Review | Sony SRS-XV800: a super powerful speaker (maybe too powerful)

“Life is meant to be lived at full volume,” Sony says during the SRS-XV800 presentation. A maxim that resonates like a battle cry, perhaps too appropriate, when what has just passed is another new year.

“One year older, what difference does it make?”, Tommy Rey sings to the rhythm of his Sonora. A hit essential in celebrations across Chile. The New Year’s celebration is one of the few notable events, perhaps along with national holidays, during which many excesses seem to be forgiven: food, alcohol, staying up late and loud music.

This is the flag – or the slogan, strictly speaking – with which Sony presented at the beginning of the year the SRS-XV900, the predecessor of the model that we are going to analyze below. A speaker suitable for what the Japanese company understands as a party, and in which it intends, neither more nor less, than to be the centerpiece of the table.

• Horn type: 2-way, Bass Reflex
• Number of speakers: 3 tweeters (60 mm), 2 woofers (170×170 mm), 2 rear tweeters (40 mm).
• Weight: 18.5kg
• Dimensions: 317mm x 720mm x 375mm
• Bluetooth: Version 5.2
• Frequency range: 2.4GHz
• Frequency transmission range: 20 Hz-20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz sampling)
• Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC.
• Input and output terminals: Stereo mini-jack (input), USB A, optical digital input, microphone input, microphone/guitar input.
• Water resistance: IPX4 (when placed vertically), IPX2 (when placed horizontally)
• Battery life: 25 hours, approx.
• Energy consumption: 77W

The first surprise of this SRS-XV800 testing experience came from the speaker itself. Although a charging cart was required to transport it inside my house, as happened with the SRS-XV900 review, just seeing the packaging showed a positive change from to its previous model: its size is ostensibly smaller.

First note: is the XV800 a compact version of the XV900? It is about 10 centimeters shorter in width and depth, and about 16 centimeters shorter in height. And once the device is taken out of its packaging, the difference is even more visible.

This detail becomes relevant for modern life: if, for example, you live in a small apartment, like those that abound in our cities, every centimeter will be worth gold. Will there be enough to install a speaker of this size? Faced with this potential problem, Sony is at least careful to give more possibilities to its novelty.

The differences between one device and another are not just about dimensions. While the “old” XV900 is a four-way speaker, made up of six tweeters —divided into front, side and rear pairs— and a large woofer 320 square millimeters, the new XV800 is a two-way speaker, made up of five tweeters —three in the front and two in the rear—and two woofers. More than a compact version, it seems to be a synthesis of the XV900.

The second surprise appeared among the items included in the box. In addition to the envelope that includes the user guides, very practical for keeping order and not losing them, and the detachable AC cable, a digital optical cable is included, which offers a high quality audio and lower loss, ideal for amplifying a Smart TV.

Initial installation is super simple. However, it must first be connected to the mains to charge its battery, which will give it around 25 hours of autonomy. This will allow it to be used in any space, environment or environment, even outdoors, since it has IPX4 and IPX2 certifications – depending on whether it is positioned vertically or horizontally respectively -, which makes it relatively resistant to splashing water.

The process of pairing to a device – smartphone, tablet and/or laptop – is also quick and easy. The XV800 has Bluetooth 5.2, a version that, although not the most recent (5.3 has been available since 2022), is very suitable for audio, given the fluidity, solidity and consistency with which it transmits data of this type.

Added to this is the possibility of connecting two source devices simultaneously, an added value in a speaker designed for parties: disc jockey tasks can be shared from different points in a room, for example.

On the top surface of the speaker is the control panel, very obvious and intuitive. It has ten commands available, such as play pause, volume and setting of the input to use, all digital except for on/off, which consists of a physical button.

One of the important features of this speaker is that it has multiple audio inputs. In addition to the ability to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, cable connections are added. He has a USB key, another “mini plug» (the classic 3.5mm) and the aforementioned optical option.

All of these are located on a rear panel, where the physical buttons for other modes such as Battery maintenance (or energy saving). In this same port are two other inputs: the one intended for instruments such as an electric guitar and the one available for a microphone. Because what is a party without karaoke?!

The temptation is great. Of course, if Sony’s invitation is to live life “at full volume.” What does this mean with this speaker? Looking at the XV800 and knowing the XV900, I can have an idea of ​​the answer.

Knowing the risks this entails for the coexistence of my neighborhood, I gradually increase the power of the music on my cell phone until it reaches the maximum.

The result? A devastating noise, which shook the windows and the parquet floor in the living room of the apartment; which sent my dog ​​into hiding and led me to repeatedly check the building’s WhatsApp group waiting for complaints.

Fortunately, there were none; My modesty prevailed and, after checking the power, I reduced the volume to something more moderate. Moreover, this exercise and other “experiments” allowed me to verify several aspects of this enclosure.

One: the good sound quality it offers. I already mentioned that the XV800 has three tweeters dedicated to the processing of high and medium frequencies, and two woofer for bass and midrange. The latter have the particularity of having a quadrangular shape and not circular, as is the norm. Sony says this feature, which it calls X-Balanced, allows for increased surface area and deeper bass.

Added to this is the compatibility of your system with the high resolution LDAC codec, without loss of quality and very useful for those who use video services. streaming like Tidal, Apple Music and Deezer.

But let’s stay on the speakers integrated into the speaker. Three tweeters front, two rear and two woofers X-Balanced, to which it must be added that the speaker itself is of the acoustic box type bass reflex All these condiments, added to its power, give a thick, solid, deep sound with lots of attack. Hard and energetic, like the one experienced in is ecstatic and electronic parties.

Despite this, the sound is also quite clear. The volume exercise mentioned above allowed me to verify that, even when subjected to high power, no internal noise or distortion is generated. A fundamental detail for any quality speaker, whether it is intended to host parties or to enjoy the tranquility of your home.

But here’s the detail. The XV800 is precisely a speaker intended for movies and social gatherings. That’s how it’s thought of, that’s how it’s promoted. This too seems to be his “natural state”. What do I mean by that? Because its functions and characteristics are developed to function fully in a playful context. So much so that the higher the volume, the better the quality of its sound and the greater the feeling of immersion that it manages to generate.

Let us remember that their tweeters They point forward, sideways and backwards. And although their woofers They are only directed forward, their waves can be projected in different directions if correctly positioned. For this reason, Sony calls it an “omnidirectional” sound speaker.

These very positive characteristics, however, present a logical drawback. The XV800 loses a lot of efficiency when used at low or moderate volume. You need both high power and a spacious place to project your sound and achieve your best version.

This also happens in its TV Booster feature, which brutally enhances low frequencies, making every blast feel like a movie. Of course, to achieve this immersive sound, high volume is necessary and we return to the previous topic: is there enough space in your home to correctly locate the speaker, so that an imbalance is not generated and that a high volume level is also justified. ?

The Sony XV800 presents very good improvements compared to its previous version: a more compact and synthesized format, which makes it less complex to transport, as well as a slightly more affordable price. And maintains what could be considered the heart of the offer that the Japanese company offers with these models: a super sound power capable of organizing a party on its own.

However, the implementation of this idea poses a practical problem: is it worth having a speaker of this power level in a small apartment or house? Let’s say that everything will depend on the objectives you have as users. If you are looking for a device to create a soundscape in the tranquility of your home, the XV800 will probably not be the best alternative.

On the other hand, if you are usually the host of social evenings and you have enough space to turn up the volume of the music without having a municipal inspector at the door after 10 minutes, this speaker, which has also a multi-color lighting system, I wouldn’t let you down.

At least for the New Year there will always be an excuse and, probably, forgiveness from the neighborhood. Otherwise, as Tommy Rey says, “what difference does it make?” »

*Product prices in this article are updated as of