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.
Best premium Bluetooth speakers that offer the best sound quality
Its compact form factor and striking design make for an attractive Bluetooth speaker. It is perfect for outdoor settings and features like water resistance, wireless charging and 10 hours playback time make it a great option. It comes with a waterproof, dustproof and shockproof design that makes it a good option for pool parties and beaches.
It comes with Alexa built-in, allowing users to check the weather, make calls, set alarms and more with voice commands.
It supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing users to play music, pay bills, set reminders and more with voice commands.
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.
The best Bluetooth speakers 2021: the top portable speakers for any budget
The best Bluetooth speakers of 2021 are must-have devices for any music lover, thanks to their portable, durable designs and fantastic audio performances. Marshall Kilburn II Small and mighty Specifications Weight: 2.49Kgs Output: 36W Battery life: 20 hours Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Clear top notes + Rugged and portable + Cool retro aesthetic Reasons to avoid – Slightly muddy bass – Can feel heavy For those who plan on taking a portable speaker to an outdoor party, Marshall Kilburn II will be a perfect companion.
While the bass can be a little muddy at times, it’s excellent for playing guitar music, and its portability means the Kilburn II is great for taking on the road. The loudness of the portable speaker is best suited for festivals and parties as it comes with multi-directional sound and backfiring tweeters. Marshall Kilburn II definitely stands out from the crowd with its retro look and portable feel, and of course, it all comes at a hefty price tag. The JBL Charge 4 is slightly bulky at 965 grams, but if that doesn’t bother you, it should be at the top of your shopping list. It offers thumping and loud audio without distortion at high volumes; is light enough to carry on a camping trip but remains durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected.
Google Nest Audio Specifications Weight: 1.2Kgs Battery life: Always connected Aux-in: No Water resistance: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Visit Site Reasons to buy + Subtle and unassuming design + Picks up voice commands very well + Better sound than its predecessor Reasons to avoid – Missing detail in the mids and trebles – Can sound harsh at higher volumes
While Google promised better sound quality over the Home speakers, the Nest Audio doesn’t deliver the jump in performance we were hoping for.
The three microphones also did a good job of picking up our voice, amid both loud music and other noise in the room. It is also worth mentioning that this speaker is not made for outdoor usage as it needs to be plugged into a power outlet all the time.
The Nest Audio is good enough for the kitchen or a bedroom, but it doesn’t deliver enough volume to fill a bigger space. Amazon Echo(2020) Specifications Weight: 970g Battery life: Always connected Connectivity: Bluetooth BLE, Wired Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Futuristic look + Improved, adaptive sound + Alexa responds faster + Zigbee hub integration Reasons to avoid – Max volume isn’t loud enough – Not as clear as the Echo Studio – No Chromecast or Home Kit support To make things fancier, Amazon has wrapped the new Echo in a fabric grille and light ring around the base.
While it might not be the best sounding speaker, the additions like a built-in Zigbee smart home hub and a new AZ1 neural edge processor, the Echo provides 2x faster voice processing.
Sony SRS-XB23 Specifications Weight: 570g Battery life: 12 hours Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: Yes, IP67 TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Good sound quality + Competitive price + Stereo pairing and Party Mode Reasons to avoid – Lower peak volume – Unclear battery level alerts While the Sony SRS-XB23 doesn’t have the best sound quality in its class, it seems like an affordable outdoor speaker that most people will love.
In terms of battery life, Sony promises about 12 hours of playback on a full charge but that’s the average when listening to music at 50% volume. BoAt Stone 1400 Specifications Weight: 1.8Kgs Battery life: 7 hours Output: 30W Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: Yes, IP67 TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Soundcore Anker Flare Specifications Weight: 531g Battery life: 12 hours Connectivity: Bluetooth Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: Yes, IPX7 TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Visit Site Reasons to buy + Impressive sound for the size + Waterproof + Excellent mobile app Reasons to avoid – Bass boost and EQ are very mild – Average battery life – Harsh at max volume One of the best looking speakers on the list, the Anker Soundcore Flare brings the best features of its competitors into an affordable package that’s tough to beat.
For the price, the Flare offers good sound, a tough waterproof build and an excellent user experience. Sony SRS-XB13 Specifications Weight: 253g Battery life: 16 hours Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 Aux-in: Yes Water resistance: Yes, IP67 TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Visit Site Reasons to buy + Relatively affordable + Diffused sound + Balanced sound quality + 16-hour battery life Reasons to avoid – Low max volume – Four-hour charge time – Awful microphone
On the brighter side, you get a pretty portable design, and in terms of sound quality, the SRS-XB13 is far better balanced than it was in years past. The Mi Smart Speaker comes with two mics with far-field voice wake up support which means you will be able to trigger the Google Assistant.
Treble Speakers
The SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker is engineered to deliver clear, deep sound that’s powerful enough to fill a room and loud enough for outdoor adventures. Whether hanging from a backpack or lying flat by the pool, the speaker’s PositionIQ technology optimizes the sound for natural audio.
The Best Bluetooth and Wireless Speakers for 2021
Big, small, portable, expensive, cheap, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi…the sheer amount of choice can seem overwhelming. Bluetooth is a point-to-point wireless system, pairing a transmitter (your phone or computer) with a receiver (your speaker) to play music.
It’s very direct and easy to set up, and can stream pretty high-quality music thanks to technological advancements that have greatly improved audio fidelity over what it was a few years ago. It can also integrate into your home network, so you can easily play audio from any device connected to your Wi-Fi without pairing anything. It’s worth noting that the new Sonos Move supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming, so compatibility isn’t an issue at all. They let you easily stream from your iPhone or iPad at better quality than Bluetooth, but if you’re an Android user, you won’t find much utility in it.
Like Chromecast, setting up multi-room Echo audio is performed through the same app as your voice assistant and smart home devices, only it’s all Alexa instead of Google. These usually aren’t as complex or robust as Wi-Fi multi-room systems, but they’re a simple option that can provide an alternative to using your home network to stream music.
Larger speakers generally offer fuller sound and richer bass, but they can be more expensive and are often not portable.
These speakers are obviously not portable at all, but if you want a centerpiece sound system for your living room or office they’re likely your best choice.
For a speaker to be portable, it needs to both be small and light enough to easily carry around, and be equipped with a battery so it can run without being plugged in. Since Wi-Fi speakers rely on a separate network to enable multi-speaker and multi-room audio playback, they’re rarely portable.
Look for speakers with IPX ratings and guarantees of water and shock resistance if you want to carry them around to the beach, the lake, the slopes, or the sewers. Our guide to IP ratings explains what those numbers mean, so you can know whether your speaker can handle getting dunked in the pool, or if it simply will stay intact in a light drizzle.
Big bass isn’t for everyone, but unless your speaker is downright tiny, it should be able to reproduce low frequencies accurately without distorting at high volumes. Clarity is more important than sheer power, and a balanced, clean sound should be your goal when shopping for a speaker.
They also generally support third-party skills that let you do anything from order pizza to play trivia games. The most prominent first-party voice assistant speakers like the Amazon Echo and the Google Home don’t have batteries.
Don’t be afraid to look for similar speakers to the ones on this list, either; a number of the options included here have solid predecessors that you can now find for much less since they’ve been replaced.
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.
The Best Home Bluetooth Speaker
Using a Bluetooth tabletop speaker is the simplest way to get satisfying sound in the home, and we think Klipsch’s The One II is the best all-around choice. It has a full, clear, robust sound that made it the favorite of our panelists in a blind listening test, and its operation couldn’t be simpler. Bluetooth pairing is simple, and the One II, with nothing but an on/off switch, a volume control, and an input selector, is one of the simplest audio systems you can buy.
The Marshall Woburn II is the muscle car of Bluetooth speakers, with dual woofers that produce powerful bass and a sound that’s robust enough to get a dozen people dancing.
The Best Portable Speakers on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers
“I wanted a more intertwined and seamed-together theater sound,” they write. After connecting the two to create a kind of surround-sound setup, the speakers make you feel as if “the singer is directly in front of you,” they explain.
The 5 Bluetooth Speakers Our Product Editors Are Using This Summer
Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Whether you’ve been asked to DJ a party, or want to share your music collection with people at a park or beach, you’re going to need a good Bluetooth speaker.
Some of the most popular speakers also come with smart home capabilities, letting you control your music and your connected devices using just your voice. Durability: An electronic device’s resistance to dust and water is measured on the IP (Ingress Protection) scale. Our minimum requirement for this guide was an IPX4 rating, which means the speaker is protected from dust particles larger than 1mm (millimeter), and splashes of water. That lower battery life is due to its relative small size: the speaker is a roughly 3.7-inch square that’s about 1.5 inches deep and weighs just over half a pound.
Finally, the StormBox Micro has a strap you can use to attach it to a bike (as seen in the picture above), or around a shower head for bathroom listening. If you don’t like the way it sounds out of the box, you can adjust its EQ (equalization) settings inside the JBL Connect+ app. Urbanears’ Ralis is a stylish, portable Bluetooth speaker that manages to balance size and sound without sacrificing either. The Ralis supports Bluetooth 5.0, the latest major version of the wireless standard that includes increased range, better battery life, and a stronger connection than previous ones.
One of the Ralis’ most distinctive features is its cube shape, which stands out compared to circular and rectangular Bluetooth speakers. Urbanears doesn’t give the Ralis’ IP rating, but does say it’s water resistant, so you can expect it to handle some rain or splashes without getting damaged.
It also has an AUX input for wired audio sources, and a USB-A port, which can charge your phone in a pinch. The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.1, a just-ratified version of the wireless standard, and gets up to 18 hours of battery life per charge.
Audio quality is the most important prerequisite for recommending a speaker, but the A1 2nd Gen can do a lot more than play music. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, the second latest version of the wireless standard that’s more energy-efficient, and gets up to 24 hours of battery life per charge.
That’s especially true considering its IPX4 durability rating, which means it’s dust-resistant to avoid damage from particles larger than 1mm (millimeter), and water-resistant enough to handle getting splashed. Think of it this way: sand can get inside, but crumbs wont; it’ll work if you spill a drink on it, but not if it gets caught in the rain. The HYPERBOOM can be connected to Ultimate Ears’ other speakers to create a larger wireless audio system, but not as a stereo pair. If you regularly throw large parties, and want a speaker that uses AI to sound its best at all times, I highly recommend Ultimate Ears’ HYPERBOOM.
The Best Bluetooth Speakers For Any Budget in 2021
Then it’s down to prioritising extras like waterproofing and dustproofing, stereo pairing, aux in (old-school but helpful), plus more new-fangled features in the category such as Alexa voice controls and USB for charging devices. If a smart assistant is your main focus then you could opt for an Amazon Echo or Google Nest speaker, but these are typically limited in their portability. Fewer speakers, but still quite a lot, are also built to withstand being thrown in a bag or, in more extreme cases, take a bash on a hard surface as you plonk it down ready for some outdoor listening. The benefits are obvious, allowing your favourite tracks to play from multiple speakers for a more immersive sound – rather than a single fixed point.
Our top pick is the Ruark R1 Mk4 (£229) – offering DAB and FM options in a stylish, living room-friendly design. So, if you see a device referred to as a wireless speaker then you’ll often find a lack of Bluetooth support but it’s always worth double checking.
Our top budget pick, the Tribit StormBox Micro (£32), offers stellar sound and gets remarkably loud with just 9W.
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