In all my review work so far, a lot of all kinds of devices have passed through my hands, especially those from the audio segment. However, I have not yet been able to test such equipment with such dimensions. Sony SRS-XV800, the hero of today’s material, is the latest loudspeaker dedicated in particular to use during all kinds of events.
Its official premiere is taking place today, and since I was able to use it pre-release for the last several days, I can now share with you my full impressions of using this unusual equipment. I invite 😉
Sony SRS-XV800 technical specifications:
- audio: 5 tweeters, 2 X-Balanced woofers with bass channel,
- wireless connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs, multipoint,
- connectors: AUX (Jack 3.5 mm), optical Toslink, USB, 2x microphone (Jack 6.3 mm),
- battery: up to 25 hours of operation,
- charging: about 3 hours,
- multicolored lighting,
- waterproof: IPX4,
- dimensions: 317 x 720 x 375 mm,
- weight: 18.5 kg.
The price at the time of publication of the review is about PLN 3,200.
Kit Contents
Due to the dimensions of the device itself, it arrives in a huge, gray cardboard box with printed information about the model and graphics of the loudspeaker. Inside, everything has been secured with styrofoam stiffeners, so during transport (theoretically) nothing should happen to it.
Apart from the highlight of the program, i.e. the SRS-XV800 loudspeaker, the set includes two power cords – one with a European plug, the other with a British one. A nice addition is the Toslink digital optical cable. It is with its help that we will connect the speaker, e.g. with a TV set – especially since the manufacturer has prepared a special mode dedicated to the use of TV sets. In addition, there was also unnecessary waste paper of the instruction manual.
Appearance and design
At the very beginning, one thing needs to be said openly – the XV800 is simply a very large loudspeaker. Its height is over 70 centimeters, while the width and depth are about 30 cm. By far the largest part of it was made of good quality black plastic. This plastic is hard, matte, does not creak and does not bend under pressure.
The front of the device is finished with a black lacquered metal mesh, under which the first five speakers are hidden. At the top there is a handle for easy transport of the speaker, and the Sony logo is placed on it. On the other side, there is an LED strip. The second lighting segment was hidden from the bottom, on a similarly constructed handle.
The left and right sides (from the vertical position) are completely free. The back of the speaker is covered with a rough texture, two woofers are placed at the very top, and in the middle of the rear panel there is a large rubber plug – under it we will find all ports and switches. At the very bottom, there are two rubber wheels, designed to facilitate transporting the device, which is not very convenient due to its size.
From the user’s perspective, the top panel will be the most important, because it is on it that we will find tactile, subtly illuminated buttons used to control the speaker’s functions. Starting from the top, we can see the audio source switches: Bluetooth (a blue LED indicating the connection status is placed above it), optical cable, audio in, i.e. AUX and USB. Right next to it, by tapping the Light option, we can turn off the backlight.
Below there is a pause/resume button, volume control keys and a Mega Bass mode switch. At the very bottom, the manufacturer placed a large, rubberized button, used to turn on and off the power of the device with a small diode.
The Sony SRS-XV800 can be used in a vertical and horizontal position, and when set vertically it offers splash resistance in accordance with the IPX4 standard. In turn, if it is laid horizontally, it is only IPX2. One way or another, a light rain on the terrace should not be a threat to him.
Wireless connectivity
The easiest way to connect your speaker to your playback device will be to use wireless connectivity. In this model, the manufacturer used a Bluetooth module in version 5.2, with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. The latter ensures the transmission of sound in very high quality, with a large amount of details, so its use even in such a device is commendable.
There is also a multipoint mode, so the XV800 offers the ability to connect to two devices at the same time and switch between them depending on which one is currently playing audio. Throughout the testing period, the Bluetooth in my copy was 100% stable, did not interrupt playback or break the connection, and the range was satisfactory.
To be completely happy, I miss WiFi and AirPlay here , which would definitely be a nice addition and an alternative option for connecting the speaker, making it even more versatile.