Sony's latest SRS line of Bluetooth speakers have been solid performers, but none of them have really wowed us. For $299.99, the SRS-X7 suffered from lackluster bass response, which was the same problem we encountered with the $199.99 SRS-X5. That's not the case with the SRS-X3, the smallest of the lot, which packs a nice punch for its size. It's small enough to carry in a bag, and has an understated, minimalist design. If it were $99.99, the SRS-X3 would be an easy pack for Editors' Choice, but alas, it costs $149.99. At that price, it makes sense to pay $50 more for a speaker with better sound quality, like the Bose SoundLink Mini or Braven BRV-X, or save some money on a number of solid performers in the $100 range.
Design and Pairing
Size-wise, the SRS-X3 seems designed to compete directly with the Bose SoundLink Mini. It's a rectangular block that measures 2.5 by 7.2 by 2.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.69 pounds, so it's slightly larger and heavier than the SoundLink Mini, but still plenty portable. You can easily move it from room to room, or put it in your bag and take it on a trip.
The design of the SRS-X3 is very much similar to its larger siblings, but condensed into a perfect rectangle, which makes it more attractive. It comes in black, red, or, white, and unlike the other speakers, the entire SRS-X3 is the color of your choice—not just the grille. I reviewed the red model. The top and sides of the speaker are coated with a rubbery, matte plastic finish, and the edges are outlined in black. It's definitely a minimal design compared with many other speakers out there, but I like it. And while it isn't rugged, it feels very solid.
You'll find all of your controls on the top panel of the speaker. There are seven outlined, slightly recessed buttons for Bluetooth pairing, Power, Speakerphone, switching your audio source, and volume (which works independently of your phone's volume). There's also a Sound button, which activates Wide Stereo mode, which I'll get to in the performance section.
Across from these controls is an NFC zone, which lets you tap to pair the speaker with certain smartphones and tablets. On the back of the speaker you'll also find a power port, a 3.5mm Aux input, and a Reset button.
Sony estimates up to 7 hours of music playback on a full charge. Of course, that depends entirely on how loud you play your tunes, but it's in line with the SoundLink Mini. The Braven BRV-X can last for up to 12 hours, but it's a bit larger than the SRS-X3.
I had no trouble pairing the speaker with my Apple iPhone 5s. The iPhone lacks NFC, but pairing is as simple pressing the Pairing button on the speaker, then selecting it from the list of available Bluetooth devices that showed up on the phone.
Performance and Conclusions
The SRS-X3 is home to two 10-watt, 1.3-inch drivers, and two passive radiators—one in the front and one in the back. It gets just as loud as the Braven BRV-X, but on tracks with heavy sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the speaker distorts slightly. Even on less intense tracks, like Radiohead's "Everything in Its Right Place," the SRS-X3 sounds challenged by the opening synth notes when volume is maxed out.
At volume levels below maximum, and on less challenging tracks, the SRS-X3 sounds quite good, with clear mids and highs. There is definitely some DSP (digital signal processing) at work, so the louder you go, the more the bass is dialed down to avoid distortion. But this doesn't have a noticeable effect until you've cranked things up to about 60 percent, which is pretty loud. Before that, tracks like Yo La Tengo's "Green Arrow" benefit from the punch of bass, though the speaker still lacks the overall warmth of the SoundLink Mini.
While the SRS-X3 has two drivers, the fact that they're so close together means the speaker doesn't deliver much in the way of stereo sound. That said, the Sound button on top is supposed to create an enhanced surround effect, called Wide Stereo mode. I didn't really find that to be the case, but there is a pretty dramatic difference when you turn the effect on. I found that it gave just about everything a much needed bass and treble boost, which made audio sound better across the board. It still suffered from a slight distortion at the highest volume, but in general, it sounded good enough that I kept it on for the majority of my testing.
The SRS-X3 has a built-in speakerphone, which is helpful when you're listening to music from your phone and don't want to miss a call. Call quality was fine on both ends, but nothing to write home about.
For $149.99, the Sony SRS-X3 gives you a lot of power for the price. It's super portable, and can definitely fill a room with sound. But given its limitations at higher volumes, it's not a great choice for loud music lovers or parties. If you're willing to spend an extra $50, the Braven BRV-X is a better speaker for your next summer get together, since it can deliver richer bass and crisper highs at top volume. It's also shockproof and water-resistant. If you're not in love with the rugged look, the SoundLink Mini also delivers more bass at higher volumes than the SRS-X3.
But if you don't want to spend more money, there's also the option to spend less. The Jabra Solemate Mini is smaller than the SRS-X3 and costs $50 less, yet still manages to get quite loud for its size. And you can go even cheaper, but then you'll start to take a serious hit in audio quality. So it primarily comes down to budget. There are plenty of options in the price range, but if you like the styling, don't need to turn things up to 11, and won't spend a dollar over $150, the SRS-X3 is a solid choice.
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