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Bluetooth Speakers

True Score Methodology v1.0

Sony SRS-XB13 Review

November 16, 2023

True Score

Meh

Experts

15.1k

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

)

Editors were amazed by the Sony SRS-XB13 during their experiments, and they recommended it for podcasts, music, and the outdoors. They loved its IP67-rated waterproof construction, speakerphone and voice assistant functions, and neutral sound profile. However, they were disappointed that it lacks an EQ.

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Table of Contents

Overview
What Is Not on the Box
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Customer Score Breakdown
Learn More About Bluetooth Speakers

Overview

The Sony SRS-XB13 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2021, touting a portable waterproof design for use on the go. Featuring a lightweight design and carrying strap, this speaker rates highly alongside the best-ranked speakers today. This portable speaker connects via Bluetooth 4.2 to devices as far away as 334.6 feet. Boasting an IP67-rated design, this unit is both submersible waterproof and dust-proof. It has a wide 84.8Hz to 17.0kHz frequency response range. Browse the specs of the Sony SRS-XB13 below and check out the top Bluetooth speakers in the industry today.

What Is Not on the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

our Verdict

Top critics adored the Sony SRS-XB13 during their evaluation sessions, approving the speaker for music, podcasts, and the outdoors. Experts from T3 loved its remarkable 0.6-lb portable construction. Analysts from Tech Hive applauded its speakerphone functions and IP67-rated submersible waterproof, dust-proof construction. However, it doesn’t get very loud, featuring a 78.4 dB maximum SPL, although the 0.96 dB DRC shows good sound quality at the maximum volume. Explore our Sonos Roam SL review if you need a louder speaker. The SRX-XB13 boasts a good 3.72 dB standard error, delivering balanced music. With an excellent 0.92 dB directivity index, this speaker provides a wide, natural soundstage. Battery life tests revealed a good 11.5-hour runtime, and the speaker supports smartphone-based Google Assistant and Siri voice assistants. The SRS-XB13 has good 41 ms iOS Bluetooth latency and 97 ms Android latency, so it’s good for movies. It also downgrades stereo to mono and lacks an EQ. See our SOUNDBOKS Go review if you need an EQ.

True Score

Reasons to Buy

Well-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box
Outstanding IP67-rated waterproof construction
Immersive soundstage
Low sound compression rate at the highest volume setting
Decent 11.5-hour battery life

Reasons to Avoid

Lacks EQ
Doesn’t support multi-device pairing
Downgrades stereo to mono
Doesn’t get very loud

Specifications

	Battery Life	16 hrs
	Built In Microphone	Yes
	Charge Time	4.5 hrs
	Size	3.75" (h) x 3" (w) x 3" (d)
	Smart App	Yes
	Speaker Pairing	Yes
	Water Resistant	Yes
	Wattage	5-10W
	Wireless Range	33 ft

All Specs

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Product Comparison

	Sony SRS-XB13 Review	Sony SRS-XB12 Review	Sony SRS-XB23 Review	JBL Go 3 Review
True Score	68	76	73	77
Ranking	# 60 / 81	# 33 / 81	# 42 / 81	# 24 / 81
Market Context	The Sony SRS-XB13 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2021, touting a portable waterproof design for use on the go…. The Sony SRS-XB13 is an entry-level portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2021, touting a portable waterproof design for use on the go. Featuring a lightweight design and carrying strap, this speaker rates highly alongside the best-ranked speakers today. This portable speaker connects via Bluetooth 4.2 to devices as far away as 334.6 feet. Boasting an IP67-rated design, this unit is both submersible waterproof and dust-proof. It has a wide 84.8Hz to 17.0kHz frequency response range. Browse the specs of the Sony SRS-XB13 below and check out the top Bluetooth speakers in the industry today.	Featuring deeper bass, the Sony SRS-XB13 (this review) is better for music and movie enthusiasts than the Sony SRS-XB12. However, the XB12 features an aux… Featuring deeper bass, the Sony SRS-XB13 (this review) is better for music and movie enthusiasts than the Sony SRS-XB12. However, the XB12 features an aux port, which is not available on the XB13 portable speaker. Learn more about the XB12 in our detailed Sony SRS-XB12 review today.	Thanks to an app-based graphic EQ, the Sony SRS-XB23 is more customizable than the Sony XB13. The XB23 also produces deeper extended low-bass. However, the… Thanks to an app-based graphic EQ, the Sony SRS-XB23 is more customizable than the Sony XB13. The XB23 also produces deeper extended low-bass. However, the 0.6-lb Sony SRS-XB13 is more portable than the 1.1-lb XB23 wireless speaker. Check out our Sony SRS-XB23 review for details about the smaller speaker.	With a better 0.92 dB directivity index, the Sony SRS-XB13 portable speaker produces more immersive music than the JBL GO 3, which has a 3.78… With a better 0.92 dB directivity index, the Sony SRS-XB13 portable speaker produces more immersive music than the JBL GO 3, which has a 3.78 dB directivity index. It also has a better 11.5-hour battery life than the JBL speaker, which runs for 5 hours. However, the JBL device gets louder, featuring a 79.6 dB maximum SPL, beating the 78.4 dB maximum SPL of the Sony portable speaker.
Battery Life	16 hrs	16 hrs	12 hrs	5 hrs
Built In Microphone	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Charge Time	4.5 hrs	4 hrs and 30 meters	4 hrs	2.5 hrs
Size	3.75" (h) x 3" (w) x 3" (d)	74 mm (d) x 92 mm (h)	Diameter: 76 mm (d) Height: 218 mm (h)	3.4" (w) x 2.7" (h) x 1.6" (d)
Smart App	Yes	Yes	Yes	JBL Portable
Speaker Pairing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dig Deeper		Read review →: Sony SRS-XB12 Review	Read review →: Sony SRS-XB23 Review	Read review →: JBL Go 3 Review

Score Card

Expert Score

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

Customer Score

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

Any product with a True Score above 60 is a Meh

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

A
Trust Score
60
The Sony SRS-XB13 isn’t bad for music. It has a relatively boomy sound profile with… read more
By:
Dagobiet Morales Alfaro
D
Trust Score
70
The SRS-XB13 is Sony’s cheap portable speaker that’s built for people on a budget, but… read more
By:
Yasmine Crossland
D
Trust Score
NR
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a portable small Bluetooth speaker. Its compact design and carrying strap… read more
By:
Unknown
D
Trust Score
50
This small, IP67-rated speaker is as good as it gets for its diminutive size, delivering… read more
By:
Jon L. Jacobi
F
Trust Score
NR
“No bottom line found for this product” read more
By:
Unknown
F
Trust Score
80
Sony’s outdoor-friendly SRS-XB13 speaker waterproof build is probably its best selling point—the audio performance is… read more
By:
Nick Pino