Which Sony speaker is the best?
Sony has been around for a long time and is widely recognized as a top electronics brand. Sony offers plenty of high-quality speakers if you’re looking to boost your music or TV listening experience.
The best speakers are durable and sound great, but there are a few things to consider depending on what you want from your speaker. For example, the Sony SS-CS5 speaker system is ideal for home use, as it comes with two bookshelf speakers, each with a compact build and excellent overall audio quality.
What you need to know before buying a Sony speaker
Speaker types
Sony speakers vary in size, power and portability, so it’s up to you to decide which is right for you. To complete a home theater setup, you’ll need to look for larger speakers and woofers, but bookshelf or floor standing speakers are fine if you’re more interested in listening to music at home. A Bluetooth speaker is great for something more compact that you can throw in a bag and take with you on the go.
Speaker Placement and Orientation
Placing speakers near a wall can create unbalanced sound, so it’s best to keep them at least a few feet away from one. Also, it’s helpful to position floor standing or bookshelf stereo speakers to face where you’ll be watching TV or listening to the most music.
Some one-piece or Bluetooth speakers don’t have a 360-degree design, which means the audio quality and volume you experience depends on where you are and how far away you are.
Low
Some genres of music and movies may be more enjoyable with a speaker delivering deep bass. For example, action movies with multiple explosions can sound more immersive, and music like hip-hop and reggae sound much more festive.
If you’re looking for powerful bass, you’ll want to look for a speaker with a large woofer driver, or you can bolster standing or bookshelf speakers with a separate subwoofer. Either way, the larger the driver, the more bass it can deliver.
What to Look for in a Quality Sony Speaker
Connectivity
Home speakers typically have wired connectivity options, including optical and auxiliary inputs. Wired connections are the most stable and reproduce the best sound quality. However, most portable speakers and some home speakers offer wireless connectivity options, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC.
IP Rating
An IP rating refers to a device’s ability to resist water and dust before damaging it. You can refer to a chart for a full breakdown, but essentially the first number represents dust protection and the second indicates water resistance. For example, a Sony speaker with an IP67 rating is completely dustproof and can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Design
Some Sony speakers are marketed as party speakers, so some have rugged construction to protect them from accidental drops and built-in LED lights that can be controlled via a smartphone app.
How much you can expect to spend on a Sony speaker
The bigger the speaker, the more expensive it is, so if you’re looking for something compact or portable, like Bluetooth or bookshelf speakers, you can expect to pay between $100 and $250. However, larger home speakers can cost up to $400.
Sony Speaker FAQs
Are Sony speakers compatible with voice assistants, like Alexa or Google Assistant?
A. None of the Sony speakers support hands-free access to voice assistants. However, some speakers have a button to access voice assistants on connected phones.
Why is the sound from my Bluetooth speaker muffled?
A. Many Sony portable speakers are designed with maximum durability in mind, requiring them to be encased in protective material to protect them from dust and moisture. However, of course, this can affect the sound quality to some extent, but this can be improved by decreasing the bass or increasing the treble.
What is the best Sony speaker to buy?
High-end Sony speaker
Sony SS-CS5 speaker system
What do you want to know: These three-driver bookshelf speakers have a compact design and deliver excellent sound quality and impressive bass.
What you will love: They offer high-resolution sound and are suitable for listening to music and watching television. The soundstage is wide, thanks to a 1-inch tweeter that reproduces crisp highs and a woofer that delivers deep bass. Additionally, they can be paired with other Sony CS speakers and subwoofers.
What you should consider: They have a boxy appearance and are not suitable for listening within 5 feet.
Or buy: Sold by Amazon
The best Sony speaker for the money
Sony SRS-XB13 compact speaker
What do you want to know: This Bluetooth speaker has a stylish look and is perfect for travel and outdoors.
What you will love: It has an Extra Bass function for punchy bass reproduction, and a sound diffusion processor projects the sound far. It has a compact cylinder design, multi-way strap and an IP67 rating. Plus, you can connect an extra speaker for stereo sound and more volume.
What you should consider: The The Bluetooth connection can sometimes be unstable, and sometimes it does not automatically pair with previously synced devices.
Or buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Sony SRS-XB33 Extra Bass Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What do you want to know: This speaker is durable yet compact and portable enough to take to the beach, picnics, or backyard gatherings.
What you will love: It offers rich bass in Extra Bass mode and Live Stamina mode emphasizes highs and mids, which is a great feature for those who don’t want too much bass. It has an IP67 rating, a built-in microphone for phone calls, and two multi-color line lights.
What you should consider: Some users found the sound reproduction poor for non-bass heavy music. In addition, battery life is lackluster, lasting less than 24 hours with Extra Bass mode enabled.
Or buy: Sold by Amazon
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Kevin Luna written for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their buying decisions, saving them time and money.
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