Even the smallest Bluetooth speaker can prove to be a great value. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been testing Sony’s $59.99 XB100. This is the most portable option in the company’s lineup. It’s small enough to fit in your car’s cup holder. Shorter than a soda can, it’s so light that it barely weighs you in your backpack or tote. And despite its small footprint, the XB100 manages to produce a crisp sound with plenty of bass. It sounds exactly where you would expect the XB100 to struggle.
The overall design is very similar to Sony’s previous XB13, but the textured exterior finish and intended Sony logo make it easier to grip and look classier than its predecessor. A detachable fabric strap makes the speaker versatile, giving you a variety of options for hanging it somewhere or hooking it securely to your bike’s handlebars. Sony offers some striking colors, including the blue unit I reviewed and the bold orange version. You can also opt for black or light gray if you don’t have fun. The included USB-C charging cable is short, about a foot long, but you probably have longer cords around your house for other devices by now.
The XB100 delivers up to 16 hours of continuous battery life and is IP67 rated for dust and water resistance. The USB-C charging port is protected by a rubber flap with five buttons on the left for power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause and volume control. The buttons have a tactile tactile feel to them, so there is little chance of accidentally pressing them. Sony also says the speakers have a UV coating to further protect them from the elements (and hopefully prevent the vibrant colors from fading over time). . Sony also supports fast pairing for his Android devices. This is a nice little feature considering the price.
Inside the speaker is an off-center diaphragm designed to enhance clarity throughout the volume range. And then there’s the “sound diffusion processor,” which the company claims helps spread the XB100’s audio beyond its diminutive size. The internal layout is very simple. Sony combines a passive radiator with a mono speaker. Unlike the company’s higher-end Bluetooth devices, his EQ customization isn’t available on his $60 XB100 from the Sony Music mobile app. But it’s a very compact speaker, so I’m not sure if fiddling with the EQ would make much of a difference. Either you like the default sound profile or you don’t.
In my case, I was pleasantly surprised that this little thing was possible. You’ll hear the best bass response when you put the XB100 on a table, but even when suspended from a fence at an outdoor birthday party, the speakers maintain a good amount of bass impact and never feel flimsy or bland. It didn’t make any noise. Since this is a small sized mono driver, you can hear the usual artifacts that clutter up stereo tracks. Some elements of the song can sound quieter, leaving less room for the instruments to breathe. But those are just physical realities, and the XB100 at least focuses on clarity and a pleasing sound signature for its small size.
It’s loud enough to fill a small gathering or home office with music, but clearly Sony’s diminutive speaker can’t compete with its larger, more dynamic competitors. If you own a JBL Charge 5, Bose SoundLink Flex, or Sonos Roam, nothing compares. At least for stereo playback he has the option to pair two of his XB100s, allowing for better isolation than a single unit, and conveniently this can be done without the help of the Sony app. You can do it directly from your device.
It baffles me that so many Bluetooth speakers, even the expensive ones, lack speakerphone functionality. But the XB100 has it, and Sony added some echo cancellation algorithms to keep conversations clear even when people are talking to each other. Being able to chat with the caller even when your phone is tucked in your bag at an outdoor picnic or charging in another room is a really convenient option. The speakerphone works very well as long as you’re careful to keep the built-in mic pointing in your direction.
If you’re looking for a simple Bluetooth speaker for travel or hotel rooms that’s guaranteed to sound better than your phone, the XB100 is an easy pick. Hikers don’t have to worry about it because it’s so durable that they can take it anywhere. The battery life is good enough for a quiet park outing or an afternoon reading in the backyard. I don’t want to spend $100 on something like this. But at $59.99, I think it’s a fair amount for what the XB100 offers. Even if you upgrade to a bigger, more powerful (and smarter) Bluetooth speaker in the future, I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep using this charming little speaker.
Photo: Chris Welch/The Verge
