Sony SRS-XB100 Bluetooth Audio Speaker Evaluation | CNN underscored

(CNN) The Sony XB13 has actually long been our leading choice of Bluetooth audio speakers for traveling, loading large audio, wonderful battery life and also a road-ready textile band in a little cyndrical tube you can take anywhere. Its follower, the brand-new XB100, is mainly the exact same and also relying on that you are, that’s no poor point.

Sony’s newest pint-sized audio speaker supplies a somewhat polished layout, rejuvenated shade choices and also boosted audio, with all the functions we currently liked on the XB13 (consisting of the practical capability to match 2 for immersive stereo audio). Existing XB13 proprietors do not have much factor to update, yet what regarding those aiming to get a travel-friendly audio speaker for the very first time? Right here’s what I assume after a week of shaking out with the most recent Sony.

The XB100 does not ruin what has actually currently worked with the XB13. Sony’s newest mini audio speaker looks a great deal like its precursor, with a 3.7-inch-tall, 0.6-pound layout that quickly suits the hand of my hand in addition to a helpful textile band to connect the XB100 to. to your knapsack, bike, or practically anything else you would certainly such as a Bluetooth audio speaker hanging from.

That claimed, Sony has actually made some refined and also smart adjustments to this year’s design, beginning with a brand-new soft-touch distinctive external covering that makes the audio speaker also less complicated to grasp. The Sony logo design is currently engraved right into the audio speaker as opposed to standing out of it in large white message, offering a somewhat cleaner, much more minimal appearance.

The shades are all mild adjustments from the previous design, with vibrant blue and also orange (I evaluated the last and also it looks spectacular) along with even more restrained grey and also charcoal choices. The XB100’s rubber onboard controls showed trustworthy and also fast in my screening, as I had no problem stopping, playing and also missing tracks or changing the quantity on the fly. There’s a flap that covers the USB-C billing port, which works on an audio speaker that may be wallowing poolside or at the coastline.

Mentioning which, the XB100 is IP67 ranked, implying it’s completely dirt and also sandproof and also can endure being immersed in around 3 feet of water. I extensively saturated the XB100 in running water in my sink a couple of times, and also it remained to sink simply great later on.

Like the XB13 prior to it, the XB100 generates remarkable audio from an audio speaker much shorter than a soft drink can. Sony’s mobile noisemaker had not a problem loading my room and also living-room with crisp audio that, for much better or even worse, is particularly popular in the bass.

Seriously, this low-end is growing, to the factor that I can literally really feel the bass drum audio each time I rested it on my cooking area counter or workdesk. This enjoyable bass aided raise pop tracks like Munas The One That Fled or Shallow Pools IHYK, which break from Sony’s small cyndrical tube with jaw-dropping fierceness. The XB13 likewise took care of vocals well, from the split three-part consistencies of boygenius to the punky grumble of State Anythings Max Bemis. When I switched on a podcast, the hosts’ voices were so clear they may also have actually remained in the space with me. Nonetheless, this thick bass was often a downside, as it often hushed the remainder of the track throughout guitar rock tracks. I really did not discover a substantial distinction in between XB100 and also XB13 when paying attention to both side-by-side, although tracks were significantly crisper and also louder on the brand-new audio speaker.

Generally, this is a great seeming audio speaker for $60, yet followers of digital songs, hip-hop, or anything bass-heavy will most likely obtain one of the most from it, d particularly given that there’s no buddy application to tailor points. If you desire much more immersive stereo audio (and also want to spend for 2 audio speakers), you can match 2 XB100s, which is a good included touch.

The XB100 is equally as efficient grabbing voices as it goes to outputting them, as my buddies kept in mind just how plainly I seemed on telephone call. The exact same holds true when I made use of the speaker phone to mobilize my apple iphone’s Siri aide, which reacted properly to my voice commands.

A mobile audio speaker is no great if it’s mosting likely to pass away midway with your journey. Thankfully, you will not need to bother with that with the XB100. Sony’s newest audio speaker is ranked for 16 hrs of battery life, which mainly matches my unscientific screening. I had the ability to survive nearly 5 days of hefty usage (consisting of lengthy hrs of songs and also a couple of telephone calls) prior to the audio speakers’ reduced battery indication also began.

I desire the audio speaker itself would certainly offer a far better concept of ​​continuing to be cost (the billing symbol simply blinks orange when reduced), although I had the ability to watch on the XB100’s continuing to be battery through my apple iphone. Generally, nevertheless, the solid endurance of the XB100 greater than suits that of its exceptional precursor and also ought to see you with a trip or a lengthy day at the coastline.

The USB-C cable television that features the XB100 is just regarding a foot long, and also you do not obtain a power supply in package. It’s rather typical for this kind of audio speaker, and also opportunities are you’ll have great deals of USB-C cable televisions and also battery chargers existing around, yet it can still confirm annoying if you require to reenergize. in the blink of an eye. If you take this audio speaker when driving, ideal to bring a mobile battery charger with it.

There’s no demand to repair what isn’t damaged, yet existing XB13 proprietors expecting something brand-new and also fresh will not locate a lot right here. It’s mainly the exact same audio speaker as the previous generation, simply with some mild layout adjustments and also a little boosted sound and also call top quality. It’s likewise a pity that the stereo set feature just functions in between

The Sony XB100 improves what was currently our favored traveling audio speaker, draining wonderful audio and also large battery for its little dimension while still looking great. If you’re aiming to invest no greater than $60 on a little audio speaker that you can stick on your bag or bike, this is a piece of cake.

If you get on an actually limited spending plan, the $25 Anker Soundcore Mini is an engaging option that has a couple of special advantages not discovered on Sony’s audio speaker, consisting of a microSD card port, complementary port for wired sound and also also an FM receiver to grab regional radio. Yet if you agree to choose much better audio top quality and also resilience, the XB100 is just as good as it obtains for $60.