The Sony SRS-XE300 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a similar pentagonal design to the Sony SRS-XE200. However, it's a bit larger, leaving more room to produce a bit more bass. This portable stereo speaker is well-built and comes with Sony's 'ClearAudio+' feature, which the manufacturer advertises to adjust the speaker's sound according to the audio that it plays. It's compatible with the Sony Music Center and Fiestable apps which you can use to access features like a graphic EQ and sound effects. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, which is great if you like to rely on them for support.
Our Verdict
The Sony SRS-XE300 is alright for music. With its 'ClearAudio+' feature turned on, this stereo speaker has a boomy sound profile that adds extra bass to the mix. The rest of its range is fairly balanced, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix, though higher-pitched voices and instruments sound dull at times. You can customize its sound profile thanks to the graphic EQ in its companion app. That said, like most speakers its size, it lacks a thumpy and rumbling low bass. Since it projects audio in one main direction, it also has disappointing directivity, resulting in a soundstage that you'll perceive as narrow and directional.
- Graphic EQ.
- Gets decently loud.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Narrow and directional soundstage.
The Sony SRS-XE300 isn't bad for watching videos and movies. It has low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, so there aren't any syncing issues between the audio you hear and the visuals you see on the screen when using the speaker to watch videos. Some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary. Unfortunately, you'll perceive its soundstage as narrow and directional-sounding since the speaker projects audio in one main direction, so audio doesn't sound as clear when listening from different angles. Despite its boomy sound profile, like most speakers its size, it also lacks low bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed movie scenes.
- Gets decently loud.
- Low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Narrow and directional soundstage.
The Sony SRS-XE300 is decent for podcasts. It's incredibly portable, so you can easily bring your favorite podcasts and audiobooks with you from room to room. With its 'ClearAudio+' feature enabled, it has a balanced mid-range that ensures voices and dialogue reproduce clearly and accurately in the mix. However, higher-pitched voices and sounds sound a bit veiled at times. Fortunately, you can tweak its sound profile to your liking, thanks to the graphic EQ in its companion app. That said, since it projects audio in one main direction, your audio doesn't sound as clear when listening from different angles, like from behind the speaker. Also, while it gets decently loud, there's a lot of compression present at max volume that degrades the quality of your audio at louder volume levels.
- Graphic EQ.
- Incredibly portable.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Narrow and directional soundstage.
Since the Sony SRS-XE300 doesn't have any built-in voice assistants, meaning it uses those available on your paired smartphone. Unlike other Sony speakers we've tested, it does an excellent job of registering your commands when you're far away from the speaker and when you're in noisier environments. That said, there's a lot of compression that degrades audio quality at max volume, so your assistants' voice doesn't sound as clear when the volume maxes out. Also, since the speaker projects audio in one main direction, you don't hear your assistant's voice as clearly from different angles, like when you're behind the speaker.
- Excellent far-field and ambient noise performance.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Narrow and directional soundstage.
- Voice assistants aren't built-in.
The Sony SRS-XE300 is very good for outdoor use. It's well-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance that certifies it to be dust tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes, so you can bring your favorite tunes with you to the pool without needing to worry about it getting wet. Its long-lasting battery life of almost 17 hours means you don't need to charge it very frequently, and it's great for longer-listening sessions spent outdoors. Its small and lightweight design makes it incredibly portable, so you can easily bring it when you're out and about. That said, while it gets decently loud, there's a lot of compression present at max volume that degrades the quality of your audio at louder volume levels.
- Graphic EQ.
- Gets decently loud.
- IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Incredibly portable.
- A lot of compression at max volume.
- Narrow and directional soundstage.
Changelog
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Updated Jun 02, 2025:
The Frequency Response Accuracy box was updated to mention the Sony ULT FIELD 3.
- Updated Aug 17, 2023: Updated the Portability picture for greater clarity and consistency between reviews.
- Updated Aug 19, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Aug 12, 2022: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XE300 comes in three color variants: Black, Blue, and Light Gray. This review represents the test results for the Black variant, though all variants are expected to perform similarly. You can find the label for the model tested here.
If you come across other variants of the Sony SRS-XE300, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony SRS-XE300 is a larger version of the Sony SRS-XE200. It performs slightly better overall. With its 'ClearAudio+' feature enabled, it has a boomy sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than the XE200. It's compatible with Sony's 'Fiestable' app, which lets you access extra sound effects of the speaker. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 17 hours from a single charge, but it doesn't come with a carrying strap like the XE200. If you already own the XE200, it isn't worth the upgrade. If you can afford it in your budget from the get-go, The XE300 performs better overall.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and the best outdoor speakers.
The Sony SRS-XE300 and the JBL Charge 5 are similar speakers with different strengths. While the JBL offers better overall sound quality, the Sony is more versatile. The JBL has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage, while the Sony's sounds a bit more muffled. It also has a bit less compression present at max volume, so audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. Its sound profile is also more balanced and a bit smaller, making it easier to transport. However, the Sony can produce slightly deeper bass, and its battery life lasts almost three hours longer. It supports voice assistants through your smartphone too. Also, it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a richer and fuller sound. However, it's hard to notice the channel separation when passively listening due to the speaker's size.
The Sony SRS-XE300 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XE200 overall. The XE300 offers a more balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass. It gets a bit louder with significantly less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 17 hours from a single charge. That said, the XE200 is a bit smaller and comes with a removable carrying strap, making it more portable and easier to bring along with you on the go. If you already own the XE200, it isn't worth the upgrade. If you can afford to stretch your budget from the get-go, The XE300 performs better overall.
The Sony ULT FIELD 3 is a speaker from the newer generation ULT Power Sound line, while the Sony SRS-XE300 belongs to a prior generation. If you care about getting a balanced sound, the ULT FIELD 3 is the obvious choice. It has a more prominent low-end, with a very even treble range. By contrast, the SRS-XE300 boosts the high-bass to compensate for a lack of low-bass and rolls off the highs, for a muffled sound. The older speaker can playback stereo content without downmixing to mono, though, and it can also get louder. Otherwise, the two speakers boast very similar features and performance, with well-built designs, reasonably long battery lives, and rudimentary voice assistant integration.
The Sony SRS-XE300 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43, but not by much. The XE300 can produce a slightly more extended low bass and has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 17 hours, as opposed to the XB43's 15 hours. It can vary depending on your usage and chosen settings, though. When connected to the voice assistants from your smartphone, it does a much better job of registering your commands. Its soundstage is slightly less directional-sounding, but not by much. It's also smaller and more portable. That said, the XB43 gets a touch louder with slightly less compression at max volume. It also comes with RGB lights which you can customize via Sony's 'Fiestable' app.
Test Results
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