Picture of the glowing party lights on the Sony SRS XP500 karaoke speaker.

How to Turn On Lights on Sony SRS XP500

This speaker comes equipped with a set of color changing, pulsating party LED lights that, by default, blink, scan, and flash to the beat of whatever you stream to the speaker.  And you can turn these lights on and off.  Further, resetting the speaker switches them ON again if OFF. But there is a less destructive way to start them glowing without having to reset. Thus we show here how to turn ON the Sony SRS XP500 party lights for when you desire a little light show to add to your party ambiance.

Picture of the left front view of the Sony SRS XP500 karaoke speaker while running.
Left front view of the Sony SRS XP500 karaoke speaker while running.

To turn ON the party lights, you first locate the LIGHT button.  We find this control on the back of the speaker, outside and just above the ports compartment, as we see in the next picture.  There are three buttons running horizontally above the ports door.  The LIGHT button is the last button on the right.

Picture of the Light button on the back of the Sony SRS XP500 speaker.
The Light button on the back of the Sony SRS XP500 speaker.

How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using Buttons on the Speaker Itself

These lamps, which light the top and bottom front edges of the unit are set to display their party show by default. But you may have turned them off and do not remember how to switch them back on again.  In that case, we post this to rescue you.





The lights work either when fresh out of the box, or just after a factory reset. But if they’re not glowing, and yet the speaker is running, you can turn them ON as follows…

    1. Press and release the LIGHT button.  Doing so may consume a bit more battery power, as these LED lights draw little but nonetheless significant energy. They should immediately begin glowing and flashing after the button press.

Then when you want to turn them off, simply repeat what you did above.  I.e. Press and release the  LIGHT  button. Then the party lamps will go dark again.

How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using the Music Center App, Step by Step

1. Pair XP500 with Mobile Device that Has the Sony Music Center App

2. Open the Sony Music Center App

The home page for the XP500 comes up.

Screenshot of the Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XP500 Home page.
The Sony Music Center app, displaying the SRS XP500 Home page.

3. Scroll Down to the Settings Option

Next, swipe up until you see the Settings item at the bottom of the screen.

Screenshot of the Settings option on the test speaker home page.
The Settings option on the test speaker home screen.

4. Tap the Settings Option

Then touch that item.  This brings up the Settings page for the XP 500.

Screenshot of the Illumination item on the Speaker Settings page.
The Illumination item on the Speaker Settings page.

Next, find the Illumination option as we see in the last picture.

5. Tap the Illumination Item

Doing so brings up the Illumination page for our test speaker.

Screenshot of the Lighting Mode option set to LIGHT OFF for the Sony SRS XP500 speaker on the Illumination page in the Music Center app.
The Lighting Mode option set to LIGHT OFF for the Sony SRS XP500 speaker on the Illumination page in the Music Center app.

Note that the Lighting Mode option is set to LIGHT OFF.  This explains why the lights on the speaker are dark.

6. Tap the Lighting Mode Item

Touching that link brings up the Lighting Mode screen for the XP500, as we see next. Notice the list of lighting mode options.

Screenshot of the Delightful item on the Lighting Mode page for Sony SRS XP500 speaker in Music Center app.
The Delightful item on the Lighting Mode page for Sony SRS XP500 speaker in Music Center app.

Next, choose one of the other lighting mode options from the list. That list includes Delightful, Rave, Chill, Strobe, Hot, Cool, Cute, Fresh, and Calm Daylight.





7. Tap the DELIGHTFUL Option

Here, we choose the DELIGHTFUL option, although any of the others, with the exception of LIGHT OFF, will activate the party lights as well.

Doing this moves the brown check mark from the LIGHT OFF option to the DELIGHTFUL option.

Screenshot of the DELIGHTFUL option set on the Sony SRS XP500 Lighting Mode page.
Showing the DELIGHTFUL option set on the Sony SRS XP500 Lighting Mode page.

8. Tap the Done Link

Find the Done item near the top right corner of the screen.

Screenshot of the Done option on the Lighting Mode page.
The Done option on the Lighting Mode page.

Doing this sends the command to turn the party lights ON to the speaker, and the lights should immediately start glowing and changing colors.

Then the app takes you back to the Illumination page.

Screenshot of the Lighting Mode option for the Sony SRS XP500 speaker on the Illumination page in the Music Center app.
The Lighting Mode option for the Sony SRS XP500 speaker on the Illumination page in the Music Center app.

Note now that the Lighting Mode option value is now set to DELIGHTFUL.

9. Done with How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using the Music Center App

You now know how to turn on the party lights on this speaker using either the Light button on the speaker itself, or doing it in the Sony Music Center app.

Related Posts

    1. How to Turn On Lights on a Sony Speaker

Other Posts About the Sony SRS XP500

    1. Sony SRS XP500 Bluetooth Pairing Instructions
    2. How to Hard Reset Sony SRS XP500 Speaker
    3. Sony SRS XP500 Battery Indicator Explained
    4. How to Tell if Sony SRS XP500 is Charging

References for How to Turn On Lights on Sony SRS XP500

    1. Official Sony SRS XP500 Product Page at Sony.com

Revision History

    • 2022-12-15: First published.