The Sony SRS-XB01 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with a removable strap so you can hang it off your bag or backpack while you're on-the-go. It can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly and accurately, but like many small speakers, it really struggles to reproduce low-bass. It doesn't get very loud, and it doesn't offer any sound customization options, either. That said, it has an IPX5 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.
Our Verdict
The Sony XB01 is disappointing for music. While it can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly, it really struggles to reproduce a deep, thumpy low-bass. As a result, it probably isn't ideal for listening to bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop. Its soundstage is perceived as narrow, directional, and uneven, and it has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. Also, it doesn't have any sound customization options.
- Not a lot of compression at max volume.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No sound customization features.
The Sony XB01 is inadequate for videos and movies. Dialogue is reproduced clearly and accurately, but it lacks low-bass, so you don't feel the deep thumps and rumbles in action-packed scenes. It doesn't get very loud, and its soundstage isn't very immersive. That said, it has low latency with Android and iOS devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently.
- Not a lot of compression at max volume.
- Lacks low-bass.
- No sound customization features.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Sony XB01 is adequate for podcasts. Its balanced, neutral mid-range can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately. It also has a very portable design, so you can bring it with you from one room to the next with ease. That said, it doesn't get very loud, and you can only pair it with one device at a time, which can be annoying.
- Not a lot of compression at max volume.
- No multi-device pairing.
The Sony XB01 is poor for voice assistants. It just uses the voice assistant from your paired smartphone, but it doesn't have any built-in features. Also, as part of our methodology, we use recorded voice commands to test the speaker. However, this speaker didn't respond. While it responded to normal speaking voices, this isn't part of our testing process.
- Not a lot of compression at max volume.
- No multi-device pairing.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Sony SRS-XB01 is okay for outdoor use. It's portable, and it even has a removable strap so you can hang it from a tree branch or a backpack while outside. It even has an IPX5 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, it doesn't get very loud, and its soundstage isn't very open or immersive.
- Not a lot of compression at max volume.
- IPX5 rating for water resistance.
- No sound customization features.
- Doesn't get very loud.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XB01 comes in several different color variants, including: 'Blue', 'Black', 'Gray', 'Yellow', 'Green', and 'Red'. We tested the 'Blue' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony SRS-XB01 is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker that comes in lots of different colors. Like many small speakers, it really struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't get very loud. Unlike other speakers in Sony's SRS-XB lineup like the Sony SRS-XB23 and the Sony SRS-XB33, it isn't compatible with the Sony Music Center app, so you can't customize its sound or create a stereo pair. That said, it comes with a removable strap, so you can hang the speaker off your backpack while on-the-go. See our recommendations for the best cheap speakers.
The Sony SRS-XB01 and the JBL JR POP are both small, portable speakers with similar overall performances, so you may prefer one over the other. The Sony has longer battery life and it supports voice assistants, unlike the JBL. Both speakers struggle to reproduce low-bass, but the Sony has a better-balanced sound profile. However, the JBL has a better soundstage performance and is designed for kids.
The DOSS SoundBox Plus and the Sony SRS-XB01 are very similar speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Sony is better-built and much smaller, so it's easier to bring with you on-the-go. However, the DOSS has a better soundstage performance, and it gets louder. Also, it has a better voice assistant performance.
The JBL Go 3 and the Sony SRS-XB01 are very similar speakers, meaning you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. The JBL is better built, and it has a better soundstage. However, the Sony supports voice assistants, and it has a longer battery life.
The OontZ Angle 3 and the Sony SRS-XB01 are very similar speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The OontZ gets louder and has longer battery life. Also, it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, unlike the Sony. However, the Sony supports voice assistants, and it also has a more balanced sound profile.
Test Results
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