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Sony SRS-XB13  Speaker Review

Reviewed Jul 19, 2021 at 10:15am
Tested using methodology v0.8 
Sony SRS-XB13
6.2
Music 
5.9
Videos/Movies 
7.2
Podcasts 
4.1
Voice Assistant 
6.9
Outdoors 
 3
Notice: This speakers was replaced by Sony SRS-XB100

The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small, budget-friendly portable speaker. It's the next generation of the Sony SRS-XB12, and much like its predecessor, it comes with a carrying strap, so you can easily carry it around with you when you're on the go. While it can't get very loud, there are few compression artifacts at max volume, so your audio sounds clean at louder volumes. It also has a wide-sounding soundstage and a somewhat boomy sound profile that adds some extra bass to the mix. However, like most small speakers we've tested, it still struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like hip-hop. It also doesn't come with a graphic EQ you can use to adjust its sound.

Our Verdict

6.2
Music 

The Sony SRS-XB13 isn't bad for music. It has a relatively boomy sound profile with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. That said, like most small speakers, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music. It also doesn't get very loud and downmixes stereo content to mono, which may not sound as immersive. It can play stereo content when paired to another unit, but we don't test it as this requires purchasing another device.

Pros
  • Little compression at max volume.
  • Fantastic directivity.
Cons
  • Requires two units for stereo sound.
  • No graphic EQ or presets.
5.9
Videos/Movies 

The Sony SRS-XB13 is sub-par for videos and movies. It has low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching movies and videos, though some apps compensate for latency differently, so your experience may differ. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in action-packed scenes, and there aren't any sound customization features you can use to tweak its sound. It also requires two units to play stereo sound, so it downmixes stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which isn't as immersive.

Pros
  • Little compression at max volume.
  • Low latency with iOS and Android.
Cons
  • Doesn't get very loud.
  • Requires two units for stereo sound.
  • No graphic EQ or presets.
7.2
Podcasts 

The Sony SRS-XB13 is decent for podcasts. This incredibly portable speaker has a balanced mid-range, so voices and dialogue are clearly and accurately reproduced. It also has outstanding directivity, meaning you can hear your audio clearly from most angles. Unfortunately, it doesn't get very loud. That said, there's little compression present at max volume, so your audio remains clean during louder listening sessions.

Pros
  • Fantastic directivity.
Cons
  • Doesn't get very loud.
4.1
Voice Assistant 

The Sony SRS-XB13 is poor for voice assistants. As part of our methodology, we use recorded commands to test voice assistant capabilities. While it couldn't register these commands, even without any ambient noise, it could register commands from a normal speaking voice, though this isn't part of our testing process. That said, it has incredible directivity, meaning you can hear your assistants clearly from all angles.

Pros
  • Fantastic directivity.
Cons
  • Doesn't get very loud.
  • Bad voice assistant performance.
6.9
Outdoors 

The Sony SRS-XB13 is alright for outdoor use. While it can't get very loud, there aren't many compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds clean at louder volumes. This well-built speaker is incredibly portable and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this. It also has fantastic directivity, so you'll perceive its soundstage as wide and open. Unfortunately, it struggles to reproduce the thump and rumble in low-bass, which may disappoint fans of bass-heavy music.

Pros
  • Little compression at max volume.
  • IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
  • Fantastic directivity.
Cons
  • Doesn't get very loud.
  • Requires two units for stereo sound.
  • No graphic EQ or presets.
  • 6.2
    Music
  • 5.9
    Videos/Movies
  • 7.2
    Podcasts
  • 4.1
    Voice Assistant
  • 6.9
    Outdoors
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 19, 2021: Review published.
    2.  Updated Jul 14, 2021: Early access published.
    3.  Updated Jun 22, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated Jun 21, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Sony SRS-XB13 comes in six color variants: Black, Light Blue, Coral Pink, Taupe, Powder Blue, and Lemon Yellow. We expect these variants to perform similarly. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can find its label here.

    If you come across any other variants, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Speaker Comparisons

    The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small and well-built, budget-friendly speaker that's similar to its predecessor, the Sony SRS-XB12. While they have very similar designs and perform similarly in many regards, the Sony XB13 can produce deeper bass and has a better-balanced sound profile than the Sony XB12. It also has a small port on its bottom for its bass. That said, unlike its predecessor, it doesn't feature an AUX input. Unfortunately, unlike the higher-end models from Sony's SRS lineup, the Sony XB12 and XB13 don't have a companion app and don't have a graphic EQ or presets you can use to tweak their sound.

    See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof speakers, and the best speakers under $100.

    Sony SRS-XB100

    The Sony SRS-XB13 and the Sony SRS-XB100 are very similar speakers with slight differences that might affect your preference between the two. They're both very portable, lightweight speakers, but the SRS-XB100 has a longer continuous battery life and slightly better low-frequency extension. It's also a bit better built and is compatible with the Sony Music Center app. That said, the SRS-XB13 has less compression at max volume and lower AV synchronization error. The latter will ensure that there's minimal lag between your audio and video if you like connecting to the speaker to watch YouTube videos or other video content. 

    JBL Clip 4

    The Sony SRS-XB13 is a better speaker than the JBL Clip 4. The Sony has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a deeper low-bass than the JBL. It can get louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes, and it has a wider-sounding soundstage than the JBL. However, the JBL is somewhat better built and comes with a built-in carabiner hook, which can come in handy when you're on the move.

    JBL Flip 5

    The Sony SRS-XB13 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Sony is smaller and better built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so it's fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It can get louder than the JBL with less compression present at max volume and has a wider and more open-sounding soundstage. It also has a longer-lasting battery life that lasts over 11 hours, though this can vary depending on your usage. The JBL can produce a more extended low-bass and pair with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers.

    Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2

    The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB13 overall. The Ultimate Ears can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, is better-built, and can get louder than the Sony. That said, the Sony has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume and has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may differ.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    Design
    Style
    RGB LightsNo

    The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small, lightweight speaker, with a very similar design to its predecessor, the Sony SRS-XB12. It comes with a carrying strap, so you can easily attach it to your bag or hang it from a hook. We tested the 'Black' color variant, but you can also find it in 'Light Blue', 'Coral Pink', 'Taupe', 'Powder Blue', and 'Lemon Yellow'.

    9.5
    Portability
    Volume
    32 in³ (521 cm³)
    Weight
    0.6 lbs (0.3 kg)
    Power Source
    Battery & USB
    One-Hand Carry
    Yes

    The Sony SRS-XB13 is incredibly portable. This small and lightweight speaker is battery-powered and comes with a carrying strap, so you can easily carry it in one hand and take it with you when you're out and about.

    7.9
    Build Quality
    Material Quality
    Good
    Water Resistance
    Submersible (IPx7)
    Dust Resistance
    Dust-Proof (IP6x)
    Impact Resistance
    Unspecified
    Floats In Water
    Unspecified

    The Sony XB13 has very good build quality. This speaker is mostly plastic, sits vertically, and has a small port on its bottom for the bass. There's also a metal grille on top of the speaker to protect its driver. Like the Sony SRS-XB12, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. That said, the manufacturer warns that the speaker isn't designed to resist water pressure, so it's best to avoid using it in areas like under your shower. They also advise ensuring the cap protecting its USB-C port is tightly sealed to avoid the deterioration of its dust and water resistance performance.

    7.9
    Controls
    Ease Of Use
    Great
    Feedback
    Good
    Music Play/Pause
    Yes (Physical)
    Call Answer/End
    Yes (Physical)
    Volume Up/Down
    Yes (Physical)
    Track Next/Previous
    Yes (Physical)
    Microphone On/Off
    No
    Additional Controls
    Yes

    The Sony SRS-XB13 has very good texturized controls at the bottom of the speaker that are pretty straightforward to use. You can use the play/pause button to answer and end phone calls, double press it to skip to your next track, and triple-press it to backtrack. To enter pairing mode, press the Bluetooth button. Connecting or disconnecting from the speaker causes it to emit a chime. You can also press and hold the Bluetooth button to connect it to another compatible speaker to create a stereo pair. Also, while there isn't any audible feedback to inform you of your volume level, the indicator light above the power button blinks three times when the speaker reaches its max volume level.

    In The Box

    • Sony SRS-XB13 speaker
    • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
    • Reference guide

    Sound
    6.0
    Frequency Response Accuracy
    See details on graph tool
    Slope
    -0.02
    Std. Err.
    3.72 dB
    Low-Frequency Extension
    84.8 Hz
    High-Frequency Extension
    17.0 kHz

    The Sony XB13's frequency response accuracy is passable. It has a somewhat boomy sound profile that adds a little extra bass to the mix. Its balanced mid-range ensures vocals and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced in the mix. That said, while it can produce deeper bass than the Sony SRS-XB12, like most speakers its size, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music. Unfortunately, there isn't a graphic EQ or presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking.

    Raw Frequency Response
    See details on graph tool
    Binaural Recording @ 1m
    Binaural Recording @ 2m
    7.5
    Soundstage
    See details on graph tool
    Directivity Index
    0.92 dB
    Stereo
    No (mono)

    This speaker's soundstage is good. It has fantastic directivity, resulting in a wide and natural-sounding soundstage. Unfortunately, it has to downmix stereo content to mono to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive. That said, you can connect it to another compatible speaker to create a stereo pair whenever you want to listen to stereo content.

    6.3
    Dynamics
    See details on graph tool
    SPL @ Max Volume
    78.4 dB SPL
    DRC @ Max Volume
    0.96 dB

    This speaker's dynamics performance isn't bad. While it can't get very loud, there are few compression artifacts present at max volume, so your audio sounds clean at louder volume settings.

    Active Features
    8.6
    Battery
    Battery Life
    11.5 hrs
    Charge Time
    3.4 hrs
    Power Saving
    Yes
    Charging Port
    USB-C
    Battery Powered
    Yes

    This speaker has an excellent battery performance. While the speaker is advertised to last up to 16 hours, it lasted under 12 hours in our tests, which is still superb. That said, battery life can vary depending on your usage habits and chosen settings, so your experience may differ. It also comes with a handy power-saving feature that shuts the Sony XB13 off when the speaker and its paired devices aren't operated for around 15 minutes.

    1.7
    Voice Assistant
    Alexa
    No
    Google Assistant
    Yes (Requires Smartphone)
    Speakerphone
    Yes
    Siri
    Yes (Requires Smartphone)
    Voice Assistant
    Yes
    Voice Activation
    No
    Microphone Mute
    No
    Far-Field Performance
    Bad
    Ambient Noise Performance
    Bad

    The Sony SRS-XB13's voice assistant capabilities are very bad. Since it doesn't have any voice assistants built-in, it uses those available on your smartphone. We tested the speaker's voice assistant capabilities using recorded voice commands as part of our testing methodology. Unfortunately, much like the Sony SRS-XB12 and some other Sony speakers we've tested, the Sony XB13 didn't register or respond to these commands even when there wasn't any ambient noise present. That said, it could register some commands from a normal speaking voice, though this isn't part of our testing process.

    0.0
    App
    App Name
    No App
    iOS
    No
    Android
    No
    EQ
    No
    Stereo Pair Mode
    No
    Party Mode
    No
    Multi-Room
    No
    Connectivity
    Wired
    Aux Input
    No
    USB Audio
    No
    Other Ports
    No
    8.2
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth
    Yes
    Bluetooth Version
    4.2
    Bluetooth iOS Latency
    41 ms
    Bluetooth Android Latency
    97 ms
    Bluetooth Range
    334.6 ft (102.0 m)
    Multi-Device Pairing
    No

    The Sony XB13 has very good Bluetooth connectivity. If you're an Android user, you can quickly pair your phone to the speaker by placing them next to each other. When it's in pairing mode and your phone's Bluetooth is enabled, a notification should appear on your phone to connect it to the speaker quickly.

    The Sony XB13 has low latency with Android and iOS devices, making it suitable for watching videos and movies over this connection. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary. Unfortunately, you can only pair it to one device at a time, so you can't easily and quickly switch between audio sources.

    0.0
    Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi Version
    No Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi Frequency Band
    No Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi
    No
    Apple AirPlay
    No
    AirPlay Latency
    N/A
    Google Chromecast
    No
    Chromecast Latency
    N/A

    Comments

    1. Product

    Sony SRS-XB13: Main Discussion

    Let us know why you want us to review the product here, or encourage others to vote for this product.

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    1. 2
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      It looks like they’re the same speaker. The “xb” in “xb13” stands for Extra Bass.

      Makes sense. It seems they dropped the “extra bass” in the title for the xb100, that’s what was confusing me.

    2. 2
      1
      0
      1
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      I see Sony produced an “extra bass” version of the xb13, despite them producing the xb100 successor? Any idea of how the “extra bass” version performs?

      It looks like they’re the same speaker. The “xb” in “xb13” stands for Extra Bass.

    3. 2
      1
      0
      1
      0

      I see Sony produced an “extra bass” version of the xb13, despite them producing the xb100 successor?

      Any idea of how the “extra bass” version performs?

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