Let’s face it: most Bluetooth transportable audio system are woefully restricted. Whereas some could supply first rate sound high quality in your backyard or on the transfer, you’re unlikely to depend on them as your primary sound system for a thriving home celebration. However is there a speaker that may operate completely as each? A tool that may function a TV cinema sound system, cellphone charger, karaoke speaker and PA speaker too?
Commercial
In response to Sony, sure. Their top-of-the-line SRS-XV800 gadget is constructed with the intention of being the final word Bluetooth transportable speaker, with the very best sound, options and design cash should purchase.
Does the completed product reside as much as Sony’s hype? I spent a month with the SRS-XV800 to seek out out.
Design
Know these massive audio system that dangle both facet of the stage on the greatest music festivals? Then you definitely’ll know what the SRS-XV800 appears to be like like. It’s huge, black and downright cumbersome.
Measuring 32x70x38cm, it stands effectively above the knee for most individuals – roughly the scale of a bedside cupboard, it’s not fitted to cramped properties – or for folks wanting to maneuver the speaker often. After which there’s the load: coming in a large 20kg (or round 10 flamingos), it may be extraordinarily tough to maneuver round.
Finally, this speaker shouldn’t be very transportable until you’ve obtained a small trolley or a fairly sturdy human at hand (I had neither, so struggled). On the bottom of the speaker, there are 4 small wheels to assist transfer the gadget. However, when you’re not travelling throughout flat floor, you’ll have to raise it. 4 handles on the speaker’s largest edges make this simplier, however it’s no straightforward job.
As soon as I lastly set down the SRS-XV800, I used to be capable of admire its finer particulars. There’s a choice of buttons on the speaker’s prime (if stood vertically), which supply management of the facility and quantity, alongside the gadget’s Bluetooth, ‘mega bass’, ‘TV audio’ and lighting settings (extra on that under).
In whole, the SRS-XV800 has 5 tweeters, positioned on the entrance and rear, to supply all-round sound. Two bigger X-Balanced audio system on the entrance of the unit present the bass.
Behind a panel behind the unit are a bunch of enter slots. USB units, two microphones, an influence lead: they’ll all be plugged in right here.
Options
As soon as the exhausting a part of really lugging the speaker was finished, all key options on the SRS-XV800 labored seamlessly for me.
Through Bluetooth connection on my smartphone, I used to be synced as much as the speaker in lower than a minute. One click on of ‘play’ and the world’s best tune (Funky City by Lipps Inc) blared out, with multicoloured lights synced to the music beaming from the speaker’s prime and backside. It was attainable to customize the lights (and sound combine) through Sony’s Music Centre app, however I discovered no want to vary the default settings. You actually can activate and go.
When linked as much as my TV, the SRS-XV800’s ‘TV audio increase’ mode carried out impressively, with dialogue and motion scenes sounding staggeringly clear. The all-round tweeters created an excellent residence cinema really feel, leaving me virtually soaked in adrenaline throughout a rewatch of Chris Nolan’s Dunkirk.
Most astounding was the battery life: it solely wanted to be charged each two weeks, or round 25 hours. Recharging the gadget was easy too. As marketed by Sony, 10 minutes of cost led to 3 hours of playtime (with the gadget’s lights turned off).
However the characteristic that the majority impressed my company at a current BBQ? The charger operate: you’ll be able to prime up your smartphone’s battery from the speaker whereas music is enjoying, guaranteeing uninterrupted sound.
Sound
The output of Sony’s SRS-XV800 is, fairly merely, beautiful. No matter style of music I threw its means, the speaker delivered crisp, clear and highly effective sound.
From the shifting bassline of The Beatles’ Taxman, to the treble frequency of You’ve Acquired To Have Freedom by Pharoah Sanders, the dynamic subtlety of Kate Bush’s Watching You With out Me, and the complicated rhythmic layering of BadBadNotGood’s Talking Gently, the speaker excelled.
Higher nonetheless, it did this in any respect quantity ranges – together with close to to max. Nonetheless, in common use, I solely ever wanted to show up the speaker midway and with out the bass enhancement (which provides important energy to bop tracks like Pendulum’s Tarantula).
General, it’s a hideously highly effective piece of package that, if used to full capability, received’t make you lots of mates with the neighbours. It’s going to, nonetheless, be delight of place at any rowdy home celebration.
Verdict
At a sale level of £599, Sony’s high-tech SRS-XV800 wi-fi celebration speaker is relentlessly dearer than most transportable Bluetooth audio system in the marketplace. Nonetheless, for that value, you get an unquestionably premium and multipurpose gadget that audiophiles will doubtless fail to seek out fault in.
Constructed for big home events somewhat than quaint picnics, it’s a speaker able to enjoying crisp and clear music in a plethora of genres at staggeringly excessive volumes. Plus, with 25 hours of battery life, it may well hold the celebration going actually all day lengthy (don’t blame us in your official noise grievance).
The one downside? Until you’ve been hitting the gymnasium, it has restricted portability. Weighing 20kg, it’s an actual chore to hold, with the gadget’s small wheels on the base of the speaker solely helpful whenever you’re travelling over flat terrain.
Worryingly highly effective, ruthlessly high-performing, however awkward with stairs, contemplate Sony’s SRS-XV800 the Dalek of Bluetooth speaker world.
Options
Marshall Middleton
Exemplifying all the things nice you’d count on from Marshall, this small however well-built speaker delivers punchy, 360° sound. It packs 50 watts of energy and is able to delivering a frequency vary spanning from 50Hz to 20kHz.
Whereas surprisingly heavy for its small measurement, the Middleton is 10 instances lighter than Sony’s SRS-XV800 and less expensive, at £269. Nonetheless, this nonetheless makes it one of the vital costly mid-range audio system accessible.
Additionally it is water- and dust-resistant and has a battery lifetime of 20 hours.
Sonos Transfer
Waterproof and dustproof, the Sonos Transfer is solidly constructed, coming with a built-in carry deal with on the again.
Even higher, you’ll be able to combine the Sonos Transfer into your sensible residence ecosystem, remodeling the gadget right into a voice-controlled speaker.
JBL Boombox 3
With a deal with distinguished on its prime and an IPX7 waterproof ranking (which means it may be submerged in water for half-hour at a depth of 1m), the sturdy JBL Boombox 3 is a Bluetooth speaker excellent for an open air journey – when you can deal with its 6.7kg weight.
4 energetic transducers and two JBL bass radiators present crisp and high-quality sound, regardless of the style. Mix that with a 24-hour battery life, a built-in energy financial institution and the power to attach a number of units without delay, and the Boombox 3 makes for a critically spectacular speaker.
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