Customer Ratings & Reviews

I recently had the opportunity to try out the Sony SRS-XE200 Portable X-Series Bluetooth Speaker in black, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. This compact speaker delivers impressive sound quality and a host of convenient features that make it a great choice for music lovers on the go. First and foremost, the sound produced by this speaker is outstanding. Despite its small size, the SRS-XE200 delivers clear, rich audio with impressive bass response. The sound is well-balanced, and I was pleasantly surprised by the speaker's ability to fill a room with immersive sound. Whether I was listening to my favorite tracks or streaming a podcast, the audio quality was consistently excellent. The Bluetooth connectivity of the SRS-XE200 is seamless and hassle-free. Pairing my devices with the speaker was quick and easy, and I experienced no issues with dropouts or signal loss during usage. The speaker also has a decent wireless range, allowing me to move around without losing the connection. The portability of this speaker is a major highlight. It is lightweight and compact, making it ideal for taking on the go. I appreciated the built-in rechargeable battery, which provided several hours of playback time on a single charge. Additionally, the speaker's sleek design and black color give it a modern and stylish look that blends well with any decor. Another useful feature of the SRS-XE200 is the built-in microphone, which allows for hands-free calling. I found this particularly convenient when receiving calls while playing music. The speaker automatically switches to call mode, and the microphone picked up my voice clearly without any distortion. One minor drawback is the lack of water resistance, so it's important to keep the speaker away from water or moisture. Additionally, while the overall sound quality is excellent, audiophiles may desire slightly more nuanced audio performance. In conclusion, the Sony SRS-XE200 Portable X-Series Bluetooth Speaker is a top-notch device that delivers impressive sound quality, ease of use, and portability. Its sleek design and reliable Bluetooth connectivity make it a fantastic option for those who want to enjoy high-quality audio on the go. I highly recommend this speaker to anyone in search of a compact and reliable Bluetooth speaker. Rating: 4.5/5

This speaker is a game-changer. Not only does it deliver crystal-clear sound quality, but its waterproof and dustproof features make it perfect for outdoor adventures or poolside parties. I was amazed by how long the battery lasted on a single charge, giving me uninterrupted music enjoyment for hours on end. Whether I'm hiking, camping, or just relaxing at home, the Sony XE200 speaker has become my go-to companion for immersive sound experiences. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a portable speaker that delivers exceptional performance and reliability.

Audio is one of my favorite things, but it last how many hours it's supposed to, I’ve been abusing it at work; is loud enough and the sound is soooo clear, I enjoy it every second

Not disappointed! Sound quality is amazing, battery life is everlasting, and it’s as loud and as quiet as you need! I go lay out by the pool and take my speaker with me quite enough where I can have it next to me and it’s not bothering the people a few chairs down! I can even hear this when I vacuum lol And my vacuum is so loud! just 10/10!

Would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a portable speaker to take anywhere. Speaker has great sound quality, long lasting battery, and charges fast for whatever occasion you need it.

It’s an average speaker for me. Sound is good and clear. App is neat and equalizer offers a few options but doesn’t seem to make any difference for me. No real bass. Overall an average speaker. I don’t feel like I’m getting 17hrs of battery life, but that could also be due to me using volume loud. I love Sony products, but for price point this one didn’t deliver and my own fault for settling.

Very good speaker for price, battery life is long and good quality

Great product had it for a few years now still has great sound

Sound great and is cery loud. Sound crystal clear exceeds my expectations

Speaker worked great. Two different wedding parties used it on a bus on their way to the reception. Portable, and the battery lasts.

I just love this item. It plays very well and very simple to use. Very easy to set up. Highly recommended. Use it for a spa.

The Sony SRS-XE200 Portable Bluetooth speaker is the smallest in the new line of Sony’s Bluetooth category. There are some new technologies that make this XE200 a real winner. It is more than capable holding its own with a small size and technical advances in Bluetooth digital music. General Information It comes in 4 colors to suite your personality: Orange, Blue, Black and Light Grey (I have the black color version). The Sony SRS-XE200 has a carry strap, great surface grip; a quick charging battery can answer phone calls. A 10-minute charge gave me 70-minutes of play time. When the XE200 is fully you charged up you get an astounding 16 hours! I only charged the XE200 every other day. It is nice not to be tied to battery capacity. Receiving phone calls are not a problem, but the issue for me is the mic. You can hear the person on the other side, but for them to hear you, I had to take the XE200 put up against my face! That seemed to be the only way I was able to communicate via the calling feature. Water is not a problem. The SonyXE200 is splash proof with a rating of IP67. This means that you should not dunk it in the water, but a splash of water won’t bother the speaker. The next feature for the XE200 is the fact it is dust proof! When the XE200 is at the beach, don’t worry about sand. The XE200 will take care of your overall performance from any sand getting into the unit. Line-Shape Diffuser The “Line-Shape Diffuser” allows the listener to get the same first row sound, but from the sides of the XE200 Bluetooth speaker. While it’s not a full 180-degree angle of front row sound, it’s pretty close. Turning the speaker slowly around in a circle, you will be able to hear the difference. I thought this was interesting and just a great idea because everyone wants to hear the quality music as best as possible. I found that this tech really spread the music around a broader area, rounding out the front part of the XE200 speaker. It is for real and is ideal for a small group setting for background listening enjoyment. It is just the right size not to take over a group but to blend in the surroundings providing a soundtrack for whatever you are doing; hanging out, games, fire pit gatherings, or even just wanting to hear music together. The XE200 does a beautiful job of this. X-Balanced The “X-Balanced” speaker tech also allows for a more enjoyable sound because of its “Non-Circular Diaphragm.” Most Bluetooth speakers are round. The XE200 speakers are not circular, they are more of an oblong shape. What does this mean? The pressure created works as hard as it can to produce a larger sound from a smaller speaker “without distortion.” I thought the “X-Balanced “(even the speaker has a cloth material surrounding it in the shape of an X) worked really well in aiding with more output and greater sound from a smaller footprint Bluetooth speaker. Dual passive radiators don’t hurt the sound either! They use the pressure inside the speaker to move the passive radiators making the sound scope of the XE200 deeper and wider. Sony App (pt I) You will want to download the accompanying “Sony Music App.” Why? It’s a cinch to do it and it provides a customizable EQ for the high/mid/low levels. I loved this feature. With different music I adjusted the EQ for maximum quality sound depending on the genre. In the App, this enabled the option to choose the preset “Clear Audio +”. It is simply a preprogrammed EQ from the App. The App also allows for connecting to other Sony speakers (certain speakers listed in the App) for true stereo sound. I listened to songs from Pop, Rock, Metal, Alt, Jazz, Blues, Rockabilly and Classical music genres through the XE200. I found that the XE200 performed its best with music associated with mid to high bandwidth. Jazz, Classical, some pop & rock and blues sounded really well rounded in the mid to high music. Low pitched volume is just not in the cards for the XE200 because of its size. It is also important to note, that you can crank up the volume with “no distortion”! The XE200 definitely got louder not necessarily more dynamic, but hey, it’s a smaller size Bluetooth speaker. It did still sound great! Sony App (pt II) Along with the Sony Music App’s customizable EQ, there is a Spotify choice for your music or a selection from a source on your phone, computer or laptop that has MP3 files on it. You can also choose from several types of “Connection types.” There were several to choose from, but I chose the “sound quality” option which made a difference in the way the XE200 showcased music. Another unique and very helpful guide to the XE200 Bluetooth speaker was the “voice.’ It spoke when I paired the XE200, battery life or turning it on/off. I also choose the “Stand by” feature that turns off the XE200 when there is no activity for 15 minutes. Just the “right” size It is on the cusp of being just a little bit bigger and weighing a little than some micro speakers, but I still enjoyed the XE200 on my morning walks. I found the size, weight, grip material, carrying strap and overall sound to work very well. It is a tough speaker (shock proof actually), because when I dropped it - nothing broke or was damaged in any way! Perfect! I had no issues (weighs only a 1 lb) and was pleased to have some music with me when I walked 2-3 miles every day (I always kept the volume low - as not to disturb other people). I also liked to listen to the XE200 at night. I had the volume turned down to a low setting, kept the speaker close and bothered no one. I do that about every night! The size of the XE200 is great because it leaves a small footprint but offers a robust sound. Sometimes I go in my bedroom and the speaker is on, but I cannot tell where the sound is coming from. What a great use of tech to build such a ‘wide sound stage”. Take your music with you or listen to it at home. Fine tune it with the App wherever you go. The Sony SRS-XE200 portable Bluetooth speaker checks all the right boxes for quality, features, durability and most importantly sound.

nice speaker. great for music and shows but pretty atrocious for gaming

## Design The Sony SRS-XE200 speaker has a new, unique design where it is not obvious where the actual speakers are located. Instead, Sony is using a new “line-shape diffuser” on this speaker which helps distribute the sound more evenly around the speaker. The speaker has a modern design with a mostly plastic exterior and some fabric accents behind it, that for some reason makes me think of the Cybertruck when I see it. Aside from some small LED indicator lights, there are no “party lights” on the XE200 as compared to something like Sony’s SRS-XB32. There is a carrying strap attached to the speaker that is almost too long as it sometimes gets in the way of setting the speaker down on a flat surface. Towards the back of the speaker, you’ll find the power button, Bluetooth button, play/pause button, volume buttons, battery status button, and (not found on many Bluetooth speaker) a dedicated mute button for the microphone. The USB-C charging port can be found under the flap on the back of the speaker. ## Performance Coming from the Sony SRS-XB32 speaker, I did notice that the bass is not as strong on the XE200 out of the box. However, you can increase (or decrease) the bass (or mids or treble) through the equalizer in Sony’s Music Center app, but there is no dedicated “bass boost” function. Still, sound quality is great and the speaker gets loud enough to fill a medium to large-ish sized room, making it great for indoor or outdoor social gatherings. The new Line-Shape Diffuser does indeed help distribute the sound from the speaker to not only directly in front of the speaker, but to the sides of the speaker as well. So you don’t need to be sitting exactly in front of the speaker to get the best sound. ## Features Line-Shape Diffuser: Looking at the speaker, you’ll see a narrow fabric area on the front between larger plastic panels. If you’re like me, you would think this would limit the sound coming out of the speaker, but it instead helps spread the sound out to about 60-70 degrees on either side. Battery Care feature: This isn’t on by default, but in Sony’s Music Center app, you can enable the Battery Care feature to limit charging to about 90%. This helps prolong the lifespan of the speaker’s battery because, like our smartphones, we should not keep lithium batteries charged to 100% all of the time. You can, of course, disable this feature if you do indeed want the battery at 100% for a long camping trip, for example. IP67 water and dust resistance: This speaker is ideal for travel or using pool-side with its IP67 rating, so you don’t need to worry about splashes, sand, or dust (just make sure to keep the charging port closed tightly). Echo Canceling microphone: You can also use this speaker for work calls as it has an echo canceling microphone. In testing the speaker in an empty room by recording myself, I did indeed notice that the speaker seemed to eliminate any echo from my voice as long as I was facing the front of the speaker directly. ## Battery Life The speaker can achieve up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, and uses a common USB-C cable for recharging. A quick 10 minute charge can get you just over an hour of playback time when time is of the essence. As noted above, you can enable the Battery Care feature in the Sony Music Center app to help prolong the lifespan ## Summary The Sony SRS-XE200 speaker is an ideal outdoor musical companion thanks to its great sound quality and IP67 water and dust resistance. The speaker can also be used as a speakerphone for work calls with its echo canceling microphone.

The Sony XE200 is one of Sony’s latest Bluetooth portable speakers. This speaker boasts a “line shaped diffuser and X-balanced speakers” to provide a wide sound stage. In addition, this speaker keeps the IP67 rating that many of Sony’s portage speaker provide. After using this speaker, it leaves much to be desired. In The Box: - XE200 Speaker - USB to USB-C Charging Cable - Manuals/Quick Start Guide Setup: Out of the box setup is a breeze if you already have the Sony Music Center App. Open this up with the speaker powered on and the app finds the speaker immediately. Once you go through the few screens to register your speaker, it’s ready to go! If you want to pair this via Bluetooth, you can do this too by going through your devices Bluetooth settings and finding the XE200. Either method is very simple. Since this speaker supports BT 5.2, this allows you to enable faster connecting/pairing with supported devices. I would recommend using the Sony app so you can get the most out of this speaker in terms of setting, EQ, and power options. The speaker has dedicated buttons on the side for most tasks but this doesn’t allow EQ adjustment. Speaking of the buttons, they are very tactile and are easy to read/use. You’ll find buttons for power On/Off, BT Pairing, Play/Pause/Phone, Volume Up/Down, and Battery Saver? and Mute Mic. The speaker design is fairly nice with a flap on the back for USB-C charging. The cloth strap feels robust and the overall build quality seems up to Sony standards. Here is where the disappointment starts. Sound Quality: Given I have had MANY encounters with Sony portable speakers over the years along with headphones of all types, I had an expectation with this speaker. Well, this is the first time that expectation was not met and actually I would go as far to say this has a disappointing sound quality. Now let me preface this with the fact that I understand this is not part of their XB series speakers which offer Extra Bass but even given this fact, the speaker sounds extra flat. I have tried EQ adjustments and different streaming methods with no avail. The speaker holds pretty true to Sony’s claims of very little distortion but as the volume exceeds that 60% threshold or so the speaker loses what little bass it has. The speaker volume is acceptable although I would say it’s not overly loud but because this is their entry level X series product it more than acceptable in that department. Because sound quality did not meet my expectations (and is the primary function of speaker like this) I would highly recommend looking at Sony’s XB series. The XB33 is right around the same price and should offer sound just like my XB31 which is far superior sounding. The only downside is it might be missing a few features this speaker has but offers others that this one doesn’t have. It’s a tradeoff. Features: The XE200 has enhanced microphone technology called “Echo Cancelling Technology”. This allows two people to talk at the same time without cutting one of them off. It also has multipoint connection to allow two devices to connect at the same time. The microphones seemed to perform fine in my testing with the device. The speaker features quick charging capabilities and battery care. There is a setting to limit charging to 90% of capacity in hopes of the battery lasting longer. I turned this on because 90% of the 16hr claimed battery life is plenty for me as I always charge up before 0%. The quick charge gives you 70 minutes of playback in just 10 minutes of charging. The IP67 rating means this speaker is dust and water proof and offers shock resistance. The carrying strap should help with transportation as does the small size. Overall: This was the first Sony product I can recall in many years to not meet my expectations in sound quality. Even though this is the entry level speaker in this lineup, it doesn’t compare to the similarly priced XB33 in terms of sound quality. When you compare those two speakers, the size, weight, and price are so close that I would happily loose one or two features for better low end sound quality. Hopefully this helps anyone looking into the XE200 that might want some low end tones in their portable speaker. The XE200 just doesn’t offer that like the XB series even in the same size speaker. Pros: - Compact, light - Design, Build Quality - Buttons, Carrying Strap - IP67 Rating - Microphones - BT 5.2 Connectivity Cons: - Sounds Extremely Flat (Even for it’s size) - No Reverse Charging (Powerbank function)

The Sony XE200 wireless portable Bluetooth speaker is a major update to Sony’s line of compact Bluetooth speakers. It is a surprisingly powerful unit with very nice sound quality and some great bonus features. Compared to the alternatives available it is one of the best values on the market. This year Sony once again upgraded its popular line of wireless Bluetooth speakers with a family of three new units: XE200, XE300 and XG300. These have some similar features (Line Shape Diffuser, Live Sound mode, water and dust proof case, inter-speaker connectivity, lighting effects) but differ in speaker size, battery life and price. The largest (XG300) is 12.6 inches long, weighs 6.1 pounds and has two 60 x 70 mm speakers plus two tweeters. The midsize (XE300) is 9.4 inches long, weighs 2.1 pounds and has two 49 x 71 mm speakers. The smallest (XE200) is 8.2 inches long, weighs 1.7 pounds and has two 42 x 51 mm speakers. The XG300 costs about 1.75 times the XE300 and the XE200 costs about 65% the XE300’s price. There are advantages to each but this review will concentrate on the XE200. Sony is one of the largest consumer electronic companies in the world. It began in 1946 as an electronics shop but soon began producing its own products, starting with tape recorders and transistor radios in the mid-1950s. Sony built a reputation for quality and introduced many innovations in portable audio, including the Walkman in 1979, the CD disc in 1983, flash memory for audio and video in 1998 and the Blu-ray HD disc in 2000. Its consumer audio products including stereo component systems, speakers and headphones are very well-regarded for quality and features. Here is a summary of the key features: • Sony Wireless Line Shape Diffuser Speaker – Model SRS-XE200 • X-Balanced Line Shape Diffuser distributes sound evenly and across a wider area • Bluetooth Version 5.2 supports SBC/AAC/LDAC codecs, multi-point connections • Two 42 x 51 mm speakers plus two passive radiators generate deep bass notes • Frequency response: 100 – 10,000 Hz, less than 1% total harmonic distortion • Built-in microphone with echo-cancelling technology for phone conversations • Voice guidance for primary functions (Bluetooth connection, battery, phone calls) • Power, Bluetooth access, Volume, MIcrophone and Stamina (battery saver) controls on speaker • Sony Music Center app provides additional controls • Water-proof, dust-proof (IPX67) • Shock-resistant up to four feet drop on plywood • Easy-clean silicon and silicon-infused fabric surfaces • Up to 16 hours of listening time on full charge (which requires 4 hours) • 70 minutes of playing time from 10 minute quick charge • USB-C power connection port behind waterproof seal • Acceptable operating temperature range: 41 – 95 degrees F • Dimensions: 8.2 inch height, 3.7 inch depth, 3.5 inch width; Weight: 1.7 pounds • Includes USB-C cable, carrying strap, quick start guide, full instructions • One year warranty on parts and labor After extensive testing of the Sony XE200 speaker in a wide variety of applications my conclusion is that this very compact unit has a superb combination of features, power and sound quality which surpass the vast majority of its competitors in its price range. The XE200 differs in a few respects from the older XB generation of Bluetooth speakers. The most prominent change is the vertical (vs. horizontal) orientation. Sony is utilizing a new technology – a line shape diffuser with X-balanced speakers. It is slightly larger and the exterior has a fabric grill surface over the front speaker area. The speaker has a pentagonal shape which reflects the X-balanced speakers inside. The speaker is designed to be placed in a vertical position with the line shape diffuser projecting sound out in a semi-circle from the front of the speaker. You can switch the speaker from mono mode to stereo mode using the Sony Music Center app, if you want to use it in a horizontal position. But if you do so, the stereo separation isn’t that pronounced and you will lose some of the benefits of the line diffuser. The sound produced by this speaker is distortion-free and steady at both low and very high volumes. The twin speakers are larger than their predecessors and use the passive radiators to produce substantial bass power. Within the Music Center app are equalizer controls for bass, mid-range and treble enhancement. However, the default Sony settings really seemed to produce the best result for most music, especially vocals, jazz and rock. You will not get studio reference sound from this compact speaker (the lack of clarity in its highs notes confirms its stated 100 – 10,000 Hz speaker range) but it is clearly on a par with other compact portable Bluetooth speakers at its price point. What you will get is that expected Sony quality and reliability, plus nice bonus features like durability, long battery life, strong bass response and the ability to connect to other Sony speakers. The 5.2 Bluetooth connection process was effortless and solid from every device I tried (phone, tablet, laptop). The connection was very stable up to about 45 feet from my music source. One nice bonus feature is the ability to connect a chain of multiple Sony speakers which can extend your music throughout a large home or provide multiple sound sources in the same room. If you add a second XE200 you can use the Music Center to define them as left and right stereo outputs and greatly enhance the effective sound stage. Another use for the speaker is to create a high quality speaker phone by linking it to your phone – much better sound than using your phone’s tiny speakers for conversations. The built-in microphone was very effective for this purpose and has echo-cancelling capability to improve the audio quality. You can feel very comfortable taking this sturdy speaker to the beach or any outdoor activity. It has a rating of IXP67 which means that it is completely dustproof and waterproof for up to 30 minutes in three feet of water. It has also been designed to resist damage from drops of up to 4 feet. The carrying strap is a nice length for hooking it onto your bike, backpack or just looping it over your arm. I mentioned that this speaker is one of a set of three new speakers from Sony. Which one should you buy? Well, if you are willing to spend the price of the XE300, consider buying two of these XE200 speakers instead, for just slightly more. You will then have a much richer auditory environment by placing two of these speakers in your room or in your outdoor venue than you would have from a single XE300. The sound quality will be about the same but having a pair of XE200 speakers gives you many more options. The bottom line on this sturdy, waterproof speaker is that is provides excellent sound quality from a very compact body at a very affordable price. I endorse it without reservation!

As one of the best-known Japanese technology brands in the world, Sony’s vast product portfolio encompasses all sorts of highly-renowned electronics from top-of-the-line TVs to $20 corded headphones. It comes as no surprise that Sony was among the earliest to market with bluetooth-compatible boomboxes, later evolving into the ubiquitous bluetooth speakers we see everywhere today. The SRSXE200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is their latest offering in the segment, acting as the entry level item among multiple new bluetooth speakers in the X-Series range. Despite its diminutive size, the SRSXE200 brings room-filling audio and power that’s as at home on the nightstand as it is next to the pool. As with any review of audio equipment, my impressions of sound quality will be subjective. I’ve tried to present them as objectively as possible, but in any case, I highly recommend demoing the speaker in-person at your nearest Best Buy prior to purchase. - Unboxing and Setup Shipped in recycled cardboard with a cloth covering on the speaker and instruction pamphlets kept to a minimum, I applaud Sony’s choice of eco-conscious packaging here. All items are recyclable, which is a welcome sight to see. The SRSXE200 is covered in soft-touch rubber and a cloth mesh, with the only opening being a small door that covers the USB-C charging port. This helps ensure it survives splashes or brief jaunts into the water, meeting the IP67 water-resistance rating. The speaker is pretty weighty at about 2 pounds - it’s far from the lightest speaker I’ve used but it feels very solid as a result. Buttons are clearly labeled and integrated into the soft-touch rubber - there’s a premium feel to the device overall. Setup is as straightforward as can be - hold the Bluetooth button to pair and locate the speaker from your device’s bluetooth menu. The speaker allows for multiple active pairings, letting you seamlessly switch between devices as you go. It won’t allow for simultaneous playback, however - the most recent play command will take control of the speaker. The speaker also includes a microphone for conference calls, which is very handy. The only thing missing I could possibly ask for is a 3.5mm microphone port for legacy devices, but these are becoming fewer in number, and having an exposed port would likely compromise the speaker’s water resistance rating. - Sound Quality Sony has once again worked its engineering magic to deliver a shocking amount of volume and clarity from such a small device. Optimized for as grand a sound stage as possible to fill a room or patio with audio, the SRSXE200 brings serious audio power to any situation. Dual passive radiators are a major selling point for delivering a surprising amount of bass across a good distance. Overall, the sound profile leans away from deep, boomy bass and compensates with strong response further up the band. Up close, the bass doesn’t get particularly deep and does take on a little bit of muddiness, but at a distance of more than a few feet it becomes clear that punchy bass was the goal. Bass notes are audible and clear at a long distance, which was particularly impressive at a small party. Even as we cranked the volume the audio didn’t distort, though as expected the bass response did fall off a little as the speakers, while strong, just aren’t big enough to deliver heavy bass at high volume. Mids and treble are crisp and clear at any distance, seemingly neutral on frequency response. Of course, one thing you won’t get with a speaker this small is a wide soundstage. While multiple speakers are present, it’s unlikely you’ll experience any sort of stereo effect as there’s little space to recreate decent stereo separation. Again, Sony aimed for room-filling audio from the single device and they’ve done a good job at that. You can, however, pair two identical Sony bluetooth speakers together in “Stereo Pair” to allow the speakers to act as left and right channels independently. The built-in microphone for voice calls works well enough. It doesn’t pick up from a far distance - you’ll need to be within a couple feet of the speaker to be heard clearly - but my callers said my voice was otherwise clear and conversation carried on normally without me raising my voice for the speaker to pickup. No complaints here. - Connectivity and Battery Life The Bluetooth range on the SRSXE200 is quite strong. I didn’t experience a disconnect from my phone until I was nearly past my neighbors’ house, over 100 feet away and through insulating walls. I never experienced a connection drop anywhere in my house or garage as I toted the speaker around with its carrying strap. All my devices with audio support had no issue finding or pairing with the speaker. Battery life and charge times are excellent. 2-3 hours charging on USB-C will yield a full charge, which Sony quotes at 16 hours for this speaker. I haven’t run the battery down fully yet to verify the claim, but with a full weekend of standby and a few hours of audio playback I only dipped to approximately 60% charge (pressing the BATT button will announce current charge state in 20% increments). I can certainly see this going the full 16 hours of playback and then some - in my experience Sony does somewhat underrate their battery life. Sony offers a feature called “Party Connect” which allows compatible speakers to synchronize their audio playback, creating a network of up to 100 speakers that can output the audio from a single device. I wasn’t able to test this as I don’t own any other compatible devices, but the prospect of having these spread about the house or patio for gatherings is a compelling feature I might embrace in the future. - Bottom Line The Sony SRSXE200 Portable Bluetooth Speaker delivers strong audio suitable for any environment. While bass response is on the weaker side, the volume and power on tap bring room-filling audio from a surprisingly compact device. An all-day battery and ubiquitous USB-C charging help keep the music going for hours on end, and the ability to connect multiple devices to the speaker and network said speakers with others for more grand audio setups is a huge boon. At $129 MSRP, Sony’s latest bluetooth speaker offering is priced right and fits pretty much anywhere. Recommended!

It sounds okay, but not as good as the sales person said

The XE200 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker By Sony is a very compact little sound powerhouse. It can provide up to 16 hours of audio entertainment when paired to your android or iPhone. Like some other speakers it can be daisy chained to other compatible speakers to play music through all of them in complete synchronization to provide a genuine party like environment for you and your friends at nearly any type of gathering. The XE200 has a Line-Shape Diffuser speaker system that will pump out music to a full 180 degrees giving full sound even to the sides of the speaker, not just to listeners directly in front of the speaker or speakers as the case may be. And its dual passive radiators at the ends of the speaker add a degree of depth to the bass reproduction you can feel in your bones.! It is very lightweight and easy to take along nearly anywhere.! Don't worry about if you should pack it along on camping trips, hiking expeditions or a day by water. Its IP67 waterproof, dustproof and shockproof design gives it the versatility of coming along on nearly any adventure you have planned. I do wish it had the ability to be used to charge other devices when out and about like some others but it doesn't do that.

First I must disclaim that I’m a long time Sony fan, particularly in video, and have owned multiple ES higher end sound systems over the past two plus decades. Their expertise has traditionally been electronics, and not particularly speaker design, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this XE200 portable Bluetooth compact speaker. Unboxing and setting up was a breeze, enable and tether to Bluetooth and voila, up and running in minutes. There is guided tutorial in the Sony Music Center app with settings to optimize and EQ sound to taste. You can also add in Spotify, Tidal and YouTube music. Curious how Pandora didn’t make the cut, perhaps future upgrade or licensing dispute?? With Sony’s new line shape diffuser this speaker does not project sound in a 360 degree bubble as per say an Apple HomePod, but instead is very directional. Placed on the corner of the pool rim I noted slight modifications to the projected angle made a fairly impactful difference in the sweet spot. I really would have liked to test this in stereo mode for more even dispersion. At the far end of the 30 foot pool I still had good decent sound, however as my ear approached the unit, the sound was much louder, indicating a fairly steep decay over distance, likely more than typical -6db to my untrained ear. The directionality can be advantageous however since ppl behind the speaker typically don’t want to be blasted with sound. It’s also worth nothing that the Sony Music Center app has a setting for “priority on sound quality” that did seem to make a discernible difference in my testing. I tended to keep Dynamic Normalizer off, but did prefer the DSEE HX which upscales compressed or CD-quality to high-resolution audio. Pros + excellent sound for small form factor + bass output impressive + X-balanced line shape diffuser + dual-passive radiators + better audio than JBL Link Music + IP67 water-proof (rubber usb cap secured) + water-proof controls for wet hands operation + great to sit beside the pool without worry + Sony Music Center app imports Apple Music playlists Cons -lacks midrange and top end detail -less robust than Denon Home 150 -lacks HEOS or similar music service -lacks Apple AirPlay 2 (bluetooth only) Conclusion Perhaps I was a bit unfair to compare this “wireless” unit, to a more expensive Denon Home 150 “wired” device (that is NOT water-proof). Since I’m already ensconced in the HEOS ecosystem I had hoped to be able to position these around the 4 corners of the pool, and link into the same source. This product would really shine if starting a portable (or permanent) outdoor audio system, with the addition of the larger unit with more bass. The wide dispersion pattern would allow 4 of these to provide all coverage. Additionally as a “pool speaker” the inclusion of echo cancelling microphone means you can answer calls without racing to dry your hands and unlock your phone, something the more expensive Sonos systems do not offer. Verdict : Buy