So this is the new Sony XE300, not to be confused with the Sony XG300.
Now unlike the Sony XG300 which does have some upgrades to it that help it be a better
portable bluetooth speaker over its predecessor…
the XB43… the XE300 is just an overall downgrade from the XB33.
So if you’re thinking about pick up the Sony XE300 or if you’re thinking about upgrading…
lets see what the Sony XE300 is all about.
Regarding pricing, the XE300 has a retail price off $200… very steep if you ask me.
However, this speaker is already on sale for $170… still very steep.
Where as with the XB33, it has a retail price of $180 but it routinely likes to go on sale
for $130.
Long story short, I do not recommend the Sony XE300, unless its on sale for less than one
hundred dollars, I definitely wouldn’t upgrade from the XB33 if you already have one… and
if you’re interested in a sony Speaker, the XB33 is still a decent pickup.
Nonetheless, if you want to pick either of these two speakers up they’ll be linked
down below, or you can press on the YouTube shopping button, give it a try.
Now first lets talk about the design of the XE300.
The XE300 looks completely different from the XB33.
For starters its got this new super angular design which reminds me of a stealth fighter…
so I think that’s pretty cool…
but this speaker is overall larger than the XB33.
So throwing this speaker into your backpack is going to be a little more of a hassle than
with the XB33… which I feel is a problem.
Now durability wise, technically this speaker is more durable than the XB33 cause its passive
radiators have now been covered up…
But the XE300 now has a mostly silicon wrapped body, and some hints of fabric.
Now this silicone makes this speaker feel very premium, very Bose like, cause this is
what Bose does.
But this silicone body is a scratch magnet compared to the mostly fabric wrapped body
that you’ll find on the XB33.
So overall, from a durability and portability stand point, the XB33 is my choice here cause
its smaller than the XE300, and its not going to collect as many scratches.
The only thing that the XE300 has going for its
is that its protecting its passive radiators.
But the biggest change here on the XE300 from the XB33 is that the XE300 no longer has a
light feature.
Something that I feel that sony got really right with their XB33.
Now you defneitly shouldn’t make your speaker purchase decision based on a light feature…
but for some people, this light feature could be a deciding enough factor to ultimately
go with the XB33.
So yeah, I do feel that it is a shame that the XE300 doesn’t have a light feature,
cause sony really knocked it out of the park with their XB33.
But now lets talk about tech specs, regarding battery life, the XE300 has an advertised
battery life of 24 hours, but that’s while this speaker is playing at 50% volume… which
is really on the quiet side cause this speaker doesn’t get all that loud and it has a very
warm sound signature… and that’s also while this speaker is in stamina mode which
is going to severely reduce the bass on this speaker making it sound super flat.
But with stamina mode turned off, this speaker has an advertised battery life of 14 hours
while its playing at 50% volume.
And this is the same thing with the XB33, it has an advertised battery life of 24 hours,
but that’s while its playing at 50% volume and while in stamina mode, which means with
the light feature turned off and with its extra bass feature turned off…
But with its light feature turned on and with its extra bass feature turned on, it has an
advertised battery life of 14 hours.
But real world use with the XB33 playing at 80% volume, with the light feature turned
on, and with its extra bass fearer turned on… this speaker is good for about 7 hours.
Not bad, and you can always extend its battery life by using it with its light feature turned
off.
And with the XE300 playing at 80% volume and with its stock EQ, this speaker is good for
about 8 hours of playback time.
But since this speaker is so quiet and since it has such a warm sound signature, I expect
most people to use this speaker at a higher volume, which is going to mean that its battery
life is going to drain faster.
Regarding connectivity, the XE300 is using Bluetooth 5.2 but more importantly it can
be connected to two devices at the same time, so you and a friend can both be DJ, and when
it comes to audio codecs, the XE300 has support for SBC and AAC, which is very standard.
But it also has support for LDAC which is Sony’s own in house high res audio codec.
Now AAC is going to work perfectly fine whether you’re using an iPhone or an android device.
But if you do want to take advantage of LDAC then you do have to be an android user.
But keep in mind, if you do decide to use LDAC, it is going to take its toll on the
battery life.
And unfortunately, you can only use the XE300 wirelessly cause the XE300 doesn’t have
an audio jack, just like with the XB33.
And even though both of these speakers do have a USB C port, these USB C ports are strictly
used for charging.
You can’t use these USB C ports a wired connection like you can with some other speakers.
And also, with the XE300, it has gotten rid of the USB A port that’s found on the XB33.
Now personally I don’t mind that they removed the USB A port here, cause I feel it was useless…
but I do wish Sony would have added a second more versatile USB C port.
But now lets talk about actually listening to music with these speakers.
Now both of these speakers have dual frontward firing transducers and they both have dual
passive radiators which shoot out the sides.
However, there are some differences here.
With the XE300 its passive radiators are covered… and I can’t help but feel that its bass
sounds much more muffled.
Where as the bass on the XB33 is much richer cause its passive radiators are exposed and
they have room to breath.
But also, with the XE300, if you use this speak while its standing up, its going to
be a mono speaker.
But if you were to use it while it laying down flat, you’ll have your left channel
and your right channel.
Now in this soundest, both of these speakers were recorded while they were both laying
flat… but the visual portion was recorded with the XE300 standing up.
And I did that cause that is how I feel sony is mostly marketing this speaker… but its
no big deal.
Either way, both of these speakers are playing while they’re at 87% volume and we’re
also going to throw in the XE300 while its
in stamina mode.
So like you may have just heard, the XE300 sound rather muffled and shallow when compared
with the XB33.
The XE300 has a warmer sound signature to it to begin with plus its passive radiators
don’t have room to breath, which I feel aren’t doing them any favors.
Where as with the XB33, this speaker simply sounds noticeably more open than the XE300…
and also its mid are a little stronger, so vocals are more pronounced on this speaker
than on the XE300.
Now the XE300 does have a customizable EQ, just like the XB33, and you can go in and
raise the mids and treble on this speaker so that it doesn’t sound so shallow… but
still, I just can’t get this speaker to sound like the XB33.
There’s this hint of muffleness that I just can’t get rid of.
And then there’s max volume performance on this speaker.
Since the XE300 has a warmer sound signature, it is a noticeably quieter than the XB33.
Now I have tried using this speaker with a brighter EQ, but still the XB33 manages to
edge out ahead.
Now with both of these speakers, I ddi find that you do get a very slight performance
boost if you use them while they’re plugged… but the performance boost here is so small,
I don’t think you’re going to notice it.
I barely did.
So with all of that being said, sound quality wise the XB33 easily out performs the XE300.
The XB33 simply sounds more open than the XE300, its bass doesn’t sound as muffled
when in person and it also gets noticeably louder as well.
But finally lets talk about paring this speaker with other speakers.
The XE300 is using Sony’s Party Connect.
Meaning that you can pair it to other party connect speakers.
Now you can either pair the XG300 to an XG500, an XE300 or to an XE200… or you can also
pair it up to an XB43, XB33 or XB23.
And you can pair up to 100 speakers together.
Or if you want, you can also pair your XE300 to either of Sony’s box speakers that are
also using party connect like either the XP500 or XP700.
Overall, Sony’s party connect is very accommodating because you have a decent amount of speakers
to choose from.
However, you can not pair a Party Connect speaker to any of Sony’s older speakers
using wireless party chain.
And also, if you want to get left and right stereo sound going, you need to have two of
the same exact same speakers.
Even if you have an XE300 and XB33 like I do, they’re only going to play in sync.
Now even though Sony’s Party Connect is very accommodating, its not may favorite.
For starters, with the XE300, sony has removed the physical button for Party connect like
whats found on the XB33.
So now it you want to get Party Connect going, you have to use the app.
But also, party connect isn’t perfect.
Sometimes when you want to pair multiple speakers together, it can take a while to get groups
going.
Sometimes all of your speakers won’t connect, and sometimes speakers will get out of sync
and cause an echo effect.
Now Sony’s Party Connect will correct this echo effect after while…but its only a matter
of time before that echo comes back.
So overall, Sony’s Party Connect gets the job done and there’s a decent amount of
speakers that you can choose from… but it can be a hassle sometimes.
And finally here’s the microphone test.
Now the XE300 is about 5 feet away from me, sitting on a table and facing directly at
me.
Now this microphone isn’t awful, but I wouldn’t take phone calls with this speaker if I don’t
have to.
But with all of that being said, for me it is very hard to recommend the XE300 and to
me its just an overall downgrade from the XB33.
For starters, from a sound quality standpoint, the XE300 sounds very muffled and narrow when
compared to the XB33.
But also from a design standpoint, the XE300 is a little larger than the XB33 now, so throwing
it in your back pack isn’t as easy when compared to the XB33… and also, the XE300
no longer has a light feature like the XB33… something that could have been a deciding
factor for some people.
Right now, all I can say is, if you’re thinking about getting the XE300, try and see if you
can get an XB33 first.