Sony SRS-XB40 Review
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