Sony XS-LB10S

By Gideon V. – Sonic Electronix Editor

One of the coolest aspects of my job is that I somehow get paid to take a first-hand look at some of the top products in the car audio industry. Sweet gig, right? When I found out my latest assignment was to evaluate the Sony XS-LB10S, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. As a truck owner, enclosed subwoofer boxes are an interest of mine since they can fit right under the seat and save cargo space. After testing it on-site, I came away impressed with the sound quality and bass emitted from this loaded enclosure.

After connecting an amplifier to power the sub and a music source to play some tunes, I was able to observe this subwoofer’s strengths and weaknesses. First off, I was amazed at its level of bass considering its shallow-design. The cone excursion flexed rhythmically and did not miss a beat. The sound check showed that the Sony XS-LB10S subwoofer does not emit muddy bass or poor sound quality. Distortion only occurred when I tried to push it to its furthest limits.

The grill and sub cone look great, though I found myself lamenting the fact that the two-bar grill design only partially covers the subwoofer. This would be a problem if I mounted this sub box in the back of my truck since I typically toss supplies in the back seat without regard for my seats/audio components. The front firing design hits hard with the beat and noticeably pushes air around. It would look great behind or below your seats, or in the trunk those of you who own a sedan.

The XS-LB10S sub exceeded my expectations and is definitely worth a look if you are in the market for a loaded subwoofer enclosure. The shallow-mount sealed enclosure design is ideal for vehicles with limited space. Whether you install it behind your seats or underneath them, this sealed box setup is the perfect piece for adding bass without wasting space. At 330 watts RMS you get a whole lot of bass for your buck!