As of this writing, the Flare 2 is less expensive than the Wonderboom 2, and Lauren and I both thought it sounded betterwith more bass, a little more volume (1.5 decibels), and a fuller, smoother sound that made voices sound more natural. Comparable in price and size to the Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the Morpheus 360 Sound Ring II sounded similarly good, but it fell a few decibels short of the Flare 2s maximum volume. Made the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 the 'Best Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 the 'Best Budget Portable Bluetooth Speaker', and the Sony SRS-XB13 the 'Best Small Bluetooth Speaker'. Portable Bluetooth speakers have a rechargeable battery and are frequently waterproof or splashproof, so you can easily move them around the house or take them to a park or the beach. Also, the Hyperboom has a dedicated charger, which youll have to remember to bring if you take the speaker along on your vacation for more than a day or two. From Bluetooth speakers to patio furniture to gas and charcoal grills, heres what we think you need for backyard entertaining and cooking. We like the Wonderboom 2s compact design, even if the almost-spherical shape makes this model a little tougher to pack away in a suitcase pocket or laptop bag. While we found it cant match the bass response of larger speakers like theUE Boom 3, the improved bass adds warmth and intensity to music that the original was lacking. Really, the only downside is that with so many great speakers to choose from, it can be hard to choose the best one for you. If you want a non-Sonos, Bluetooth-capable smart speaker: The Ultimate Ears Megablast Bluetooth speaker also doubles as a Wi-Ficonnected smart speaker. With its 'Standard' preset, its sound profile is boomy overall with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. Although bass frequencies sound good (if not lacking in a little depth) for the speakers size, we werent blown away by the mid frequencies, which feature heavily in vocals and keys they felt slightly subdued in comparison to the bass. For this test, I used the analyzers Leq mode, measuring the average maximum level, in decibels, when playing a 34-second section of ZZ Tops very loudly mastered tune Chartreuse (video). The Tribit StormBox Pro played really loud (91.8 dB) for its size, but its sound often distorted, and it sounded rough and uneven on voices. Moved the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 to the Notable Mentions, and updated the text for clarity. A small, elasticized strap on top lets you hang the Wonderboom 2 from a shower rod, tent pole, or other object, provided you have a carabiner, hook, or strand of string to attach it. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. That said, it doesn't come with any sound customization features like a graphic EQ. For total control of your smart home, invest in one of the best smart speakers, which come with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri built-in. We measured Bluetooth range at about 70 feet through one window. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly portable Bluetooth speaker, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Tronsmart Force didnt put out enough bass for our panelists. It excels as a guitar amp, but its boosted midrange makes it sound shouty with voices when its used as a Bluetooth speaker. But thats not necessarily the advantage it might seem to be: When the Xtreme 3 is playing bass-heavy material at full volume, the internal limiter reduces the bass output for the sake of a little more maximum volume, so the sound thins out a bit. *At the time of publishing, the price was $300. The battery life isn't huge, though enough for a good day out, but if that's a priority, check out the B&O A1, which more than doubles it. Heres a list of some of the more recent models weve considered, in alphabetical order. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II had the same problem we heard in the Bose SoundLink Revolve+: The overly aggressive internal limiter made the volume fluctuate unnaturally. rig Subscribe now for unlimited access. And because most people use portable Bluetooth speakers for music, podcasts, and internet radionot for movies, TV, or gamingthe reduced latency of codecs such as aptX Low Latency offers few benefits in this case. It also has a speakerphone function (which the Wonderboom 2 lacks) and app-controlled multicolored LED lighting (which you can turn off). While it launched a few years ago now, the Home Speaker is still one of the best portable speakers that can offer smart home control without being restricted to indoor use. For true high-fidelity sound, we recommend a pair of decent bookshelf speakers and a stereo receiver or one of the top picks from our best computer speakers guide. We test Bluetooth speakers with expert listeners, and we conceal the identities of the products to eliminate bias. It doesnt quite have the pure fidelity of the Sonos Move, or the detail, but it's very hard to fault its overall blend of sound. Because Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of designs and sizes, its impossible to proclaim any one model perfect for every situation. If you want a lower-priced alternative to our top pick: The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a good speaker in the mid-two-figures price range and doesnt need the extreme portability and durability of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2, which is a little more than half the Flare 2s height. For the price, the LG XBoom Go PL5 doesnt sound better or play louder than less-expensive models like the Votomy VR360.
If you're worried whether one speaker will be enough for the garden party, it will here and for this money, it represents unbeatable sound-per-pound value. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. The Megaboom 3 has recently been deeply discounted and seems like its not long for this world, but its a nice speaker if you can get it for a very-low-three-figures price. Both of them own a few Bluetooth speakers and have heard many more in my home, where I use such speakers to demo jazz tunes for musicians in my jam sessions. Updated text for clarity; no changes to product picks. Sonys SRS-XB23 is pretty good, but for the same price we have found other speakers with more volume, deeper bass, and a smoother sound. If you want to see more options, check out our picks forthe best Bluetooth speakers, thebest waterproof Bluetooth speakers,and thebest outdoor speakers. Laurens voice sounded full but a little garbled to me, and she complained of a high-frequency hissing noise that accompanied my voice. Its small enough to fit almost unnoticed into a suitcase, and its IPX5 water-resistance rating should ensure it can survive an errant hose blast. We prefer the more compact designs of the JBL Xtreme 3 and Sony SRS-XB43, but if you like the boombox format, the RockBox XL is a good buy. It played about as loud as the Sony but didnt sound as clear on vocals. Weve also requested samples of many just-released or soon-to-be-released models, such as the Soundcore Motion Boom Plus, the Sonos Roam SL, and the JBL Wind 3 and Wind 3S, BassPro Go, Boombox 3, and Pulse 5. According to Tribit, the XSound Gos cardboard packaging and outer plastic shell can be recycled, and the company works with organizations in China to recycle products at the end of their life cycles. That's thanks to LED rings that encircle each end of the speaker, lighting up as you listen to your music. The LG XBoom Go PK7 sounded very clear, clean, and balanced, but despite its large size, it didnt play loud enough to fill a bedroom. For portable Bluetooth speakers, we asked manufacturers whether the packaging and/or the products use recycled materials, and whether the packaging and the products are recyclable. Should You Get a Smart Speaker or a Bluetooth Speaker? The PartyBox 310 sounds similar to the PartyBox 110 and provides a few more decibels of sound output, even more deep bass, and an IPX4 splash-resistance rating, but its roughly twice the size and price. , At about 4 inches square and 1.5 inches thick, its a hair larger than its predecessor, the StormBox Microbut the Micro 2s extra 1/10 inch of height and ounce of weight was used to house a bigger battery, which boosted the runtime to a whopping 13 hours, up from just 5 for the original Micro. We measured Bluetooth range at 110 feet, which is outstandingalthough getting a range at this length sometimes required that we turn the Hyperboom in a particular direction, probably because the sheer size of the unit can interfere with the Bluetooth antenna. To ramp up that durability, many Bluetooth speakers come with waterproof and dustproof designs look for an IPX4 rating or higher if you want to take your portable speaker outdoors. The soon-to-be-released Sonos Roam may be the most versatile speaker available. The Wonderboom 2s firmware is not user-updateable, but the Hyperbooms firmware can be updated through the UE Boom app. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. The choice between a smart speaker and a Bluetooth speaker depends on your lifestyle and your listening habits. The Sony SRS-XP500 looks and works much like the JBL PartyBox 110 and costs about the same, but we thought the PartyBox 110 sounded a little smoother on vocals. You should also consider how youre going to use your new portable speaker. This battery-powered Bluetooth speaker comes with a built-in handle you can use to carry it from room to room. The design isn't so garish that it'll look out of place in your home, though, and its rugged construction means the Soundcore Flare 2 can join you at the beach or poolside. The Marshall Kilburn II tended to clamp down the volume abruptly when it hit a deep bass note, and voices had a sort of canned quality. The Bose SoundLink Flex might not be the best portable speaker you can buy overall, but it sure ticks a lot of boxes and this makes it a solid option if you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker for a range of different uses. 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. The manufacturer even advertises that it can float in water, making it great if you like listening to music by the pool or singing along to your favorite songs in the shower. The same is true of the XBoom Go PL7, which in our tests sounded about as good as the Sony SRS-XB33 but produced a maximum volume that was 4.5 decibels lower. If you would like to see more products, here's the list of all our Bluetooth speaker reviews sorted by their outdoor performance. If you like having more control over your speaker's sound, there's also a graphic EQ and presets in its companion app, which you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. As of this writing, the Flare 2 is less expensive than the Wonderboom 2, and Lauren and I both thought it sounded betterwith more bass, a little more volume (1.5 decibels), and a fuller, smoother sound that made voices sound more natural. Comparable in price and size to the Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the Morpheus 360 Sound Ring II sounded similarly good, but it fell a few decibels short of the Flare 2s maximum volume. Made the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 the 'Best Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 the 'Best Budget Portable Bluetooth Speaker', and the Sony SRS-XB13 the 'Best Small Bluetooth Speaker'. Portable Bluetooth speakers have a rechargeable battery and are frequently waterproof or splashproof, so you can easily move them around the house or take them to a park or the beach. Also, the Hyperboom has a dedicated charger, which youll have to remember to bring if you take the speaker along on your vacation for more than a day or two. From Bluetooth speakers to patio furniture to gas and charcoal grills, heres what we think you need for backyard entertaining and cooking. We like the Wonderboom 2s compact design, even if the almost-spherical shape makes this model a little tougher to pack away in a suitcase pocket or laptop bag. While we found it cant match the bass response of larger speakers like theUE Boom 3, the improved bass adds warmth and intensity to music that the original was lacking. Really, the only downside is that with so many great speakers to choose from, it can be hard to choose the best one for you. If you want a non-Sonos, Bluetooth-capable smart speaker: The Ultimate Ears Megablast Bluetooth speaker also doubles as a Wi-Ficonnected smart speaker. With its 'Standard' preset, its sound profile is boomy overall with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. Although bass frequencies sound good (if not lacking in a little depth) for the speakers size, we werent blown away by the mid frequencies, which feature heavily in vocals and keys they felt slightly subdued in comparison to the bass. For this test, I used the analyzers Leq mode, measuring the average maximum level, in decibels, when playing a 34-second section of ZZ Tops very loudly mastered tune Chartreuse (video). The Tribit StormBox Pro played really loud (91.8 dB) for its size, but its sound often distorted, and it sounded rough and uneven on voices. Moved the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 to the Notable Mentions, and updated the text for clarity. A small, elasticized strap on top lets you hang the Wonderboom 2 from a shower rod, tent pole, or other object, provided you have a carabiner, hook, or strand of string to attach it. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. That said, it doesn't come with any sound customization features like a graphic EQ. For total control of your smart home, invest in one of the best smart speakers, which come with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri built-in. We measured Bluetooth range at about 70 feet through one window. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly portable Bluetooth speaker, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Tronsmart Force didnt put out enough bass for our panelists. It excels as a guitar amp, but its boosted midrange makes it sound shouty with voices when its used as a Bluetooth speaker. But thats not necessarily the advantage it might seem to be: When the Xtreme 3 is playing bass-heavy material at full volume, the internal limiter reduces the bass output for the sake of a little more maximum volume, so the sound thins out a bit. *At the time of publishing, the price was $300. The battery life isn't huge, though enough for a good day out, but if that's a priority, check out the B&O A1, which more than doubles it. Heres a list of some of the more recent models weve considered, in alphabetical order. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II had the same problem we heard in the Bose SoundLink Revolve+: The overly aggressive internal limiter made the volume fluctuate unnaturally. rig Subscribe now for unlimited access. And because most people use portable Bluetooth speakers for music, podcasts, and internet radionot for movies, TV, or gamingthe reduced latency of codecs such as aptX Low Latency offers few benefits in this case. It also has a speakerphone function (which the Wonderboom 2 lacks) and app-controlled multicolored LED lighting (which you can turn off). While it launched a few years ago now, the Home Speaker is still one of the best portable speakers that can offer smart home control without being restricted to indoor use. For true high-fidelity sound, we recommend a pair of decent bookshelf speakers and a stereo receiver or one of the top picks from our best computer speakers guide. We test Bluetooth speakers with expert listeners, and we conceal the identities of the products to eliminate bias. It doesnt quite have the pure fidelity of the Sonos Move, or the detail, but it's very hard to fault its overall blend of sound. Because Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of designs and sizes, its impossible to proclaim any one model perfect for every situation. If you want a lower-priced alternative to our top pick: The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a good speaker in the mid-two-figures price range and doesnt need the extreme portability and durability of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2, which is a little more than half the Flare 2s height. For the price, the LG XBoom Go PL5 doesnt sound better or play louder than less-expensive models like the Votomy VR360.
As of this writing, the Flare 2 is less expensive than the Wonderboom 2, and Lauren and I both thought it sounded betterwith more bass, a little more volume (1.5 decibels), and a fuller, smoother sound that made voices sound more natural. Comparable in price and size to the Anker Soundcore Flare 2, the Morpheus 360 Sound Ring II sounded similarly good, but it fell a few decibels short of the Flare 2s maximum volume. Made the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 the 'Best Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Portable Bluetooth Speaker', the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 the 'Best Budget Portable Bluetooth Speaker', and the Sony SRS-XB13 the 'Best Small Bluetooth Speaker'. Portable Bluetooth speakers have a rechargeable battery and are frequently waterproof or splashproof, so you can easily move them around the house or take them to a park or the beach. Also, the Hyperboom has a dedicated charger, which youll have to remember to bring if you take the speaker along on your vacation for more than a day or two. From Bluetooth speakers to patio furniture to gas and charcoal grills, heres what we think you need for backyard entertaining and cooking. We like the Wonderboom 2s compact design, even if the almost-spherical shape makes this model a little tougher to pack away in a suitcase pocket or laptop bag. While we found it cant match the bass response of larger speakers like theUE Boom 3, the improved bass adds warmth and intensity to music that the original was lacking. Really, the only downside is that with so many great speakers to choose from, it can be hard to choose the best one for you. If you want a non-Sonos, Bluetooth-capable smart speaker: The Ultimate Ears Megablast Bluetooth speaker also doubles as a Wi-Ficonnected smart speaker. With its 'Standard' preset, its sound profile is boomy overall with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. Although bass frequencies sound good (if not lacking in a little depth) for the speakers size, we werent blown away by the mid frequencies, which feature heavily in vocals and keys they felt slightly subdued in comparison to the bass. For this test, I used the analyzers Leq mode, measuring the average maximum level, in decibels, when playing a 34-second section of ZZ Tops very loudly mastered tune Chartreuse (video). The Tribit StormBox Pro played really loud (91.8 dB) for its size, but its sound often distorted, and it sounded rough and uneven on voices. Moved the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 to the Notable Mentions, and updated the text for clarity. A small, elasticized strap on top lets you hang the Wonderboom 2 from a shower rod, tent pole, or other object, provided you have a carabiner, hook, or strand of string to attach it. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. That said, it doesn't come with any sound customization features like a graphic EQ. For total control of your smart home, invest in one of the best smart speakers, which come with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Siri built-in. We measured Bluetooth range at about 70 feet through one window. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly portable Bluetooth speaker, check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2. The Tronsmart Force didnt put out enough bass for our panelists. It excels as a guitar amp, but its boosted midrange makes it sound shouty with voices when its used as a Bluetooth speaker. But thats not necessarily the advantage it might seem to be: When the Xtreme 3 is playing bass-heavy material at full volume, the internal limiter reduces the bass output for the sake of a little more maximum volume, so the sound thins out a bit. *At the time of publishing, the price was $300. The battery life isn't huge, though enough for a good day out, but if that's a priority, check out the B&O A1, which more than doubles it. Heres a list of some of the more recent models weve considered, in alphabetical order. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II had the same problem we heard in the Bose SoundLink Revolve+: The overly aggressive internal limiter made the volume fluctuate unnaturally. rig Subscribe now for unlimited access. And because most people use portable Bluetooth speakers for music, podcasts, and internet radionot for movies, TV, or gamingthe reduced latency of codecs such as aptX Low Latency offers few benefits in this case. It also has a speakerphone function (which the Wonderboom 2 lacks) and app-controlled multicolored LED lighting (which you can turn off). While it launched a few years ago now, the Home Speaker is still one of the best portable speakers that can offer smart home control without being restricted to indoor use. For true high-fidelity sound, we recommend a pair of decent bookshelf speakers and a stereo receiver or one of the top picks from our best computer speakers guide. We test Bluetooth speakers with expert listeners, and we conceal the identities of the products to eliminate bias. It doesnt quite have the pure fidelity of the Sonos Move, or the detail, but it's very hard to fault its overall blend of sound. Because Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of designs and sizes, its impossible to proclaim any one model perfect for every situation. If you want a lower-priced alternative to our top pick: The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a good speaker in the mid-two-figures price range and doesnt need the extreme portability and durability of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2, which is a little more than half the Flare 2s height. For the price, the LG XBoom Go PL5 doesnt sound better or play louder than less-expensive models like the Votomy VR360.
