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The Sony SRS-XE300 is now down to $88 from its original $199.99 on Amazon (its lowest price ever, according to online price tracking tools ), making it a decent time to check it out if you’ve been thinking about a portable speaker that can handle the occasional splash and still keep the music going.
Sony gave the outdoor-friendly XE300 a different design approach than most speakers: It’s shaped to stand upright but also works fine lying on its side. Inside are dual drivers with passive radiators at each end, aimed at giving you deeper bass and less distortion. The sound, though, is more directional than Sony probably intended—better aimed at you than trying to fill a big space.
It defaults to mono audio, but you can switch to stereo using the app if you prefer. It also supports LDAC for high-res Bluetooth streaming if you have an Android device, though it skips the AptX codec . The companion app isn’t much to look at, but it gives you access to an adjustable EQ and other sound tweaks, notes this PCMag review . Where the XE300 really holds up is in how tough it is. It has an IP67 rating , so dust, rain, or a quick dip in the pool won’t faze it. As for battery life, Sony claims up to 24 hours of usage, but your mileage will vary depending on volume and settings.
Sound-wise, it delivers decent bass and clear highs, though the directional setup means you’ll get a better experience when it’s aimed right at you. Also, the stereo mode doesn’t dramatically widen the soundstage, but in a multi-speaker setup, it holds up well. At moderate volumes, it puts out a nice thump and keeps the highs clear without much distortion creeping in. It’s not going to give you a wall-shaking, subwoofer feel, but for a speaker you can toss in a bag and forget about until you need it, the XE300 handles itself well, especially at this price. For more options, check out our roundup of the best Bluetooth speakers .
