X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Sony's new SRS-BTS50 portable Bluetooth speaker takes a splash (hands-on)

Joining the ranks of cylindrical portable Bluetooth speakers, the water-resistant Sony SRS-BTS50 hits stores this month for $130.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
See full bio
David Carnoy
The Sony $129.99 SRS-BTS50 ships later this month and comes in multiple color options (click to enlarge). Sarah Tew/CNET

Cylindrical portable Bluetooth speakers are all the rage these days, and Sony, not wanting to be left out of the action, has introduced the SRS-BTS50, a $129.99 splash-resistant wireless speaker.

At first glance, it looks similar to the $200 UE Boom -- and like that model, it comes in multiple colors (black, white, pink, blue, and red) -- but it isn't quite a perfect cylinder, and when you pick it up, it isn't as heavy as the UE Boom (by that I mean it doesn't feel like it has quite the build quality of the Boom).

Shop for Sony SRS-BTS50 (pink)

See all prices

Included in the speakers specs are built-in speaker phone capabilities and NFC tap-to-pair (for devices that support NFC). Battery life is rated at 10 hours.

I only spent a short time with the product, and the room was noisy and not conducive to a listening test, but it seems to compete favorably with the JBL Flip, which retails for $99.99. While the list price of SRS-BTS50 is $129.99, Amazon has it on preorder for $105.55. Sony says the speaker is available now, but Amazon says it isn't due to ship for three to four weeks. We'll have a full review once we get our hands on a review sample.

Sony SRS-BTS50 Bluetooth speaker (pictures)

+5 More
See all photos