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SonySRS-XB23

Portable speaker

£74View retailers

Test score

Lowest available prices

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The Sony SRS-XB23 is a cylindrical Bluetooth speaker and the smallest and cheapest model in what Sony calls its ‘party speaker’ range. It says it’s ideally compact, lightweight and easy to carry. Plus it claims it’s a cut above budget Bluetooth speakers, being ‘built to last’, with a waterproof, shockproof design, and it’s even washable. But does the sound quality really deliver, or is it an also-ran? Our expert lab tests and professional panel find out if it’s worth the price.

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What’s the sound like?
What’s it like to use?
Is there anything I should watch out for?
Is there anything I should know?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Sound quality
Ease of use
Features, audio sources and connections

Apr 2024Last checked by Which?
Sept 2020First reviewed by Which?
Aug 2020Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test speakers main image - Sonos One SL

How we test wireless, smart and Bluetooth speakers

29 Apr 2024

Sound quality

Overall
Classical sound quality
Jazz sound quality
Pop sound quality
Speech sound quality

How we test sound quality

We rate sound quality using a professional panel of five expert listeners with a range of ages and musical tastes. They listen to nine recordings per turntable which cover a wide range of music and radio genres, giving a rating per recording and an overall verdict (not an average).

Maximum volume

How we test maximum volume

We test how loud speakers will go before the sound distorts, so you know how loud it can actually go and still sound at its best, rather than the claimed maximum by the manufacturer that can stretch the speaker beyond its limits. Choose a speaker with a louder maximum volume to fill larger spaces.

Ease of use

Overall
Initial Set Up
Everyday Use
Ease of connecting up multiple devices (multi-room)
Portability
App ease of use

How we test ease of use

The overall ease of use as rated by our lab professionals. Includes how easy it is to set up, the quality of the instruction manual and the labelling of sockets. Everyday use includes how easy it is to connect devices, wirelessly stream music and control playback features. Multi-room use includes how easy it is to set up and connect to a wireless multi-room speaker system. The portability rating only applies to models with a battery.

Features, audio sources and connections

How we test features, audio sources and connections

Our lab professionals assess the number of different ways you can connect an audio source both wirelessly and via a cable. Watch out for models with a lower star rating - some models can be quite restrictive, like only allow you to connect wirelessly or even only with wi-fi. Check the tech specs tab for full details.

Battery life

How we test battery life

We play music continuously at a reasonable volume until the battery runs out, typically over Bluetooth. A five star rating is 13:44 (hours:minutes) or more, and similarly 10:48 for four stars, 7:52 minutes for three stars and 4:56 minutes for two stars. Anything less gets the minimum one star rating.

General
Type of speaker	Portable speaker
Height	21.8cm
Width	7.3cm
Depth	7.3cm
Weight	0.58kg
Battery powered	Yes
Battery life in hrs:mins	10.08 hr
Claimed speaker output	none claimed
Recommended sound settings	Extra Bass on, Stereo mode, Bass -1, Treble -1

Connections
Bluetooth	Yes
Wi-fi	No
Smart speakers	No
Voice assistant(s) supported	Works with Siri, Works with Google Assistant
Multi-room	No
Chromecast multi-room	No
Ethernet	No
3.5mm line input	No
USB charging port	No

Features
Water resistant	Yes
Level of water resistance	IP67
Can be linked in stereo	Yes

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SonySRS-XB23

Lowest available prices