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.
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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 and the Sony SRS-XP500 are both versatile speakers, but depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The XP500 is a big party speaker with flashing RGB lights as well as mic and guitar inputs for karaoke. It reproduces a touch more bass, too. However, it's not as portable as the XG500, and its battery life doesn't last as long. Plus, it doesn't get quite as loud. If you want a party speaker with all the bells and whistles, check out the XP500, but if you prefer a more portable option, the XG500 is a really solid pick.
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.
The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XG500, though this depends on your listening habits. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box and can produce a deeper low bass than the Sony. It can also get louder, with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. However, the Sony is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It's also better built with an IP66 rating for dust and water resistance and has a longer-lasting battery life.
Test Results
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