs. So I got almost no pleasure from listening to rock music. Only if there is a powerful bass guitar in the composition. 
In terms of sound quality or volume, I didn't notice any difference at all between the two models.
Firstly, I never turned the sound up to maximum volume, because there was a risk of simply going deaf, and the neighbors would immediately run to the door of my apartment. However, I never got any wheezing from the speakers.
Secondly, Sony officially revealed the power of only the older model SRS-XB40. She also added that the SRS-XB30 differs only in size and a smaller battery. Therefore, by a usual logical chain, I came to the conclusion that the power of the speakers of the two models is at the same level. 
Acoustic systems have a really large volume reserve. Slightly less than half of the filled scale on a smartphone was enough to clearly hear music in the most remote parts of the apartment.
So that speakers Sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40they will definitely not let even the most passive party participants fall asleep and they can be safely used in large rooms or in nature.
Sony has its own application for iOS and Android operating systems. The application acts as a kind of "hub" responsible for synchronizing, configuring and managing all multimedia devices of its own production.
In general, there is nothing innovative in the application. But there were enough problems:
- I still consider myself a geek and usually figure it out without the help of instructions. But, I never managed to connect the two speakers into a single synchronous audio system. It seems that there is nothing complicated according to the instructions, but the application itself loves to freeze and show an ordinary black screen when something does not work out. Only restarting the application helps.
- I also failed to connect via NFC. Neither the iPhone 7 Plus nor the. If in the first case the limitation of iOS itself, then on Android there is some flaw or too tricky connection, where few people will figure it out. But the Bluetooth connection works just fine! The column quietly plays music even at a distance of 15-20 meters from the smartphone.
I really want the manufacturer to be able to modify his application and simplify all the processes. Still, this is not a device from a third-tier company, so that you have to "shaman" the whole evening to get the result.
The speaker system is from a great Japanese company with the price of an average smartphone from, and Plug & Play is not implemented at the proper level. How did it happen?
There is also a separate Fiestable application. Something like a stock program for backlight control. Only a little more possibilities - there is a huge number of built-in templates. The backlight is already trying to match the music, but Sony additionally offers us other settings with a priority of any color. Or set up everything with your own hands. The last option is much cooler.
Outcome
Has Sony made a quality product? Definitely. With the Sony SRS-XB30 and SRS-XB40 speakers, anyone can become the center of attention at a noisy party, thanks to the excellent sound and original lighting system.
At the same time, these devices are perfect for equipping your own room with stationary acoustic systems. 
Better to overpay a couple of thousand at once, but enjoy a full-fledged light show throughout the entire life cycle of the device. I can assure all readers that the highlight function is not one or two times. Everyone can find a use for it.
Packaging
The Sony SRS-XB10 wireless speaker lies in a small cardboard box in protective plastic. The box is quite compact, so much so that even the warranty paper is attached on the outside instead of lying inside as usual.
Equipment
The complete set of the Sony SRS-XB10 speaker is very modest:
- Column
- User's manual
- USB battery charging cable
- Warranty card
Design
The Sony SRS-XB10 wireless speaker has the shape of a cylinder with two speakers on top and bottom.
The entire top of the speaker is covered with a neat metal grille that protects the main speaker.
The side edge is entirely covered with a rubberized soft coating, which at the same time protects the speaker from damage if dropped or from breakage if splashed with water.
In the lower part, on the side face, there are control buttons:
- Enable / Disable
- Volume control
- Sony SRS-XB10 second speaker add button for stereo sound
- Play / stop
Under the buttons, there are light indicators that can inform about the following activities:
- The battery is charging
- Microphone is working
- If two Sony SRS-XB10 speakers are operating at the same time, each of them will have a channel indicator light, which is sounded by the speaker (left, right)
- Bluetooth
The bottom edge of the speaker is a stand, in which there are slots on the sides in order to pass the low frequencies that are generated by the second speaker located below.
On the side of the speaker there is a hook attachment that is held on a rope. This hook is very handy, you can use it to attach the speaker to the strap of a backpack, to the belt of jeans, or just to make it easier to hold the speaker in your hand.
This hook is also a stand for the speaker if you need to position it horizontally instead of vertically.
The standard speaker position is considered to be vertical and this is the position that the engineers had in mind when calculating the location of the speakers and their power. It is in the vertical position that the speaker creates more effective low frequencies and it is in the vertical position that the sound as a whole seems more capacious.
Placing the speaker horizontally with the top speaker facing you will help you hear the mid and high frequencies better, but lower the audibility and depth of the low frequencies. For listening to conversational programs or podcasts, this arrangement may be even more convenient than the vertical one, because you will perceive human speech more easily and naturally, but for music, vertical positioning of the speaker is preferable.
Water resistant
The Sony SRS-XB10 speaker has IPX5 splash protection, which means that it can be placed next to a pool or sink, accidental splashes cannot harm the speaker, but you cannot completely immerse it in water, this will render it unusable. Thus, the speaker can be taken with you anywhere: on a picnic in the park, on a hike, to the pool or to the beach, but I would be careful not to take it with me on a boat trip, because chances are high that it will drop into water.
Battery life
A wireless speaker, first of all, should work for a long time from its own battery, because this is its essence - to play sound where there is no possibility for conventional sound-reproducing equipment, so the battery life is a very important parameter.
The Sony SRS-XB10 has a battery life of up to 16 hours at an average volume level. At maximum volume, the battery life can drop to 10 hours.
During testing, the column showed a battery life of about 14 hours. The volume constantly varied depending on the type of music being listened to and the volume of the surrounding noise.
It takes 3.5 hours to fully charge the battery, but there is no fast charging function.
Management and capabilities
The speaker connects to the phone using the usual pairing procedure, or using the NFC chip that is built into it.
Through the column, you can easily control music playback: start / stop and turn on the next music track. You cannot switch the track backward, only forward.
It is possible to adjust the volume.
There is an interesting function for creating stereo sound using two speakers Sony SRS-XB10. One speaker always works in mono mode, because it has only one speaker. More precisely, there are two speakers, but one of them is low-frequency, so the speaker reproduces only mono sound.
But if you have two speakers, they can be combined into one system, so you get stereo sound.
The button for adding a second column is located on the side edge in the row of all buttons, you just need to press it and hold it for about 3 seconds, after which the second column should automatically connect. The signal from the phone will go to the first speaker, and only then from the first to the second.
It is possible to connect the speaker via a wire to a sound source; the speaker has a standard jack for connecting a 3.5 mm jack. There is no audio cable included, you need to purchase it separately.
If a phone is connected to the speaker and you receive an incoming voice call, the speaker can act as a speaker and a microphone at the same time. It is very convenient if you are at a picnic and they call you, you do not have to look for a phone, you can talk using Sony SRS-XB10.
Wireless connection
The Sony SRS-XB10 speaker uses Bluetooth 4.2.
I tested the speaker with two phones on Android 8 and Windows Mobile 10 operating systems, as well as a laptop with Windows 10. In all cases, pairing took place within a few seconds, and subsequent connections from the off state took place within a second.
The stability of the wireless signal is good, in the open air the column worked without failures at a distance of up to 15 meters from the source, with further distance, slight interference began. The column stopped working completely at a distance of about 25 meters from the phone.
In an apartment, the distance of stable operation decreased to 7 meters; it should be borne in mind that there were 2 load-bearing concrete walls between the speaker and the telephone. At a distance of about 12 meters, the speaker stopped working.
During testing, a couple of times I came across the fact that, although the speaker was next to the phone, when switching the music track, the sound in the speaker disappeared, although it was clear on the phone screen that playback was continuing. Repeated switching of the track fixed the problem, the column started working again. This error did not occur often, only a couple of times a week of testing, but it cannot be written off by accident either.
- 1. Rating
- 2. Specifications
- 3. Package and design: works in any position
- 4. Wireless: three ways to connect
- 5. Sound quality: specially for modern music
- 6. Autonomy: all day without recharging
- 7. Bottom line: small but powerful
- 8. Pros and cons
In Sony's Extra Bass lineup, the SRS-XB10 takes a special place. Although it is the most compact and lightweight, it is in no way inferior in its capabilities to other gadgets of the series and produces excellent bases. But can a miniature audio system offer anything more than strong bass?
Information about Sony SRS-XB10
8.4 Assessment
Specifications
Package and design: works in any position
Traditionally, there is nothing superfluous in the set with Sony speakers. In addition to the SRS-XB10, the package contains all the necessary documentation, a charging cable (a regular micro-USB cable is used here) and a stand strap.
The device is made in the form of a cylinder, on the upper edge of which there is a speaker grill. If desired, you can install the speaker vertically and then the sound will be directed upwards or put horizontally. This is what the strap is for. It can also be used to hang the device on a hook.
Convenient speaker hook The speaker material is rubberized: it turns out to be quite practical to use, because the body is not afraid of dust and moisture. In accordance with the IPX5 standard, the model is treated with protection against splashes of water - the column can be safely placed next to a pool or pond and not worry about its safety.
Waterproof housing All control elements are moved to the side face. Using the available buttons, you can turn on or off the device itself, a separate track, and also change the music volume. A button is provided to combine two speakers into a single system. A little further along are the charging and audio jacks. In addition to the keys, there are several indicators that allow you to know about the state of the gadget - about the battery level, about the NFC state.
Wireless: Three Ways to Connect
The case does not provide a slot for memory cards, so all playable tracks must be stored in a smartphone, tablet or other device. To start playing songs, you need to pair with one of the gadgets.
The developers offer the choice of the usual Bluetooth technology (version 4.2 is used here), NFC or audio input (although the cable will have to be bought separately).
When using Bluetooth or NFC, the connection is almost instant. In the open air, 10 meters is enough for synchronization, further - there may be interference. In the conditions of an ordinary apartment building, where the signal is blocked by walls, it is worth counting on a maximum range of 7 meters.
Sound quality: tailored for today's music
Although the speaker cannot boast of large dimensions, it is capable of reproducing sound quality of good quality. There are two loudspeakers inside, but the device still reproduces only mono sound - one of the loudspeakers is directed only to low frequencies.
The device is part of the Extra Bass series, which means that you should not worry about high-quality reproduction of low and medium frequencies. The 46mm driver accepts frequencies from 20Hz. Sony has found that genres such as house, trance and techno are becoming more and more popular. That is why SRS Extra Bass speakers are aimed at fans of electronic dance music. Indeed, the accessory literally shakes low frequencies - an attentive user may even notice how the surface on which the gadget is installed vibrates.
At an average volume level, words and other sounds are perfectly understood, so the model cannot be blamed for the poor quality of reproduction of high frequencies.
But do not think that the column will be useful only for fans of parties and dancing until you drop! If you connect the device to your home laptop, you will be able to create an acoustic stereo system for more comfortable watching movies.
Sony SRS-XB10 sound testing When the volume is raised to the maximum level, the SRS-XB10 begins not only to vibrate, but also to lose sound quality. Great bass can lose its richness, and music in general can be out of tune.
This problem can be easily solved: it is enough to keep the volume in the range of 70-80% of the maximum. The volume reserve of this model is quite enough to fill a small room with music. In the open air, one speaker can serve as a background. Need louder? Then pay attention to the older model.
Autonomy: all day without recharging
The portable speaker is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery. Its capacity is not the largest, but it is enough for a decent runtime. If you listen to music at maximum volume, then the charge will last for 16 hours. If you need to stretch the operating time, then just turn down the volume of the music.
Column charging process Charging is carried out either from a standard micro-USB cable or from the POWERBANK. It takes little time - only 3.5 hours.
Sound quality enough for such a small size. The ability to pair on bluetooth. Possibility of connecting via 3.5 connectors, while in stereo mode. Muting one speaker turns off both at once.
Minuses
High quality A2DP mode is only possible when connected to a smartphone. Connection to the laptop in A2DP mode failed, only hands-free mode with low bitrate is connected. The signal between the speakers is very sensitive, if there are obstacles between the speakers, it will be interrupted.
Feedback
Original and cute speakers, I bought a pair. In a pair, the sound effect increases significantly. The sound is good, but if you demand the impossible from them, for example, add low frequencies to the maximum in the equalizer, and the volume to maximum, then they will wheeze, be prudent. Convenient function to turn off the power of a pair on one of the speakers. Convenient channel switching function (left-right-dual mono). Shamanic dances with a tambourine did not help me connect the speaker to a laptop in high-quality A2DP mode, the speaker connects with enviable persistence in speakerphone mode, the sound is like a bucket. But there is a way out, connect it with an audio cable, pair the second speaker via bluetooth, and now you have a stereo pair with excellent sound. You can easily take the second column to another room. Perhaps no one can find such a function. In general, the speakers are decent among portable ones. And a big plus is the small weight and size, it will not burden you to put in your bag
