Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have owned a lot of Bluetooth speakers in the past. From cheap to expensive brand and i always am let down by charge time or sound quality. This one delivers both!! My boyfriend owned the previous version of this speaker and i loved the fact it was waterproof and had lights. I decided to get this upgraded version and while i was hoping for the exact same lights around the speaker. This version is pretty similar. Just literally upgraded from the past model. The charge time is quick and you get a full day of charge! Everything about this speaker is amazing. This one is textured with a fabric instead of just a silicon feel. You can add other speakers to it and change the bass levels. It’s really one of the best speakers i have ever had.

My last BT speaker was a Soundlink II. I really liked it. In the market for a replacement, I was drawn to this one. Solid, strong, low-profile...easy to connect via BT. Met my expectations for a speaker loud enough to share with a small audience (indoors). Took it to the pool last week, and across a large (community) pool area, I had to keep it down to not disturb the neighbors. :-) The random lights and interactive sound effects are just icing on the cake. Kind of fun for a younger generation (which I'm not part of). I love it!

A couple month ago , My Europe college advice me to buy this Bluetooth speaker by SONY when we’re talking about sound quality. Then I placed my purchased but the pop up message come out not delivery in my home address, I was shot then 2 week later I chk a gain the price is go up already . wow I was so disappointed and I got special offer early access for Black Friday , I chk it out the price was go down 50% and they will ship my home address too I was so happy , love the song quality and I bought 2 , the other one for my uncle he said he never ever listen before that kind of sound Quality in his life. Btw he is currently 64 years old guy. Thanks best Buy

This speaker is so easy to use right out of the box! It’s lightweight and portable, and the Bluetooth always works right away. Incredible sound quality and bass, and the light show moves to the beat of the music. We love this speaker!

Me and my wife were debating between this an a JBL Xtreme 2, ultimately we decided to go with the Sony XB41. We tested the demo models they had in store and it’s a bit hard to explain but the sound seems much more clear with this speaker, more open and surrounding in a sense. The JBL on the other hand, seemed like the sound was more trapped inside the component itself. The speaker has some really neat features also, lighting that corresponds with sounds that can be turned on or off and even a voice battery notification which tells you the percentage of battery left. Construction is really sturdy and it has a feeling of quality, I guess you get what you paid for. Overall we are extremely satisfied with the product, definitely a recommend.

Sony delivers great quality sound. It’s a fun size you can take anywhere!

My son bought one first and I just had to have one too, so I bought one. He now uses then both together and they have sound amazing!! The light feature is a so great! I love that it's a Bluetooth Speaker. Another plus,I bought it on sale for only $149. I am so happy I bought my Sony SRS XB41Pirtable Bluetooth Speaker!

Received this item after updated from my old model. Sounds loud enough for me although it doesn't specify the tech specs much for watts output. The lights are cool and a neat future if you have surrounding RGB Led lights Only downside I have with is it doesn't stand up straight and sturdy due to it's platform or foot design, it can rocks back and forth. For the price it was right at $125 plus tax. Waterproof works. The communication max ranger for Bluetooth is 98 ft or so, which is a 3x more than the lower tier models I would say for the newer models at least switch over to a USB-C cable port charger instead since it's becoming the industry standard. I don't like have multiple types of cable around the home to look for or hoard. Thanks Sony and Best Buy

I love the flashing lights on my speaker and its water proof easily hook up to all my bluetooth devices and it fit perfectly in my basket on my scooter I take it everywhere love my Sony speaker box

In brief, the SONY SRS-XB41 is built for fun. It’s playful design and abundant features make it a great speaker system for the beach, a patio, a cabin, or just about anywhere else. Oh, and it sounds pretty good too. APPEARANCE & FEEL: The deep red front of the XB41 greets the user as soon as the box is opened. The overall body is a blend of nicely textured surfaces (front, top, sides) and soft-touch plastic everywhere else. The controls are arrayed along a panel (same plastic) on the top, and the many connections are concealed in a compartment in the rear. It’s covered with a watertight “flap” that seats tightly but is easy to open. Surrounding the front and sides is one continuous bright frame that holds a nice surprise. Overall the speaker feels solid and substantial, but not heavy. Quality is the word that comes to mind. AUDIO QUALITY: Assessing sound quality is, of course, mostly subjective and is affected by many factors, including size. While the XB41 feels substantial, it is only approximately 12” x 4” x 4”. The two internal speakers are, according to the manual, about 1-13/20” in size. There are several audio inputs (see next section), but this assessment was made both by a Bluetooth connected to an Android device with highest quality MP3 and also a direct connection via the “audio in” jack. In both cases sound quality was similar. Unsurprisingly, the treble was sketchy and weak. Mid-range was very good. However, the big surprise was the bass which was (again, remembering the speaker’s size) excellent and full. Clearly, SONY engineers did a lot of work to make such a nice bass come from such a small system. There was no obvious stereo separation. Overall, for its intended use (outdoors, casual listening, small party, etc.) this is a good speaker. FEATURES: The (on-line only) manual is 94 pages. Really. This is a clue that the XB41 is certainly fully featured. The box includes an AC charger, warranty information (the usual one year) and a graphic “quick start” insert. SONY strongly recommends downloading two free apps which both enhance functionality and add even more features. (See next section.) Waterproof? Naturally, with good instructions on how to remove excess water. Want to link multiple speakers wirelessly? Of course. By wired connection? Certainly. Need to charge a phone or other device? Use the USB power source. Want to use the XB41 as a speaker phone? Can do, there’s also a mic. The back panel contains about 10 buttons, connectors, etc. One surprising and delightful feature was the reactive lighting that is colorful and spontaneous. The arrays express themselves in the “band” that surrounds the front and sides of the XB41 and in the two internal speakers that seem to illuminate/flash in response to bass inputs. (See photo.) There are several ways to modify or turn off the lighting, either by the control panel (limited) or one of the apps (more fully). Does anyone need such bouncy lighting in the post-disco age? No, but it sure was fun. FUNCTIONALITY: Whether one chooses to use this speaker with minimal features (say, if you don’t need a 100-speaker “Party Chain”) or digging deep into the many enhancements that SONY has provided, this is an easy unit to use, especially with the apps. The lithium-ion battery life is excellent, but declines rapidly as more demands (volume, features) are used. There are several indicators (decreased volume, etc.) as battery life declines. My one “gripe,” is that SONY, like so many other device makers, takes the cheap way and makes button and labels by embossing them into the plastic in the same color. This can be overcome with larger fonts, but currently this one is hard to see and read, especially in dim light. There’s a lot of empty space around the top control panel, so why aren’t the fonts taking advantage of the space (see photo). IN SUM, this is a great supplemental speaker, with above-average sound quality, many functions, and a whimsical feel. Enjoy!

For the size, this speaker by Sony gives you good sound even when the volume level is high! I now have 3 and love that you can wirelessly group the speakers together for play. The lights are cool too!

SONY SRS-XB41. Have you seen the trick where the magician reaches into a top hat and keeps pulling out things that exceed the size of the hat? When you pull out this half-gallon sized speaker from its package, you’ll discover out-sized 3D sound, a colorfully exciting synchronized light show, DJ-sound effects you can control, and a Music Center App to manage all the sound and lighting effects plus your playlists. I’m outta breath now, but you also can add to your phone a Fiesta App for still more light and sound features. The speaker casing is waterproof and dustproof PLUS it adds a set of speaker surface effects sensors, 24 hours of battery life and it’s all controlled by Bluetooth or a stereo minijack if you prefer. See, it’s a lot like a magic hat. I’ve also been using SONY’s smaller (XB31) version of this speaker and the differences aren’t huge with the XB41 but they definitely add to the fun. This speaker will fill a larger space with huge sound. While the App is the same, the XB41’s extra feature set is now made accessible in the App, and you can modify the expanded light show, re-configure the full complement of lights (line, speaker, and strobe), exploit the multi band equalizer, further control the bass output, and select the 3D sound or other sound fields. Did I say it will get even louder? Oh, and my wife has claimed this one for her Spa-side entertainment so it’s all setup on her iPhone6. Sound quality can be adjusted so it’s very natural for more serious listening. Out-of-the-box, the XB41 is set up for a party. Across a broad selection of my music, male voices were not exaggerated: John Legend and Vance Joy sounded great. Female voices like Alicia Keys, or Sade, or Tori Kelly were equally honest sounding. All had exceptional, solid, serious bass with natural, recognizable voicing and nice treble detail. Older 60s music actually got a nicer, solid bass foundation. Go into the Music Center App’s setting screens and everything can be modified. You don’t need to change anything, but for the imaginative, everything is accessible. These SONY party speakers are the perfect way to liven up a celebration or afternoon by the pool and they aren’t fragile. They certainly don’t need you to worry about protecting them from the elements at the pool or beach or camping. And, if others at your party bring their own, you can easily link them for still more sound coverage. Highly recommended.

Its the perfect sidekick when riding my bike or listening to music from my laptop. I would definitely buy again.

speaker works very nice sounds are great:) i love it!

Best sound ever, I highly recommended to buy this speaker

I just love this radio. Everyone I show the extra sounds to laughs and finds it so much fun. Definitely a party radio with the awesome lights. Strong bass and long lasting battery. Beautiful color too. You can also charge your phone on it. I just really love this item. I would def recommend it.

I've owned this speaker for a couple of months now and it has not disappointed. I was fortunate enough to catch it on sale at Best Buy. So far so good. I've used it on two river floatings, and during all my peloton rides. Music sounds great, clear, and as loud as you need it. The only thing to add is design a way to tie it down somehow.

The Sony XB41 is a unique bluetooth speaker that is set around being able to bring a party vibe no matter where you go. They claim 24 hours of run time with big bass boost for all you lovers of bass out there. Flashing strobes and the ability to add in your own personal beats is a different design that i have yet to see on any other device of this nature. And the ability to fully submerge this speaker in water, can it be true? Can Sony live up to some of its claims and is it really worth the buy? Out of the box this is a very nice looking speaker. The design quality of the speaker shows that it was indeed built with strength and water resistance in mind while still looking very good. I wouldn't expect any less from a Sony product. Out of the box your going to get the power cord and speaker. For some reason on the box it says the speaker is built for Iphone users but the speaker will link to any android device via bluetooth or NFC. On the back side of the speaker you will find the charging port along with a usb port and 3.5mm audio jack. The first thing i noticed was that the ports are covered with a sturdy air tight rubber cover which would prevent any debris and water from entering the unit. There are two claims from Sony that i wasn't exactly eager to try but i'll take their word on it. One being that this is an IP67 rating on the frame design which is similar to a lot of cellphones out there. This basically means you can completely submerge the unit under water with no damage to the hardware, speakers or unit itself. It also means it should have no issues resisting dust or any other debris. This makes this speaker IDEAL for a on the go unit seeing as how sand, water, dirt or any other environmental elements should not cause any issue or concern. The second claim is that the unit is also shock resistant due to the design of the frame and fabric covering it. Sony claims that it can handle about a 4ft drop on to a hardwood floor with no damage to the unit. While i don't recommend giving this test a try it is a nice feature to have as a kind of insurance policy in the event one of your thoughtful guest accidentally knocks the speaker off the counter. There is 24 hour battery life with all the lights turned off and what i can say is with all the lights on full blast and the extra bass mode turned on i got about a little over 18 hours of full battery usage. This is actually not bad when you consider just how much power goes in to running all the light bars and strobes. Lets talk about some of the features that make this unit really unique. First off in order to enable most of the features will you need to download Sony's apps. It's going to require you to actually download two apps. The main app you will need is the Sony music center. The second app you will need to download is Fiestable and it will not appear on your phone but is an additional software app needed to access all the features of the speaker such as lighting effects, party mode, DJ effects and other abilities. Now the app is not needed to run the unit seeing as how the top of the unit houses buttons for volume control, pause/play, live mode, power button and the Bluetooth sync button. However without the app you will miss out on some interesting features. Through the app you can control the lighting effects of the speaker and how you want them displayed. IF red is your favorite color then you can have the light bar display red all the time. You can also control the strobe features of your speaker and how active they are. One of the cool features that i found i really liked alot was Rave mode. In Rave mode the light bar will keep changing colors and both speakers light up along with the strobe lights that flash on the side of the unit. What made it really cool though is that all the lights will light up and flash in unison with the music that is being played. It looks all very well orchestrated and while i was worried about it looking kinda of cheesy it actually worked very well to the beat of the sound. Now if all that flash is not your style don't worry you can turn off all the lights and just have audio. There is another mode that is called party booster. While this mode is turned on you can tap on four different areas of the speaker to produce various sounds. For example if you bang on the front of the speaker you can get drum bass. If you tap on the side of the speaker you can get high hat. The sounds can also be customized through the app so you can add whatever sound you want to whatever sensor you want it to be activated by. This feature allows you to make additional music either while the music is playing or turned off. So if you think that country song your listening to is lacking some more cow bell, well then my friend simply activate party booster and jam along to your song and add as much cow bell that you feel is lacking. There is another feature through the app that allows you to be your own DJ and add in effects to your music such as lasers, people cheering, hype men, etc. You can also slow or speed up the track and even scratch on it. This is a really cool feature that i was actually very excited about because it allows you to basically mix your favorite music and add in effects that you may feel would enhance it. I uploaded a picture to show you what that DJ feature looks like. The problem with this feature that i had was sound control. At least as of writing this review there is no ability to control the volume of your DJ sound effects. And what makes it terrible is that the effects are actually louder than your music that is being played. Lets say your jamming to your favorite tune and want to add some lasers. Well when you hit the lasers they come blaring in louder than the music that is being played that it actually startled me at first. Until they can fix this issue with an app update i found this feature to be very disappointing and pointless at this time. Now lets talk sound quality, after all that is what Sony is known for. First thing you need to understand when buying a Bluetooth speaker is a few things. One, it will never sound as good as a full 7.1 audio system with equalizers. Also second these speakers require some burn time or break in period before they truly start to shine. Right off the bat i noticed the sound quality wasn't that great. Once i tuned in my equalizer i noticed an improvement right away. Now Sony is claiming extra bass to push through these speakers that are supposed to be pretty decent. One thing i noticed right off the bat is the Bass tries very hard to push through and sometimes over compensates. While listening to Anberlin " Feel Good Drag" i noticed that the bass was pushing so hard that it actually sounded as if the vocals were being distorted. Im very picky when it comes to my music and i know sometimes i can tend to pick things out that most people don't find but for my wife to walk buy and even point it out to me only confirmed what i was already thinking. Now im not saying the extra bass is a bad thing im only saying it does not work well for the Rock genre. While blasting Young Jeezy " I luv it" man that bass hit so clean and did not take away from any of the vocals or other effects. One thing i noticed about this speaker is it really shines and sounds good with hip hop and dance music. Im not saying that rock or any other genre sound terrible, i'm simply saying that i noticed a little bit of a better quality of sound coming from those type of genre. Now lets talk about Sony's live feature. The live feature is a design that is supposed to give you a 3 dimensional effect and give you a sense of almost being at a live concert. While this feature does not work well for all types of music i did noticed this is where rock music really shined. While listening to some Shinedown on live mode the sound quality got louder with a bigger emphasis on vocals. I actually saw those guys in concert a few years back and i have to say the live mode made me actually feel like i was at their concert minus all the reverb and bad acoustics of the venue i was in. Now while this isn't a 360 speaker one thing i will say is getting sound quality across the room equally was not a problem. No matter what mode or feature you chose to use i found that no matter where i stood in relation to the speaker the sound quality was good and equal, lacking nothing. . Once i blew past my 20 hour mark i noticed the speakers starting to sound even better as they were finally starting to settle in. If you are looking for a good speaker for work. poolside parties, BBQ's or even camping then this is a must have. Really with the sound quality and punch this speaker puts out there is no bad use for this speaker, especially since you have to option to turn off all the flash and lights.

Sony hit a home run with this XB41 BT speaker. The size, features, and battery life should really appeal to most people who are looking for an all-around great wireless speaker. Package comes with speaker, proprietary wall charging unit, and instructional guide. PROS: ----------- * Incredible sound in a small package, but Sony’s largest speaker in this style. BASS is great! * Connected flawlessly with 3 devices I own – all Android. NFC made it even easier. * Lights can make the sound more fun I guess… personally, I’d rather have my speaker take on longer life so it continues to work. But the various light shows are still pretty cool at times. * Fiestable app is a nice/fun added add-on. After playing around with it, it’s something that someone under 10 years old would probably have fun with. After about a minute though, I was over it and just wanted to listen to my music the regular way. * The IP67 rating is great – as many BT speakers have this now. It’s great to be able to take this speaker to the ball park without having to worry about it getting wet or dirty. * The 24 hour battery is one of the BEST features. No one wants their speaker to give out. However, if you do run out of power, you can either use the wall charger provided OR your own microUSB cable for charging. That concept is huge, as no one wants to haul around a proprietary cable around. * USB port available for charging a cell phone in the rear panel. As long as you have plenty of life left, this could be useful. * BT signal was exceptional when connecting with Samsung Note 8. I was able to get around 50’+ for line of site and around 40’ with one wall separating phone and speaker. CONS: ----------- * I’d like to see the Sony “Music Center” app a bit more updated and user friendly. For instance, sound shouldn’t really be in settings, but on the front page as “Audio” or similar. Even the illumination would be better suited to a more accessible area on the main page instead of having so many submenus. * The great idea of having a secondary way of charging the speaker via microUSB is great – however, we are in 2018. This should have been a USB-C cable input for charging. This would allow for possible faster charging AND not have to worry with which way the connector has to be turned. MicroUSB should be a thing of the past on new products such as this going forward. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * I find it a bit amusing that ads for this product show teens all holding up a Sony BT speaker… What world is that? As fun as it looks, I don’t recall any party where teens bring their own Sony BT speaker and join them all up together and dance with them. Nice concept, but not sure if that’s a huge selling point. * The product claims to have a 3.94 foot shock proof chassis (on a 1.97” thick piece of plywood. Well, I’m not going to drop it to prove otherwise. Dropping on cement or tile floor from that same distance might get different results. * See picture provided with review to see the ports available in the rear panel which is waterproof. Door latches pretty tightly. * Lights can be turned on/off in the Music Center app in settings along with some simple EQ settings as well. CONCLUSION: ===================== I own a few BT speakers, and this one is likely the best of them all. It has plenty of bass and power, flashing lights, waterproof, and other applications via the Music Center and Fiestable. Connecting (up to 100) many of these together in a room could definitely provide plenty of immersible sounds at a party inside or outside. Being BT, they just need to be within 30-40’ of each other. Line of sight can be longer. There are plenty of pros to buy this speaker and not enough cons not to. Clearly Sony got it right on this one.

I have it on my pc desk as part of the rgb setup. Looks and sounds awesome. Beats having two clunky speakers on my deskspace.