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Sony’s SRS-XB100 is down to $43 from its usual $64.99. This is Sony’s entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker, and it shows in both good and limiting ways. It’s small, light, and built for casual use. At under 10 ounces and roughly the size of a coffee mug, it fits easily in a bag or clips onto a backpack with its included strap. The matte black finish keeps things simple, and the IP67 rating means it’s fully dust proof and can withstand submersion in water for up to 30 minutes. It’s a speaker you can bring to the pool, the shower, or a dusty worksite without worrying about damage.
The sound is better than you might expect from something this size. The upward-firing 2W driver and passive bass radiator add some punch to tracks with drum-heavy mixes, though it can’t reach true sub-bass depth. At higher volumes, the speaker relies on digital processing to prevent distortion, which slightly reduces bass impact, notes this PCMag review. Vocals come through clearly, though, making it suitable for podcasts and calls, and the built-in speakerphone mic is a real advantage here—it’s noticeably clearer than what you get from many small speakers.
What do you think so far?
Battery life is solid, with up to 16 hours at moderate volume, though that drops to around five hours if you push it to max. On the downside, there’s no companion app, so you can’t adjust the sound or get updates later. You are also stuck with mono audio unless you buy a second unit and pair them for stereo sound–on its own, the SRS-XB100 is still a mono speaker with a limited soundstage. And while its Bluetooth 5.3 support is solid (and it works with AAC and SBC codecs), there’s no wifi connectivity or multi-room support.
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