The Sony SRS-XB100 is one of the manufacturer's smallest offerings in the speaker space. This portable Bluetooth speaker, with a built-in strap that attaches easily to your bag or backpack, is designed to take your favorite tunes with you on the go. It's available in a few different colors, each with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it from the elements. You can even pair it with a second unit for stereo sound.
Our Verdict
The Sony XB100 is acceptable for music. This small speaker can't bring a deep and rumbling bass to shake the floor with bass-heavy music, but it's a fair choice for more casual listening. Voices and lead instruments are clearly reproduced, so it's suitable for many different genres. You won't find any sound customization features, though.
- Clear reproduction of voices.
- Stereo pair available with second unit.
- No sound customization tools.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Sony XB100 isn't designed for watching movies. Still, if you want to check out a video on a paired smartphone, it can get the job done. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand, which is great. Latency is also low on both iOS and Android devices, so AV synchronization error is minimal, and you won't notice many lip-synch issues between the audio and video when watching video content. Some apps compensate for this differently, though.
- Clear reproduction of voices.
- Stereo pair available with second unit.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
- No sound customization tools.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Sony XB100 is decent for podcasts. Since dialogue is reproduced accurately, it's easy to follow along with the conversation in your favorite shows. This portable device is also great for listening on the go, so you can move around while listening to longer episodes. It gets loud enough for average-sized rooms, though it can't fill up larger spaces, given its small size.
- Small and lightweight design.
- Clear reproduction of voices.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
- No sound customization tools.
The Sony XB100 doesn't have built-in voice assistant support. However, you can pair it to a smartphone with Siri or Google Assistant capabilities to use these features through these third-party devices. It struggles to pick up on your commands from further away, but as long as you're close to the speaker, it can make out your voice.
- Clear reproduction of voices.
- No built-in voice assistant.
- Struggles to hear you from further away.
The Sony XB100 is fair for outdoor use. This speaker is great for those who want a really small and lightweight device that'll fit right in the palm of your hand. The built-in carrying strap lets you attach the speaker to a bag or backpack; you can even remove this if you like. Plus, the speaker is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and floats in water, so you don't have to be too nervous around the elements. That said, since it isn't very big, it doesn't get loud enough to fill up your backyard with sound like some other speakers, and it's missing a bit of low-bass in the mix.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Small and lightweight design.
- Not loud enough to fill larger spaces with sound.
- Some compression at max volume.
Changelog
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Updated Nov 15, 2024:
We mentioned the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go in the Frequency Response Accuracy section of this review.
- Updated Feb 09, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date and have added some relevant comparisons to similar speakers.
- Updated Sep 12, 2023: Added market comparison for the Bushnell Wingman Mini in the App box.
- Updated Jul 05, 2023: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XB100 is available in many colors, including Black, Blue, Light Gray, and Orange. We tested the Black variant but expect the other colors to perform similarly. You can even see the label for our model here.
If you come across another version of this speaker, let us know in the forums so we can update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony XB100 is the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB13. Like its predecessor, it's a small, compact speaker designed for on-the-go use, but it can't get as loud as other models in the SRS-XB line, like the Sony SRS-XB33 and Sony SRS-XB43. However, it offers an improved battery performance and a companion app to control some of its features from your smartphone. You won't find more premium sound enhancement features, though; its sound quality is limited due to its small design.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best small Bluetooth speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.
The Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Go 4 are both very portable speakers with IP67 ratings, but otherwise, they have different strengths. The Sony has nearly three times the battery life of the JBL and a better low-end extension. It also has better directivity and a voice assistant, even if the support is rather basic. That said, the JBL's shape fits easier into pockets and has a more useful app that includes an EQ. However, the battery life can't compete with the Sony.
The Sony SRS-XB100 and the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go are small speakers with different strengths. The Anker gets a little louder and has a more balanced sound through the mid-range, so voices don't sound too boomy. It also has multi-device pairing. On the other hand, the Sony produces more bass, which fans of EDM might enjoy, and has a 360-degree design, so you don't have to be positioned in front of the speaker to get the best sound like you do with the Anker.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is better than the JBL Go 3. They're both small portable Bluetooth speakers, but the Sony performs better. Its low-frequency extension is better, so you get more bass in the mix. Its battery life is better, too, and its companion app makes it easier to control through your paired smartphone. Plus, with a 360-degree design, the Sony has a better soundstage than the JBL.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is a better portable speaker than the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2, with a couple of caveats. The Sony's 20-hour battery life is twice as long as the Tribit's, and it has a 360-degree design, so your audio sounds the same from any angle. The Sony also puts out a fair bit more bass than the Tribit. On the other hand, the Tribit's companion app has an EQ, so you can tailor the sound to our preferences, and you can also use it like a battery pack to charge your phone.
Test Results
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