I own a Bose SoundLink Mini as a truly portable speaker solution for traveling or for home from room to room. Bose can so quickly in this size range not the water. While there are louder speakers which are similar compact, but they sound like horns or clock radios. However, the Bose is not perfect, so the high-frequency reproduction is extremely focused, and the bass can also quickly begin to roar when poorly positioned him near a corner of the room etc. So pleased I was with the Bose, as I was then but since the beginning to looking for something better. Of course there are more speakers that sound better, but this I would not like to want to carry around, the Bose I can even plug in a larger pocket. In this class, I have also thoroughly tested JBL batch, UE Boom, Klipsch GiG, etc, but none of them has really this busty sound that vorkaugelt one to have a much larger facility in front of him, provided you do not overdo it with the volume.
Now I had already tried the larger Sony-X5 and was very impressed by his pleasant and neutral sound tuning. He sounded much better than the SoundLink Mini, but was also greater. Unfortunately, Sony was the battery of not even playing at half power and also did not reach the maximum volume from Bose. My hope is that the smaller model X3 perhaps the X5 rudimentary water could reach and volume terms is not so quickly come on battery power to the limit, has been exceeded, because the X3 sounds better than the X5, both of which are not really suitable for high volumes and there rather forced and hard sound, but first things first:
The X3 is a total of slightly larger than the Bose, not much, but still noticeable. In the pocket of a short to fit into it not so easy, the Bose is there flat. Otherwise, both are similar in size enormously, and also the weight is not much difference, said Sony is about 100g heavier.
From the processing there is nothing to complain about, the Sony looks classy and minimalist, but it lacks a little the real high-quality appearance of Bose, who with his brushed aluminum housing simply looks like a premium product.
An accessory is included nothing but a charger and micro USB cable, Bose has still practical charging cradle while, at least allows the Sony normal load via microUSB everywhere, with the full charging takes then also to the 5 hours. For Sony a matching carrying case is available as an extra, which acts not as overpriced with just under 20 euros as the Bose counterpart. The buttons on the top are behind some kind of rubber coating and have a real pressure point, as opposed to the touch keys of the larger X5 model. It affects at least as if the Sony certainly can withstand wet hands, as there are no cracks on the top, where water could penetrate. I doubt that the battery is officially exchanged. There are also seen no screws, presumably these are hidden under the glued rubber feet.
When switching on and off of the X3 are a sound, while the X5 laudably actually remained silent, except in pairing mode. The sound is not unpleasant, but a bit noisy. Me personally disturb these sounds enormously to speak when some speakers then start all over especially. Forced to the pairing mode, then the X3 beep quite loud and then connects to relatively quickly with a setter. The Bluetooth range is extremely good, maybe even better than the Bose. NFC is naturally present, unfortunately rather useless for me as Apple users. What the Sony can not, but this already mastered many similar speaker, is the simultaneous pairing to multiple devices. This of course is hugely convenient if you can be connected at the same time both the tablet and the phone of the wife, sometimes having to build a new pairing without any. Also would have been nice if 2 speakers to wireless could connect to a stereo Duo. The rule now even speakers to 50 Euro (The TDK A12 Trek Micro example).
Now the most important thing, the sound:
What is immediately noticeable is that the sound has an enormous range. The Sony SRS-X3 does not sound like trumpet, but a full-grown plant. The bass goes surprisingly deep, I measured roughly 55Hz, so already a little deeper than the SoundLink Mini, at the same time Bass at Sony in the upper part is not so raised to 120Hz rum as with Bose, which is why he does not sound so wummig and also not such a strong tendency to roar. In direct comparison with the Bose extremely clear trebles from Sony is also instantly recognizable. For my taste, even almost a little too sharp and pungent as the heights at the same time a little "thin" sound, hi-hats have some "tummy" rum Bose below, when Sony is heard rather only the sizzle. In direct comparison with the X5, the smaller X3 sounds simple full, both in the bass and in the treble, the centers occur somewhat more into the background when X3. Unlike the larger X5, the X3 now also plays of battery at full capacity, is therefore also louder than the X5 when using battery power, but not quite as loud as the X5, when it depends on electricity. However, the X3 is loaded obviously only if it is not turned on at the same time, but probably not enough to 5V charging current.
The Sony-X3 has 30 dedicated volume levels, with level 10 volume terms equivalent to about 50% from the SoundLink Mini. Until Level 15 about the sound remains fairly homogeneous. Only about the Bass withdrawal begins noticeably and the dynamics compressor uses significantly. At maximum volume, both Sony and Bose play similarly worded, the X3 but is only a faint bass residue present but at the same time hardly upper bass. The Bose screwed the bass in the last quarter also according to head back, but he tries to keep the spectrum, while Sony shifts the sound, the bass is "thin", and the highs even more acute. Although both sound rather moderate, when they play at full volume, I still would there give preference because he still powerful sound despite the strong sound processing and the dynamic range compression at Bose pleasant comes, when Sony it pumps any more, one Bose noted simply that the speaker would like more, but can not really.
In volumes clearly below the center wins the Sony. Even at the slightest step, he manages rauszuholen a powerful but at the same clear sound, while the Bose because sounds more wummig and dull. Jokingly I let the Sony times to compete against my larger stereo speakers at low volumes, and the Sony sounded better. He had a better perceptible bass and was also in the upper regions of clear, only at higher volumes then you could see the advantage of the big boxes, because the Sony just could not keep up. But if you just want to hear pleasant music in the background, but it is not intended to sound like from a kitchen radio, the Sony is doing a really good (it surpasses my opinion tonally even the Sonos Play: 1 on this point).
The Sony is not as critical as the installation Bose also by far. While Bose in small spaces or close to the wall fast bass moderate all can fully roar, acts of Sony homogeneous because rather missing the Dröhnfrequenzen the bass. This sounds the Sony but also out not quite as full as the Bose, the free-standing again has some advantage. A problem with the Bose, however, the extremely directional treble reproduction. Really good it sounds only when it is properly aligned on the handset and you exactly located in the very focused radiation cone of small chassis. At Sony, the problem hardly exists, although it may sound in the midst apparent when he looks at you, but you can even hear music acceptable if it is fully rotated back to the back, or anywhere is on the ground. One can actually stand him somewhere and walk around, without sacrificing the quality would greatly subside as the Bose whatever was one of my biggest criticisms there.
Disturbing I find the Sony especially the extra volume control, which can also affect the sound significantly if you do not know what you're doing. Create it already many manufacturers (especially JBL) to implement a single master volume, which is always in sync on playback devices and speakers, the Sony has just like the Bose own independent from the setter volume. Why is this problematic? The sound is completely different when the speaker is set for example to a high level, the setter, however low, as if you put the player device to a maximum, and the volume decreases according to the speaker. Is also the Bose not entirely immune from this problem that is much more extreme noticeable at Sony. The entire balance of bass / treble and middle shifts, depending on whether one can always maximum at setter and regulates only the speaker, or even tried only by the player device to regulate, while the speaker is always kept at maximum level. The whole tone shift is primarily due, as Sony tries aurally adjust the sound to the volume. At low volumes we hear neither depths nor heights as well as at higher volumes, Sony and compensated the supposed conformity of known loudness curves hinbiegen the sound correctly. How do they do it right, I can not exactly judge, I find, however, that he somewhat exaggerates when quietest volumes.
Stupid precisely when these sound adjustment seems to be coupled to fix the absolute volume levels of the speaker. Because this does not fit the same as the final volume, because in addition to the setter was down regulated, just quite what comes out another, which was beabsichtig. I find that the X3 sounds best when the volume on the player device is not fully ramped up. On Iphone example I'm going down 4 steps from the maximum, and then according to the regulator X3 high in order to achieve the same volume as before. The result is a less compressed sound, not quite as stinging treble while also clearer mids. From there you can adjust the quieter setter, and tend not to the speaker. Had Sony implemented a single synchronous volume, the sound would have been even better control. I am now quite certain that many will complain about the "bad" sound, because they have asked the speaker to a maximum, and only regulate the setter to have full volumes bandwidth directly from the mobile phone available , On the other hand, it is also annoying if you comfortably lying on the couch and wants to make loud, but have to pay extra to get up to turn up at the speaker, as already is provided a maximum on the phone. Therefore, here again my request to all manufacturers (in which case no one is really sure read along) to finally implement a single volume control in all devices, other make it, too!
Striking is also a not so subtle DSP control in the background, independently of the volume. The Sony seems to have permanently looped dynamic compression. Comparing the same pieces on different speakers, you realize the Sony a significantly lower dynamics. Percussion often has no "Punch", snares seem to be pushed into the background. I'm not sure whether the + is on Clear Audio, which is permanently active (even without "sound" button), but much just does not sound like it was recorded in truth. It has been partly the feeling one would listen to a radio station, which usually for the purpose of noise margin before the transfer the music also like totkomprimieren. I also suspect that Sony is trying to keep the bass as long as possible at a high level, and accordingly tried only dangerous peaks is to cut that would bring the small chassis else in the distortion. That sometimes it can come to "pumping artifacts" sensitive ears should be aware. Many pieces that are already compressed more by itself (unfortunately, a bad habit today's mastering technology) act breeig on the Sony, while very well may still account for individual sounds in Bose. Since Sony would like to be able to hold back a bit, in my opinion, and keep the whole better control, because I think that the whole is also related to the volume of player. If this is just driven at its maximum level, the sound is more compressed than when the level is lowered slightly on a player device (about the 4 stages as already described above), something might not actually be, on the other hand, a more compressed sound at low volumes again be advantageous because you want to avoid high level jumps more. Anyway, there is enough potential to experiment, who wants to really play. I was surprised at how "versatile" of Sony may sound, if you follow certain rules or fails to comply.
Positive, however, that the Sony never actually distorted in the bass range, high volume is anyway barely bass there, and at normal volume levels of Bass's nice under control, while the Bose SoundLink Mini some shots are dirty even at half volume in the bass range because this is just so much pushed. I have always been bothered that the SoundLink Mini sometimes begins to hum, it was the deep bass of a Hammond organ, or some bass drums. If we make quieter, it's gone, it makes a loud, it's gone well, but so to 55-60% seems exactly the point where the SoundLink Mini tried so strongly to keep the bass level that it is in fact too much and he comes into the distortion. When Sony that does not happen, which keeps here the bass and especially the upper bass over 100Hz back, probably in conjunction with the dynamic range compression that uses only later at Bose. But what can the Sony already happen at Bose, however not that middle oversteer at high volumes. Loud piano passages, Rhodes etc that take place more in the central region, can knacksen before and tug at Sony on high volumes, while the Bose plays much controlled, and really only in the bass range for certain shots has problems. Both, however, are heard when at higher volumes the bass crosstalk in the heights. Especially get some "flutter" and will no longer be reproduced quite as clean. When Sony you know it just more because he just sounds much clearer, as well as the Bose one hears it, is the only just dull innately.
A word about the treble: I think the simple dominant, partially correct pungent, almost resonant. The sound seems indeed extremely high resolution, partly reminds me of ribbon tweeter, but it's too much of a good. Here I was able to manage my part, as I have the Sony wrapped in a scarf. You have to experiment a bit. One can sew a sleeve or plug it in a wool sock that then not only the speaker for the transport protect, but simply acts as a filter height and of a thicker fabric.
I found the "Sound" button on the X5 quite helpful as it also the high range also raised in addition to the sound widening, sounds simple the only exaggerated the X3. Here you would have the extra treble boost can really save. While I like the sound depending on the music broadening quite sound on X3 is so much too much treble. Again, however, one could again make do with the sock, or equal to 2 ...
Why Sony does not provide app support with customizable sound profiles or EQ settings when X3 as the X7 eg unfortunately remains a mystery, because you sound but could use some better hintunen to the circumstances and his taste here.
For battery life I can not say anything precise. However, I feel as though the Sony is not quite as long as the Bose play, in which I have come loose on 12 hours at moderate volume levels, or about 4 at maximum volume. Unfortunately I have noticed that the X3 very quickly can be an end to high volumes. He holds evidently by no 2 hours. In my tests, and I had to compare the X3 primarily run parallel with the SoundLink Mini with higher levels and after a while the Sony has the volume runtergeregelt suddenly by itself in half. I could him after turning indeed move back to loud games, but after a minute the volume was again lowered automatically. Either in my device the battery is broken, or it's really a significantly weaker battery than Bose installed.
Nevertheless I forgive despite the criticism the full number of points, since it is extremely a lot of fun to listen to music with the SRS-X3. It sounds pleasant, more mature than the Bose, despite the offentlichtlichen DSP processing in the background. Not all sounds equally well on the Sony. There are things that sound certainly better on the Bose, but arbitrarily set somewhere and hingestreamt an Internet radio station, the Sony comes just less problematic than the Bose, the already muffled sounds of house, then in streams with low bit rate again einbüst when then hear further from the side, is nothing other than to be heard rumbling. Only the limits you have to be aware of Sony may well play loud, but then does not sound really special. Its strength lies clearly in the cozy listening incidentally to about half volume. For outside of Bose seems partly to be a better choice. I have tested both in the garden, and because the wummerige Bass was able to prevail with the lower tuned highs at Bose better. The Sony sound slightly hissing and deep bass could not prevail so right.
I hope Sony developed the concept further. The X3 is already close to it the perfect portable speaker to be and on top of that is also cheaper than Bose! Slightly less DSP Voodoo, it controlled in the bass, a little more subtle levels, and a touch more power at higher volumes would allow the Speaker immediately climb in the charts.
You have to know exactly what you want only. A boom box, the Sony can not replace, if someone likes to listen to loud, you should look for something else. The Beats Pill XL would be because my hot tip, however, continued to play softly, more reminiscent of a clock radio, especially in direct comparison to the Sony.
I would definitely recommend it to all who flirt with the SoundLink mini to listen also the SRS-X3. After a year with the Bose and a certain love-hate relationship, it has me now again managed to put a smile on your face when I hear him turn on and music about Sony. He is certainly not perfect, but that is the Bose even less.
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