- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a portable cylindrical speaker. Thanks to its 360° design, its soundstage is perceived as wide and spacious. While its sound profile lacks low-bass out-of-the-box, it also has a graphic EQ via its companion app, which is nice if you like to tweak its sound profile. Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud and there are compression artifacts at max volume. That said, it's durable and well-built, making it a suitable option if you're looking for a speaker that you can take with you outdoors.
Our Verdict
The Sony SRS-XB23 is mediocre for music. While it struggles to produce low-bass and it has a dulled treble right out-of-the-box, its companion app offers a graphic EQ so you can adjust its sound to your liking. Thanks to its 360° design, it has a very good soundstage as well. However, it doesn't get very loud and there are compression artifacts at max volume.
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Graphic EQ.
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Very portable and well-built design.
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Wide and large soundstage.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Doesn't support Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, or Wi-Fi.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Sony XB23 is subpar for videos and movies. It has an even mid-range, so voices and dialogue are accurately reproduced. However, it lacks low-bass, so you won't feel the thump and rumble of action-packed scenes. It also doesn't get very loud and there are compression artifacts at max volume. However, it has low audio latency on iOS and Android devices.
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Graphic EQ.
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Very portable and well-built design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Doesn't support Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, or Wi-Fi.
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Lacks low-bass.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is decent for podcasts. It has a neutral mid-range, so vocal-centric content sounds clear and accurate. The speaker is also very portable and you can pair it with up to two devices at a time. Unfortunately, it doesn't support multi-room audio, so you can't stream different audio from your smartphone to different speakers in separate rooms.
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Very portable and well-built design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Doesn't support Alexa voice assistant.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is poor for voice assistant. You can connect your smartphone to the speaker to use your voice assistant. However, this speaker couldn't recognize the recorded commands that we use to test its capabilities. While it can respond to regular speaking voices, this isn't currently part of our testing process.
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Very portable and well-built design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
The Sony XB23 is decent for outdoor use. It has a great build quality with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for this, and it's very portable. It also has over nine hours of playtime, so you don't need to worry about battery life if you're away from an outlet. Unfortunately, it doesn't get that loud and there are compression artifacts at max volume.
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Graphic EQ.
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Very portable and well-built design.
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Doesn't get very loud.
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Lacks low-bass.
- 6.3 Music
- 5.8 Videos/Movies
- 7.3 Podcasts
- 3.8 Voice Assistant
- 7.4 Outdoors
- Updated Jan 08, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Jan 05, 2021: Early access published.
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Test Results
The Sony XB23 has a cylindrical look that can be placed vertically or horizontally, depending on your preferences. There are passive radiators on each end, and most of the speaker is protected by thick webbing. It comes in several colors, so you can find a shade that suits your style.
This speaker is exceptionally portable. You can easily carry it with one hand, and it has a strap so you can suspend it from a hook. It's also fairly lightweight. Since it has a battery, you can also use it outside.
The Sony SRS-XB23 has a great build quality. Just like the JBL Clip 4, this speaker has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test it. Most of the speaker is wrapped in thick netting, and the bottom side has a rubber base to keep it from slipping. There's also a compartment in the back of the speaker for its USB-C charge connection and a thick, adjustable removable carrying strap.
The Sony SRS-XB23 has great controls. Physical controls are located on the side of the speaker and allow you to manage calls and audio. They're easy to use, and there are mini display lights on some of the controls to let you know the status of the speaker. If you want to skip the track forward, you can press the play button twice. You can also skip the track backward by pushing the play button three times. The battery button can also be held for three seconds to enter 'Stamina Mode', which turns off the extra bass feature to help conserve battery life. There's also audible feedback on battery levels. This speaker has dedicated buttons for party mode as well as stereo pairing.
The Sony XB23 has mediocre frequency response accuracy. When placed horizontally and with its extra bass feature on, it still struggles to reproduce low-bass. While it's a little boomy, it also has a veiled and dull treble. That said, if you prefer a different sound, you can use the graphic EQ in the companion app to tweak the sound to your liking.
This speaker has a very good soundstage. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has an omnidirectional soundstage that sounds wide and large. You can set the speaker to either mono or stereo mode via the Sony app. If you really want to feel immersed in your favorite music, you can also check out the Marshall Emberton, which has a better soundstage.
The Sony SRS-XB23 has a disappointing dynamics performance. It doesn't get that loud, and there are a lot of compression artifacts at max volume. If you want a speaker that reproduces audio more clearly at max volume, check out the DOSS SoundBox Plus.
The Sony SRS-XB23 has a very good battery performance. It has over nine hours of playback time and turns off after approximately 15 minutes to conserve battery life. You can turn this feature on and off via the companion app. That said, battery life can vary according to usage, so your experience may differ. If you're looking for a similarly-styled speaker with a better battery performance, check out the Sony SRS-XB33 or the Sony SRS-XB43.
The Sony SRS-XB23 has a terrible voice assistant integrated performance. Unlike the JBL FLIP 5, this speaker is able to use your smartphone's voice assistant. As part of our methodology, we use recorded voice commands to activate the speaker. However, this speaker has trouble registering these commands and doesn't respond. While it can register commands from a normal speaking voice, this isn't part of our testing process.
The Sony Music Center is a very good app. It's compatible with both iOS and Android. You can use it to pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair or link them together to play the same audio to cover a larger space. This app also includes a graphic EQ, so you can really tweak its sound to your liking.
The Sony SRS-XB23 can't be used wired. It comes with a USB-C cable for charging the speaker.
This speaker has an excellent Bluetooth performance. It can connect with up to two devices at a time, and it has an outstanding range. It also has low latency on both iOS and Android, which is great if you like to watch videos. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XB23 comes in several color variants: 'Black', 'Olive Green', 'Orange', 'Coral Red', 'Sky Blue', and 'Taupe'. We tested the Black variant, and you can see its label here. We expect each of the color variants to perform similarly to our model.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The Sony XB23 is a cylindric speaker that can be used in a mono or stereo mode. While its soundstage isn't as wide as other 360° speakers like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, it still feels spacious. However, like most smaller speakers, it struggles to get loud and to reproduce low-bass. Luckily, thanks to its companion app, it also has a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound to your liking.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the JBL FLIP 5. The Sony is better-built, can play stereo content, and has longer-lasting continuous battery life. It also has a companion app with a graphic EQ so that you can tweak its sound to your liking. However, the JBL can get a bit louder with fewer compression artifacts.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears offers a much wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design. It can get louder with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. It can also last over 13 hours from a single charge, though this can vary depending on your usage. That said, the Sony offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper bass than that of the Ultimate Ears. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Micro. The Sony is better-built, it can produce more low-bass, and it can get louder, although with more compression artifacts present. It also has a longer-lasting battery life as well as a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound. However, the Bose is smaller, which some people may prefer.
The Sony SRS-XB23 and the JBL Charge 5 are similar speakers. The Sony offers a wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design, and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It also comes with a graphic EQ you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. However, the JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and can produce a more extended low-bass than the Sony. It can also get a bit louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. Additionally, it has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage, and your experience may vary.
The Sony SRS-XB23 and the Sony SRS-XB33 are similarly performing speakers. The SRS-XB23 is smaller and has a 360-degree design, so its soundstage is perceived as wide. However, the SRS-XB33 is better-built and can get slightly louder with fewer compression artifacts. Its battery also lasts longer and it has customizable lighting, which some users may prefer.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Ultimate Ears has a better soundstage and can get louder with a lot fewer compression artifacts. Its battery lasts longer too. However, the Sony has less latency via Bluetooth and it has a companion app with a graphic EQ to tweak its sound. It can also be paired with smartphones if you want voice assistant support.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is slightly better than the Anker Soundcore 3. Thanks to its 360-degree design, the Sony has better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage, so your audio sounds clear from most angles. You can also pair it to another speaker to create a stereo pair or multiple speakers when you want your audio to fill a large room. That said, while both speakers feature a graphic EQ, the Anker comes with presets you can use to customize its sound. It also has a longer battery life, though this can depend on your usage, so your experience may vary.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB13 overall. The XB23 can produce a more extended low-bass than the XB13, and is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ featured in its companion app, so you can tweak its sound to your liking. That said, the XB13 is smaller and more portable than the XB23. Also, while it doesn't get as loud, it has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.
The Sony SRS-XB43 is a bit better than the Sony SRS-XB23. Both speakers have a somewhat uneven sound profile, but the XB43 has a more extended low-bass. It also gets louder, and it has longer battery life. While the XB23 lists an IK rating for impact resistance, the XB43 doesn't. The XB23 also has a better soundstage performance.
The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23 overall. The Anker can produce a more extended low-bass than the Sony. It can also get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. That said, the Sony has better directivity thanks to its 360-degree design, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB12. The XB23 can get louder and can produce a more extended low-bass than the XB12. It comes with a graphic EQ, meaning that you can customize its sound to your liking. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which is more immersive. That said, the XB12 is smaller, making it more portable. It also has less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the Bose SoundLink Color II. The Sony has a somewhat more balanced sound profile, and its companion app has a full graphic EQ that lets you customize its sound to your liking. Although we don't test for this, it also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, while the Bose is rated IPX4. That said, the Bose has less compression at max volume, and it understands you more easily when using the voice assistant from your paired smartphone.
The Marshall Emberton is better for most uses than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Marshall's default sound profile is more neutral, and it has a better soundstage. However, the Sony offers a graphic EQ for sound customization. Also, the Sony is a better choice for outdoor use as it's better-built, and it supports voice assistants, unlike the Marshall.
The Sonos Roam is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Sonos is better-built, has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it supports voice assistants. While it comes with bass and treble adjustments, the Sony has a graphic EQ for sound customization. Also, the Sony supports stereo content and has longer battery life.
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. With its default settings and BassUp feature enabled, the Anker has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has excellent directivity, resulting in a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. That said, the Sony is better-built, and can be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is a better speaker out-of-the-box than the Sony SRS-XB23. The Bose is capable of reproducing more low-bass and has a more even treble range. Its battery lasts longer too. However, the Sony has a companion app that offers a graphic EQ so you can tweak its sound to your liking. It also has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test this, and it can be used in a stereo or mono mode.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker for outdoor use than the JBL Clip 4. The Sony has better controls and a better-balanced sound profile. Since it's a 360-degree speaker, it can reproduce a wider soundstage. It also has a better battery life and you can use your smartphone's voice assistant with it. It even has an app with a graphic EQ so that you can tweak its sound to your liking.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve II is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23 overall. The Bose does has better voice assistant performance than the Sony, and has no trouble understanding you from far away, and in noisy environments. It also has a more neutral and well-balanced sound profile in comparison to that of the Sony out-of-the-box. However, you can customize the Sony's sound thanks to the Graphic EQ feature available on its companion app. It can also play stereo content, resulting in a more immersive soundstage.
The Sony SRS-RA3000 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23, though they have different strengths. The SRS-RA3000 is a wired speaker designed for home use, with a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box and an incredible soundstage performance. It can also get louder than the SRS-XB23, with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. That said, the SRS-XB23 is battery-powered, making it more portable than the SRS-RA3000. It also is better-built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a better speaker than the DOSS SoundBox Plus. The Sony is better-built. Its default sound profile is more neutral, and it has a better soundstage. Also, its graphic EQ allows for greater sound customization. However, the DOSS has less compression with played at max volume, and its voice assistant performance is better.