How to Charge Sony SRS XB12

A charging Sony SRS XB12 BT speaker, with its CHG light glowing orange.

This piece covers how to charge the Sony SRS XB12 portable extra bass Bluetooth speaker. Do this easily through the USB power in port, behind the water resistant door, shown in the pictures below. Note that you can still play your XB12 mini speaker as it charges, without significantly increasing the recharge time.

First, pick a strong enough USB power adapter, as no charger comes with the Sony SRS XB12. Next, connect a medium to high current micro USB charge cable between the speaker and that adapter. Then, plug the charger into a working wall outlet. Then after four to five hours, your XB12 finishes charging. So it’s ready to play once more for up to sixteen (16) hours before needing another recharge.

How to Charge Sony SRS XB12: Step by Step

1. Choose Correctly Sized AC or Car Adapter

The charger you use should provide 5 volts and at least 0.5 amps (2.5 watts). Here, we use a Key Power model HDD15-3-PD USB power delivery system. Now as mentioned, this speaker needs 5 volts at roughly 0.5 amps to recharge fully. So the Key Power gives way more than enough current to do the job.

2. Open the Port Cover

Use a fingernail, dime, penny, or small screwdriver to work open the waterproof seal port cover on the XB12. See the closed power port door in the next picture. Be careful not to scratch the delicate seal around the inside edge of this door.

The Sony SRS XB12 port compartment cap on the back of the speaker.

Prying open this door exposes the micro USB charging port inside, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

The micro USB charge port.

3. Power OFF the Unit to Continue with How to Charge Sony SRS XB12

Note that the SRSXB12 still charges when powered ON. But depending on how much above-and-beyond recharging capacity your charger delivers, The speaker might charge a little faster when turned OFF.

4. Plug the Micro USB Cord into the Speaker

Then, plug the small end of your micro USB charge cable into the matching micro USB port, as seen in the next shot.

5. Plug the Other End of the USB Cable into your Charger Adapter

Next, connect the A end of the USB power cable to the power adapter.

6. Plug the USB Adapter into a Functioning Wall Receptacle to Continue with How to Charge the Sony SRS XB12

Now that we connected the XB12 and our adapter, we then plug the mains end of the adapter into a working AC outlet, as shown next. We plugged ours into a surge protecting power strip.

The Sony SRS XB12 speaker on the charge.

The CHG lamp lights up solid orange on the speaker. And while no battery status gauge shows percentage of charge, this light glowing means that charging is occurring, as shown next.

The speaker recharging, with its CHG light glowing orange.

7. Let the XB12 Charge Until the CHG Light Goes Out

Full battery charging is complete when the solid red status lamp near the bottom of the speaker turns off, as shown next.

The CHG lamp OFF on the speaker.

8. Unplug the USB Charge Cable from the Speaker, to Continue with How to Charge Sony SRS XB12

9. Fully Close the USB Port Door

Note that unless you snap the port flap securely, water may soak its USB port. And, since water and electronics generally do not mix, getting water in the port might damage the parts inside. So be sure to press the port door closed with enough force to fully seat it, for maximum water resistance.

The port compartment cap on the back of the speaker.