Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Sony XV500 X-Series Bluetooth Wireless Party Speaker is technically a portable speaker; however, it’s huge in comparison to many BT portable speakers coming in at 2 feet tall and weighing in at 25 pounds. Sony has been in the “party speaker” market for a few years now, and they have continued to improve upon those offerings. The XV500 has a number of new features and tweaks to the design over previous versions. In the Box: The speaker was shipped and arrived with no issues as the box and packing material are well thought out to protect the speaker. Most materials are recyclable which speaks to Sony’s environmental focus. Included in the box is the speaker, power cord and documentation. On unboxing Sony’s quality manufacturing is evident as the unit feels solid with great finish details. At close to 25 lbs. it’s the largest and heaviest “portable” BT speaker I’ve owned. Performance and Features: There isn’t much in terms of set up, Sony recommends downloading the Sony Music Center app which I already had installed for other Sony products. I was able to connect the speaker through Bluetooth with no issues, and the XV500 was ready to use. Within minutes of opening the box, the XV500 was cranking songs from SiriusXM. It was set on “MEGA BASS” and that’s where it remained for the initial testing. This speaker cranks, and it seems to come into its own as the volume is increased. The sound quality remains clear and rich as the volume was pushed up! The two 5.5” X-Balance subs are solid performance-wise and it sounds like a much bigger speaker when cranking up the volume a bit. With the app, there are options to change between live, custom, mega bass and also an automated option called ClearAudio+ which I ended up settling on for most music genres. Sony’s goal was to create a portable speaker that would bring a bit of a party vibe, so they added lighting options and two ¼” inputs for a karaoke microphone and guitar. The mood lighting I found to be very cool, there are several colors and modes that can be used from calm to rave. They will flicker to the bass/beat of the music and they will certainly get people up out of their seats at a party. They can also be toggled on and off from the speaker or app. One of the features that makes a lot of sense on this model are the carry handles. They make for easy handling when on the go. They are positioned on the top and bottom of the speaker for easy use and also house the built in lighting. There are rubberized feet on the base and one side to keep it steady while being used either vertically or on its side. The speaker is also IPX4 water resistant, which is great when used around the boat, pool, beach, etc. On the backside of the speaker is a water resistant port that houses a number of the inputs including the AC power port, karaoke and guitar inputs and a USB-A port that can be used to charge phones, etc. from the lithium ion battery in the speaker. A great option if you’re music source is running out of juice. The control buttons are located on the top of the speaker for BT connection, power, lights, Mega Bass, etc. All those functions can also be controlled with the Sony Music Center App. Sony Music Center App: The Sony app provides a number of settings for customizing the sound, power options, illumination, etc. In “Sound”, customization of the output is simple with an auto ClearAudio+ option or Mega Bass, Live Sound or Custom…which has a basic equalizer. There are functions which are great for building playlists or selecting the audio source. The light features are also managed on the app, where users can select the light from a Sony created list. The lights can also be toggled on/off. There’s a battery management option, speaker grouping, and many more. The app is easy to download and very easy to operate. Pros: - Sony Quality is top-notch and seems like it will last for years to come - IPX4 water resistance is perfect for boating, pool or beach use - Sound quality is exceptional for a speaker this size, dual 5.5” X-Balance speakers do the job! - Mood Lighting is pretty cool, flashes to the music’s beat and gets the party going - Battery Life is outstanding, can be conserved by turning off lights, 25 hours stated by Sony - Can be linked with other Sony BT speakers - Built in Power Bank is an added bonus in a pinch - Inputs for guitar and Karaoke microphone - Carrying Handles and rubberized feet provide options for vertical or horizontal usage - Easy to set up and operate Cons: - The speaker weighs just about 25 pounds so it’s not going to be an option for everyone All-in-all the Sony XV500 is a solid BT speaker option for an individual user or for a party environment. A DJ could easily use this speaker for functions/events. Music quality is outstanding and the IPX4 water resistance puts my mind at ease when using it on the boat and at the lake. I would certainly recommend this speaker to anyone looking to up their music and party game!

Just got my Sony XV500, literally took it out of the box an hour ago, and wow, this thing is a monster. I’ve had a few portable speakers before, but this one feels like it’s in another league. The first thing I noticed is the build quality , solid, heavy in a good way, with that “real Sony” feeling. The handles make it easy to move even though it’s a chunky unit. I connected it to my phone in seconds, no issues at all. Then I hit play, and man… the bass hit like a punch. It’s deep, clean, and you can feel it without it distorting. I turned on MEGA BASS and it literally brought the room to life. Even at high volume, the sound stays rich, not that harsh, “too much treble” noise you get from cheaper speakers.

I got this unit to try an update the flexibility of my portable PA system. This will free me from having to be near an outlet. My old blutooth speaker is plug in, and when I saw this and the claim on battery life duratuon, it will cover any purpose I will use it for (1-3 hours runs) easily. The app is somewhat useful with limited sound settings, the custom mixer only has 3 spectrums to modulate the sound ranges. This paired very easily to my phone (android). I do not have any other compatable speaker devices to see if the party mode or the stereo pairing. Sound wise, this does sound good from straight in front of it and to about 170 degrees in front of it. I have another large floor speaker that has similar power, but no mic or guitar input. It has better room filling round sound than this, so I can sit it in the middle of a group and all can hear it. That being said, how I use this it will have people to the front most of the time, so going out one direction is not a big deal, it will be clear and easy to hear. This also gets quite a bit louder, and has much fuller/deeper bass. I can add 2 mics or a mic and guitar, I tested both and they work well. That makes this also much different than my other unit. For speech, this does well with a lic. As for music, I have tested many genre’s and it does well with all of them. Again, I use a custom setting on the euquilzer, but the default with mega bass isn't to bad. This is a heavy unit to lug around by the handle on the front if it, bu it seems sturdy enough. You can change the light effects, there are about a dozen to choose from. Overall, when I was looking at other good quality battery powered PA speaker units like this, this one is comparable in price. I know audio products from this company quite well, and the sound spectrum I could expect from it, and so far it hits the mark for what I need it for. I reccomend this for anyone who needs a good loud PA speaker sized blutooth speaker

In short, Sony SRS-XV500 is a great party speaker with sleek and simple design AND great sound! Here are my observations/thoughts: It has a simplistic but very functional design. The case is made of recycled plastic. The controls are at the top of the speaker and are "touch" controls. They light up on the touch which is good thing specially in a party setting where lights are usually dim. On the back, it has charging input and other inputs (3.5 mm standard jack for audio in, 1 mic input, 1 mic/guitar input) as well as controls for mic and guitar (volume, echo etc.). It has handles at the top and bottom to easily carry it around. The set up was super simple. As soon as I turned on the speaker and unlocked my phone, there was a notification to connect to the speaker, click yes and done. The sound is good. I am not an audiophile so I can't provide technical details of sound quality but I played different kind of songs and all of them sound pretty good. Even at full volume I didn't hear sound distortion. There are two apps to used with it (not sure why two instead of just one?): 1) Sony Music Center (SMC) and 2) Fiestable. The SMC allows you to configure/customize sound effects, custom eq, power option and few other things while Fiestable provides options like party playlist, DJ control, Karaoke etc. I like the customization options and additional features provided by these two apps. The specs say that it has 25 hours of battery life but I haven't really tested that yet (I don't party that long :)). The IPX4 splashproof rating is good to use it outdoor. I haven't tested the Karaoke function yet (I need to buy the mics) but I am definitely looking forward to it. So, as I said in the beginning, overall it is a very versatile speaker, with good sound and functions. At this price, it probably is one of the best party speakers.

The speaker is a very nice addition to any social gathering or even when alone listening to music. I really enjoy the speaker and i have the previous model and this one has some nice upgrades. The quality of the sound is very full and rich, it does have a great bass as well even though it does not have the hardware option of a added BASS button. The water resistance is always nice but i really don't hang out on the deck playing music during inclement weather or hang near a pool. The improved battery life of an additional 5 hours is very nice, less need to recharge frequently and it holds a charge decently. The battery life has lasted after sitting for a week or so and the charge is still stored. The nice light show does add a little bit of fun but being an older guy i can see how it would appeal much more to a younger crowd but it does have a nice bright light source without being too much. The finish is real nice, it has a soft matte finish and feel. I truly think it has a sleek, clean and modern look. It does have easy carry handles and can be placed sideways or stood upright. The biggest change i believe is the addition of the inputs which allow for simultaneous mic and or guitar with separate volume levels. There are many inputs located on the back with many possibilities for add ons and gives it versatility which alot of other portable speakers do not offer. This speaker has GREAT SOUND, VERSATILITY, BATTERY LIFE and LOOKS.

The Sony XV500 is an amazing speaker. It is not that large and is very light but still packs a punch. Right out of the box without any settings tweaks, it sounds great. It was also really easy to setup. The packaging was easy to open down to the tape (instead of a twisty tie) on the power cord. The directions were really easy to follow too. I plugged it in and it connected right away to my phone (without 3 seconds) and I was able to stream audio to it. The Sony Music Center app is a great companion for tweaking the settings. You can also switch the audio input using the app and launch many common apps to stream sounds. It has great range on Bluetooth and it puts on a really cool light show in sync with the music and the bass. There are also several lighting modes to turn from based on your preference. You can also use the app to group it with other speakers for true surround sound if you want and have compatible speakers. The app also has a ton of ways to control it right from your phone. Overall, I highly recommend this speaker - it’s great for indoor or outdoor use too.

Inside the box for the Sony XV500 you’ll find the speaker itself, a detachable 5ft power cord, and some documentation. Looking around the outside of the speaker you’ll find the main control panel on top, two built-in handles on the front, and a sealed hatch on the back covering additional controls and I/O ports. There are rubber feet in two places (on the bottom and one side) allowing the speaker to be used either upright or on its side. Construction-wise, the bulk of the main body is a dark charcoal plastic while the front speaker grill is metal. The control panel features a large physical power button while the rest of the controls are capacitive. Dimensionally, the speaker stands 22” tall with an approximate 10.5” X 11.5” footprint and weighs 24.4lbs. Inside the rear panel, you’ll find two 6.35mm jacks that can be used for microphones or instruments, as well as volume levels for those jacks. There is also a 3.5mm input and a USB-A port that can be used for playback from a USB flash drive as well as charging a mobile device (when the speaker is powered on). Additionally, you’ll find the C7 port for charging the speaker here. Once paired to the device of your choice, the upper control panel offers basic control of the device, such as Play/Pause, Next, Last, Volume Up/Down and changing the input source. Additionally, the colored LED lights, concealed in the handles, as well as the Bass Boost can be enabled or disabled here. Regarding performance, the sound quality is excellent, offering crisp highs, thumping lows, and more than enough volume for the patio at your next pool party. Battery life is advertised at 25hrs, which is possible in my testing. Note that, enabling the lights and using higher volumes will reduce this. The speaker does offer “Party Connect” so that you can use multiple speakers at the same time. Unfortunately, this is a Sony-specific feature and I didn’t have any other Sony Bluetooth speakers to test this with. A couple of critiques: To fully access all of the speaker’s features requires the installation of 2(!) apps on your device: The ‘Sony Music Center’ app and the ‘Fiestable’ app. These apps aren’t required for basic operation, but they are the only way to access things like different light modes or change things like power settings. Also, there is no visual battery life indicator on the speaker nor is the battery life visible via the BlueTooth connection. You must either press the Battery button under the rear hatch (speaker verbally announces the approximate battery life) or install the ‘Sony Music Center’ app on your phone. All in all, the Sony XV500 is a great sounding party speaker that offers excellent sound and battery life and plenty of connectivity.

I bought this Sony X-Series Party Speaker for my daughter’s 18th birthday to go along with her new turntable and vinyl collection — what a perfect combo! The speaker sounds amazing, with great bass and clear highs. The illuminated touch control panel is very easy to use and looks beautiful in the room. She loves that it’s wireless and portable, so she can easily move it around the house or take it to a friend’s house. She’s already using it for small gatherings, and the sound really fills the space. We’re very happy with this purchase — highly recommend it!

Very easy to use in every way, easy connection to bluetooth, Sony’s audio control system app is simple and accessible, and it is easily mobile with great handles built into its sleek design. I was happy with its sound quality at high volume, and I am excited at the possibility that if I buy another I can easily chain them together and play them as a stereo system.

We needed something with more volume than the smaller unit we had and bought this based on other reviews. It was better than expected, and with the base boost sounds great outdoors. Heavy but easy to move with the handles.

Sound quality is exceptional and tou cant imagine just how loud it can get, i have had two other friends buy them after hearing mine. The negative is weight and size, great for events but to large to take to the beach, ballgames, and such

Great speaker, long battery life. Totally didn’t realize how much of a difference the sound quality is when plugged-in versus on battery. I bought this on sale when I first heard it in the store and how deep the bass was, definitely a phenomenal speaker however compared to my older plug-in GTKXB7 it makes it difficult to warrant keeping this when I already owned an older larger version of the plug-in style speaker and wasn’t planning to use so much of the portability aspect, but using it on in the patio, but now I find myself carrying around the cord to keep it plugged in when using it simply because it sounds best plugged in

Speaker sounds amazing. Very loud and with nice bass.

Great sound...easy connect...battery has good life...could use a tad more volume but it does just fine...the bass up kick is good...dont use lights but im sure they are ok

We absolutely LOVE ths speaker, The sound is unmatched. Loud, crisp and the bass is great. Charges quickly and the battery life lasts. it is a little heavy but not horrible.

Love this Sony XV500X-Series Wireless Party Speaker. It sounds great and battery last long and the range is the best. Someone referred it to me and I referred it to someone else that bought it as well.

Actually if you are a pure punchy bass and mid detailed sound, it’s SONY. The material quality is outstanding, battery performance is so convenient, app control with user friendly UI makes you browse usb folders in the app. Dj controller and eq adjustment. Stamina mode to save battery over and above the delightful illumination is fantastic. I love it and wish I had enough in the budget for another one. I got the deal from Best buy and I consider it my BEST BUY of the year.

This speaker is amazing . More than what i was looking for. Powerful , fun colors good for karaoke inside or outside by the pool. Me and my family are enjoying it so much

This speaker is best used in conjunction with the Sony Music Center app because you can select predefined sound styles (rock, country) or your own custom sound via the app. It plays loud but clear. I also own a XP-700 and that has more bass and plays louder, but is heavier thus not a portable. Sony makes good solid quality products for sure. Unfortunately, neither speaker retains the sound profile selected after being turned off, so the sound profile needs to be applied each time you connect, which is an annoyance you should be aware of. Without the app, the only external sound modification is to engage the Mega Bass feature via a button on top of the unit. The speaker does tend to sound flat without the sound profile enhancement via the app (on your phone). So, that is something to consider. That has not prevented me from purchasing both of these speakers, but it may influence your decision.

Very good speaker with a little bass & great quality. It is probably bigger than you'd expect but easy to carry around.