Sony XV800 vs Sony XV900: Sound, Features & Verdict

Comparing Two Of Sony’s Large Party Speakers

Sony’s XV800 and XV900 are large party speakers designed to fill large rooms with sound. But they don’t come cheap, so don’t make the mistake of just buying blindly. Keep reading as we break down the differences between these speakers and help you make an educated choice before pulling the trigger.

Our Top Pick

Sony SRS-XV900

The Sony SRS-XV900 is a slightly better party speaker than the SRS-XV800, but it ultimately depends what you need from your speaker. The XV900 is a bassier speaker with more volume, but its large size makes it more challenging to move around.

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Sony XV800 vs Sony XV900 Specs

Table of Contents

• Design, Build & Durability
• Controls, Connectivity & App Support
• Sound Quality & Volume
• Battery
• Price & Value
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

Differences In Build Quality, Portability & Durability Between The Sony XV800 and XV900

• No significant differences in build or water-resistance.
• The XV900 is significantly larger and heavier, making it more challenging to move around.
• When it comes to lighting effects, the XV900 is the clear winner.

Durability & Water Resistance

Winner: Tie

Sony SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV900

Both these speakers use the same materials and have the same IPX4 water-resistance rating, meaning neither is inherently more durable or waterproof than the other. They’re both a bit vulnerable to impact damage, especially if knocked over or pushed up against other hard objects. Both benefit from being covered by a blanket during transit.

Portability

Winner: SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV900

The Sony SRS-XV800 is a significantly smaller speaker than the XV900, weighing in at just shy of 20 lbs lighter and around 7″ shorter. Even though they both have built-in wheels, the size limits the terrain they can navigate. Rough asphalt and grass, for example, can be challenging.

The XV900’s large size makes it a challenge to move in and out of vehicles for transport and may require two people to do.

Lighting Effects

Winner: SRS-XV900

Sony SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV900

Here’s where the Sony XV900 shines, quite literally. Its lighting effects are significantly more attractive than the XV800. It features a transparent base to the speaker, which allows its bottom lighting to spread across the floor in a broad radius around the speaker. This differs from the XV800, which has basic lighting on the top and bottom, but not on the base.

Both speakers’ lights are adjustable, though, and by using the Sony Music Center app or the main controls on top of the speaker, one can change the patterns and colors of these effects.

Sony’s XV900 Switches Things Up With A New Connection Layout & More Comprehensive Controls

• Features like the key control and echo effects are only available via the app for the XV900.
• The XV900’s new button layout makes it easier to quickly change lighting effects.

Inputs & Outputs

Winner: SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV800 Inputs & Outputs

Sony SRS-XV900 Inputs & Outputs

There’s quite a difference in the ports of these models. The XV800 has its AC power input alongside the jacks, while on the XV900, it’s separate and located near the bottom of the speaker.

The microphone echo effects and key controls have been removed from the XV900’s rear panel, but are still accessible via the mobile app.

A key feature of both these speakers is the inclusion of an optical input, a feature that isn’t found on the older SRS-XP700.

Both the XV800 and XV900 have two 6.35mm microphone inputs, along with volume control and the ability to toggle guitar mode on or off.

Controls

Winner: SRS-XV900

Sony SRS-XV800 Controls

Sony SRS-XV900 Controls

While there’s a difference in layout between the controls of these two speakers, the functions are almost the same. The XV900 is a bit more comprehensive when it comes to lighting effects, with an array of shortcuts across the panel that let one toggle between 5 different colors or use the multi-color options.

The touch controls cover the essentials for playback, with a play/pause button that can also be used to skip tracks forward and backward (tap twice to skip forward, or three times to go backward).

TWS & Group Pairing

Winner: Tie

The Sony SRS-XV800 and SRS-XV900 both support wireless stereo pairing and general group pairing, and are equally as efficient at doing so. They can be paired together with up to 100 supporting devices, which include some of Sony’s smaller party speakers, including the XP700 and XP500.

However, for stereo pairings, they can only be paired together with another speaker of the same model, meaning you cannot pair the XV800 and XV900 in stereo, for example.

App Support

Winner: Tie

Sony’s Music Center app is the companion app for the XV800 and XV900. One can adjust lighting effects, establish group pairings, and adjust the EQ settings through the app.

Sony XV800 Vs XV900: Which Sounds Better?

• The bass-heavy sound of the XV900 stands out as a defining feature.
• Both speakers have good soundstage, but the XV900’s side tweeters give it an advantage.
• You’re going to get a few more decibels out of the XV900.

Sony SRS-XV800 Drivers

Sony SRS-XV900 Drivers

Driver Configuration

Here’s where things get significantly different between these two models. The Sony XV800 has two front-firing woofers with 5 tweeters (3 in the front and 2 at the back), making it a 2-way speaker. The XV900, however, features a 3-way design with a large 12.6″ front-firing woofer, two midrange drivers, and a total of six tweeters positioned in the front, side, and back of the speaker.

Frequency Response

Winner: SRS-XV900

Both speakers have a generally neutral sound. Not completely flat, but removed from the bass-heavy sound profile of the XP700. That’s not to say these speakers don’t have bass, and in fact, the XV900 is an absolute bass monster, with its 12.6″ woofer.

But the way it’s designed is that the bass isn’t overemphasized. Instead, its lows are well balanced with the midrange and treble, while still providing that pounding boom that makes everyone want to get on the dancefloor.

The XV800’s sound is less bass-heavy, which makes it sound a little flat when played next to the XV900, but when isolated from the direct comparison, the XV800 still has a great sound with clear vocals, punchy lows, and nuanced treble that adds a lot of detail.

Soundstage & Dynamics

Winner: SRS-XV900

Both speakers excel in their soundstage, owed largely to the rear tweeters that send audio in more directions than just forward. The XV900 takes it to the next level, though, with its side-mounted tweeters that give the speaker a 360-degree sound spread.

While the XV900 has an inherent advantage when it comes to soundstage, it’s also worth noting that although the XV800 can be laid horizontally for greater separation between channels, the XV900 can only be played vertically.

Volume

Winner: SRS-SV900

The XV900 is a louder speaker than the XV800, achieving several more decibels in testing. Both can fill a relatively large room, but the XV900 does so with window-rattling power and makes it better suited to covering larger outdoor areas, too.

How Does The Battery Differ Between The Sony SRS-XV800 and SRS-XV900?

Winner: SRS-XV800

Sony SRS-XV800 Back

Sony SRS-XV900 Drivers

These speakers are both rated by Sony to provide up to 25 hours of battery life at 30% volume; however, with the lighting and bass boost turned on, it is closer to 20 hours.

When played at 50% volume with these features on, you’re going to get around 10 hours of playtime on the XV900 and just shy of 12 hours from the XV800. However, since the XV900 is a louder speaker in general, the differences mostly balance out.

At full volume, the XV800 lasts just shy of 5 hours while the large XV900 achieves closer to 4 hours.

Price & Value

Winner: SRS-XV800

The Sony XV800 has historically retailed at $649, but recently has seen list prices drop to $549, and is even sometimes available for under $500 during sales. The XV900 has a higher retail price tag of $899, and while sales occasionally bring the cost down to $799, it’s not as common as with the XV900.

The XV900 has also seemingly become a bit harder to find since the release of Sony’s Ult model party speakers.

In terms of value, the XV900 justifies its additional price point with its significantly better 3-way speaker design, which gives it a lot more bass, but its large size means it’s best suited for those who won’t regularly need to move it around.

Conclusion

Overall, the Sony XV900 is the better speaker. Its sound is more bass-heavy, it gets louder, and its lighting effects are on another level. However, its large size makes it tough to handle, and for a casual party host, the XV800 can often achieve the desired performance while also saving $250 or more.

If you have the money to spare and don’t plan on moving the speaker between a lot of different locations, then the XV900 is the best pick.

Our Top Pick

Sony SRS-XV900

The Sony SRS-XV900 is a slightly better party speaker than the SRS-XV800, but it ultimately depends what you need from your speaker. The XV900 is a bassier speaker with more volume, but its large size makes it more challenging to move around.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sony XV800 and XV900

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