Putting the SRS-XP700 through its paces

By David Harris, Carlisle Sony Centre

Recently, the brand-new SRS-XP700 arrived in store, and we got to spend some quality time putting it through its paces. The new XP700 has a new speaker unit which gives high quality sound through the front and the back, so you get excellent vocals and sound clarity wherever the unit is placed. We can say that Sony’s claim of the XP700 being able to ‘fill any crowded venue, whether inside or outside’, is very much true! It’s the perfect fit for summertime barbeques, or even those winter nights when you just want some background music playing. Upon unboxing the unit, we were pleasantly surprised to see that Sony’s ‘Quick charging’ will give you three hours of play on just a ten-minute charge.

Sony SRS-XP700 Wireless Speaker

From a usability perspective, pairing my phone via Bluetooth was simple and easy. We had the XP700 playing music in moments. Of course, testing the XP700 in our store environment wasn’t quite enough, so I took it home over the weekend for a party on Saturday night. The results were excellent - the battery lasted all evening and filled the garden with deep bass and clear vocals. Our guests were very complimentary, with one even saying that the XP700 is ‘all the speaker you’d ever need’.

Sony SRS-XP700 Wireless Speaker

Additionally, the XP700 features a brilliant party mode, which allows you to add additional speakers if you wish. We did find that for us, the single speaker was more than enough on its own.

Thankfully, the night was clear and dry (something of a rarity this year), however, the XP700 has been designed so that you needn’t worry if It gets splashed with water. Sony has achieved this by gracing the XP700 with IPX4 water resistance, so you can party on even if the weather turns!

Sony SRS-XP700 Wireless Speaker

One thing our guests did like, was the LED lighting which gave a club atmosphere to the garden once night fell. This made for a brilliant summer evening vibe – the only questionable moment was when our guests decided they wanted to switch to their Spotify playlists.

Sony SRS-XP700 Wireless Speaker

We were lucky enough to have some karaoke fans amongst us, and the XP700 made the perfect half of a double act. We plugged in a microphone, fired up Spotify, and began belting out the classics! Plus, whilst we didn’t get a chance to test this feature, the XP700’s two inputs mean you can even plug in a guitar and use the speaker as an amp. Musical superstar? We think so.

Sony SRS-XP700 Wireless Speaker

Overall, the SRS-XP700 is a lovely piece of design, with its clean, straight lines. We loved the built-in handle and sturdy base. Plus, with 25 hours of battery life when fully charged, the XP700 will keep your party going for as long as you need! If you fancy an XP700 of your own, head on over to the SRS-XP700 page to place your order now.