Review on 🔊 Sony SRS-XB33: Ultimate Portable Speaker with EXTRA BASS, IP67 Waterproof, 24-Hour Battery, Bluetooth, Built-In Mic for Phone Calls - Black by Devin Maselli

So I've been looking for my all-in-one BT speaker for a while without spending too much and of the ones I've had, the Sony SRS-XB33 is the clear winner. Scroll down for a direct Sony speaker review. I used to have an Oontz Angle 3 Ultra and briefly a Tribit Maxsound Plus and a JBL Charge 4. I still have the Oontz speakers (two in a pair of stereos) and they are excellent value for money, especially as a pair of stereos . For me, this would be a clear winner for less than $100 (for both!). However, as you can imagine, the small size and overall construction prevent it from producing really deep, resonant bass and the overall sound is a bit thin without a ton. Offer. However, for many people, they would be a perfectly acceptable choice for listening to music on the go. Tribit Maxsound just wasn't very good. I don't know how it got such a high rating as a cheap but great sounding speaker. It's just not very good, very tinny and really lacking in bass. The Oontz speakers have a much better sound profile and even slightly better bass. This model also (to my knowledge) cannot be paired in stereo mode. IMO don't buy it. Now for the XB33 and how it compares to a worthy competitor, the JBL Charge 4. The two speakers are the same size (I didn't get exact measurements, but they're more or less similar) and bigger than I could ever have. Possibly because I'm used to much smaller and cheaper BT speakers. They're definitely not that portable, at least for things like packing luggage. Probably good for road trips, but I wouldn't want to pack it in my plane luggage. The box includes a speaker, charging cable and some (terrible) instructions. The guide now looks like an IKEA building guide, just confusing pictures. The pairing process is quite simple. SOUND: The sound quality of this speaker is simply outstanding. The overall sound profile is very rich and seems to stretch further than the volume would suggest. That means some speakers are loud, but as you move further away from them, the sound quickly dissipates. The sound of the Sony speaker goes further, I don't know why that is and how it is quantified, except that as I move away from it the volume I hear decreases at a much slower rate than some other speakers I have would have . Again, this is one of those possibly subjective things, but in my experience it's definitely true. The bass is very solid and resonates well, not just hitting the deepest and heaviest bass. The Charge 4 has deeper bass that hits harder, but this one sounds better. It complements the mids and highs much better than the Charge 4. Speaking of which, the main issue I had with this speaker is the lack of clarity in the midrange. The profile was too one-dimensional for me. Powerful bass and decent highs, but no depth of sound. I just couldn't get into the sound profile of this speaker. You'll see that a common complaint about the Charge 4 is in the mid-range, and that's absolutely true. Good speaker with very good bass but without depth and volume. Coming back to this speaker, the key point is the overall sound profile. The bass is very good, but the speaker isn't just a slap in the face. The mids and highs are excellently reproduced in a very three-dimensional sound that blends well into one another. There isn't a single aspect of this speaker that is "best", but overall it's the best sound I've heard from speakers in this price range. I recently bought a second one to pair with my stereo and now I'm even more impressed. One speaker alone sounds so rich you might not need the second, but you'll really hear the difference in two of them. Undoubtedly this is a winner compared to the Charge 4 and excellent value for money. Oh, I forgot to mention the light! They're configurable in the app and really add pizzazz to a great sounding speaker for large house parties. I have a few minor complaints. First, the volume of this speaker is surprisingly low. I have sensitive hearing so I generally don't need extreme volume, but I'm usually around 80-90% out and maybe 70% in, and that's just for decently loud listening, but comfortable. It gets loud if you turn it all the way on, but I could easily leave it on all the way without feeling my ears start bleeding right away. Even my small Oontz speakers can get louder. Again, the overall volume is much higher as a stereo pair and this may be a solution, but as a single speaker the volume may seem a bit low to some people. Also, the battery life is pretty bad. Maybe I'm not used to these big speakers, but I charge them every few days and use them for several hours a day. It's probably within spec, but seems like they need to be charged quite often. Other than that though, this speaker is fantastic and highly recommended.