Sony debuts new Line-Shape Diffuser technology in its latest X-Series portable speakers

Sony's new SRS-XE300 and -XE200 portable speakers have launched with a new, slightly asymmertrical five-sided take on the vaguely cylindrical form-factor that is popular in this market. This new design may have been necessary to accommodate its new Line-Shape Diffuser design.

It consists of a new arrangement for its main speaker array that "creates line source", in a way apparently inspired by professional concert-grade audio set-ups. The new Shape is thus rated to confer an "increase in sound pressure energy" on the speakers' output compared to previous generations.

The intended result is a more even distribution of sound over the 180 degrees of surface area in front of an SRS-XE300 or SRS-XE200 than those of their predecessors. The 2 variants accommodate 49 x 71mm and 42 x 51mm "Full Range" speakers respectively, which are also enhanced with Sony's X-Balanced technology in both cases.

The XE200 and XE300 are also Bluetooth 5.2 and USB type-C quick-charging devices, and are rated for an estimated 16 and 24 hours of battery life respectively. They have launched alongside the new SRS-XG300, a smaller version of the existing SRS-XG500 with improved IP67 ingress-protection and about 25 hours of battery life.

The 3 new Sony X-Series speakers only appear to have been introduced to the UK and European markets thus far. The SRS-XE200 will ship for €150, (~US$160/£139) the XE300 for €180 (~$192/£159) and the XG300 for €300 (~$321/£259) on their release in July 2022.