Front view of the Sony SRS XB12 Extra Bass Bluetooth speaker.

How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa

This post shows how to pair the Sony SRS XB12 Bluetooth extra bass speaker to a typical Alexa device. We demonstrate this using the Alexa Echo Input smart device.  But the same you could also do with an Echo Dot, Spot, or any other Alexa device that supports Bluetooth pairing, which includes just about all of them.  Since this Bluetooth connecting happens between the speaker and Alexa strait-line, you need not turn Bluetooth on in the mobile device you’re using to put together this link.

How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa: Step by Step

Start with your Sony speaker powered off.  Then run through this routine to pair the XB12 to the Alexa device. We’re using an iPad Air tablet to set up this linkage.

1. Find the Alexa App on your Mobile Device

We found the app on an iPadOS iPad Air as shown in the next screenshot. In our case, the Alexa app is on the third home screen page. It’s pointed at by the blue arrow.

Screenshot of the iOS home screen, showing the Amazon Alexa app Icon highlighted.
iOS home screen, showing the Amazon Alexa app Icon highlighted.

2. Run the Alexa App

The app displays its Home screen as shown in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the Alexa app on iPadOS Home page, with the -More- Item highlighted. How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 to Alexa.
The Alexa app on iPadOS Home screen, with the -More- Item highlighted.

3. Tap the More (Hamburger) Control 

Find the hamburger item in the lower right corner of the screen. This is pointed at by the green arrow in the last screenshot.  Some older versions of the app display this control in the top left corner of the screen.

This brings up the Alexa app’s main menu, as shown in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the app's main menu, with the -Settings- item highlighted.
The app’s main menu, with the -Settings- item highlighted.

4. Tap the Settings Option on the Main Menu to Continue with How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa

The Settings option is pointed at by the green arrow in the last screenshot.

This brings up the Settings screen, as shown in the next screenshot.

From here, choose which Alexa device you wish to pair to your Sony XB12 speaker.  The green arrow in the next picture points at our choice,  the Thomas’s Echo Input device.

Screenshot of the -All Devices- page, with an Echo Input highlighted.
The -All Devices- page, with an Echo Input highlighted.

5. Tap the Alexa Device you Want to Pair to the XB12

This takes you to the device-specific settings screen for the Alexa device you picked.

Screenshot of the app displaying the -Device Settings- page for the Echo Input, with the -Bluetooth Devices- option highlighted. How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa.
The app displaying the -Device Settings- page for the Echo Input, with the -Bluetooth Devices- option highlighted.

6. Tap the Bluetooth Devices Item

Find the Bluetooth Devices menu item pointed at by the green arrow in the last screenshot.

This brings up the Bluetooth Devices screen, as shown next.

At this point, you’re ready to start a Bluetooth scan by the Alexa unit you just chose for this pairing. In our demo here, our Alexa Input will be the one that scans for Bluetooth devices.

But don’t press the Pair a New Device button just yet. We must first power up the Bluetooth speaker and put it into discovery mode.

Screenshot of the -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the -Pair a New Device- button bar highlighted.
The -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the -Pair a New Device- button bar highlighted.

7. Turn On your Speaker to Continue with How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa

Put down your mobile device for a moment, and turn on your XB12.  We turn this speaker on by quickly pressing its Power button. See this button pointed at by the green arrow, in the next picture.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB12 portable speaker powered OFF, showing the -Power- button.
Sony SRS XB12 portable speaker powered OFF, showing the -Power- button.

The speaker then powers up.  Its status lamp lights up blue, and will flash fast, slow, or stay on solid depending on speaker state.  No matter.

Side view of the Sony SRS XB12 speaker, showing the Status lamp lit blue.
Side view of the Sony SRS XB12 speaker, showing the Status lamp lit blue.

But since our Alexa device does not know about this speaker yet, she will not pair with the XB12 automatically.

8. Put your SRS XB12 Sony into Discovery Mode

Now, to allow Alexa to find your XB12, place that speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode by pressing and holding in the Power button, as pointed at by the green arrow above.

When you press and hold the Power button, the Sony XB12  makes a two-tone beep sound to let you know that it’s ready to pair. Release the button at that time.  It’s Power lamp also fast flashes to signal that pairing mode is active.

9. Now, Go Back to your Mobile Device 

The screen with the blue Pair a New Device button should still be showing, as in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the app displaying its -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the -Pair a New Device- button bar highlighted. How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa.
The app displaying its -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the -Pair a New Device- button bar highlighted.

10. Tap the Blue Pair a New Device Button to Continue with How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa

This starts your Alexa device scanning for any nearby Bluetooth devices that are themselves in discovery mode. Since our Sony SRS XB12 speaker is now in discovery mode, the Alexa device should find it.

After a short pause, you should see something like the screen we got. Shown next.

Screenshot of the app displaying the -Pair Bluetooth Device with your Echo Input- page, showing that it found the Sony SRS XB12 speaker.
The app displaying the -Pair Bluetooth Device with your Echo Input- page, showing that it found the Sony SRS XB12 speaker.

In our demo, the Alexa app found our BT speaker, named  SRS XB12.

11. Find your XB12 on the Discovered Devices List

We located our Sony BT speaker in the list, as pointed at by the green arrow in that picture.

12. Finally, Pair your Alexa Device with your XB12 

Link to the BT speaker by tapping the listed speaker in the Bluetooth Setup screen, shown in the last screenshot above.

Alexa then pairs with the speaker, as seen in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the app displaying its -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the Sony SRS XB12 speaker connected.
The app displaying its -Select Previously Paired Device- page, with the Sony SRS XB12 speaker connected.

13. Tap the Cancel Link

To get back to the Device Settings screen, touch the Cancel link.  Find it circled in the last picture.

The app then takes you back to the Device Settings page for the Alexa device you just paired, as shown next.

Screenshot of the -Device Settings- page for an Echo Input, showing 1 paired and connected device highlighted. How to Connect Sony SRS XB12 to Alexa.
The -Device Settings- page for an Echo Input, showing 1 paired and connected device highlighted.

Also, our speaker makes a Speaker Paired sound.

13. Done with How to Pair Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa !

We have now successfully paired our XB12 with an Alexa smart device. So we can now ask Alexa to play music or any other audio content through this Sony speaker.

Other Posts About Alexa

    1. How to Put Echo Dot in Pairing Mode, Amazon Alexa Dot
    2. Alexa WiFi Setup Instructions for Amazon Echo Speakers
    3. How to Hook Up Alexa Speaker to New WiFi
    4. How to Get Alexa to Play Spotify Playlists
    5. Alexa Echo Subwoofer Setup Instructions

References for How to Pair the Sony SRS XB12 with Alexa

    1. Amazon Alexa Echo Described at Wikipedia.org
    2. Where to Buy Sony SRS XB12
    3. Sony Bluetooth Speakers Product Page at Sony.com

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