So this is the new Sony XE200… and unfortunately the XE200 has gotten the same treatment as the XE300… overall, I see it as a downgrade from its predecessor, the XB23… and for a small portable bluetooth speaker… the XE200 is pretty big. Nonetheless, if you’re thinking about getting the Sony XE200, lets see what its all about.
Now first there’s the XE200 has a retail price of $130 but can be routinely found on sale for $110. But personally I still wouldn’t recommend that you pick up the XE200 even if its on sale for $110. Where as with the XB23, it has a retail price of $110 and it routinely like to go on sale for $100 or even a little less. Overall, im not a fan of the XE200, and if you already have the XB23 there’s no need to upgrade. But regardless, 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 this speaker, the XE200 is a slightly smaller version of the XE300… its got this angular design to it. But still, the XE200 is a very large speaker for a small portable bluetooth speaker and its way larger than the XB23 which has a cylindrical body to it. So if you plan on taking your speaker on the go with you or if you plan on throwing it into your backpack… then the XE200 is not my top pick. Now from a durability standpoint, technically the XE200 is more durable than the XB23 cause its passive radiators are covered, where as the passive radiators on the XB23 are exposed. But still, I feel the XB23 is more durable than the XE200 cause the XB23 has a mostly fabric wrapped body which is going to be able to stand up to constant abuse, where as with the XE200… its body is mostly wrapped in silicon. Now this silicon makes this speaker feel very premium… but it can be a scratch magnet. But overall, when it comes to durability and portability, the XB23 is easily the better choice here cause its smaller and its mostly wrapped in fabric. Where as with the XE200… this thing simply takes up a lot of space in your back pack and its as large other midsized speakers out there.
But now lets talk about tech specs, regarding battery life, the XE200 has an advertised battery life of 16 hours… which seems like a big upgrade from the XB23 which has an advertised battery life of 12 hours. But the XE200’s advertised battery life of 16 hours is with it playing at 50% volume and while its in stamina mode which is going to severely reduce its bass, making it sound very flat. Now the XB23’s advertised battery life of 12 hours is also under these conditions… but 50% volume on the XB23 is a little louder than 50% volume on the XE200.
But while both of these speakers are playing with their stock EQ’s and while they are both playing at 50% volume… they both have an advertised battery life of 10 hours. And real world use with both of these speakers playing at 80% volume and while in their stock EQ’s they are both good for about 5 hours of playback time. However, since the XE200 is noticeably quieter than the XB23, I do expect people to use this speaker at a higher volume, thus draining its battery life faster.
Regarding connectivity, the XE200 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 XE200 wirelessly cause the XE300 doesn’t have an audio jack, just like with the XB23. 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.
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. Now before we jump into the sound test, just know that both of these speakers were recorded while they were both set to stereo, cause out of the box they are set to mono. Now we’re going to be using both of these speakers while they are playing at 87% volume and we’re also going to be throwing in stamina mode on the XE200 as well.
So like you may have just heard, the XE200 sound rather muffled and shallow when compared with the XB23. The XE200 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 XB23, this speaker simply sounds noticeably more open than the XE200… and also its mid are a little stronger, so vocals are more pronounced on this speaker than on the XE300. Now the XE200 does have a customizable EQ, just like the XB23, 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 XB23. 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 XE200 has a warmer sound signature, it is a noticeably quieter than the XB23. Now I have tried using this speaker with a brighter EQ, but still the XB23 manages to edge out ahead. Now with both of these speakers, I did 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 XB23 easily out performs the XE200. 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 XE200 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 XE200 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 XE200 and XB23 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 XE200, 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 XE200 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, unfortunately the XE200 has gotten the same treatment as the XE300. The XE200 is now sporting a larger body than its predecessor, the XB23… making it not the best small portable Bluetooth speaker to take on the go with you. If the XE200 had a larger battery in it, then that would have made the size difference okay… but the XE200 has the same real world performance as the XB23. But more importantly, the XE200 simply sounds noticeably worse than the XB23, even though they have the same speaker set up. The XE200 sounds very narrow, shallow and even a little muffled. Where as the XB23 has noticeably better instrument separation and its bass resonates better as well. Overall, if you already have the XB23, there’s no need to upgrade, and if you’re thinking about pickup the XE200… unless you’re getting a major deal… I would consider something else first.