So this is the new Sony XG300, it looks like a miniature XG500 and it has a built in retractable carrying handle… and that’s pretty much the only upgrade on this speaker over its predecessor… the Sony XB43. Nonetheless, if you’re thinking about getting the XG300 or if you’re thinking about upgrading, lets see what the XG300 is all about.
Now first there’s pricing, the XG300 has a retail price of $350, just like the XB43 when it first came out. But in pure sony fashion, its already on sale for $300. But personally, I still wouldn’t recommend this speaker for $300… maybe I’ll recommend it if its on sale for $250… and I do expect it to go on sale for that much cause the XB43 used to go for $250. Nonetheless, if you want to pick this speaker up, it’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 XG300 looks like a shrunken down XG500 and it looks fairly similar to the JBL Xtreme 3. Gone is its very rectangular body and rather festive light feature that was found on the XB43. Now, the XG300 still has a light feature… but its now tucked away in the passive radiators. So this light feature just isn’t as prominent as the one found on the XB43. Now say what you will about light features on your speakers… but this is clearly a downgrade from the XB43. Now light feature aside, the XG300 still has a mostly fabric wrapped body like the XB43 and a lot of other speakers out there. So this speaker is going to have no problem standing up to constant bumps and scrapes. Plus its also rocking an IP67 rating meaning that its water and dust resistant. Now thanks to the new built in carrying handle found on the XG300, this speaker is much easier to take on the go with you. And this is the main thing that I like most about this speaker over the XB43. And given that the XG300 weighs in at 6 and a half pounds, its a good candidate to constantly take on the go with you.
Regarding tech specs, the XG300 has an advertised battery life of 25 hours, and that’s with this speaker playing at 50 percent volume, with its light feature turned off, but with its mega bass feature turned on which is good. However, 50% volume on this speaker is a little on the quiet side, especially since this speaker leans towards a very warm sound signature. But overall, the XG300 does have better battery life than the XB43.
Cause with the XB43, this speaker has an advertised battery life of 24 hours… but that’s while this speaker is playing at 50 volume… but while its in stamina mode, which means its going to have its light feature turned off and the bass on this speaker is going to be severely reduced… making it sound super flat. If you were to use this speaker with its Extra bass feature turned on, which is how you should use this speaker, we’re looking at a battery life of around 20 hours. Plus, 50% volume on the XB43 sounds a little louder than 50% volume on the XG300 cause this speaker doesn’t sound as warm.
But real world use, if you were to use this speaker at 80% volume, with its Mega Bass feature turned on but with its light featured turned off, I’m getting a battery life of about 11 hours. Which is rather impressive. And personally, I recommend that if you do get this speaker you simply use it with its light feature turned off cause its barely noticeable to begin with… and plus that way, you’re going to save on battery life. Where as with the XB43, I say it is worth it to sacrifice some battery life cause its light feature is objectively better.
However, if you were to use this speaker at max volume, with its mega bass feature turned on and with its light feature turned on, Sony is claming a battery life of 4 hours… And if you want to extend this speaker’s battery life past its advertised battery life of 25 hours you can use it while in stamina mode… but keep in mind, while in stamina mode, this speaker is going to sound very flat cause it severely reduces its bass. But overall, yes, the XG300 does have better battery life performance than the XB43.
Regarding connectivity, the XG300 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 XG300 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.
But if you want to, you can always still use a wired connection with the XG300 cause it still has an audio jack, something that is becoming an exclusive feature for larger speakers cause Sony’s mid sized and small sized speakers don’t have audio jacks. Now the XG300 does has a USB C port… but this USB C port is strictly used for charging, unfortunately you can’t use this USB C port as a wired connection and you can’t use it to charge your own devices. However, the XG300 does have a USB A out port which you can use to charge your own devices… but to be honest, I don’t think this port is going to be used all that often cause most phones in 2022 now come included with USB C cables. So lets retire the USB A port here and give me a second much more versatile USB C port.
But now lets talk about actually listening to music with this speakers. Regarding speaker set ups, the XG300 has dual frontward firing woofers, dual frontward firing tweeters and dual passive radiators which shoot out the sides. And this is the same speaker set up as the XB43… except, you can’t see it as easily. Now like I mentioned earlier, the XG300 does have a warmer sound signature than the XB43. And if you want to extend the battery life on the XG300, you can use it while in stamina mode. But while in stamina mode, is does sound super flat. Nonetheless, we’re going to jump into the sound test. Both the XB43 and XG300 are playing at 87% volume and we’re going also going to be including the XG300 while in stamina mode.
So like you may have just heard, with the XG300, this speaker leans towards a warmer sound signature than the XB43. Where as with the XB43, since the mids and highs are little more pronounced, vocals come out a little stronger. But also, with the XB43 I feel that it sounds more open as well. And also, with the XB43 since this speaker has slightly stronger mids and highs… it also sounds a little louder as well. But then there’s the bass on these speakers even though the XG300 leans towards a warmer sound signature, while in person, the XB43 has more physicality in its bass. Overall, I am going to have to say that the XB43 simply sounds better than the XG300 cause it not so bass heavy. However, as is with all of Sony’s speakers… you can customize the EQ on the XG300 to your liking. So you can always get a brighter sound signature out of this speaker. But still, the bass on this speaker simply doesn’t have the same kick to it as the bass on the XB43. And when it comes to max volume… the XG300 does get decently loud.. but since the XB43 does have stronger mids and highs… it does sound a little louder. But definitely the XG300 doesn’t get as loud as its direct competitor, the JBL XTREME 3. And with both the XG300 and XB43… I did find that you do get a slight performance boost with them while they’re plugged in… but since it is such a small increase I don’t think that you’re really going to notice it.
But finally lets talk about paring this speaker with other speakers. The XG300 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 XG300 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 XG300 and XB43 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 XG300, sony has removed the physical button for Party connect like whats found on the XB43. 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.
So with all of that being said, the XG300 is more portable than the XB43 thanks to its new built in carrying handle and it has a better preferring battery than the XB43 as well. Both really good things if you want a speaker to constantly take on the now with you. However, when it comes to sound… the XG300 just sounds so shallow and narrow, and it has less physicality in its bass than the XB43. And then there’s the matter of its light feature… this has always been a standout characteristic for Sony’s speakers… and this light feature just doesn’t compare to the XB43. All I have to say is, if you already have the XB43, there’s no need to upgrade… and if you’re thinking about getting the XG300… I would look at other options first.