Out of Sony’s new portable bluetooth speaker line up for 2020, I think the new XB33 has
gotten the all around best upgrade. I like that the XB33 has gone back to an XB31 design
aesthetic which makes it much more durable than the XB32, the XB33 sounds way better
than the XB32, and unlike the XB43… the XB33 gets decently loud for both its size
and price.
Now the XB33 retails for $150, which is the same as the XB32 when it first came out. Now
even though the XB32 can now be found on sale for around 100 bucks, I do recommend that
you go with the XB33 instead cause this speaker is just all around better both build quality
wise and especially sound quality wise. So if you want to pick this speaker up it’ll
be linked down below.
Now personally I like how the XB32 looks, but I wouldn’t recommend this speaker to
someone who is looking for a speaker to constantly take on the go with them cause this speaker
has a mostly soft touch body than can get stretched very easily. Where as the XB33 has
gone back to a mostly fabric covered body that I do prefer cause this fabric body will
be able to stand up to constant bumps and scrapes much better than soft touch can. But
just like before the XB33 is IP67 rated so you don’t have to worry about getting this
speaker wet but this speaker does now have those exposed passive radiators on either
side that you want to be mindful about not pushing in. Now size wise these speakers are
roughly the same size of one another but the XB33 is a little heavier than the XB32 cause
it weighs in at 2.4 pounds (1,100g) where as the XB32 weighs in at 1.9 pounds (900g),
but ultimately this isn’t a huge weight difference like we saw with the XB43 and XB41.
But something that has been greatly improved on the XB33 from the XB32 is its light feature.
Mainly cause its transducers no light up just like on the XB43 and XB41. And given with
the fact that the XB33 has these uniquely shaped transducers the XB33 really does look
very cool. And from Sony’s app you’ve got a few different lighting modes to choose
from, but the main ones here are rave, chill and strobe. Now no this lighting feature isn’t
amazing and it certainly isn’t the best one out there… but I think its looks decent.
But now I want to quickly address Sony’s other app fiestable. With this app you can
go in and specifically choose what color you want your speaker to flash. But this app is
so clunky and its laid out like its from 2010, and I never really use it.
Now when it comes to tech specs, the XB33 has finally been upgraded to USB C charging
unlike the XB32. So if you’re an android user you can charge your phone and speaker
with the same cable. Now I do want to point out that this USB C port is strictly used
for charging, you can’t use this USB C port as a wired connection and you can’t use
this USB C port to charge your own devices. And its also very important to point out that
this speaker only comes included with a USB C to USB A cable. You gotta use your own wall
adaptor and this speaker doesn’t come included with a complete charging cable like the XB43
does.
Now when it comes to battery life the XB33 has an advertised battery life of 24 hours,
but thats while this speaker is set to stamina mode, playing at 50% volume and with the light
feature turned off. And plainly said this speaker isn’t worth in stamina mode cause
in stamina mode this speaker sounds very flat. But this speaker also has an advertised battery
life of 14 hours while in extra bass mode.
Now real world use with this speaker playing at max volume and while in extra bass mode
its good for around 3 and a half hours of playback time and at 80% volume its good for
around 7 hours of playback time. So over all the XB33 has decent real world battery life
performance
Now when it comes to Bluetooth connectivity, the XB33 has been upgraded to bluetooth 5.0.
but just like the XB32, the XB33 can still be connected to 2 devices at the same time
so you and a friend can both be DJ, both of the speakers have zero latency across the
board when ever you’re watching movies or videos on your phone whether you’re using
an iPhone or and android device which is good. And both of these speakers have SBC AAX and
LDAC support.
But unfortunately one major down grade the XB33 has gotten from the XB32 is that it no
longer has an audio jack. Now personally I don’t mind not having an audio jack but
I still feel a speaker of this size should still have an audio jack just in case. But
this speaker still does have a USB A out port so that you can charge your own devices.
But now lets talk about listening to music with these speakers. The XB33 has an all new
speaker set from the XB32. The XB33 has all new frontward firing transducers and new dual
passive radiators that shoot out the sides. Where as the XB32 has your traditional circular
transducers and its passive radiators shoot out the front and back of the speaker. Even
though the XB33 does sound much better than the XB32… the only thing that I miss about
the XB32 on the XB33 is that you can’t easily amplify the bass on the XB33 by simply passing
it up against a wall like you can with the XB32. But other than that, the XB33 does sound
significantly better than the XB32. But before we jump into the sound test I do want to quickly
address stamina mode and live sound mode. All live sound mode does is that it adds a
whole bunch of reverb to your music so I never us it. And all stamina mode on the XB33 is
just the standard mode on the XB32. And all stamina mode does on the XB32 is that it severally
reduced the bass on this speaker to make it more power efficient. But with all that being
said we’re going to jump into the Sound test. Now both the XB33 and XB32 are playing
at max volume and in extra bass mode and with a little bit stamina mode thrown in.
So the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to comparing the XB32 to the XB33
is that the XB32 sound naselly when compared to the XB33. The mids on the XB32 are way
more exaggerated than on the XB33. But more importantly the XB33 has significantly better
instrument separation and a much wider sound stage. But also the bass on these speakers
is very different. The Bass on the XB33 resonates deeper and cleaner where as the bass on the
XB32 just kicks harder. Now when it comes to maximum volume, the XB33 gets just as loud
as the XB32. And over all I do feel the XB33 gets decently loud for both its size and price
range. Unlike the XB43 which is noticeably quieter than the XB41 and those leave you
wanting more out of it. But over all I do feel the XB33 sounds and preforms great and
its a big upgrade from the XB32.
Now personally I just like to use this speaker while in extra bass mode when im going to
listen to music. But if you want to you can also adjust the Bass, mids and treble on this
speaker to your liking through Sony’s app.
But now I do want to quickly address party connect. Sony’s newer speakers are now using
party connect meaning that you can only pair this speaker to other speakers using party
connect like an XB43, another XB33, or an XB23.
And you can’t pair this speaker up to any of Sony’s older speakers using Wireless
party chain like an XB41, XB32, XB22, XB31, XB21, and the list just goes on. So just keep
that in mind if you have any of Sony’s older speakers.
But over all, I really do like and recommend the new Sony XB33. Most importantly this speaker
sound noticeably better than the XB32 because it has much better instrument separation,
and a much wider sound stage. And unlike the XB43, the XB33 gets decently loud for both
its size and price. The XB33 also has decent real world battery life performance and I
also like its newer design from the XB32 cause its also more durable now just like how the
XB31. So I wouldn’t have a probably taking this speaker on the go. The only thing than
kind of annoys me about this speaker is that sony removed the audio jack. But other than
that I think the XB33 I solid.