The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small, budget-friendly portable speaker. It's the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB12, and much like its predecessor, it comes with a carrying strap, so you can easily carry it around with you when you're on the go. While it can't get very loud, there are few compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio sounds clean at louder volumes. It also has a wide-sounding soundstage and a somewhat boomy sound profile that adds some extra bass to the mix. However, like most small speakers we've tested, it still struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like hip-hop. It also doesn't come with a graphic EQ you can use to adjust its sound.
Our Verdict
The Sony SRS-XB13 isn't bad for music. It has a relatively boomy sound profile with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. That said, like most small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music. It also doesn't get very loud and downmixes stereo content to mono, which may not sound as immersive. It can play stereo content when paired to another unit, but we don't test it as this requires purchasing another device.
- Little compression at max volume.
- Fantastic directivity.
- Requires two units for stereo sound.
- No graphic EQ or presets.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is sub-par for videos and movies. It has low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching movies and videos, though some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may differ. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes, and there aren't any sound customization features you can use to tweak its sound. It also requires two units to play stereo sound, so it downmixes stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which isn't as immersive.
- Little compression at max volume.
- Low latency with iOS and Android.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Requires two units for stereo sound.
- No graphic EQ or presets.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is decent for podcasts. This incredibly portable speaker has a balanced mid-range, so voices and dialogue are clearly and accurately reproduced. It also has outstanding directivity, meaning you can hear your audio clearly from most angles. Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud. That said, there's little compression present at max volume, so your audio remains clean during louder listening sessions.
- Fantastic directivity.
- Doesn't get very loud.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is poor for voice assistants. As part of our methodology, we use recorded commands to test voice assistant capabilities. While it couldn't register these commands, even without any ambient noise, it could register commands from a normal speaking voice, though this isn't part of our testing process. That said, it has incredible directivity, meaning you can hear your assistants clearly from all angles.
- Fantastic directivity.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Bad voice assistant performance.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is alright for outdoor use. While it can't get very loud, there aren't many compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds clean at louder volumes. This well-built speaker is incredibly portable and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this. It also has fantastic directivity, so you'll perceive its soundstage as wide and open. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce the thump and rumble in low-bass, which may disappoint fans of bass-heavy music.
- Little compression at max volume.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Fantastic directivity.
- Doesn't get very loud.
- Requires two units for stereo sound.
- No graphic EQ or presets.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XB13 comes in six color variants: Black, Light Blue, Coral Pink, Taupe, Powder Blue, and Lemon Yellow. We expect these variants to perform similarly. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can find its label here.
If you come across any other variants, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small and well-built, budget-friendly speaker that's similar to its predecessor, the Sony SRS-XB12. While they have very similar designs and perform similarly in many regards, the Sony XB13 can produce deeper bass and has a better-balanced sound profile than the Sony XB12. It also has a small port on its bottom for its bass. That said, unlike its predecessor, it doesn't feature an AUX input. Unfortunately, unlike the higher-end models from Sony's SRS lineup, the Sony XB12 and XB13 don't have a companion app and don't have a graphic EQ or presets you can use to tweak their sound.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best speakers under $100.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a better speaker than the JBL Clip 4. The Sony has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper low-bass than the JBL. It can get louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes, and it has a wider-sounding soundstage than the JBL. However, the JBL is somewhat better built and comes with a built-in carabiner hook, which can come in handy when you're on the move.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB12, though they're very similar. The XB13 can produce deeper bass and has a better-balanced sound profile than the XB12. That said, the XB12 comes with an AUX port you can use to wire your devices to the speaker. It can also get slightly louder with slightly fewer compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 2. The Sony offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Anker, and its soundstage is perceived as wider and more open. It's also better-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. That said, the Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. It can also get louder and has a longer-lasting battery life of up to 15 hours from a single charge. That said, battery life can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ.
The Sony SRS-XB13 and the Sony SRS-XB100 are very similar speakers with slight differences that might affect your preference between the two. They're both very portable, lightweight speakers, but the SRS-XB100 has a longer continuous battery life and slightly better low-frequency extension. It's also a bit better built and is compatible with the Sony Music Center app. That said, the SRS-XB13 has less compression at max volume and lower AV synchronization error. The latter will ensure that there's minimal lag between your audio and video if you like connecting to the speaker to watch YouTube videos or other video content.
Test Results
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