Sony XB12 Charging Instructions

This piece gives charging instructions for the Sony XB12 wireless extra bass Bluetooth speaker. Charging this unit is easy through the USB power-in port, behind the water resistant door, shown in the pictures below. Note that you can still play your XB12 BT speaker while charging it, without significantly increasing the recharge time.

First, pick a powerful enough USB power adapter, as no charger comes with the Sony XB12. Next, connect a medium to high current micro USB charge cable between the speaker and that adapter. Then, plug the charger into a working wall outlet. Then after four to five hours, your XB12 finishes charging. So it’s ready to play once more for up to sixteen (16) hours before needing another recharge.

Sony XB12 Charging Instructions, Step by Step

1. Choose Correctly Sized AC or Car Adapter

The charger you use should provide 5 volts and at least 0.5 amps (2.5 watts). Here, we use a Key Power model HDD15-3-PD USB power delivery system. Now as mentioned, this speaker needs 5 volts at roughly 0.5 amps to recharge fully. So the Key Power gives way more than enough current to do the job.

2. Open the Port Cover

Use a fingernail, dime, penny, or small screwdriver to work open the waterproof seal port cover on the XB12. See the closed power port door in the next picture. Be careful not to scratch the delicate seal around the inside edge of this door.

The port compartment cap on the back of the Sony XB12. Sony XB12. Charging. — The Sony XB12 port compartment cap on the back of the speaker.

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

Picture of the micro USB charge port. — The micro USB charge port.

3. Power OFF the Unit to Continue with Sony XB12 Charging

Note that the SRSXB12 still charges when powered ON. But depending on how much above-and-beyond recharging capacity your charger delivers, The speaker might charge a little faster when turned OFF.

4. Plug the Micro USB Cord into the XB12

Then, plug the small end of your micro USB charge cable into the matching micro USB port, as seen in the next picture below.

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

Next, connect the A end of the USB power cable to the power adapter.

6. Plug the USB Adapter into a Functioning Wall Receptacle to Continue with Sony XB12 Charging

Now that we connected the XB12 and our power supply, we then plug the mains end of the adapter into a live AC outlet, as shown next. We plugged ours into a surge protecting power strip.

Picture of the Sony XB12 on the charge. — The Sony XB12 on the charge.

The CHG lamp lights up solid orange on the speaker. And while no battery status gauge shows percentage of charge, this light means that charging is occurring, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker charging, with its CHG light glowing orange. Sony XB12 Charging. — The speaker recharging, with its CHG light glowing orange.

7. Let the XB12 Charging Continue Until the CHG Light Goes Out

Full battery charging is done when the solid CHG lamp near the bottom of the speaker turns off, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker with its CHG lamp OFF. — The CHG lamp OFF on the speaker.

8. Unplug the USB Charge Cable from the Speaker, to Continue with Sony XB12 Charging

9. Fully Close the USB Port Door

Note that unless you snap the port flap securely, water may seep into its USB port. And, since water and electronics generally do not mix, getting the port wet might damage the sensitive connecting pins inside. So be sure to press the port door closed with enough force to fully seat it, for maximum water resistance.

The port compartment cap on the back of the speaker.

10. Done with Sony XB12 Charging

We have now fully charged our XB12.

Finally, repeat this recharging every sixteen hours of play, to keep the battery in top condition for years.

References

1. Official Sony XB12 Support Page
2. Where to Buy the Sony XB12

Revision History

- 2023-03-15: First published.