How to Charge Sony SRS XB43

Rear view of the Sony SRS XB43 speaker charging, showing the power cord connected.

This piece covers how to charge the Sony SRS XB43 extra bass portable Bluetooth speaker. Do this easily through the USB-C power in port, behind the water resistant door, shown in the pictures below. Note that you can still play your SRS XB43 mini speaker as it charges, without increasing the recharge time much.

First, the unit comes with a suitable USB-C charger. So use this one if you can. But if you lose yours, then be sure to pick a strong enough adapter. This particular speaker requires 15 watts (5 volts at 3 amps max).

Then, plug your charger into a working AC outlet.

Then after four to five hours, your SRS XB43 finishes charging. So it’s ready to play once more for up to twenty-four (24) hours before needing another recharge.

How to Charge Sony SRS XB43: Step by Step

1. Choose Correct Size AC or Car Adapter

The charger you use should provide 5 volts and at 3 amps (15 watts). Here, we use the adapter that Sony includes with this speaker. However, a Key Power model HDD15-3-PD USB power delivery system along with a thicker USB-C cable also works well.

2. Open the Port Cover

Use a fingernail, dime, penny, or small screwdriver to work open the waterproof seal port cover on the SRS XB43. 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 XB43 closed port compartment cap on speaker.

Prying open this door exposes the USB-C charging port inside, as shown next, pointed at by the red arrow.

The USB-C input port at the rear of the speaker.

3. Power OFF the Unit to Continue with How to Charge the Sony SRS XB43

Note that the SRSXB43 still charges when powered ON. But it might charge a bit faster when turned OFF. How much slower it charges depends on how much extra juice your charger supplies.

4. Plug the USB-C Cord into the Speaker

Then, plug the matching end of a USB-C charge cable into the port, as seen in the next shot.

Rear view of the speaker, showing the power cord connected.

Warning: Only use the USB-C port for charging the speaker. Do not use the USB-A port near the left edge in the port compartment. The larger connector is for power output only. So feeding power into THIS port will not only fail to recharge the battery. But this could also damage the electronics.

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

Now perhaps the supply you have has a detachable cable. If so, then make sure to connect the matching end of the USB power cable to it. Note though that the adapter that comes with the SRS XB43 has a permanently attached cord. So skip this step if that’s the cord you have.

6. Plug the USB Adapter into a Working Wall Receptacle to Continue with How to Charge Sony SRS XB43

Then connect the mains end of the adapter into a working AC outlet. We plug ours here into a surge protecting power strip.

The charging Bluetooth speaker.

The status lamp lights up solid orange on the speaker. But there’s no visual battery status gauge that shows percentage of charge. Yet the glowing lamp tells us that charging is occurring.

The CHARGE light glowing.

7. Let the SRS XB43 Charge Until the CHARGE Light Goes Out

So full battery charging is complete when the CHARGE lamp in the top button panel turns off.

Sony SRS XB43, dark Charge lamp.

8. Unplug the USB-C Charge Cable from the Speaker, to Continue with How to Charge Sony SRS XB43

9. Fully Close the Port Door / Cap

Note that unless you seat the port cap securely, water may soak its USB-C power input port. Of course, water and electronics generally do not go well together. So getting water in that connector might damage the metal contacts inside. So be sure to press this door closed. Use enough force to fully seat it, for maximum moisture protection.

The Sony SRS XB43 closed port compartment cap on speaker.