Charging the speaker

The speaker is capable of running on power either from the AC outlet through the charging cradle, on which the speaker is placed, or from the rechargeable built-in battery of the speaker.

When using the speaker for the first time, be sure to charge the built-in battery for more than 1 hour before turning on the speaker.

With the built-in battery charged in advance, you can use the speaker solely with battery power.

Hint

  • For charging the built-in battery of the speaker, the Battery Care mode option is available in addition to the normal charging method. Battery Care mode limits the maximum charge capacity to approximately 90% and makes the battery life last longer. The playback time available in Battery Care mode is shorter than the time available when the built-in battery is charged by the normal charging method. At the time of purchase, the speaker is not in Battery Care mode.

  • You can place/bring the speaker into/out of Battery Care mode with the “Sony | Sound Connect” app as well.

  1. Connect the charging cradle to an AC outlet.

    Connect one end of the supplied USB Type-C cable to the DC input port on the charging cradle and the other end to a USB AC adaptor (commercially available), and then connect the USB AC adaptor to an AC outlet.

    The speaker supports USB AC adaptors that are capable of delivering an output current of 3.0 A or 1.5 A. When using a USB AC adaptor with an output current of 3.0 A for battery charging, be sure to use a USB Type-C cable (compliant with the USB standard) that supports an output current of 3.0 A. The supplied USB cable supports an output current of up to 1.5 A. Use of any other devices is not guaranteed for battery charging. The charging time may vary depending on the ambient temperature or the usage of the speaker as well.

  2. Place the speaker on the charging cradle.

    The speaker's built-in battery starts charging itself. While battery charging is in progress, the charge indicator on the speaker stays lit in orange.

    The estimated charging time varies depending on the power output capacity of the connected USB AC adaptor (commercially available). In addition, it may take longer than the charging time stated below depending on the type and specification of the USB AC adaptor and USB cable. The charging time may differ from the time stated below depending on the ambient temperature or the usage of the speaker as well.

    The following time is stated as a reference.

    • When a commercially available USB AC adaptor capable of delivering an output current of 1.5 A is connected, charging completes in about 5 hours* and the charge indicator turns off.

    • When using a commercially available USB AC adaptor, make sure that it is capable of delivering an output current of 1.5 A or more. You can use a USB AC adaptor with an output current of 500 mA or more and less than 1.5 A as well, but it may take a very long time before charging completes. When using such a USB AC adaptor, it is recommended that you turn off the speaker before battery charging.

      Use of a USB AC adaptor with an output current of less than 500 mA is not guaranteed for battery charging.

    * Time required for the empty battery to be fully charged (100%) while the speaker is powered off.


Checking the charging completion

If the built-in battery is fully charged when you connect the speaker to an AC outlet with a USB AC adaptor (commercially available), the charge indicator lights up in orange then turns off after about 1 minute.

  • When using the Android™ smartphone with Android 8.1 or later installed

    When the speaker is connected with the Android smartphone via an HFP (Hands-free Profile) BLUETOOTH connection, tap [Settings] - [Device connection] - [Bluetooth] on the smartphone. The remaining battery power of the speaker is displayed along with the connected BLUETOOTH device name. For details, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the Android smartphone.

    Note that the remaining battery power displayed on the smartphone may vary from the actual remaining battery power of the speaker. Consider this information as a reference.

  • When using the iPhone

    While the speaker is connected with the iPhone via an HFP (Hands-free Profile) BLUETOOTH connection, the remaining battery power of the speaker is displayed on the widget screen of the iPhone. For details, refer to the operating instructions supplied with the iPhone.

    Note that the remaining battery power displayed on the iPhone may vary from the actual remaining battery power of the speaker. Consider this information as a reference.

Checking the built-in battery level of the rechargeable built-in battery

After pressing the(battery) button on the bottom of the speaker, when the speaker is turned on, the voice guidance listed below is output from the speaker depending on the remaining built-in battery power.

81% - 100%: “Battery fully charged”

81% - 90% (Battery Care mode): “Battery Care Mode, Fully Charged, Battery About 90%”

61% - 80%: “Battery about 80%”

41% - 60%: “Battery about 60%”

21% - 40%: “Battery about 40%”

1% - 20%: “Battery about 20%”

Built-in battery life (while Battery Care mode is not activated)

While a BLUETOOTH connection is established:

  • Approx. 25 hours

    • Volume level: 23

  • Approx. 6 hours

    • Volume level: 50 (MAX.)

Time required for charging the built-in rechargeable battery (while Battery Care mode is not activated)

  • Approx. 5 hours*1 *2

    10 minutes of charging provide approximately 70 minutes of music playback.

    (Volume level: 23)

*1 Time required for charging the battery through the USB AC adaptor that is connected to an AC outlet and capable of delivering an output current of 1.5 A.

*2 Time required for the empty battery to be fully charged (100%) while the speaker is turned off.


The built-in battery life above is measured using our specified music source.

Actual performance time may vary from the listed time due to the volume, songs played, surrounding temperature, and usage conditions.

When the built-in battery is running low

When the voice guidance says “Low Battery” and the charge indicator starts flashing slowly, the built-in battery is running low and needs to be charged. While in this state, the speaker may automatically turn off.

When the remaining battery decreases to such a level that the speaker cannot be turned on, you hear voice guidance (Battery is empty.) and the speaker automatically turns off. In such a case, charge the speaker.

If the charge indicator flashes 3 times in orange and the speaker turns off when you turn on the speaker, the built-in battery is empty and needs to be charged.

Hint

  • You can charge the built-in battery of the speaker, which is not placed on the charging cradle, by connecting the DC input port on the speaker and an AC outlet with the USB cable as well.

    After disconnecting the USB cable from the speaker upon completion of battery charging, be sure to fully close the cap.

    The cap plays a very important role in maintenance of the water resistant performance.

  • You can charge the speaker's built-in battery by connecting the speaker to a computer that comes equipped with a USB charging port as well. However, not all the computers are tested and found compatible with this procedure and the procedure is not applicable to home-built computers.

  • As long as the speaker is connected to an AC outlet by a USB AC adaptor (commercially available) or to a computer that comes equipped with a USB charging port, the speaker's built-in battery is capable of charging itself even while music playback from the speaker is in progress. However, it may take a long time before charging completes depending on the usage of the speaker. It is recommended that you turn off the speaker before battery charging.

Note

  • Depending on the type or specifications of the USB AC adaptor, if you use the speaker at a loud volume, the remaining power of the rechargeable built-in battery may decrease or the speaker may turn off even while the speaker is connected to an AC outlet by the USB AC adaptor. This, however, does not indicate a malfunction. If such a case occurs, turn off the speaker and let the battery fully charge itself before you use the speaker.

  • The maximum power output of the speaker may be lower when the built-in battery is running low.

  • In an extremely cold or hot environment, charging stops for safety. If charging takes a long time, it also makes charging of the speaker stop. To resolve these issues, disconnect the USB cable, and then connect it again within an operating temperature between 5 °C and 35 °C (41 °F and 95 °F).

  • Do not charge the speaker's built-in battery in places where water may splash on it. The supplied accessories and the USB port are not designed for water resistant.

  • The charging cradle is not designed for water resistant. Before placing the speaker on the charging cradle, thoroughly wipe off water droplets from all the speaker surfaces.

  • Even if you do not intend to use the speaker for a long time, charge the built-in battery sufficiently once every 6 months to maintain its performance.

  • When the Android smartphone is configured to use only A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for establishing BLUETOOTH connections, the remaining battery power of the speaker is not displayed on the smartphone.

  • At the time of purchase, the BLUETOOTH standby function is activated.

    While the speaker is running on power from the built-in rechargeable battery and the BLUETOOTH standby function is activated, the battery power is consumed faster than it should while the BLUETOOTH standby function is deactivated.

  • When the built-in rechargeable battery wears out, some of the Auto Play settings are restored to the defaults.

    In such a case, specify the Auto Play settings all over again using the “Sony | Sound Connect” app.