How to Connect Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12

Top front view of the Sony SRS XB12 Extra Bass Bluetooth speaker.

This post shows how to connect the Sony Bluetooth speaker SRS-XB12 Extra Bass model with common portable devices, including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad line of Apple phones, media players, and tablets.

How to Connect to Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12, Step by Step

With your SRS XB12 powered OFF (power button is dark), run through these directions to connect your source BT mobile device to this speaker. We’re using an iPad Air computer for this demo.

1. Go to the Home Screen on your Device

Firstly, press the Home button to reveal the smart device’s Home screen.

2. Find the Settings App

We found ours on the second page of the Home screen, as shown next.

iOS -Home- page with the -Settings- app highlighted.

3. Bring up the Settings App

Thirdly, touch the Settings app icon.

The smart device then shows the first page of its settings, as shown in the next step.

4. Go to the Bluetooth Settings Page to Continue with How to Connect Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12

Our Bluetooth Settings screen displays as follows. Note that our Bluetooth is enabled here. But since our Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12 is currently shut OFF (is not in Bluetooth discovery mode), it does not show up in the Bluetooth devices list. Also, we don’t see it since we’ve never connected this speaker with our mobile device before.

5. Turn On your XB12

Turn on the XB12 by quickly pressing its Power button. See this, pointed at by the green arrow, in the next picture.

The Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12 -Power-Pairing- button.

The speaker then powers up, and its status lamp blinks blue, as seen in the next picture. This means that it’s ready to receive a Bluetooth connection request. If it slow blinks, then it’s passively waiting for a Bluetooth connection request to arrive. But if it’s fast-flashing blue, then it’s broadcast its connection info over Bluetooth so other devices can find this speaker.

But since our iPad does not know about this speaker, it will not connect with the XB12 automatically.

The speaker powered ON, showing the Status lamp lit.

6. Put the Speaker in Discovery Mode

Now, to see your Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12 speaker on your device, place the speaker into Bluetooth discovery mode. To do that, press the Power-Pairing button, and release when the speaker beeps twice and the Status lamp begins blinking rapidly. Find this button as shown above, pointed at by the green arrow.

7. Find the Speaker on your Mobile Device to Continue with How to Connect Sony Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB12

See the screen shot next. We found our XB12, as pointed at by the green arrow.

iPadOS Bluetooth page, showing the speaker discovered.

8. Connect with the XB12

Tap the listed speaker in the discovered devices list.

Your mobile device then connects with the SRS XB12.

E.g. The the mobile device’s Bluetooth Settings screen might then change to look something like the following. Note the now-connected SRS XB12 entry, as pointed at by the green arrows in the next screenshot.

iPadOS Bluetooth page, showing our test speaker as connected.