Sony XB 21 Charging Instructions

The Sony SRS XB21 speaker, connected and charging.

This piece gives Sony XB 21 charging instructions. Recharge this speaker easily through the micro USB DC power input port, behind the water resistant door in the rear of the unit, shown in the pictures below. Note that you can still play your XB 21 while recharging it, without increasing the replenish time very much, especially if you are using a full-current USB charger.

Sony XB 21 Charging Instructions: Summary

First, the unit comes with a suitable USB-A to micro USB charger cord. But you must provide a strong enough AC or car supply with a USB-A female connector, to plug that lead into. This particular speaker requires about 7.5 watts (5 volts at 1.5 amps max) for the shortest charge time of four (4) hours. However, you can use a 500 milliamp charger so long as you don’t mind the charge time increasing to ten (10) hours. We nonetheless recommend a full-current USB 2.0 adapter since they’re so inexpensive nowadays, to get the safest yet fastest recharge possible.

Now then, once you choose the charger you will use, plug it into a “live” AC outlet.

Then after four hours with a full current charger, your XB 21 finishes charging. So it’s ready to play once more for up to twelve (12) hours before needing another electrical refill.

Sony XB 21 Charging Instructions, Step by Step

1. Choose an Adequate Size AC or Car Adapter

As mentioned earlier, the power adapter you use should provide 5 volts and at least 1.5 amps (7.5 watts). So here, we use the Key Power model HDD15-3-PD USB power delivery system along with a thick-enough micro USB supply cable.

2. Open the Port Cap Door

Use a fingernail, dime, penny, or small screwdriver to pry open the waterproof seal port cover on the XB 21 back.

The closed port door on the Sony XB 21.

See the opened power port compartment in the next picture. Take care not to scratch the delicate seal around the inside edge of this cap, lest it no longer seal properly.

The micro USB DC power input port on the speaker.

Prying open this door exposes the micro USB charging port inside, as shown in the last picture, pointed at by the bright green arrow.

3. Power OFF the Speaker to Continue with Sony XB 21 Charging Instructions

Note that the XB 21 still charges when powered ON. But depending on how much extra charging juice your supply delivers, the speaker might recharge a bit faster when it’s not running. It will definitely charge more rapidly when you’re not playing it at louder volumes.

4. Plug the USB Cord into the XB 21

Then, plug the matching end of your charging cable into the DC input micro USB port on the speaker, as we see in the next shot.

The charge cable plugged into the speaker.

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

If the supply you use has a removable wire, then be sure to connect the matching end of the USB power cable to the AC or car adapter you have.

6. Plug the USB Adapter into a Working Wall Receptacle to Continue with Sony XB 21 Charging Instructions

Now that we connected the XB 21 and our adapter, we then plug the mains end of the supply box into a working AC outlet, as shown next. We connected ours to a GE surge protecting power strip.

The speaker, connected and charging.

The CHARGE lamp then lights up solid orange on the speaker, as we see next.

The -CHARGE- lamp glowing.

7. Let the XB 21 Continue Charging Until the CHARGE Light Goes Dark

Full battery recharging finishes when the CHARGE lamp turns off, as shown next.

The dark -CHARGE- lamp.

8. Unplug the Micro USB Charging Cable from the Speaker

9. Fully Close the Port Door / Cap

Note that unless you seat the port cap fully, water may run into its ports. And, since water and electronic components do not work well together, getting those connections wet might degrade them. So be sure to press this door closed with enough force to fully seat it, for maximum moisture protection.

The closed port door on the Sony XB 21.