The JBL Jr Pop may need to be charged a bit more than your typical Bluetooth speaker, but its tough build and playful design still make it a clear winner for kids. The PartyBox has an IPX4 rating, which means it can withstand splashes and spills and won’t get ruined by an unexpected rain shower.
With 18 hours of battery life and an included power cord, you don’t have to worry about running out of juice.
The built-in light show feature is an added bonus that provides some extra ambiance while the music plays.
Its customizable light shows automatically sync up with your music, displaying a brilliant array of colors on all sides of the device. Just choose a theme in the JBL app or create your own lighting sequence from scratch, and you instantly have a centerpiece for your room.
You can even connect it to another JBL speaker using the PartyBoost feature to enjoy stereo sound (or twice the light show, if you happen to have a second Pulse 4). Just note that the internet-enabled smart features will not work if it goes out of range of a Wi-Fi signal—at that point it would behave like a regular Bluetooth speaker.
If you’re looking for something a little more high-tech or hands-free, the Link Portable adds some fun new features to a classic JBL speaker design.
There are two metal rings built into the top of the speaker and a fabric strap in the box, allowing you to carry it over your shoulder or across your back like a bag. If you don’t mind charging up every night, then the Go 3 is a durable and fun little speaker that won’t break the bank. With an affordable price tag, ultra-compact design, and solid audio performance, the JBL Go 3 lets you take your music everywhere.
That being said, the IPX7 waterproof rating makes it an excellent poolside or outdoor party speaker, and the battery lasts for a full 24 hours between chargers so you won’t need to bring along a charging cord. Bluetooth 5.0 technology supports a stable connection to your music streaming device and lets you pair the Boombox 2 with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers (if you decide you need even more audio immersion). Available in a dozen different colors and prints, this speaker can be oriented both vertically and horizontally, delivering room-filling sound with powerful bass.
Final Verdict Our top pick is the versatile JBL Flip 5, which delivers rich sound in a durable and portable design.
If you really want the cream of the crop (and have extra money to spend), then we recommend the Boombox 2 for its huge volume and long battery life. Also, some single speakers provide enough bass as standalone options that an additional woofer isn’t required.
The brand is known for making speakers with a strong bass response, so they’re a great choice for people who listen to bass-driven music. JBL makes lots of interesting travel speakers that include clips, carrying handles, and straps for easy portability or actual on-the-go listening while hiking or cycling. If you want powerful sound and don’t need to transport your speaker very far, you may want to look into something bigger and heavier—JBL has a few models that trade portability for premium audio quality and extra features like Wi-Fi connectivity and charging ports.
Subpar battery life is frustratingly common with cheaper wireless devices, and it can really take the fun out of a new speaker. Syncing features can be lots of fun because they allow you to quickly create a multi-speaker setup, but there are restrictions about which speaker models are compatible with each other.
The best Bluetooth speakers in 2021
The few noteworthy ones prove to be worth the investment and offer sound quality on par with the best headphones, long battery life, and a practical design that is either portable friendly or sits handsomely on your coffee table. With the holidays on the horizon, expect to see some great Black Friday deals announced over the coming weeks, and across every major audio category. If the budget allows, then consider dropping $399 on the Sonos Move, the brand’s first portable speaker with both WiFi and Bluetooth, and lots of features to boot. UE Megaboom 3 The best Bluetooth speaker overall Specifications Size and Weight: 8.9 x 3.4 x 3.4 inches, 2 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 20 hours Water Resistance: Yes Maximum Sound Level: 90db Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Dell View at Walmart 23 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Big bass and full vocals + Good battery life + Can pair with older Megaboom and Boom models for stereo sound Reasons to avoid – Big and heavy for a portable – No speakerphone Thanks to its excellent sound quality, long battery life and travel-ready ruggedness, the UE Megaboom 3 is the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy right now. This big, bold portable speaker pumps out rich 360-degree sound complete with crisp highs and satisfying low-end, and maxes out at 100 decibels of noise.
The Megaboom 3 is on the bigger side compared to other portable speakers, and unlike many of its competitors, it doesn’t have Alexa or Google Assistant support, or any other smart features. For under $50, this tiny powerhouse delivers loud, well-balanced sound within an IPX7-rated design that can survive water, dust and snow. The speaker lasts a whopping 24 hours, thanks to Anker’s best-in-class battery technology, and the Soundcore 2’s dual neodymium drivers ensure you’ll get powerful sound in any setting. The Soundcore’s compact, 6.5 x 2.1 x 1.77-inch design makes this speaker perfect for tossing into your bag for a quick road trip, and it comes in vibrant blue and red color schemes in addition to the standard slick black.
Sonos Roam The best Bluetooth speaker with Wi-Fi smarts Specifications Size and Weight: 6.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches, 15 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP67 rated) Voice Controls: Yes (Alexa and Google Assistant) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Lightweight + Extensive connectivity + Auto TruePlay sound tuning Reasons to avoid – No Bluetooth multipoint – Middling battery life It’s much more portable and more affordable than the Move, though, and its Auto TruePlay feature automatically adjusts the sound to suit its surroundings, whether you’re listening in a noisy, urban park or a quaint, airy campground.
This tiny speaker delivers huge sound within a small 4-inch cylinder, complete with throbbing bass, balanced midtones and crisp vocals. It can survive being dunked in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes and is dust-resistant, making it perfect for your next trip to the pool, beach or park.
Other key features include an impressive 13-hour battery life and the ability to pair two Wonderbooms together for immersive stereo sound. The UE Hyperboom is the best Bluetooth speaker for large gatherings, thanks to its massive size and big, booming audio output. Pair that with seamless Bluetooth connectivity and plenty of volume, and you have the ultimate speaker for filling a big area with great sound. LG XBoom Go PL7 The best Bluetooth speaker for sheer style Specifications Size and Weight: 9.7 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches, 3.2 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 24 hours Water Resistance: IPX5 Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at BHPhoto Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Crisp treble and defined bass + Good battery life + LED lights add to the fun Reasons to avoid – No integrated voice assistant – Few sound adjustments available
Every Bluetooth speaker on this list delivers great sound and functionality, but only the LG XBoom Go PL7 does it while boasting awesome LED lights. The XBoom’s appropriately booming sound holds its own against the best Bluetooth speakers in this price range, delivering balanced bass and satisfying treble.
Sonos Move The best high-end Bluetooth speaker for outdoors Specifications Size and Weight: 9.4 x 6.3 x 5 inches, 6.6 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP56 rated for splashes) Voice Controls: Yes (Alexa and Google Assistant) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 689 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Superb audio quality + Built-in Automatic TruePlay technology + Easy Wi-Fi-to-Bluetooth connection conversion Reasons to avoid – Pricey – No smart features in Bluetooth mode Alexa and Google Assistant support allow you to do anything from check the weather to control your smart home, and the Move’s Auto TruePlay automatically tunes the speaker’s audio output for wherever you’re listening, whether you’re having a rooftop party or rocking out in your bedroom. V-Moda Remix The best Bluetooth speaker for bass heads Specifications Size and Weight: 8.1 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches, 1.9 pounds Battery Life (Rated): 10 hours Water Resistance: No Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Musician’s Friend 139 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Loud, balanced audio with booming bass + Stunning design + Lots of customization options + Daisy-chain multiple speakers Reasons to avoid – A bit expensive – No multi-room solution The base model looks slick in aluminum or vegan leather, while, people with bottomless budgets and a penchant for style can opt for steel or platinum finishes (the later of which will run you well over $300,000).
Most importantly, the Remix sounds great, offering plenty of bass as well as a built-in headphone amp for enhancing the audio of your favorite set of cans. The Remix’s 10-hour battery life certainly makes this speaker worthy of longer jam sessions, and its trusty microphone allows for crisp call quality whether you’re set up inside your house or out. Marshall Stanmore II Voice A classy Alexa speaker with great sound Specifications Size and Weight: 7.7 by 13.8 by 7.3 inches, 10.7 pounds Battery Life (Rated): None Water Resistance: No Voice Controls: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at Verishop 40 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great looks + Brilliant big sound + Easy to set up Reasons to avoid – Chunky and heavy – No battery option The Marshall Stanmore II Voice packs some fun features in a nostalgic design that emulates the brand’s classic amp look.
Tribit StormBox Micro The best Bluetooth speaker that’s both cheap and waterproof Specifications Size and Weight: 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.4-inch, 8 ounces Battery Life (Rated): 8 hours Water Resistance: Yes (IP67) Voice Controls: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Small and lightweight + Good bass for a small speaker + Water resistant Reasons to avoid – No app – Limited battery life The speaker has a plastic strap that makes it easy to attach to a backpack or bike, an IP67 water-resistant rating, so it’s fully protected against dust and dirt as well as submersion in water.
While a number of wired speakers like the Amazon Echo provide excellent Bluetooth listening, you can’t bring them outside your kitchen or living room. These smart features will not work beyond your home’s Wi-Fi, so opt for a non-smart Bluetooth speaker for the beach or other outdoorsy locales.
Louder sound, bigger bass: JBL Boombox 2 will rock you for 24 hours
Dario Distefano, principal industrial designer for JBL explains: “One element that we wanted to improve was the grip of the handle. From iconic events like Woodstock and concerts at Madison Square Garden, to games at Yankee Stadium and weekend road trips, JBL products elevate listeners’ experiences with award-winning audio that lets them make the most of every moment.
With 75 years of unmatched professional credentials and industry leading innovation, the JBL brand expertly blends a bold vision of the future with the passion and talent of engineers and designers around the globe. JBL’s Signature Professional Sound is the leading technology that powers major pop culture events, and the brand has partnered with the world’s top talent across music, sports and esports.
The 3 Best JBL Speakers of 2021 Reviews
With its Bass Boost feature set to ‘1’, it has a boomy sound profile suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. You can use the Bass Boost feature to add extra thump and rumble to your audio, which may please fans of bass-heavy music genres.
Which JBL speaker should you buy? Flip 6, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, Link Portable
Bluetooth speakers and tunes are like fish and chips, Netflix and chilling, ballroom dancing and sequins: they just go together. These often inexpensive sonic boxes turn everyone’s phone into a sound system small enough to whisk away on your next adventure. Add to this the fact that many models are waterproof, (making them ideal for the beach or pool) and, all things considered, you really have to take one of these little Bobby Dazzlers along for the ride. Generally speaking, the more you pay, the bigger the battery, giving you not only more time between recharges, but also the potential to juice up your phone or tablet directly from the speaker itself. But considering its predecessor scored five stars in our JBL Flip 5 review, we’re expecting great things.) That means it has the same waterproof rating as the Flip 5 (surviving full submersion in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes), while also being completely dust-tight.
And it has the same PartyBoost feature (which lets you wirelessly pair it with other JBL speakers – including the Flip 5 – for a louder sound) and same 12-hour battery life. The Flip 6 comes in Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White, Forest Green and Squad.
Like its predecessor, it doubles as a portable battery pack, charging up your smartphone or tablet – the clue’s in the name. The exterior has also been overhauled: the ends of its barrel-like bodywork boast a slightly more robust rubberised reinforcement, while the speaker itself is a whole 1mm taller, 2mm deeper, 3mm wider and 5g heavier than its older brother. You can either sync them to all play the same song, or split it so one speaker handles the left channel and one the right, for a greater sense of scale. Two smartphones or tablets can connect wirelessly to the Charge 5 at once, so you can share it with a friend (as long as they have a good music taste) and it comes in plenty of colours.
Behind the grille are two 7cm woofers for low frequencies and two 20mm tweeters for the highs, while at either end of the speaker you’ll find a chunky passive bass radiator that pulses enthusiastically along with every bassline. The fact they’re completely sealed around the edges, combined with the resilient exterior material means that, should the Xtreme 3 somehow find itself in the middle of a swimming pool or sandstorm, it should emerge unscathed.
Just press the button, and you can summon either Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant, much like you can with your headphones’ in-line remote. There’s Bluetooth 5.1 (compared to 4.2 on the Xtreme 2) but no wi-fi, so you can’t stream Spotify or Tidal without going through your phone. JBL PartyBoost comes as standard (the Xtreme 2 has Connect+, so can’t pair with its successor), as does a 10,000mAh battery that’s good for 15 hours before needing a charge. The Xtreme 3 has more features than the Charge 5, and that carry handle is a great addition to music lovers on the move.
These are smart speakers with access to Google Assistant, but like JBL’s other devices they are waterproof and have a rechargeable battery – the Link Portable even boasts a charging cradle in the box. It will survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, so it’s more than qualified to accompany you to the beach or pool (or, more likely, a downpour in the middle of a barbecue). In the bass department, there’s plenty of low-end rumble to trouble the neighbours, coupled with a healthy dose of warmth and stability.
There are new reinforced rubber panels to protect the device, and the Go 2’s 3.5mm port for wired listening and the mic for speakerphone duties have both been nixed.
The 15 Best JBL Speakers in 2021 – Bass Head Speakers
These speakers are designed to deliver crystal clear sound with deep bass, and are perfect for home listening or for outdoor parties. Furthermore, this speaker is completely IPX7 waterproof and is perfect for pool and beach parties, and comes with a massive built-in battery that delivers up to 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. This speaker sounds exceptionally good for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres with a tonne of bass response.
This speaker is designed like a tank with full waterproof covering, and is equipped with optimized long excursive drivers and tweeters for exceptionally clear sound performance.
With the addition of a new tweeter, it is a completely different beast from the previous generations of JBL speakers and delivers crystal clear sound performance at any volume level. The sound quality stays consistent through and does not roll off even at lower volume levels, while the bass response feels tight and well-defined. This speaker is designed like a tank, and is IP67 waterproof and dustproof which means that it can be exposed to virtually all the outdoor elements without any issues. The volume output and bass that you get from this speaker feels almost like the JBL Boombox, and it comes with a new additional separate tweeter for crisper, more defined vocals and midranges.
Furthermore, this speaker comes with a new and improved battery that delivers up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, making it ideal for large parties and events. This speaker is designed to deliver powerful JBL signature pro sound with crystal clear midrange and a lot of bass response.
This speaker is equipped with four drivers and two JBL bass radiators which deliver dynamic and immersive sound performance with plenty of detail. If you are looking for a JBL speaker with plenty of power to drive large parties or for high-performance music listening, the Xtreme 3 will definitely deliver.
We also liked the PartyBoost feature that allows you to connect more Xtreme 3 speakers together without using the app to create a much wider listening soundstage. The entire speaker is built like a tank and has a full rugged durable design with wire mesh outer coating. This speaker produces way more bass and volume than expected, and is great for listening to EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres. To top it off, this speaker is IP67 waterproof and designed to be fully durable, allowing you to take it virtually anywhere outdoors and still get superb sound performance.
Its hands down the best JBL speaker designed for car audio and deliver a tonne of bass and crisp sound performance. The JBL BassPro Go comes is designed as both a hybrid subwoofer and Bluetooth speaker for ultimate sound performance. The sound also feels full-range; you can get the crisp highs, nice smooth midranges and punchy tight bass that you would expect from a JBL speaker. It has a unique hybrid subwoofer design and delivers really clean audio performance with good bass.
The bass on this speaker is superb and hits really hard and low, and is a great addition to your car factory sound system. It is also designed to deliver powerful JBL signature sound performance in every direction with its 360 degree speaker array.
Furthermore, the JBL Pulse 4 is designed to deliver up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge with its built-in battery life. The highs and midranges are clean and well-defined, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sound performance at max volume levels with virtually no distortion.
We also liked the fact that the JBL Pulse 4 comes equipped a built-in battery that delivers up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. It’s the perfect speaker with the right combination of durability, sound performance and party LED lights that makes the Pulse 4 outstanding. This speaker is great for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres and does not distort even when you push it to maximum volume. Apart from its massive sound system, the JBL PartyBox 300 comes equipped with full panel lightning effect to create a captivating light show for your audience with a visually stunning experience.
The speaker supports full wireless Bluetooth streaming and also comes with a portable rechargeable battery that delivers an incredible 24 hours of playtime. The Partybox 300 also doubles as a portable PA system, and comes equipped with a guitar plug in and mic in for you to take the stage.
The bass hits very hard and sounds punchy, making it ideal for outdoor parties and gatherings where people can dance to the beat of the music. This speaker delivers really nice and accurate sound even at low-volume levels – the bass remains clean and well-defined.
The full panel LED lighting is also adds a really cool effect to the sound and is great for parties or yoga classes. It’s a really powerful speaker for parties and outdoor gatherings where you can blast music and enjoy really clean sound performance with deep bass.
We also liked the fact that it comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, or can be connected to an AC power output while playing music. The JBL Professional IRX is a powered portable Bluetooth speaker designed for massive sound output.
This speaker is primarily designed for concerts and as an outdoor PA sound system capable of delivering massive volume output and crystal clear vocals. Apart from its built-in PA functions, the IRX series speaker also pairs and streams audio from any Bluetooth device.
We also liked the fact that this speaker comes equipped with four real-world EQ presets which optimizes the sound performance easily for a wide range of applications.
This speaker delivers up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge with its built-in rechargeable battery, and is great for outdoor parties or concerts. The JBL Partybox 110 delivers really good sound performance and is consistently well-balanced across all volume levels. The highs and midranges are crisp and clear, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sound performance of this speaker even at max volume levels.
To counteract this, you can use the JBL app to adjust the EQ settings to get much better sounding performance at lower volume levels. It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers a good 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, and is also iPX4 splashproof so you can bring it to the pool or by the beach without any issues. The sound performance on the Partybox 110 is exceptionally good – clean highs, crisp midranges and a solid all-round lower bass response. These are designed as JBL104 reference monitors which are compatible with most desktop and laptop computers, as well as for professional home studio recording. The speakers are highly versatile, and accepts wireless Bluetooth, aux, RCA TRS or a combination of any of these inputs. It features three sets of inputs which allow connection with either your professional recording equipment, personal music players or smartphone devices.
If you are looking for monitor speakers that can pick out every single detail in the music, the JBL Professional 1 Series 104BTs are definitely a great choice. The 104BTs are designed primarily for musicians, producers, vloggers and professional sound engineers – and it shows in the quality and build of this speaker.
JBL also put a lot of effort into designing the speakers – with a proprietary coaxial driver which combines a 4.5-inch woofer and 0.75 inch soft dome tweeter for transparency and a wider soundstage. They come equipped with JBL’s proprietary coaxial driver which combines a 4.5 inch woofer and 0.75 soft dome tweeter for transparency and better soundstage.
This is a professional grade speaker that’s designed for live band performance and outdoor PA sound systems. The EON615 also features JBL’s proprietary waveguide technology which optimizes sound performance for each individual component inside the speaker.
It’s a professional two-way powered reinforcement speaker that has plenty of volume and bass, and can really boost the overall sound performance in concerts and outdoor events. The speaker sound performance is crisp and crystal clear; you get very nice midranges, smooth vocals and powerful bass response.
Overall, it’s definitely one of the best JBL speakers with the loudest sound performance and we highly recommend the EON615 for musicians and live concerts. The PartyBox 710 comes with massive dual 2.75” tweeters and 8” woofers paired with its tuned bass reflex port to deliver superb audio performance. Furthermore, the PartyBox 710 comes with party lights that sync to the beat of your music, providing flashing club patterns and strobes for an added ambient effect. At full volume, the PartyBox 710 delivers massive sound performance without any hint of distortion – it remains crystal clear and you get crisp highs and clean vocals.
It is powerful enough to move deep notes and makes EDM music come alive with its super bass output. You can also control the full panel lightning via the PartyBox app which is useful for creating visual experiences while listening to music. In addition the sound performance, the PartyBox app also has useul features for you to customize the color patterns of the light show and sync together with the beat of the music.
The JBL Clip 4 is designed as a portable compact speaker with rich audio sound performance.
In terms of sound performance, the Clip 4 goes a touch lower with more powerful bass, cleaner midranges and crisp highs. Although you do get a hint of distortion when turned up to maximum volume, the Clip 4 still delivers pretty clear and full-range sound performance. The Clip 4 laos comes with a Type C USB cable, quick start guide and safety sheet for easy reference. The Clip 4 is probably the most portable JBL speaker around that is fully waterproof and dustproof, and can be exposed to the outdoor elements without any issues.
The sound performance is crisp and clear, and it does deliver some nice beats and punchy bass despite its super compact size. We also liked the fact that the JBL GO 3 is IP67 waterproof and portable enough to be brough anywhere, and also comes with a built-in battery that delivers an impressive 5 hours of playtime on a single charge. The speaker has a nice output wattage of 4.2 watts, and is loud enough to fill a small room with crisp sound. It is essentially a versatile mutli-purpose speaker which you can use to play FM radio, stream music from your phone or even hook up to bicycle handle bars.
It delivers really nice highs and decent vocal performance, but do bear in mind that this speaker is relatively small and power output may be limited. It delivers clear vocals, nice midranges and some punchy notes which really enhances the bike riding experience.
Best wireless JBL speakers
Still, its 20-hour battery life is sure to keep the party going and Bluetooth 5.1 will maintain a strong connection between your phone and the speaker. In addition to all the standard features a wireless JBL speaker offers, the Pulse 4 has a whole-body LED light display, which allows it to put on a bit of a show for you while you listen You also get an upgraded driver system that reproduces louder bass and should sound good for most scenarios. Unfortunately, the JBL Flip 5 lacks a microphone but it retains the beloved passive bass radiators and woven speaker cover.
This tiny speaker is still IPX7 waterproof and has a new control system that backlights the power and Bluetooth pairing buttons. Still, it’s a forgivable omission seeing how most people are bound to use the Flip 5 attached to a bag or as it hangs from a tree.
This speaker isn’t cheap but it’s a great portable party powerhouse, with two stands on the bottom to set it up properly on a table. It’s not going to compete with the Xtreme 2, nor is it going to make you forget about the Charge or Flip—sometimes you don’t have a ton of money and need something to fill the void now. note: we here at SoundGuys do not have any official stance on listening to speakers in public, but be considerate, eh?) In fact, JBL even has a line of much larger party speakers geared for significant increases in output and cost. While they’re a lot bigger and more powerful than all the speakers on this list, they also have a few interesting features like lights, microphone/guitar inputs, DJ sampling pads, and more. Additionally, this list doesn’t cover studio monitors because get this: wireless speakers aren’t the right tool for the job.
This means that they can be fully submerged in water one meter deep for up to 30 minutes, making them ideal for summer activities or taking in the shower. Limit: Device max tilt of 60° from sprays IPX4 ✓ Splashes, omnidirectional IPX5 ✓ Water jets (12.5 L/min) Editor’s note: Sara tested a JBL Flip 4’s IPX7 rating by submerging it in a pool for about 10 seconds, and it came out broken. If you’ve got a vision of yourself creating a surround sound outdoor party with your wireless JBL speakers, make sure they play nice with one another. Occasionally, these huge promotions only apply to older models, so double-check that you’re getting the generation of headset or speaker that you want before hitting “buy.” JBL announced the Flip 6 back in September 2021, and it will make its way to shelves this December for $129 USD.
The Flip 6 has the same IP67 rating as the Charge 5 and works with JBL PartyBoost to connect two compatible speakers for stereo listening. It comes in five colors: grey stone, river teal, ocean blue, midnight black, or squad (camo).
In addition to saving a couple bucks, you also get the guarantee of an inspected product that works, backed by JBL’s warranty.
Additionally, some people don’t like the changes to the speaker designs offered by the Charge 4, Pulse 4, and Flip 5.
If you’re fine with microUSB charging and want a speaker with two channels instead of one, buying refurbished is the best way possible to grab one of these models’ predecessors. Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, and our staff adheres to a strict ethics policy.
We pride ourselves on transparently outlining objective facts, while accounting for the subjective experience to contextualize an audio product’s performance. That’s why we strive to help people wherever they are, instead of just publishing pretty things about the latest tech you can’t afford.
Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers
Turn off any Bluetooth devices you are not using to save power and protect your digital security. Whether you are on the train, in a car, or walking down the street, someone with the right technical skills could hack your Bluetooth device without your knowledge. Use these confirmation codes to limit who has access to your devices and quickly tell if someone is trying to connect so that you can stop them. • Turning off visibility: If you have an option to toggle your device’s visibility, keep it set on non-discoverable until you want to connect, as leaving your device in public or open mode could let a hacker know your signal is available to exploit.
There are no dangers in leaving your Bluetooth speaker plugged in all the time. You can unpair keyboards, mice, speakers, and more devices with a few simple clicks.
The JBL Connect app helps you configure your speakers, so they operate in the best modes for your needs. Completely turn off the device, then hold down the power button, look for blinking lights, or listen for an audio sound indicating something has changed.
The most common indicators of pairing mode are blinking lights and a noise like a beep, but every brand is different.
The best Bluetooth speakers 2021: the top portable speakers for any budget
The best Bluetooth speakers in 2021 all tick three key boxes: they’re portable, durable and they offer superb audio quality in all kinds of environments. Last year, the Sonos Move was discounted by $100 / £100, and we saw lots of excellent deals on models like the JBL Flip 5 and the UE Boom 3 – so it’s well worth shopping the sales.
Save $50 – This Bluetooth speaker boasts excellent sound, a lovely water resistant shell and a powerful rubberised finish – and it’s at a great price for Black Friday. Save $20 – This cute Bluetooth speaker comes with an IPX7 water resistance rating, so you can take it in the great outdoors without a worry.
Save £6 – This tiny Bluetooth speaker sports Micro SD support and AUX capability to provide endless audio options, a 15-hour battery life, and a 66ft wireless range. Well, portable speakers that stream music from your devices via Bluetooth are a great idea if you want high quality audio at home.
They’re also a solid option if you like to listen to music outside, whether that’s while you’re entertaining outdoors or working out, as well as if you like to be able to take a speaker to social events – like a party in your local park or down at the beach. Many of the best portable speakers you can buy today are multi-functional and may also feature voice assistant integration alongside audio playback. This device can seamlessly switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth, integrate into a Sonos system, and it comes with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant onboard. The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet, with a powerful sound, rugged design, excellent connectivity features, and smart home control.
A bass-heavy audio performance makes it ideal for use outdoors, while a clever Automatic Switching feature means it’s easily used indoors, too – though audiophiles may dislike the overwhelming low frequencies and rhythmic handling. Its slick design means the Sonos Roam won’t look out of place in your home, while a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build and a decent battery life make it ideal for listening to music outdoors.
Sonos Move The best-sounding Bluetooth speaker Specifications Weight: 6.61 pounds (3kg) Battery life: 10 hours Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, and 5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.2 Drivers: One down-firing tweeter, one mid-woofer, two Class-D digital amplifiers NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes (USB-C, and comes with charging dock) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 689 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Integrates with a home Sonos speaker network + Great for on-the-go tunes Reasons to avoid – Not as feature-rich when using Bluetooth – Cant be used as rear cinema speakers It’s not perfect – it’s heavy as a byproduct of its incredible sound, it’s expensive due to its rich feature set, and it sadly can’t be used as rear channels for a home cinema set-up. This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on a camping trip but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected. JBL’s Flip 5 is a simple soul with Bluetooth-only playback and modest features, but if you desire a rugged, great-sounding portable speaker and can sacrifice voice control or hands-free call functionality, you won’t be disappointed.
Coming in a range of cool colors – including an eye-catching camo print – there’s now a limited Eco Edition that’s made from 90% recycled plastic, while the portable speaker’s entire packaging is biodegradable. [Update: Don’t miss our JBL Boombox 2 review – we were mightily impressed by this portable speaker’s IPX7 waterproof rating, long battery life, and distortion-free sound.] It doesn’t quite meet the sonic dexterity of the Sonos Move, or the value for money of the UE Boom 3 and JBL Charge 4 – but if you love that Bose sound and build quality, this is the portable speaker for you. Anker Soundcore Flare 2 The best budget Bluetooth speaker Specifications Weight: 1.29 pounds Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: 20m / 66ft Frequency response: N/A Drivers: Dual drivers and passive radiators NFC: No Aux-in: No Bluetooth version: N/A Weatherproofing: IPX7 Charges devices over USB: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Great sound quality + Speakerphone feature + IPX7 water-resistant Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm AUX jack
UE Wonderboom 2 The best outdoor speaker gets a refresh Specifications Weight: 0.93 pounds Dimensions: 104 x 95.3mm (H x D) Battery life: Up to 13 hours Wireless range: 100 ft (33 m) Frequency response: 75 Hz – 20 kHz Drivers: two 40 mm active drivers and two 46.1mm x 65.2mm passive radiators NFC: No Bluetooth version: N/A Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Dell Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 5 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great sound for its size + IP67 dustproof/waterproof rating + 30% better battery life than its predecessor Reasons to avoid – Restrictive soundstage JBL Charge 5 The best mid-range speaker Specifications Weight: 2.11 pounds Dimensions: 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 (W x D x H) Battery life: Up to 20 hours Wireless range: 30 ft (10 m) Frequency response: 65Hz–20kHz Drivers: N/A NFC: No Bluetooth version: 5.1 Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Crutchfield View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Balanced sound quality + Gets extremely loud + Long battery life up to 20 hours Reasons to avoid – Takes a while to charge – No more Aux jack UE Hyperboom Powerful sound for parties both big and small Specifications Weight: 13 pounds Battery life: 24 hours Wireless range: Approx. In terms of features, the Ultimate Ears app allows you to connect the Hyperboom to other UE speakers and use them together, you can switch audio source and adjust volume, and you can select four different playlists in Amazon Music, Deezer or Spotify that can be started by holding down the Play button in three seconds.
Sony SRS-XB23 A powerful canister of sound for all your outdoor adventures Specifications Weight: 1.3 pounds Battery life: Up to 12 hours Wireless range: 30 feet Frequency response: 20 – 20,000 Hz Drivers: X-Balanced Speaker, dual passive radiators NFC: Yes Aux-in: Yes USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Best Buy Reasons to buy + Good sound quality + IP67 rating (waterproof) + Stereo pairing and Party Mode Reasons to avoid – Lower peak volume In terms of performance, it can get pretty loud without a massive amount of distortion and the passive radiators help the bass to sound clearer than it has on any of Sony’s previous models. That’s because the XB23 uses Bluetooth 5 and supports three major codecs – SBC, AAC and LDAC, the latter of which you’ll find on newer Android devices and sounds absolutely great. Outdoor adventurers will love the ruggedness of this Sony Bluetooth speaker while us kick-back-and-relax folks will enjoy how snugly it fits into a lawn chair’s cup holder.
Visually near imperceptible from the original A1, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is an appealing and highly portable Bluetooth speaker that comes with (admittedly flawed) Alexa support. Urbanista Brisbane Scandi design meets decent sound Specifications Weight: 1.5 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 30m (100ft) Frequency response: 80-20,000Hz Drivers: 2 x 52mm NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Great audio performance + Second speaker pairing Reasons to avoid – Could be more rugged – Boring design
Loud and rich-sounding, it’s a well-priced addition to anyone’s home, with a good battery life and the option to pair it with another Brisbane for true stereo sound. 1MORE Portable BT Speaker A luxurious Bluetooth speaker for the office and the home Specifications Weight: 268g Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: N/A Drivers: N/A NFC: No Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Great sound quality for the size + Impressive bass response at low volume Reasons to avoid – Limited IPX4 rating – Average battery life
Some portable speakers are built with durability in mind, and will feature rubberized builds to prevent damage from drops and lightweight designs to make them easy to carry around. Of course, you can absolutely use your new portable Bluetooth speaker solely inside your home – and that means you can choose from a wider range of designs that will look great with your decor. Sonos Bluetooth speakers are great if you want to bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors, with the ability to form part of a wider multi-room system – and you can be sure that they’ll sound fantastic, too. If waterproofing is a priority then look out for models from Ultimate Ears, which combine fun, colorful designs with rugged builds – many of which can withstand a dip in the pool.
Consider high-end audio brands such as Bose and Bang & Olufsen if you want a combination of stylish design and great sound – but be prepared for relatively high prices. If you want to save money then Urbanista, Tribit, and Anker offer brilliant speakers that won’t break the bank.
Best portable mini Bluetooth speaker for 2021: JBL, Bose, Sony and more
Not only can you stream your tunes from a phone, tablet or computer, but some Bluetooth speakers have built-in microphones so you can use them as a speakerphone for calls or meetings. Luckily, wireless Bluetooth speakers have improved with time, and now offer better sound, longer battery life, more reliable connectivity and increased durability, particularly when it comes to water resistance. We continue to review mini Bluetooth speakers at a steady clip here at CNET, so we update this list fairly frequently. This buyer’s guide offers a look at our current favorites, with a focus on small and lightweight models that are well suited for travel and still have excellent sound output.
David Carnoy/CNET When it launched, Bose made some bold claims about its new SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, particularly its bass performance. Available in three colors — black, white smoke and stone blue (pictured) — the speaker is IP67 dust- and waterproof, and rated for 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels. It’s also equipped with Bose’s PositionIQ technology to automatically detect the speaker’s orientation and deliver optimized sound based on whether it’s upright, hanging or flat on its back. The Flex also floats and Bose says it can survive drops and bumps, with a soft silicone back and powder-coated steel grille that “won’t peel or flake and is resistant to corrosion and UV light.”
Aside from its great design, Bose’s SoundLink Micro stood out because it was able to deliver more bass than every Bluetooth speaker in its size class, and it also managed to have limited distortion at higher volumes.
It’s IP67 dust-proof and water-resistant (it can be fully submerged in shallow water for a short time) and has up to eight hours of battery life at moderate volume levels with USB-C charging. Sarah Tew/CNET Although a little pricey, Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its tiny size, delivering more bass than other pocketable speakers. David Carnoy/CNET E D I T O R S ’ C H O I C E Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019 and managed to slip beneath my radar, which is a shame because it’s arguably one of the best-sounding speakers under $110, if not the best (it sometimes costs slightly more but the black model usually is around $105).
A little larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, it’s still compact and manages to sound quite a bit fuller than much of the competition in this price range, with bigger bass, more volume and better clarity. It’s also a sleeker looking Bluetooth speaker that’s available in five different color options: black, taupe, coral red, light blue and olive green.
Equipped with two new full-range drivers and passive bass radiator, it delivers 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels and is water-, dust-, rust- and shock-proof with an IP67 rating. But for the fourth-gen Clip 4, JBL has moved to a more oval shape, bulked up the speaker slightly and added USB-C charging.
Sarah Tew/CNET The Tribit MaxSound Plus is about 30% bigger than its sibling XSound Go and costs about $25 more, but it performs substantially better and is one of the best sounding speakers in its size and price class. It’s also worth noting that the A1 has multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect this to your PC and smartphone at the same time and easily switch back and forth between the two if a call comes in on your phone. David Carnoy/CNET I’ve long been a fan of Sony’s smallest Bluetooth speaker, which has been modestly upgraded for 2021 with some design refinements and slightly improved sound. This model is both dust- and waterproof with an IP67 certification and is rated for 16 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels (it has USB-C charging, while the older XB12 didn’t).
David Carnoy/CNET We liked Ultimate Ears’ original Wonderboom Bluetooth speaker, which sounded good for its compact size and was also waterproof. It also has 30% better battery life — up to 13 hours at moderate volume levels, according to Ultimate Ears — and you can link two together to create a stereo sound pairing by simply pressing a button on each speaker.
2021 Best JBL Bluetooth Speakers
So, take your JBL Xtreme 2 to the beach or the pool and you don’t have to worry about spills or accidental submersion in water. Should a drink spill over onto your JBL Xtreme 2 or take an accidental splash into the pool, IPX7 waterproofing will save your fun-having Bluetooth speaker, so you can keep the party going like a pro.
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