How to Pair Sony SRS XB31

This post shows how to pair the Sony SRS XB31 Extra Bass wireless speaker by way of Bluetooth to common portable devices. E.g. These include the Apple line of device like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. This routine also works for Android base devices as well, such as Samsung and LG phones, as well as Amazon Fire tablets.

How to Pair Sony SRS XB31, Step by Step

With your SRS XB31 powered OFF (power button is dark), run through these directions to pair it to your source BT mobile device. We’re using an iPad Air computer for this demo.

1. Go to the Home Screen on your Source 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.

Picture of an iPad Home screen, with the Settings app highlighted by an arrow. How to Pair Sony SRS XB31. — iOS Home Screen with 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 Pair Sony SRS XB31

Our Bluetooth Settings screen displays as follows. Note that our Bluetooth is enabled here. But since our Sony SRS XB31 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 paired this speaker with our mobile device before.

Screenshot of the iPadOS -Bluetooth Settings- page showing nothing discovered — iPadOS -Bluetooth Settings- page showing nothing discovered

5. Turn On your Sony SRX XB31

Turn on the speaker by quickly pressing its Power-Pairing button. See this, pointed at by the cyan arrow, in the next picture.

Picture of the -Power- button. — The -Power- button.

The unit then powers up, and its status lamp glows white, as we in the next picture.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB31 speaker -Power- lamp glowing. — The Sony SRS XB31 speaker -Power- lamp glowing.

But since our tablet does not know about this speaker, the SRS XB31 will not pair with it automatically.

6. Put the XB31 into Discovery Mode

Now, to see your XB31 on your device, place it into Bluetooth discovery / pairing mode. So to accomplish that, press and hold the Power-Pairing button, and release when you hear the rising pitch beep sequence and the speaker announces, “Bluetooth pairing,” in a lady’s voice. Find the Power-Pairing button as pictured above.

In addition to the voice announcement, the Bluetooth Status lamp begins flashing fast blue.

Picture of the Bluetooth Status lamp glowing. — he Bluetooth Status lamp glowing.

7. Find the Speaker on your Mobile Device to Continue with How to Pair Sony SRS XB31

See the screen shot next. We found our XB31, as pointed at by the green arrow.

Screenshot of the iPadOS Bluetooth Settings page, showing the Sony SRS XB31 speaker as Discovered. — The iPadOS Bluetooth Settings page, showing the Sony SRS XB31 speaker as Discovered.

8. Now Pair with the XB31

Tap the listed speaker in the discovered devices list.

Your mobile device then pairs with the Bluetooth speaker.

E.g. The the mobile device’s Bluetooth Settings screen might then change to look something like the following. Note the now-connected SRS XB31 entry, as pointed at by the green arrows in the next screenshot.

Screenshot of the iPadOS Bluetooth Settings page, showing the Sony SRS XB31 speaker as Connected. — The iPadOS Bluetooth Settings page, showing the Sony SRS XB31 speaker as Connected.

9. Done with How to Pair the Sony SRS XB31 !

At last, we have now successfully paired the XB31 BT speaker with with a common mobile tablet device.

References for How to Pair Sony SRS XB31

1. Sony SRS XB31 Product Page at Sony.com

Revision History

- 2021-09-28: First published.