If you love a good weekend getaway, you should definitely have a portable Bluetooth speaker with you. The audio market is flooded with a wide range of options, across brands and price segment.

Loud and powerful; IPX5 water resistant; Light effects are fun; Rugged construction; Very good battery life

A bit heavy and bulky; Only DC input for charging

Sony really hit it out of the park with the XB40 . We've been using stereo sound since the 1960s, so it's surprising that it's taken so long for a company to create an easy way to get a stereo speaker system. While they were at it, they made sure that you weren't restricted to just two speakers.

Update: Need a bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker to really rock the holidays? Sony's SRS-XB40 might be the compact speaker you've been looking for. While it doesn't have the best sound of any speaker we've tested this year, and it's only splash-proof instead of completely water-proof, Sony's pint-sized...

Gets very loud; Thumping bass; NFC and speakerphone features

Mediocre sound; Only splash-proof; Proprietary charger

Sound quality; how long the battery lasts; styling; lights; easy connectivity to other XB-40's

Doesn't come in white

Now that it's dropped in price, it's hard not to like the Sony SRS-XB40. The changing colors might not be for everyone but if they're for you, then you'll like the rest of the speaker as well.

Clear mids; The bass isn't overpowering by default; Music playback is seamless and connectivity is strong

Extra bass button takes over; Not the most portable; App experience needs work

This Is a great little speaker the extra bass feature and the sound quality really makes you feel like you are listening to a high quality large sound system, in a tiny compact speaker> the fact that it is also water resistant is a great feature as we go camping and to the cottage a lot threw the...

I bought this as a Christmas gift for my significant other and could not beat the offer through Costco.com thank you! I shopped around for similar speaker of the same type /model and I had seen this in person at a competitors store and fell in love with this speaker as I am sure my boyfriend will...

The first speaker I bought was 150€,and I was very satisfied!The bass was deep and warm,the mids loud and clear,and the highs are still good even with Extra Bass on.But you have to understand that in order for the speaker to perform in its best,you will have to tweak the EQ in the...

Sony's upcoming Bluetooth speakers may be under its Extra Bass brand, but they aren't all about the bass.

The company's new Extra Bass Series portable speakers not only output sound but feature flashy LED lighting effects.

Turn the Sony SRS-XB40 on, and the speaker cones become suddenly aglow in pale LED light while a band of varying colors dances around the grille. It's a cool trick, but when the glory of these lights finally fade, does this Bluetooth speaker sound good enough to warrant its $249.99 price? It does—if you love intense bass response. The lows here aren't quite on par with a bulky, subwoofer-armed system, but there's plenty of thump, as well as the ability to adjust the overall EQ in the SongPal app. Throw in the fact that it's water resistant, and the SRS-XB40 is a fun, capable speaker that certainly isn't lacking in the bells and whistles department. Design Despite its built-in light show, the SRS-XB40 ($148.00 at Amazon) is rated IPX5 for water resistance against moderate pressure from jets, provided the cap covering the connections panel is closed. Available in matte black, blue, or red plastic, the 4.0-by-11.0-by-4.3-inch (HWD) speaker weighs a hefty 3.3-pounds—it's portable, but...

The Sony SRS-XB40 is a portable Bluetooth speaker armed with some serious bass response and a built-in LED light show.

Intense audio performance with adjustable bass and EQ; Controllable LED lights flash and glow; Water resistant

Poor speakerphone functionality; Not for listeners seeking accurate, flat response