In this guide, we will show you how to test a speaker using a battery, as well as a multimeter. These two methods can be used when testing a mid-range or lower frequency woofer. The easiest thing is to get a 9-volt battery connector (like one in a guitar pedal). We don’t want the DC voltage of the battery applied to the speaker for an extended period of time.
If it is not working, the speaker will not move or make a sound. You can touch the positive and negative leads to either terminal when reading resistance.
If a speaker measures very low or no resistance, then it is bad. The ohm value, listed on the back of the speaker, is the nominal impedance.
This value deals with DC (direct current) that is applied to the speaker.
Piezo tweeters, often on bass guitar cabinets, work a little differently. These speakers have a crystal element, not a moving voice coil. Measuring them with a multimeter will often give you results that could make you think the speaker is bad.
The best way to test them is to QUIETLY play a signal through them, listen to it, then see if it produces sound.
The 15 Loudest Bluetooth Speakers in 2021 – Bass Head Speakers
In this review we feature the loudest Bluetooth speakers that produce the deepest, most earth-shattering sound you’ll ever hear. These speakers can go so loud that they can literally take your entire house down – with booming bass, crystal clear sound and long wireless range. Furthermore, these Bluetooth speakers can deliver a tonne of bass and long hours of playtime with massive battery life.
The Soundboks 3 is hands down the loudest Bluetooth speaker you can find on the market that delivers a staggering amount of bass and volume.
This speaker is unbelievably loud, and it can really drive an outdoor party with full sound effects and rich bass. It features the latest Bluetooth 5.0, full wireless capability and a swappable battery (40 hours average playtime) which is more than enough power to keep the party going through the night. It also come with a steel grille with handles for easy portability, and silicone ball corners which protects the speaker from flooring. Overall, the Soundboks 3 is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers you’ll ever find and it delivers pristine sound quality with massive volume.
It is really a combination of a Bluetooth speaker and a versatile PA system made for parties, outdoor gatherings that delivers immensely powerful sound. It supports Bluetooth wireless pairing and aux inputs for microphone or musical instrument such as a keyboard or guitar for live concert or PA performances. Furthermore, Bose has its proprietary “Articulate Array” technology built into this speaker which allows for wider sound dispersion. Each individual speaker driver is angled slightly to the sides in an alternating pattern to distribute the sound performance naturally.
We also liked the fact that it comes with a built-in auto EQ system which adjusts the speakers tone to ensure that the music sounds natural and free. The speaker also comes with aux and XLR inputs for you to attach microphones and music instruments if you need this to double as a portable PA system.
Overall, the Bose S1 Pro is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers you can find that delivers a tonne of bass and volume output. The BassPro Go is the latest in the JBL series speakers that delivers booming bass on a scale that you’ve probably never experienced before.
You can push this speaker to maximum volume and it will not produce any distortion – the highs are crisp and clear, while the midrange is distinct and well-defined. The unique thing about the JBL BassPro Go is that it comes with a hybrid subwoofer design and Bluetooth speaker for crisp highs and low-end bass at the same time. It also comes with a built-in 100W amplifier which allows you to push the speaker to max volume – and get crystal clear highs and detailed midranges. They come with Sony’s X-balanced speakers for powerful bass and crisp sound, and can deliver loud volume levels that can easily transform your house into a rock concert. The speaker features an IP66 water-resistant and dustproof design, and comes with a 30 hour built-in battery for a super long playtime. This speaker has great sound range, and can play the highs, midranges and lows perfectly clear – without distortion at max volumes. While the upper midranges sound sweet and crisp, and low-end bass really kicks hard with this speaker and adds a tonne of flare to EDM and rock music genres. You can also connect and stream music easily with Bluetooth, or adjust the LED ring lighting for party ambience.
The speaker is large but lightweight, and comes with a massive built-in battery that delivers up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge. Furthermore, the PartyBox 710 features a DJ Launchpad which allows you to play drums, keyboard and piano, and record and loop on the fly.
Furthermore, this massive speaker comes with a built-in battery that delivers up to 24 hours of playtime, making this highly portable and great for parties. At full volume, the JBL Boombox 2 will produce extreme bass and very loud sound with minimal distortion – you can still hear the highs, mids and lows clearly.
The Aiwa Exos-9 is possibly the loudest Bluetooth speaker you will ever find that delivers up to 200 watts of massive stereo sound. This speaker delivers really pristine stereo sound with deep bass, crisp treble ranges and balanced mid-range.
You can hear the music crystal clear even at maximum volume with virtually zero distortion – something which no other Bluetooth speaker comes close to doing. The bass is comparable to the JBL Boombox 2 but the Aiwa Exos 9 clearly sounds much louder all things equal.
We liked the fact that this speaker supports both wireless Bluetooth pairing and an 3.5mm aux input jack for audio devices. You can also crank up the bass, mids or highs with the 5-band on-board graphic equalizer which allows you to adjust your sound preferences on the go. The Aiwa Exos-9 is definitely one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers that can pump out the cleanest stereo sound performance you’ll ever hear. This speaker is IPX7 waterproof, making it the perfect choice for pool parties and outdoor gatherings – it can even be submerged underwater.
If you are looking for one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers that can pump out high volume and deep bass, the JBL Charge 4 is definitely a great choice. It is made of a durable fabric and rugged material housing which protects the speaker from all kinds of outdoor elements.
This speaker delivers immensely wide soundstage with virtually zero distortion at max volume levels and with no background noise. It also has an extremely wide frequency range of 18 Hz to 21 kHz, and delivers music notes with precision and grace. Overall, the Devialet Phantom II is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers you can find and we highly recommend them for their iconic sound. If you are looking for one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers with a portable vintage design, the Marshall Kilburn II is a great choice.
If you are looking for a speaker with plenty of gravitas and authority in the lower-end, the Marshall Kilburn II hits all the sweet spots. The wireless range on this speaker can go as long as 45-60 feet, and the sound is crystal clear when streaming music from your iPhone or smartphone device. The speaker has full wireless compatibility and also comes with a touch panel and 3.5mm audio jack at the back for versatile connectivity. This massive speaker also comes with a portable rechargeable battery that delivers an incredible 24 hours of playtime on a single charge. It also features full panel LED lighting which gives a visually stunning experience when used in outdoor performances. We really liked the sound performance of this speaker – it delivers crystal clear highs, detailed midranges and very loud bass.
The quality of the sound is spot on and it hits every note with precision and detail, which is pretty impressive considering how large the speaker actually is. The bass rolls deep and feels lifelike, making this speaker great for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres. Sony really put in a lot of effort to design this speaker to give it a sleek and modern appearance, while maintaining durability. The SRS-XP500 also comes with an integrated carry handle for easy portability, and it is also IPX4 splash resistant making it ideal for outdoor party events.
EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres were represented very nicely with good separation, and this speaker can pump out a tonne of volume without any hint of distortion. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is definitely one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers from UE that delivers a full 360 degree sound performance.
If you are looking for one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers from UE that delivers full-range sound performance, the Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is a great choice. The 360 degree sound quality from jazz to hip-hop music genres is particularly enjoyable to listen to, especially if you set up this speaker in open spaces. The Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers from UE – it excels in sound performance, absolute volume and design. The speaker is super portable, rugged and waterproof – you can bring it virtually anywhere and do not have to worry about exposing it to the outdoor elements. This is an incredibly loud speaker with 60Ws of portable sound and comes with double 20W subwoofers with DSP technology for deeper bass. The MIATONE comes with two 10W tweeters with 100% pure titanium diaphragm which enhances the highs up to 40kHz without any noticeable distortion at max volume levels.
This speaker has massive 60W total volume output and delivers monstrous sound performance with really nice highs, mids and low-frequencies. It sounds like the JBL Boombox 2 at a fraction of the cost, and delivers really loud volume with deep bass output. We also liked the fact that vocals and highs sound so clear on this speaker – it delivers high-end frequencies of up to 40kHz without any noticeable distortion at max volume levels. The sound performance is exceptional; you get solid crisp bass and really nice EQ which accentuates any style of music that you are listening to. We also played a couple of hip hop and country music genres, and we were impressed by how well-rounded the vocals sound with crystal clear detail. We were very impressed with the level of volume that this speaker has despite its small size, and is built to last with IP67 waterproof rating and up to 24 hours of battery life.
10 Best Bass Speakers in 2021 (Review)
Traditionally, bass cabs, speakers, amplifiers, and bins are known for their larger sizes, which is because low-end frequencies need a certain amount of space to resonate powerfully. The enclosure, driver capabilities, frequency response, cone surface area, and crossover circuitry all have an important part to play.
If you are looking to get the best bass out of a home system, you will want at least one dedicated woofer to alleviate your left and rights of some of their more demanding low-end duties. As our guide clarifies, so that you can make a wise investment, you need to think about the speaker’s intended use, consider your budget and consumption carefully, factor in your type of amplifier – for example, if it is not a battery-powered or powered model – and then understand the specifications. You should also remember that while the driver and its dimensions are important, for optimal performance, the enclosure should also be designed to enhance the sound and ensure that there’s no distortion or rattling. You simply need to choose one that’s well-suited to your requirements, whether that’s for a home sound system, for a car, or an impromptu party by the pool.
The 6 Best Bluetooth Speakers For Bass – Fall 2021 Reviews
With its Bass Boost feature set to ‘1’, it has a boomy sound profile to help you feel the thump and punch in your music. It has an impressive dynamics performance that can make it very loud and great for parties, although there are slight compression artifacts at max volume.
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 Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 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 Bluetooth wireless speaker for 2021
So while there are plenty of mini Bluetooth speakers that deliver bigger sound than you might expect, they do have their sonic limitations. For a lot of people it’s a question of finding a speaker that’s not too big or too small — one that travels well but also is capable of producing good sound for its size.
David Carnoy/CNET When it launched, Bose made some bold claims about its new SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, particularly its extra bass performance. Available in three color options — black, white smoke and stone blue (pictured) — it’s equipped with Bose’s PositionIQ technology to automatically detect the speaker’s orientation and deliver optimized sound based on whether 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. Like the Bose, this portable Bluetooth speaker has an integrated strap so you can clip it to your backpack or bike’s handlebars.
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. It’s kind of a poor man’s version of JBL’s well-regarded Xtreme 2 speaker, which currently sells for around $200 though its list price is higher. Equipped with a handle and weighing a little over 4 pounds, the speaker reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were in vogue about 30 years ago. Anker says the Motion Boom delivers “huge stereo sound” and yes, it plays pretty loud and has a decent amount of bass with reasonable clarity.
According to JBL, the speaker is equipped with a “racetrack-shaped driver,” with a separate tweeter and dual passive radiators, which improves both clarity and bass performance over the Charge 4. The Charge 5 comes in six color options: black, blue, gray, red, teal and “squad” (which looks like a kind of camo). There’s an integrated handle for toting the speaker, but the PartyBox 110 is pretty hefty, weighing in at 23 pounds and measuring slightly more than 22 inches tall. I didn’t test the stereo mode, but I was impressed with the sound of a single PartyBox 110 — it puts out lots of well-defined bass with good overall clarity in the highs and mids — and I suspect that pairing two of these together would be pretty awesome.
But it does deliver enough volume to fill a spacious living room with sound and also plays loud enough for a small pool or beach party. This is your best bet if you want a portable speaker that can deliver big, quality sound and operates on battery power.
This portable Bluetooth speaker 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 Ultimate Ears Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a few different sizes, but none of them are as big as the all-new Hyberboom.
A supersize wireless speaker that tips the scales at a hefty 13 pounds, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look unquestionably puny. UE Boom reps told me the Hyperboom was created after the company got feedback from its customers looking for a bigger speaker that could play loud enough and have deep enough bass to power a party. Besides sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also fully waterproof. Like its predecessor, the fully waterproof Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 with Bluetooth connectivity carries a list price of $100, but often sells for less.
This Bluetooth device also has 30% better battery life — lasting 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 pressing a button on each speaker. Sarah Tew/CNET The Tribit MaxSound Plus ($50 with an instant coupon) 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.
Additionally, the smart speaker is Alexa-enabled, meaning you can activate Amazon’s voice commands assistant by just saying “Alexa.” Sarah Tew/CNET Although a little pricey, Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its tiny size, delivering more bass than other pocketable speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and available in three color options, although the blue version appears to be hard to find.
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.
The 5 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers 2021
Portable Bluetooth speakers are the easiest, most affordable way to spread the sound from your phone or tablet across a room, backyard, or beach blanket. With clear vocal reproduction and a decent amount of bass for its size, it offers satisfying sound for a small area, such as across a picnic table or a couple of lounge chairs on a patio.
It has an IP67 rating and is one of the most rugged Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, able to survive a 5-foot drop and a dunking in 1 meter of water—but because it floats, it’ll probably never dive that deep. The JBL Xtreme 3 is a great choice if you want a Bluetooth speaker that sounds bigger and bolder than our top pick yet is still portable enough to take to the beach or the tailgate.
This speaker is built for adventure: The IP67 rating means it’s waterproof and dustproof, the strong carrying strap makes it easy to lug along anywhere, and in our testing the Xtreme 3 ran for 17 hours on one charge. If you need something that sounds a little louder and fuller than the UE Wonderboom 2 but is more portable and affordable than the JBL Xtreme 3, the Sony SRS-XB33 finds a nice middle ground.
SoundLink Revolve Portable Bluetooth® 360 Speaker
Or switch to Stereo Mode for dedicated left and right playback giving you a full and dynamic surround sound experience.
7 things to consider before buying a Bluetooth speaker
There’s a plethora to choose from too: everything from wonderfully sophisticated hi-fi speakers crafted by Bowers & Wilkins to dinky, inexpensive waterproof options that deliver great sound-per-pound. Some Bluetooth speakers, such as the dinky JBL Go 3 , are no bigger than a bar of soap; others are weighty affairs and designed to dominate a sideboard like a fine sculpture.
They aim to balance decent sound quality and loudness with maximum portability – and this one does a top job of it.
The excellent Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII , for example, boasts a 13cm mid-bass driver and an 80W digital class D amplifier.
It might not sound like a big difference, but opting for Bluetooth 5 can drastically alter the appeal of a speaker. Bluetooth 5 clocks up speeds of 2Mbps and is compatible with a slew of smart home devices, whereas version 4.1 hits the redline at 1Mbps. Take the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd gen): it’s rated water- and dust-proof to IP67, meaning it should survive being placed in water up to one metre deep for 30 minutes as well as no small amount of dust ingress. If you’re planning to take to the high seas, it’s also worth checking if your chosen Bluetooth speaker floats (like the nifty, if slightly older, UE Wonderboom 2, pictured above).
You’ll also find that many third-party Bluetooth speakers feature microphones for both hands-free calls and support of voice-activated virtual assistants.
Amazon’s Echo smart speakers are mostly designed to sit in the home and require a mains power socket, but if portability isn’t high on your list, the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) is one of the smartest and most affordable Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested. For a newer and slightly smaller model, the B&O Beosound A1 2nd Gen (listed above) also boasts Alexa in a portable design. The advantage of using Bluetooth rather than wi-fi is that you don’t need an internet connection, your system will continue to work even if your broadband conks out.
Older Bluetooth speakers have a limited operational range of around 10 to 30 metres before the connection is lost – there’s no such issue when using good old-fashioned cables. Choose a Bluetooth speaker with an aux in, such as the AudioPro Addon C3 , and you’ll have the best of both worlds – wired and wireless audio. Just check for a slightly larger pill-shaped port, sometimes under a cap on the speaker – and it will definitely be listed on the spec-sheet.
Another advantage of USB-C is that the port is uniform in shape, so because the cable has no right way up, you won’t wrestle with your tech at the end of the day to get it charging.
Apple has opted out so there’s no point reaching for your iPhone, but plenty of premium Android smartphones (such as the Sony Xperia 1 III , OnePlus 9 Pro and Google Pixel 5 flagship handsets) support aptX HD. Alternatively, you could invest in a high-res player such as the stellar Astell & Kern Kann Alpha – or the cheaper Cowon Plenue D3 .
Put simply, if you want pristine sound from your Bluetooth speaker, seek out aptX HD in the specs.
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