With the finest in class performance and technological innovation, Sony has long been a mainstay in the audio, gaming, and entertainment industries. The SRS-XE300 wireless speaker from Sony was nothing less than this. Just the speaker’s brief setup instructions and a USB Type-C charging cable were provided. The speaker measured around 105 mm by 238 mm by 119 mm, which is about normal for a speaker of this caliber (width x height x depth). It only weighed 1.3 kg or so (2.86 lbs). you can buy this product from amazon.
Although it also comes in blue and light grey, the version I tested was black. Since it debuted its new X-Balanced Speaker unit and Line-Shape Diffuser design, this test was unusual. Stereo speakers used during concerts, which hammer the music through a narrower source, served as inspiration for its design. The sound would go farther if we did this. Although it appeared to be confining the sound to a small space, I discovered that it actually carried my songs through my house’s lengthy halls. A higher sound pressure with excellent sound quality was also made possible by the internal non-circular diaphragm.
Its form was another noticeable aesthetic characteristic. The cylindrical or square shape of wireless portable speakers has becoming more common. With the SRS-XE300 wireless speaker stands, Sony departed from the norm in terms of form. The speaker had a more pentagonal shape since the sound pressure exits through the tip end of the pentagon because it shoots out in a tight line. According to Sony, sound could travel further and further out from the speaker as it passed through the “narrow aperture.”
Sony SRS-XE300 review: Build Quality and Design
There are three different sizes and versions available for Sony’s new X-Series. There are two models: a compact XE200, the XE300 under review, and a larger, more expensive XG300. The Sony XE300 feels very robust and has outstanding overall build quality. The manufacturer uses a standard fabric treatment for the grill, and soft-touch rubberized silicone is used to cover every other surface. It is therefore a sturdy device that is shockproof and IP67 dust and water resistant.
You can bring it camping, use it outside for a BBQ, and it will look great by the pool. According to Sony, it can withstand 30 minutes under one metre of water. Even salt water won’t harm it. The USB-C charging connector is also concealed by a sizable rubber flap, which is convenient. The pentagon shape is a little strange, but I appreciate how sturdy this thing is.
Comparatively speaking to most speakers in this size and price range, the form makes it very difficult to hold with one hand. It’s also quite large. I wasn’t sure at first if I should lay it flat or stand it up to listen. It is made to be a stand-up speaker, though.
I also wished there was more cloth used in the design for sound emission rather than rubber covering practically the entire thing. The “Line-Shape Diffuser” technology, which Sony claims will give a wide listening area down the entire length of the speaker front and a complete 180 degrees, says it eliminates the need for a large grill, but more on that in a moment.
Sony SRS-XE300 review: Sound Quality
For testing, we kept the EQ at its factory defaults and disabled all battery-saving features, but we occasionally swapped between stereo and mono audio settings. Which mode you should use truly depends on your preferences because stereo mode doesn’t offer much separation for a speaker this large. Nevertheless, mono mode is appropriate when the sony speaker is positioned vertically since otherwise, impediments might prohibit the bottom radiator from operating to its maximum potential.
Instead of diffusing audio more widely as Sony intended, we believe the line-shape diffuser instead outputs sounds in a more localised manner. As a result, the speaker sounds substantially differently when positioned vertically as opposed to horizontally. Of course, this is typical for a speaker, but in comparison to other models, the difference seems more pronounced.
We don’t have any issues with the volume output, however we’re not sure if the unique diffuser has any distinct benefits. It has a very obvious sweet spot, and if we didn’t know any better about the internal arrangement, we would just say that (aimed directly at the listener). On the other hand, a multi-speaker configuration benefits from a stronger feeling of directionality because it improves the perception of stereo separation.
Sony SRS-XE300 review: Connections
This speaker does not have an AUX port, as I have stated. That implies that Bluetooth is the sole way to connect to the speaker. But I suppose you already intended to do that. The next-to-latest version of Bluetooth, v5.2, is supported by the SRS-XE300. You can maintain connectivity with this strong 2.4GHz signal up to a distance of around 100 feet (30 metres), but not through walls or around obstructions. Of course, you may use Bluetooth on your smartphone, tablet, or computer to connect directly to the speaker.
Additionally, you can get the Sony Music Center app (for Android or iOs). This enables rapid connection, playback EQ adjustment, playlist selection, and other features. For a genuine stereo experience, you can also connect two speakers using the Stereo Pair feature.
Sony SRS-XE300 review: Performance and battery
The Sony SRS-XE200 is the ideal speaker to own if you are going to hold a home party with between 8 and 10 guests, as I mentioned at the beginning of this review. For larger gatherings or areas, it might not be the best choice. Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Sony SRS-XE200 produces powerful, clear audio indoors but less so outdoors. For high-resolution playback, the device supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs.
The speaker has a Line-Shape Diffuser that, according to Sony, was modelled after the concert setting. The SRS-audio XE200’s performance impressed me in real-world scenarios as well, with loud and clear vocals. The speaker provides a strong, well-defined bass, but at greater volumes, the sound quality degrades.
As I previously mentioned, the SRS-XE200 was able to fill the room extremely effectively, but that wasn’t the case outside. Now, while listening to music, the sound quality seems excellent, I wish the same could be said for dialogue. I connected my TV to my speaker and watched a number of movies, but I frequently noticed that the conversation was muddled. I’m hoping the speaker made that point very clear as well.
The speaker handled phone calls expertly, and the microphones typically did a good job of capturing the sound. Siri and Google Assistant voice assistants are also included with the XE200, and I found that they performed effectively the most of the time. Additionally, there is a mute option that performs admirably during phone calls.
Final Words
It’s difficult to fathom being dissatisfied with the Sony SRS-XE300 after frequent use. Although the battery life is disappointing, this Bluetooth speaker is generally dependable. It’s simple to use, has decent audio quality, and has an IP67 classification, which indicates it can withstand a lot of abuse.
However, most of the speaker’s rivals have these traits, and well-known models like the JBL Charge 5 ($149.95 at Amazon) and UE Boom 3 ($149.18 at Amazon) are both less expensive. In essence, you’re paying that extra sum of money in order to support the Sony brand. Whether that is worthwhile ultimately depends on the individual, but it is not difficult to get something similar for less money.
