The Sony SRS-XG500 is a well-built portable speaker with an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outdoors with you without needing to worry about it getting a bit wet. It can get quite loud, making it suitable to use at parties, and even has a few party features, including a mic/guitar input and customizable RGB lights around its passive radiators. With its ClearAudio+ and 'MEGA BASS' features enabled, it offers a somewhat boomy sound, though it struggles to reproduce the deep thump and rumble in low-bass that fans of bass-heavy music tend to enjoy. Thankfully, its companion app features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound to your liking. Unfortunately, there's some compression at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clear at louder volumes.
Our Verdict
The Sony SRS-XG500 is alright for music. With its 'MEGA BASS' preset enabled and its ClearAudio+ feature turned on, it has a somewhat boomy sound profile. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce the deep thump and rumble in low-bass that's typically present in bass-heavy music, and its underemphasized treble range can make higher-pitched voices and lead instruments sound dull and veiled. Fortunately, its companion app features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.
- Can get loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Compression artifacts present at max volume.
- Middling directivity.
The Sony SRS-XG500 is passable for videos and movies. With its ClearAudio+ and 'MEGA BASS' features enabled, it has a somewhat boomy sound profile. However, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes. Also, while it can get pretty loud, there's some compression at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clean during louder listening sessions. That said, it has low latency with iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching videos and movies, though some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary.
- Can get loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Compression artifacts present at max volume.
- Middling directivity.
The Sony SRS-XG500 is decent for podcasts. With its 'MEGA BASS' preset enabled and its ClearAudio+ feature turned on, it has a relatively balanced mid-range, so voices and dialogue are clearly and accurately reproduced. That said, the underemphasized treble range can make higher-pitched voices sound dull and veiled. It also has disappointing directivity, so audio doesn't sound as clear from all angles. However, you can pair the XG500 to two devices at once, which is handy if you need to switch between audio sources.
- Can get loud.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Compression artifacts present at max volume.
- Middling directivity.
The Sony SRS-XG500 doesn't support voice assistants.
The Sony SRS-XG500 is very good for outdoor use. This well-built portable Bluetooth speaker is rated IP66 for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outdoors with you without needing to worry about it getting a bit wet. It can last over 25 hours from a single charge, though this varies depending on your usage habits, and chosen volume levels. Additionally, it can get pretty loud, making it suitable to use at large parties. Unfortunately, there's some compression at max volume, so your audio doesn't sound as clean at louder volumes.
- Can get loud.
- IP66 rating for dust and water resistance.
- Mic/guitar input.
- Compression artifacts present at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've added a comparison between this speaker and the Sony ULT FIELD 7 in Frequency Response Accuracy.
- Updated Mar 11, 2024: Based on user feedback, we've tested how changing the EQ preset would affect the sound profile and added a graph to better demonstrate this.
- Updated Jan 05, 2023: Updated the results for Bluetooth version to 5.0.
- Updated Oct 21, 2022: Added a comparison to the JBL Boombox 3 in the 'Style' box.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony SRS-XG500 only comes in one color variant: Black. you can find the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across other variants of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sony SRS-XG500 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that can get pretty loud, making it suitable for parties. It has a couple of party features like customizable RGB lights, and unlike the smaller Sony SRS-XG300, it comes with a mic/guitar input to wire external instruments to the speaker. It also has a built-in carrying handle similar to that of the JBL Boombox 2. Much like many Sony speakers we've tested, it comes with a ClearAudio+ feature that adjusts the speaker's sound according to your chosen audio. You can even use its USB ports to charge your devices or to play your music from a USB key. Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of compression at max volume, which affects the clarity of your audio during louder listening sessions.
See our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The Sony SRS-XG500 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3 overall. The Sony can get a bit louder with slightly less compression present at max volume. It has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 26 hours, and you can connect an external guitar or microphone to the speaker. It also has a boomy sound profile with the MEGA BASS feature on that can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL. That said, the JBL is smaller, making it more portable. Its sound profile is also better-balanced out of the box.
The Sony SRS-XG500 is a better overall speaker than the Sony SRS-XB43. The XG500 can get louder than the XB43 and has a somewhat wider-sounding soundstage. It also has a much longer battery life, lasting over 25 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage. That said, the XB43 is smaller, more portable than the XG500, and supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great.
The Sony ULT FIELD 7 is essentially a revamped version of the Sony SRS-XG500. While the design essence remains the same, and both speakers feature IP67 ratings and karaoke features, there have been some upgrades that give the newer speaker an edge. It has a more balanced sound profile overall, with two toggleable levels of bass enhancement via the 'ULT' button. The ULT FIELD 7 can get louder, too, though there's more compression than the SRS-XG500 as you turn the volume up. Beyond this though, there aren't too many benefits to picking up the newer edition. The ULT FIELD 7 has a shorter continuous battery life and higher latency with iOS and Android devices, so if you can find the SRS-XG500 in stock or on sale, it could represent better value for you.
The Sony SRS-XG300 is a more versatile speaker than the Sony SRS-XG500 overall. You can use the XG300 to answer and reject phone calls, and it supports voice assistants through your smartphone. It's smaller and lighter too, making it more portable. That said, if you're looking for a portable speaker to bring to your next party, the XG500 is the better choice. It can produce a slightly more extended low-bass and comes with mic and guitar inputs you can use to wire your external instruments to the speaker. It also has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 26 hours from a single charge, so the speaker doesn't die on you in the middle of your party.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
