So I've been looking for my do-it-all BT speaker for a while, without spending too much, and of the ones I have owned, the Sony SRS-XB33 is the clear winner. Scroll down if you want to read the direct review of the Sony speaker.
Previously, I've owned the Oontz Angle 3 Ultra, and briefly the Tribit Maxsound Plus, and JBL Charge 4. The Oontz speakers I still own, (two in paired stero), and they are a great value for the money, especially as a pair in stereo. That would be a clear winner for me for under $100 (for both!) However, as you might imagine, the small size and overall build prevents this from really producing deep, resonating bass, and the overall sound is a little thin without a ton of range. However, for a lot of people, these would be a perfectly acceptable choice for on-the-go music.
The Tribit Maxsound was just not very good. I don't know how it seems to receive such high praise as an affordable, but great sounding speaker. It just isn't very good, very tinny, and the bass is really lacking. The Oontz speakers are a much better sound profile, and even slightly better bass. That model also cannot be paired in stereo (AFAIK). Not worth purchasing IMO.
Now, for the XB33, and how it compared to a worthy competitor, the JBL Charge 4. The two speakers are of similar size (I didn't get exact measurements, but are more or less similar), and larger than I might have though. Perhaps because I was used to much smaller, cheaper BT speakers... These are definitely not as portable, at least for things like packing in luggage. Probably fine for road trips, but I would not want to pack this in my airplane luggage. In the box comes the speaker, a charging cord and some (terrible) instructions. The instructions now look like IKEA assembly instructions, just confusing pictures. The pairing process is pretty easy.
SOUND: The sound quality of this speaker is outstanding. The overall sound profile is very rich, and it seems to carry farther than the volume would indicate. Meaning, some speakers are loud, but when you walk further away from it, the sound dissipates quickly. The Sony speaker's sound carries farther, I don't know why that is, or how that is quantified, other than when I walk away from it, the volume I hear decreases much more slowly than some other speakers I've had. Again, that's one of those possibly subjective things, but it's definitely true based on my experience. The bass is very robust and resonates well without simply thumping for the sake of being the deepest, hardest bass. The Charge 4 has deeper bass that hits harder, but this one just sounds better. It complements the mids and highs much better than the Charge 4. Speaking of which, the main issue I had with that speaker is the lack of clarity in the mid range. The profile was just too one-dimensional for me. Thumpy bass and decent highs, but there was no depth to the sound. I just could not get into the sound profile from that speaker. You'll see a common complaint about the Charge 4 is the mids, and it absolutely is true. A good speaker with very good bass, but no depth and dimension to it. Back to this speaker, the overall sound profile is the key point. The bass is very good, but the speaker isn't just a slapper. The mids and highs are all excellently rendered in a very three dimensional sound that works well together. There isn't one aspect of this speaker that is "the best", but as a total package, it's the best sound I've heard from speakers in and around this price point. Recently I purchased a second to pair in stereo, and I'm even more impressed now. One speaker by itself sounds so rich that you may not need a second, but you really can hear the difference in two of them. Hands down, this is the winner vs the Charge 4, and an excellent value in this price range. Oh, I forgot to mention the lights! They are customizeable in the app, and really add some additional flare to a great sounding speaker, for those big house parties.
A few minor complaints I have. One is the volume of this speaker is surprisingly low. I have sensitive hearing, so I generally don't need extreme volume, but I find myself usually at about 80-90% volume outside, and maybe 70% inside, and that's just to listen at a decently loud, but comfortable volume. If you turn it all the way up, it's loud, but I could easily leave it turned up all the way without feeling like my ears would start bleeding immediately. Even my small Oontz speakers can get louder. Again, as a stereo pair, the overall volume is much louder, and that might be a solution, but as a solo speaker, some people might find the volume a bit low. Also, the battery life is pretty poor. Maybe I'm not used to these larger speakers, but I find myself charging the thing every few days, using it several hours a day. It is probably within spec, but it sure does seem like these need to be charged quite often. However, apart from that, this speaker is fantastic, and highly recommended.
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From the brand
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Sony is a creative entertainment company with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, and more.
For over 70 years, imagination has been the fuel of everything we do. From how people listen to music, to how they play games, to how they watch TV, our big imaginations have led us to create products that innovate and inspire generations.
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Rock your world
X-Series Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speakers
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WF-1000XM5
NEW Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds
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BRAVIA XR TV'S
Experience breathtaking picture quality with color and contrast engineered to bring out real-life details and accurate colors.
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A-Series Home Audio
A new frontier of surround sound
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Into your ZONE
Prepare for victory with INZONE gaming monitors and headsets.
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From the manufacturer
Powerful sound that goes with you
XB33 EXTRA BASS Portable BLUETOOTH Speaker
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IP67 rating
Waterproof and rustproof
Water proof so you’ve got no worries using it by the sea, the pool, or even washing it.
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IP67 rating
Dustproof for outdoor activities
Take your speaker to the trail, forest, city, or wherever you like no matter how dusty the surface.
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Shockproof, built to last
The SRS-XB33 can withstand the inevitable knocks, bumps and scrapes that come with everyday use.
1 Waterproof and rustproof 2 Dustproof 3 Shockproof
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Light up the party
Speaker light & multi-color line light that flash in sync with the beat and can change color.
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Enjoy powerful sound anywhere
Enjoy deep, punchy sound wherever you like with your EXTRA BASS speaker.
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Get things booming with Party Connect
Connect up to 100 wireless speakers with BLUETOOTH technology and the music and lights sync-up.
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Richer, deeper, more rewarding listening
Developed by Sony, the X-Balanced Speaker Unit achieves high sound quality and powerful sound.
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Hear it like it’s live
Bring your party to life with a unique three-dimensional sound experience – creating festival vibes.
1 Light up the party 2 EXTRA BASS 3 Party Connect 4 X-Balanced Speaker 5 LIVE SOUND MODE
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Home office speaker with mic for calls & music
A convenient way to talk hands-free, whether it’s a conference call for work or a chat with friends.
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Control the party with the Sony | Music Center app
Select your favorite playlists, cue the next song, change lighting patterns and sound modes.
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Download the Fiestable app
Control the lighting and use motion control gestures on your smartphone screen.
1 Hands-free calling 2 Sony | Music Center app 3 Fiestable app
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Lasts all day long
Up to a 24-hour battery life means the SRS-XB33 can party even longer than you can.
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USB Type-C and USB charging ports
Efficiently charge with USB Type-C and charge your smartphone via USB connection.
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Stand it up or on its side
Horizontal or vertical - the XB33 sits securely so you can always find space for it.
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Side passive radiators
The layout of the side passive radiators has been optimized to reproduce clear bass sound.
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Stream music with BLUETOOTH technology and NFC
BLUETOOTH streaming with NFC connectivity makes it simple to stream your party playlist.
1 24-hour battery life 2 USB Type-C & USB charging 3 Horizontal or vertical 4 Side passive radiators 5 BLUETOOTH and NFC
Sony EXTRA BASS Portable Wireless Speakers
 SRS-XB33 |  SRS-XB43 |  SRS-XB23 |  SRS-XB13 | |
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Customer Reviews
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6,363
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4,995
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9,075
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11,134
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Price
| — | — | $65.18 | $58.00 |
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Wireless Playback
| Bluetooth with NFC | Bluetooth with NFC | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
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LIVE SOUND mode
| ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
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Battery life (approx.)
| 24 hours | 24 hours | 12 hours | 16 hours |
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Smartphone charging
| ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
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Speaker Add function
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
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Lighting
| ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
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APP
| Sony | Music Center, Fiestable | Sony | Music Center, Fiestable | Sony | Music Center | N/A |
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IP67 Dust-proof & water-proof
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
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Unique features
| — | — | Removable Strap | Removable color-matching strap |
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Built-in Mic
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Sony SRS-XB33 EXTRA BASS Wireless Bluetooth Portable Speaker, IP67 Waterproof & Durable for Home, Outdoor, and Travel, 24 Hour Battery, Party Lights, USB Type-C, and Speakerphone, Black |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $58.00 | -31% $89.70 List: $129.99 | $54.99 | -39% $85.66 New Price: $139.54 |
| Delivery | — | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it May 16 - 20 | Get it May 17 - 24 |
| Customer Ratings | |||||
| Bluetooth connectivity | |||||
| Battery life | |||||
| Sound quality | |||||
| Value for money | |||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | The Tudak Store | SpaceBound | WirelessWorld18 |
| speaker size | — | 5 centimeters | 7.6 centimeters | 4.85 inches | — |
| power source | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Battery Powered |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth, USB, NFC | Bluetooth, USB | wireless, Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| speaker type | Full Range | — | wireless | Outdoor | Multimedia |
| mounting type | Freestanding | Freestanding,Plug Mount | Freestanding | freestanding | Tabletop |
| weight | 1.1 kilograms | 8.9 ounces | 1.3 pounds | — | 2.87 pounds |
| model name | SRS-XB33 | SRSXB13/B | SRSXB23 | SRS XE200 | CRT2SNSRSXE300BRB |
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Honest Review: Sony Portable Speaker! Is It Worth It?
✅ Eric's Picks
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Customer Review: Perfect for the golf cart!!!!
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JBL Charge 4 Vs Sony SRS-XB33 Speaker: Which Is Better?
✅ Eric's Picks
Reviews with images
I work outside and it gets the job done!
It is not as loud as jbl speakers in its price range but it is loud enough to be heard several feet away outside. I work outside in urban community gardens and there is a lot of noises competing on being the loudest.My usual work day is shoveling stuff and so sound of several shovels scraping can be pretty loud. I keep the xb33 at 100% and the music is not drowned out by outdoor sounds. The speaker last about 8-10 hours at full volume on live mode or extra bass mode. Stamina mode can last 24 hours but it feels pointless to drop that much on a speaker and not use it's full potential.One of my coworkers has a jbl charge 5 but everyone prefers my xb33 despite it not being as loud. The xb33 makes up for its lack of loudness by having a much better balanced sound stage. You can hear every instrument and detail clearly and it doesn't get lost when you turn up the volume. The jbl speakers aeem to only focua on vocals,, mids, highs, and booming bass. The same songs can sound noticeably different on each speaker.Regarding music, this speaker is versatile. I use it to play trip hop, hip hop, drum & bass, jpop, rock, metal, soul, funk, dub, Latin jazz, orchestral, house and pop music and it all sounds great on it. The speaker doesn't have bias for any genre or elements but with the equalizer app you can get some customization. I have a video showing off the different songs I have playing on it.The range is fantastic and lives up to marketing. I had coworkers pair to my speaker and the walk offsite to do something else. Their phone would still be playing music through the speaker after they left but once they left the 66 feet range then it would disconnect.It lives up to being waterproof I used it in the rain and it worked perfectly fine. I spilt soda on it and ran water on it and it wasn't damaged at all either. I never worry about getting the speaker dirty because I know I can rinse the dirt off.I bought mine used for $60 and was surprised by how new it looks and perform. Don't be afraid of buying these used if you wanna save some money.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2021
Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Usually I'd buy personal audio from a manufacturer who specializes in speakers, like JBL, Beats by Dre or Sennheiser. But after purchasing some XB50AP earbuds, listening to some XB950N1 headphones, as well as my hearing my brother's SRS-XB31 Bluetooth speaker, I figured there was something to this XB (XTRA BASS) thing that Sony has. The SRS-XB33 is no exception! I bought this speaker to replace a JBL Flip 4 that I gave to my brother's girlfriend. Like all the XTRA BASS devices, the sound is crisp and clean with deep bass. I think It could have been louder. The party lights could have been better visually. And I wish the buttons on the control panel & the access panel in the back were illuminated for easier use. This speaker plays bigger than it looks. The party lights are... well I've seen better. But you'll get more playing time with them OFF. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW -- There's no AUX input. The speaker ships with the party lights & XTRA BASS ON. You can turn them OFF from the speaker, but there's very few audio or illumination settings otherwise. For those reasons, I recommend installing the Sony Music Center app on your Apple or Android device. It's very easy to use and offers multiple illumination settings, as well as additional audio settings; to include an equalizer. For additional party settings, also install Sony Fiestable. It automatically integrates with the Music Center app, but works indepently for other party functions. The speaker uses a USB Type C Charger, (in the packaging, no plug) and It has Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. U could even connect via NFC. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase! It has pretty good tech & great sound.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
BrunoF
Received a defective product - Sony Singapore don't give support
Reviewed in Singapore on January 19, 2021Color: BlackVerified Purchase
Kumar Jalli
Good sound and battery backup
Reviewed in India on September 12, 2023Color: BlackVerified Purchase
