Sony - SRS-XB501G Wireless Speaker for Streaming Music with Google Voice Assistant - Black

PROs: - Surprisingly robust and full-bodied sound from diminutive form-factor--sound remained clear and distortion-free even at high listening volumes (i.e. beach, poolside, etc.) - Sony really knows a thing or two about bass enhancement as the speaker manages to achieve some impressive thump without totally drowning out vocals/other instruments - LIGHTS, LIGHTS, LIGHTS! Okay, I totally underestimated the cool/fun factor here--between the informative LEDs that tell you Google Assistant is listening to the perimeter LEDs that change with the music, we ended up enjoying the show far more than we expected to--and all the kids want one in their room now! - Ruggedized finish means you don't have to be paranoid about setting it down on rocks, bricks, or anything other than a pristine tabletop or shelf and worry about how it will look when you're through--it actually FEELS like it's made to work outdoors and comes off accordingly - Built-in Google Assistant amps up the functionality beyond a simple Bluetooth speaker--like any other voice assistants, the family actually enjoyed the opportunity to "Hey Google" a universe of queries any time the mood struck them - Simple and uncluttered physical interface--actual buttons for things like battery status, Bluetooth pairing, microphone muting (for the privacy buffs out there who don't want Google eavesdropping on everyday conversations), volume and Bluetooth playback controls...it gives you everything you need at arm's reach without overwhelming you with obscure buttons/functions you would otherwise rarely use - Nearly perfect ergonomics--built-in carrying handle makes transport and placement easy with just a single hand--outstanding engineering despite the slightly large build/heft - No appreciable impact on sound output/quality going from battery to A/C power...don't feel sheepish about cranking it up even unplugged! CONs: - The "Live" button feels somewhat gimmicky and situational so YMMV. Yes, when pressed, it can create a greater sense of spaciousness which worked in some settings (i.e. if you want your lively poolside jams to sound even livelier); but for things like audio-books or treble-heavy music, it also made the sound somewhat hollow and tinny. It's easy to see why this feature was added/provided, but it's nice that the effect can be defeated easily with a single button press - A/C and USB-C connectors are hidden behind what seems like an unnecessarily large tethered port cover that's captive by a rubberized retaining band--a hinged door that snaps closed would have been more reassuring - Not a drawback so much as a "Gee, I didn't expect that would happen"...but once paired as a Bluetooth speaker, we had more than one occasion of dueling digital assistants...be mindful that "Hey Google" also allows for some "Alexa...do XXXX" activity (or for other similar digital assistants to come running) once the unit is listening to the mic input - This is a smart product, but not an autonomous one--you'll need to install/configure at least one phone/tablet app (Google Home), maybe two (Sony Music Center), or even three (Google Play) to get the full functionality the Sony designers seems to have intended for this device. Of course, as a Bluetooth speaker/mic, you can extend functionality even further with dozens of other apps (iHeartRadio, Youtube, Netflix, etc.), but it definitely takes more than Bluetooth speaker pairing alone to start seeing some real return/value on the premium price tag As a Bluetooth speaker, the sound quality, build quality, and pleasing physical design/ergonomics of this unit already make it a reasonable purchase at the asking price; but the party lights, Google Assistant, and other streaming apps integration elevate this speaker to a level I wasn't expecting. Sure, it's an indulgence--few of us really NEED a portable party light/speaker array that can also answer random questions and execute random tasks--but it's a fun one nonetheless, and one that brought our family together in ways I wasn't expecting (who knew that thumping my chest to my daughter's favorite song would lead us to gather around this speaker just to find out when the first King Kong movie was produced?). Ultimately the Google Assistant features were far more fun and compelling for our family than I figured they would be--they shaped not only what we listened to, but how we listened and shared the experience. Google Home integration worked well though it honestly rarely occurred to me to control the room lights from the speaker given that its primary design cues seem geared around spontaneity and portability (though this speaker would be equally at home living on someone's media shelf or next to a PC). I haven't pushed the claimed 16-hour battery life to its limit yet, but the Sony easily managed all day through an audiobook while still maintaining a healthy charge...it should easily outlast most afternoon/evening parties and pool/beach-side outings before needing any juice from a wall charger. It would have been nice to control the EQ from either the unit itself, or within one of the other companion apps, rather than having to install yet another app to further customize the sound and lights to my liking...but that's really nit-picking at this point. Overall, this speaker is well-appointed, well-built, and rocks out in the one area that really matters most in a Bluetooth speaker--SOUND...truly a top-tier performer (especially given its size) with a number of unexpectedly welcome features that easily elevate it above the competition...definitely recommended!

This Sony XB501G Extra Bass Goggle Assistant Bluetooth Speaker transforms me into a Party-DJ Animal. With speaker lights and flashing strobes I can sync the music beat and rhythm to whatever genre of music I so choose. It has a full-bodied, beefy bass, especially when the 'Extra Bass' (Party Booster) is activated through the Sony Music Center App. Through the Sony App I can customize various, multi-dimensional sound and lighting effects, which creates a personal 'club atmosphere' in my very own home. The Grand Kids thoroughly enjoy it. WooHoo! After two music-filled weeks of enjoying, using, and 'learning' this speaker I find it is capable of handling indoor and, or, outdoor spaces equally well with dynamic acoustics and FUNtastic lighting effects. It is designed to be positioned at 'ear-level' for optimum sound enjoyment. That is why the Sony Engineers installed a tripod mounting hole on the base of this speaker. WoW! Here is what I love about this speaker: * Sound - The sound reproduction of the Sony XB501G focuses on the mid-ranges, and is spirited at higher tones, and crisp at clear voice, especially when the speaker's 'Live Sound' button is 'ON. It has a full-bodied, rich bass through the Sony Music Center App Preset, 'Extra Bass'. The extra bass feature brings it alive with depth and adds a deep punch to your music. The two channel stereo separation is also very evident thanks to the Sony Engineers designing an angle-mount of the two satellite speakers. The angled, speaker sound covers a much wider area, which amplifies the channel separation and treats your ears to robust, multi-dimensional, listening pleasure. YooHoo! * Smart Phone Control of Sound/Lights– I can customize and control my sound and party lighting from my smartphone using the downloaded, Sony Music Center App from the App Store (or Google Play Store). In the 'Sound' mode I can use choose any one of these Presets, Extra Bass, Live Sound or Standard. Or, for more rich sound and depth I can customize my EQ settings to my own personal listening enjoyment (See Attached Photo). My Grand Kids love to play with these settings for the Lights; Rave, Chill, Hot, Cool, Strobe, and, or Random Flash Off. The lights definitely add a 'party-atmosphere' other speakers are not capable of. * Google Assistant - Built-in Google Assistant awaits your commands and controls all of your homes smart devices if you so wish. Personally, I am not a big fan of this added feature. However, it does allow syncing of multiple speakers that are Chromecast enabled. Of course, my Grand Kids think this feature is so cool. They can request a particular song, turn the volume up or down, all totally 'hands-free'. I can access Wi-Fi music services through my Google Assistant or BT through my smart phone. How versatile is that? * Long Battery Life - Up to 16 hours of battery life (Without the Lights). Additionally, I can still play this speaker while it is plugged in to an A/C outlet. I prefer to plug it in since the Grand Kids want the lights on constantly because it syncs to their music. And, after all what is a 'party-speaker' without the entertaining multi-colored lights and flashing strobe? On battery power alone with the lights constantly on I estimate about 6 hours of use before this speaker needs charging. * IP65 Rated - Splash-resistant and dustproof too. If caught in the rain – no problem. However, this speaker is not waterproof. It cannot be submerged under water. * Charging – I can use the proprietary, Sony A/C charger (Included) or the USB-C port for charging. However, I found the A/C charger is much faster. I can also use the USB-C port to charge my smart phone. Nice! * Portable & Ruggedly Built – The Sony XB501G Speaker is extremely portable (Weighs Approximately 7 pounds. It has an easy-carrying handle for a firm grip when moving it around. I highly recommend the purchase of this Sony Sony XB501G especially if you like outstanding sound and rich, extra bass, multitude of functions, never ending colorful light displays synced to the music. And, just because my Grand Kids love it so much. The 'Extra Bass' feature blows me away. This speaker is pricey, but well worth the cost.

I don’t remember my first Bluetooth speaker, but I do know that since I was introduced to them, I’ve been obsessed. I love having the ability to essentially have a boombox with you everywhere you go. Some speakers are much more advanced than others and can act as charging docks and some even have built-in digital voice assistants like the more recent one I’ve tested, the Sony SRS-XB501G Wireless Speaker. The packaging of the speaker was well designed. It’s brightly colored and represents the product well. Some basic details are included on the box and there are quite a bit of styrofoam pieces made to form around the speaker. The speaker is shipped with a power cable and manuals. It’s a fairly self-contained system and very easily transported. Setting up the speaker is very easy, but it does require that you set up the Google Assistant before you use the other features of the speaker like connecting to it via Bluetooth. I found this to be a little off-putting because I’d like to have been able to just connect via Bluetooth without the hassle of connecting the speaker to my Google account. I like having that option, but I think that the speaker’s standard features should be autonomous from the Google Assistant. (Instructions read: After the Wi-Fi setup is complete, press and hold the (BLUETOOTH)/ PAIRING button for about 3 seconds.) Aside from the Google Assistant getting in the way of basic functionality, the Sony SRS-XB501G Wireless Speaker is a great speaker. I love the size of i, especially for group events. It’s really easy to carry from place to place thanks to the hefty handle on the back of the speaker. The buttons on the top of the speaker include the power button, play/pause button, Link indicator, Charge indicator, volume buttons, microphone button, battery button, lighting button, and various other indicator lights. After you complete the initial set-up, the speaker connects automatically when it’s powered on. The sound quality of the speaker is incredible. The EXTRA BASS really makes everything punchy and deep. I listened to several different styles of music and thought it was also improved by pushing it through the Sony Speaker. I also watched some movies and TV shows to get a feel for how the dialogue would come through and found that everything sounded right. The mix was even and no sound effects were lost by using the speaker. In order to get full use of this speaker you have to download not one, but two apps — the Google Home app and the Sony Music Center app. The Google Home app gives you connection to the Google Assistant while the Sony Music Center app gives you control over the fine tuning features of the speaker. I would love to see them condensed into one app. That said, I really like the Sony Music App. You have control of the lighting effects and can actually power down the speaker from the app. This is a great feature to have with this type of speaker. The Sony SRS-XB501G Wireless Speaker is a pricey investment at $300 but worth it since it provides such a high-quality sound and includes a built-in Google Assistant. I do wish that Sony could find a way to include the Google Home app into their Music Center app and I wish they could also find a way to make the Google Assistant feature separate from the other speaker functions. That said, I think the sound quality that the speaker provides outweighs all the unfortunate features that I disagreed with.

I have been using the XB501G for about a week now with about 16 hours total usage. I did not charge it right out of the box and used it for about 2-3 hours before the charge light started blinking. I plugged it in to charge which took around 5-6 hours. I have since used it for over 12 hours over 4 days and the Sony Music Center app is showing 30% left on the battery. Sony says to download the Google Home app for the initial setup of the XB501G so that you can have the Google Assistant setup. You also need to download the Sony Music Center app I mentioned earlier. Having Google Assistant adds convience with the ability to control the speaker functions like volume, play/pause and skip/play previous track. I was also able to connect to my Chromecast and play YouTube videos. The Google Assistant can have an issue with hearing you when the speaker volume is at higher levels. The Sony Music Center app is needed to access the XB501G's settings which are Sound (ClearAudio+ a Sony recommended sound setting and sound mode that offers 3 presets Extra Bass, Live Sound and Standard) I like the sound from the XB501G with the Extra Bass setting the most as you get that Extra Bass without losing any Mids or Highs. The Live Sound setting does add a Live Sound to most songs but while cool I prefer the Extra Bass setting. The ClearAudio+ setting works well to give a good balanced sound. Other settings include Illumination which lets you control the Light Mode (Rave, Chill, Hot, Cool, Strobe, Random Flash Off and Off) You can only change the light mode from the app as the Light button on the speaker only turns the Light On or Off which is a bit of a bummer. Another bummer is that the Lights do not react to the music but are just programmed patterns. I found myself turning the lights off more than on. The Power Option setting just tells you the percentage of battery power left. And the System setting tells you the software version. And you can control volume via the app, your voice or the buttons on the speaker. The XB501G provides great sound playing music with Crisp Highs and Mids and Very Good Bass (not window shaking but you don't feel like your missing any bass on most music) The speaker is a bit bulkier then most portable speakers I have seen but the built in handle makes carrying it easy and it feels well built. You can also use a tripod to hold the speaker, just be sure it has a long enough screw to securely hold the speaker as it is a bit heavy. My camera tripods mount was not sturdy enough for me to want to use it in any situation it might get bumped. Overall I am impressed by the Sony XB501G's sound and Google Assistant abilities. I would have liked the lights to be able to react to music rather then just be preprogrammed patterns. Maybe they will add this funtion with a future software update? Add this function and it would be 5 *

Overall, this is a great speaker for anyone looking for a portable speaker to play outdoors at a BBQ or poolside (it's not waterproof however). The sound is pretty good, although I don't consider myself an audiophile. Sony markets this as part of their "Extra Bass" line, and although there is definitely a stronger bass presence that most BT portable speakers, it lacks a ported enclosure, so the bass is definitely muted. The party light functionality works fine, although it's a little gimmicky for my taste. The light patterns and colors are somewhat coordinated to the music and there is a button to turn off/disable the lights, which also increases the battery life. Volume and quality of the sound is fairly good, although it does distort a little at higher volumes. It does have Google assistant built in, which made the setup process extremely easy - I had this up and running within 5 minutes thanks to Google's easy setup process - it's the same as setting up any other Google home device - just follow the directions on the app. I'm pleased to see that the speaker has both 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz wifi compatibility. The google assistant functionality works as expected, although you cannot place calls with this speaker. It only has two mics on the top of the device to listen for the wake up command, and there were a couple of times in my testing that I had to repeat the command in a louder voice because it didn't hear me over the music. The one negative I have is the charging - Sony includes a proprietary DC brick charger to charge the battery and it has a fairly short (6-ft cord). The speaker does have a USB-C jack in the back that you can use to charge the speaker, but it's not as fast as the proprietary DC charger plug in my limited testing. Battery life is rated at 16 hours, and there is a button on the device that will announce the remaining battery life (expressed in a percentage) through the speaker. From my limited testing, you can probably expect to get around 12-14 hours, however there are a lot of variables that will affect the battery life (wifi signal strength, volume, use of the lights). You can use the USB-C port as an output to charge your phone too, although you'll need to supply your own cable. I was not able to tell what the USB-C output is and/or if it's PD compatible (the manual doesn't specify). Overall, this is a great speaker to use to take out into the backyard/patio for BBQs and parties, provided you have a wifi network available to maximize the features with the built-in Google assistant. If you're not going to use this as a portable speaker and/or not interested in the google assistant features, I would say there are much better options at this price point and/or better values available.

Well, it has google assistance integrated but it beats any google device on their playground since this one is equipped with battery so it can go cordless for a while. Installation was very easy. It has a good WiFi so it never had issues keep connected to my home wifi. Sound music is good, clear and strong enough. It has fancy lighting system that is making it different and surely not boring. It is also Bluetooth capable so you can connect to it via Bluetooth too which is very useful. The sound capturing "microphone" is not the best but it is good enough. Battery has a good lasting life (more than enough) for any type of usage. The speaker has also a type-C USB connector that can be handy some times. It is safe to use it outdoor since it has some water (humidity) resistance. Volume level is loud enough. I mean, good to enjoy listening to music without annoying the neighbors... The only thing that is missing is the: CAST TO DEVICE like how chromecast is doing casting audio... Any ways, it is not a deal breaker but it would be nice if available. Regarding the price, I look at it this way: You are getting a Bluetooth cordless speaker + Google Assistant in high quality and capable device (from Sony). So it is not a bad deal at all...

I've had a couple of these types of speakers so far over the last few years. Earlier this year I got one of the XB41 Bluetooth Speakers and it has excellent wide sound as well as lot's of bass in such a small speaker. I wanted to check one of these out as it's a quite a bit larger and has a larger sub built in to it. I believe it is 5.25". The midrange/Tweeter point out at an angle above the Sub. This configuration gives a nice very wide sound stage. The sound is really good as well. I was fairly underwhelmed from the sub as given it's twice the size of what's in the XB41 it doesn't seem to have as much bass. I'm not sure if it's due to the sound profile or another issue but I've tried tweaking it in the Music Center app and it didn't seem to make much of a difference. It could have also been the music though. I tested it with some Soundtracks such as LOTR, I also listened to some EDM, Hip Hop/Rap/R&B, Rock, Metal and so forth. Through none of these did the bass seem to really pick up or be overwhelmingly evident like it was in the XB41. It's possible that using a pair of them would be better in terms of better bass. Again it could have just been my choice of music. The speaker will definitely not disappoint though. I do like that there is place in the bottom of the speaker to put it on a tripod to use in a similar fashion as your typical monitor speakers. Though it's definitely not going to replace a proper monitor such as a Behringer, Peavey etc... Charging can be done 2 ways, either through the USB-C port or through the included charger. The USB-C port can be used to charge a device like an Mobile Phone or perhaps a tablet. The rated run time is 16 hours. This could be underratted though as the XB40 and XB41 that I both tested seem to last forever as I've charged them maybe a couple times in the months I've used them. This does feature illumination like the other models. There aren't many option's like the other models, but there's something that will likely fit everyone, including and off option.

Very good speaker, so far the best I tried. Setup was very easy and sound quality is clear but with extra bass. Loud enough and with color changing LED lights it looks very modern and high class. Google assistant which allows voice control is very helpful but I am also missing the remote control, simply for purpose so I can turn on/off device without having to walk to it. Google assistant is great, you can integrate other devices, control all functions of speaker (except powering on/off), check the forecast, news or tell it to play artist or your playlist and more (depending on your subscriptions and services). Crazy good battery life which will last for hours even with lights on. Battery status can be checked by pressing “battery” button and you will get quiet voice information on battery status since there is no display indication for any info. Device it’s also waterproofed and dust resistant so it’s great for all conditions and environments. Sorry but I must deduct 1 star for lack of remote, since I had to get up to power on/off every time I want to listen some music, other than that this is one very good device.. Pros: Stylish Modern Loud Good battery life Google assistant LED lights makes it look good Cons: No remote – it has to powered on/off manually on speaker itself