Sony SRS XB40 Charging Indicator

Right front view of the Sony SRS XB40 speaker.

The Sony SRS XB40 Charging Indicator is a small LED on the top of the speaker. Fins it just above the Power button. It displays charging status. E.g. Whether it’s draining or charging, or whether it’s critically low or not when discharging. But it neither reads out charging progress, nor exactly how full the speaker is. But it does flash orange when the XB30 hits near-dead. In this post, we explain how to read the Charging Indicator lamp on the XB20.

To get a more precise readout of charge percentage, see below.

Sony SRS XB40 Charging Indicator: How to Read the Light

1. The Lamp is OFF

The Charging Indicator lamp is dark in the following situations:

1. When you power down the XB20 with no adapter connected.
2. When the adapter IS present but the speaker is full.
3. And finally, this light is OFF when the speaker ON, but the speaker is not low. The lamp is dark as long as the XB30 does not yet need charging.

The dark Charging Indicator lamp on the Sony SRS XB40.

2. The Sony SRS XB40 Charging Indicator Blinks Orange

With the adapter unplugged, the XB30 running, and the battery very low, this light starts flashing orange. This means that the speaker will soon power off due to the speaker dying. So to keep the play going, you should put it on the charge soon.

3. This Lamp Doubles as a Charging Light

This lamp also lights up solid orange (no flashing) as the XB20 charges, as we see in the next picture. On this speaker, the light glowing is the only visual way of telling that recharging is occurring. But it does not show how far along the recharging is, until it actually goes out.

The Charging Indicator lamp glowing orange.

Also note that this light should never blink on and off during recharging. If it does, then either your charger is not operating well or your USB cable is bad. Or some the speaker itself may be faulty.

4. When the Light Goes Dark While Charging, Then Charging is Complete

As speaker charging continues, the light keeps glowing. But eventually, recharging finishes. Then the lamp goes out to show this. It is OFF in this case whether the speaker itself it ON or OFF.

5. The Sony SRS XB40 Charging Indicator Is Not a Charge Remaining Readout

When you unplug the charger, this light becomes the charge remaining indicator. Well sort of. So if it is dark when the speaker is ON, then the battery has some playtime remaining. However you cannot tell just how much by reading the Charging Indicator lamp.

Reading Charge Percentage

However, on this speaker, you can get a reading on the percentage of charge that remains.

Top view of the Sony SRS XB40.

Just press and hold the Phone-BATT button. Find this button on the top panel, just to the left of the Play-Pause button. And it’s to the right of the Extra Bass button. Then hold this button in until the speaker says the remaining power percent value. It speaks this in a female voice.