Even if you pay a lot for all of these features and abilities, the XG300 still outperforms the JBL Xtreme 3 as our previous winner in this price range due to its higher customizability possibilities and stronger audio output. However, the JBL Charge 5 gives enough of bass power in a smaller package if you don’t want to spend over $300 on an outdoor speaker. A scaled-down version of the Sony SRS-XG500 is the SRS-XG300. Its passive radiators are surrounded by RGB lights or have similar design. This smaller edition has built-in retractable handle, making it simpler to transport when on the go. It is also compatible with Sony’s Fiestable application, which gives you access to the speaker’s additional party functions such as DJ and light effects, just like other Sony speakers with RGB lighting. Nevertheless, it lacks the mic or guitar inputs found on the SRS-XG500, making it impossible to connect additional instruments to the speaker.
Sony SRS-XG300 review: Design
By a wide margin, the SRS-XG300 is the largest of the new X-Series portable speakers. It has a 318mm wide speaker that resembles a miniature boombox. It is a large speaker to transport and wasn’t intended for vertical playback. Because the XG300 weighs 3 kg, it is towards the heavier end of portable speakers, therefore the retractable handle is useful. Similar in size to the Sonos Move, Harman Kardon Citation 200, and Bang & Olufsen Beolit 20, the XG300 is the heaviest to hoist of the Sonos and B&O speakers. For its size, the XG300 has a classy appearance as a party speaker. It is covered in a stylish knit fabric that comes in black or grey variations, and has a modest hourglass form with broad ends and a narrow midsection. It has the same IP67 rating as the smaller Wonderboom 3 and Emberton II, making it resistant to the entry of dust and water. There are buttons on either side of the device, beneath the carry handle. The volume controls and playback/call buttons are on the right, while the power, Bluetooth, and Mega Bass buttons are on the left. There is a click with each push to indicate that it has been registered, and presses don’t require much effort. A flap that wraps around the back hides the connections and a few additional buttons. There is a stereo mini-jack for connecting an external device, a USB-C connector for charging another device, and a USB-A port for charging the speaker itself. The Battery Care and Light features are accessible via the buttons.
Connectivity
If you possess an Android device, the Sony XG300’s Bluetooth 5.2 and Google fast-pair support makes setup quick and simple. However, pairing an iPhone is simple as well. You also get multi-point connectivity, so if you’re throwing a party, two of you may simultaneously cue up music from two paired devices. also you can learn our article on Sony SRS-XG300 review. For quick pairing with Android devices, Google Fast Pair is on board; no equivalent capability is offered for iOS. For a product billed as a “party” speaker, the speaker’s ability to serve as a speaker phone for calls offers an unexpected level of versatility. During calls, the Echo Cancelling technology onboard seeks to eliminate latency or echoes.
Sony SRS-XG300 review: Controls
The LEDs on the sides are controlled via the Illumination section, which offers nine options. Others will change and shift in a pattern or even to the beat of the music, while some will have a static light. Fiestable (Android/iOS) is a different app that can connect to that. You may use it to give your lights party-like effects for nothing when you download it. Once more, something to experiment with to determine if you like it in particular circumstances. It can be considerably more advanced if speakers can be grouped together. We were unable to test the stereo pairing capability of two XG300s for distinct left and right channels. To play music in time, you can bring together compatible speakers using Party Connect. It’s a rather simple method that we were able to use with both the XE300 and XE200. There is some utility here because Sony claims that it will function with any of its speakers that support Party Connect. Although the speakers must play the same content, you could spread them out and place them in various rooms for a simulated multiroom arrangement. However, Bluetooth range will eventually limit how far apart the speakers may be from one another.
Sound Quality
The extra oddles of low-end punch provided here can be used freely, or not, and you can be sure that they will almost never ever bloat, distort, lag, or get muddy. Typically, we advise listeners to ignore the “bass-boost” and “X-Bass” buttons. Simply told, this speaker has excellent sound quality over a wide range of content. Streaming The Kid LAROI’s snappy STAY is a joy in terms of head-nodding melody, and the Sony embraces each passing blip, sample, or vocal line with care and what appears to be total attention. As the playlist progresses, the Sony continues to wow us with nuanced, emotional voices that are also delivered with zeal and relentless purpose. The treble is clear, crisp, and soaring throughout tracks like Ghett’s Mozambique, but never at the price of an appealing and neutral mix. Gordon MacRae’s stunning high baritone belt in the Soliloquy from the original motion picture recording of the musical Carousel is engrossing and well-weighted even as the song builds to its turbulent conclusion. The song begins with a motorbike that feels three-dimensional and realistic in Motley Crue’s Girls, Girls, Girls.
Sony SRS-XG300 review: Battery life
Sony claims that the XG300 can play for up to 25 hours on a single charge, although there are caveats to that claim. The 25-hour mark is reached if Mega Bass is turned on, the LED lights are off, and the volume is set to default. It was challenging for us to determine the exact battery life due to the numerous factors at play, including whether the lights were static or flashing and modifications to the volume and sound settings. If we had to guess, we’d say the battery lasted about 17 hours with the lights always on, the loudness at 60–70%, and the Mega Bass switch on. When you consider the authority you receive in exchange, those figures aren’t bad. You can connect in for 10 minutes and receive up to 70 minutes of playback in an emergency. Additionally, you can look at the options in the Power Option section of the app’s settings. Stamina mode drastically decreases the bass response while turning off the lights to conserve energy. By default, Battery Care is enabled, which reduces the charging level to 90% in order to protect and lengthen the battery’s life. Also enabled by default, Auto Standby turns the speaker off after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Price
The Sony XG300 was made available in July 2022 and comes in two colorways: black and light grey. Both cost two dollars less than $350 in the US or nine pounds more than £250 in the UK. While we wish there was more we could say or do to mitigate this and make it better, we can only assure you that Sony’s offer is undeniably worthwhile if you’re willing to part with that kind of money. For comparison, the larger and five-star Tribit Stormbox Blast costs only $199 (about £163, or U$290). It’s cheaper and offers fantastic value for the price, but the Sony has better sound quality. also you can check our article on Sony SRS-XG300 review.
Conclusion
For music, the Sony SRS-XG300 is adequate. It features a boomy overall sound profile with its “MEGA BASS” preset selected, which provides extra warmth and punch to the mix and makes it suited for listening to a variety of musical genres. Vocals and lead instruments seem distinct and present in the mix because to the midrange’s generally balanced quality. Higher-pitched singers and instruments, however, occasionally seem flat and veiled. You can’t feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM or hip-hop because it doesn’t have enough low bass. Though this isn’t enough to feel the thud and rumble in bass-heavy audio, you can customise its sound profile with the help of the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app. Although there is compression at maximum level, which reduces audio quality as the volume is increased, it also becomes quite loud.
