Sony XB20 Charge Time

The Sony SRS XB20 speaker, connected and charging.

You charge the Sony XB20 portable speaker via the micro USB charge port, and to get the quickest charge time and fullest recharge, use a medium current USB charger for fastest yet most cost effective results. Details follow.

Sony XB20 Charge Time: How Long to Fully Recharge

According to the specs for this speaker the time it takes to charge the SRS XB20 Bluetooth speaker is four (4.0) hours, using a 5 volt, 1.5 amp, 7.5 watt charger or greater. You can also use a lower power 0.5 amp, 2.5 watt charger. But this increases the recharge time to twelve hours.

The micro USB DC power input port on the Sony XB20.

How Long the XB20 Plays Per Full Charge

On a complete charge, the speaker can play for up to twelve (12) hours, due to its built in lithium ion battery. But when you play it loudly, especially with thumping bass, you will indeed see shorter playing times per recharge. We see this Bluetooth speaker run dead in around seven hours when we play at louder volumes. So to get the longest charge time, power saving is useful. Just play it only as loudly as you need to, to hear it well throughout your listening space.

The XB20 front with blue light ring glowing.

The Charge Time Gets Smaller as the XB20 Ages

If you own this speaker over a few to several years, you may notice that the time it plays from a single charge shrinks as the speaker gets older. This is normal for devices like this one, that rely on lithium ion batteries.

But by fully cycling the battery now and then, you can slow this charge capacity drop. So to exercise the XB20, run the battery fully dead, and then recharge it again every three to six months when not in use.

Also, we advise that you avoid leaving the speaker connected to a charger once it reaches full charge. Right after the charging lamp goes out, unplug the speaker as soon as you can, to avoid overcharging it and aging the battery prematurely.