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Sony SRS-XG500 Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Jan 25, 2024 6:27 PM

True Score

82
79
7

Experts

91
2,330

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

Top analysts praised the Sony SRS-XG500 for its overwhelming bass output, water and dust resistance, and long playback time. They were pleased that it had a wide range of inputs and that its Bluetooth latency was also short. Still, they didn’t appreciate its lack of voice assistant and speakerphone functionality or its bulky size.

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$469.99
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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Sony SRS-XG500 is a top-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in mid-2021. As is standard with the top speakers in the industry, the XG-500 is capable of day-long use, as its battery lasts up to 30 hours after a single charge. It is also designed for outdoor use since it offers both dust and water resistance, and on both sides, it has an LED ring that lights up to provide ambient lighting. The speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers on the market. The speaker can maintain connectivity with a device up to 334 ft away and be paired with two devices simultaneously. The XG500 also has an AUX port for connecting devices directly to the speaker and two USB ports that can also be used to charge other devices.

Consensus

our Verdict

Product reviewers hailed the Sony SRS-XG500 for its deep bass response, sturdy build, and long battery life. Experts from T3 were impressed with its wide port selection, as they noted that it had a 3.5mm audio input, a USB input for device charging, a guitar/microphone input, and another USB port to play music from a storage device. They also commended its 30-hour battery life, and during their sound tests, they were blown away by its outstanding bass response. They also liked how loud it could get, while testers from Rtings appreciated its low iOS and Bluetooth latency. They agreed that this made it ideal for streaming music and videos without lag.

However, analysts were disappointed with its lack of voice assistant and speakerphone functionality. These features can be found on the Sony XB72 or the Sony XB90, which we’ve covered in our Sony XB72 review and our Sony XB90 review. They also felt that the speaker’s large size did not make it portable.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Great bass response
  • Loud max volume
  • Wide range of inputs
  • Water and dust resistant
  • Long battery life

Reason to Avoid

  • No voice assistant or speakerphone functionality
  • Bulky size

Sony SRS-XG500 Specs

Battery LifeBattery Life30 hrs
Built In MicrophoneBuilt In MicrophoneYes
Charge TimeCharge Time3 hrs
DepthDepth8.46"
HeightHeight10.7"
IPX RatingIPX RatingIP66
Smart AppSmart AppYes
Speaker PairingSpeaker PairingYes
Water ResistantWater ResistantYes
WattageWattage30W
WidthWidth18.11"
Wireless RangeWireless Range10 m

All Specs

Test Results

Battery Life (Hours)25.8
Volume Output (dB)97.6
Low End Roll Off (Hz)62.586
High End Roll Off (Hz)1,280

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Product Comparison

Sony SRS-XG500 Review

True Score

82
81
82
NR

Ranking

#

54

/

109

#

65

/

109

#

49

/

109

#

/

Market Context

The Sony SRS-XG500 is a top-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in mid-2021. As is standard with the top speakers in the industry, the…

The Sony SRS-XG500 is a top-tier Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in mid-2021. As is standard with the top speakers in the industry, the XG-500 is capable of day-long use, as its battery lasts up to 30 hours after a single charge. It is also designed for outdoor use since it offers both dust and water resistance, and on both sides, it has an LED ring that lights up to provide ambient lighting. The speaker’s Bluetooth connectivity is also at par with that of the highest-rated Bluetooth speakers on the market. The speaker can maintain connectivity with a device up to 334 ft away and be paired with two devices simultaneously. The XG500 also has an AUX port for connecting devices directly to the speaker and two USB ports that can also be used to charge other devices.

The Sony SRS-XG500 has a much longer 25.8-hour battery life than the Sony SRS-XB43, which lasts up to 15 hours. The XG500 also charges much…

The Sony SRS-XG500 has a much longer 25.8-hour battery life than the Sony SRS-XB43, which lasts up to 15 hours. The XG500 also charges much faster, requiring only 2.6 hours compared to the XB43, which takes up to 4.5 hours. However, the XB43 is compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri, while the XG500 is not. Go ahead and check out our Sony SRS-XB43 review to see what else its got to offer.

The Sony SRS-XG500 has RGB lighting, while the JBL Boombox 2 does not. The XG500 also takes a slightly shorter time to charge, requiring only…

The Sony SRS-XG500 has RGB lighting, while the JBL Boombox 2 does not. The XG500 also takes a slightly shorter time to charge, requiring only 2.6 hours to get to full capacity compared to the Boombox 2, which takes a longer 3.9 hours.

The first difference buyers will notice between the Sony SRS-XG500 and the Sony SRS-XG300 is that the XG500 is twice as large as the XG300….

The first difference buyers will notice between the Sony SRS-XG500 and the Sony SRS-XG300 is that the XG500 is twice as large as the XG300. However, the XG300 has support for both speakerphone and voice assistant functionality. The XG500 offers a longer battery life between the two, with a battery life of up to 25.8 hours compared to the 14.2 hours provided by the XG-300.

Battery Life

30 hrs

24 hrs

24 hrs

Built In Microphone

Yes

Yes

Yes

Charge Time

3 hrs

5 hrs

6.5 hrs

Depth

8.46"

Height

10.7"

IPX Rating

IP66

Smart App

Yes

n/a

Yes

Speaker Pairing

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dig Deeper

Sony SRS-XB43 Review →

JBL Boombox 2 Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

79

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

91

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

82

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    100.6

    Category Trust Rating

    71
    “No bottom line found for this product” Read More

    By:

    Tim Gideon
  • PC Mag
    43.6

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Sony SRS-XG500 is part of the Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers test program at Consumer… Read More

    By:

    Yasmine Crossland
  • Which?
    55.2

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    Sony SRS-XG500 Sony’s latest portable Bluetooth speaker is built for big spaces and loud parties… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • Choice
    44.8

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    The Sony SRS-XG500 is alright for music. With its ‘MEGA BASS’ preset enabled and its… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • Consumer Reports
    15.6

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    Whether you need to make sure you’ve got something that can truly fill an outdoor… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • T3
    45

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Sony SRS-XG500 speaker provides massive sound in a large, water-resistant boombox-style design. Read More

    By:

    John Panoryios