Introduction to the Best Bluetooth Speakers
Bluetooth speakers provide an undefeated opportunity where you can rest easy from virtually anywhere while enjoying your favorite songs. The ideal Bluetooth speaker should do more than just producing quality sounds. Obviously, you need a portable speaker. One that you can easily carry with you be it to the beach, pool, hiking sites, or any other place. However, if your intention of purchasing a Bluetooth speaker is to use it at home or office, then portability does not need to be a priority to you. Perhaps what’s more crucial for you is sound quality and how loud the speaker is.
You also need to consider build quality and the ability of the speaker to withstand harsh surroundings. Summer usually involves lots of pool and beach time, and this is where a Bluetooth speaker comes in very handy. Now, take a moment and imagine this; you’ve finally saved enough cash to get yourself an expensive speaker. A few weeks down the line, you can barely get quality sound from the speaker. And why is that? The random splashes of water on the speaker and its direct contact to sunlight have damaged it before you’re even halfway through your summer fun. To save yourself disappoints and make sure that you get full value for your money, you must be keen on the build quality of the speaker you’re eying. Make sure that you look beyond the flashy appearance and other aesthetic factors when making your decision. This is the point where you will need to look out for IP ratings such as IPX4 or IPX4, which means Splash proof, 1PX7 i.e., waterproof and IP67 which stands for water and dust proof. Finally, we have to discuss battery life. This is a very crucial factor because unless you have a Bluetooth speaker with long battery life, then the whole point of owning a Bluetooth speaker is defeated. Why? Well, what’s the point of having a portable speaker if it’ll barely work for more than 4 hours?
Other factors to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker are:
- Compatibility with other devices
- Wireless range
- Charging capability
- Connectivity
To make your work even easier, we’ve come up with a list of the best Bluetooth speakers in the market today. Our picks are not just based on the features of the speakers but also on our firsthand experience with them. We also took into account the various user reviews online to come up with a more comprehensive picture of how reliable these speakers are and their overall performance.
Top 3 Bluetooth Speakers
1. Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker
The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 offers everything you’d ever need in a Bluetooth speaker. It is compact and elegantly designed weighing approximately 2 pounds and measuring about 8.9 by 3.4 inches. This doesn’t just boost portability, but it also makes sure that the speaker looks pleasing and presentable.
The UE Mega Boom 3 really impressed us in terms of sound production. The highs are impressive, and the lows are really satisfying too. The 360-degree sound system makes sure that everyone enjoys quality music from all angles. And it gets even better! With the party up mode, you can pair the UE MEGABOOM 3 with 8 Bluetooth enabled devices. This is one of the reasons that make the UE Mega Boom an all-around Bluetooth speaker as it will give you a great summer and still remain very useful when you start using it indoors.
UE MEGABOOM 3 is also IPX7 certified, which means that it is water and shockproof. It should be able to remain fully functional even after a fall or splashes.
In terms of battery life, you will get an incredible 20 hours of entertainment after a full charge!
2. Echo (2nd Generation) Smart Speaker
If you are all about the Smart life, then this 2nd Generation gadget of the Amazon Echo Smart Speaker is meant for you. The speaker utilizes the latest technology to spice up your entertainment life. The most exciting feature of the smart speaker has to be the voice commands capability! Yes, the Echo Smart Speaker is programmed with Alexa voice. Using the speaker should, therefore, be easy and engaging. Other than asking Alexa to select your playlist, you can also engage her in some random questions whenever you are bored. You could also ask her to read your emails and weather.
When it comes to designing, very few Bluetooth speakers can match the Echo smart speaker. That’s because it comes with a superb fabric design that looks and feels great. The best part? You can swap this skin with various others to get the ideal look that complements the speaker’s surrounding. You can choose from Charcoal, Sandstone, Heather Gray, Oak, Silver, and Walnut fabric finishing.
In the department of sound quality, the Echo Smart Speaker is as good as they come. The speaker is programmed with Dolby technology and 360-degrees audio that delivers crystal clear vocals and excellent bass. You can also customize the equalizer settings through voice commands. For stereo sound, you can pair the speaker with another 2nd Gen Echo.
3.Ultimate Ears Boom 2 Phantom Wireless Mobile Bluetooth Speaker
The UE Boom 2 offers arguably the best Bluetooth speaker experience for less than $100. The speaker is very compact weighing just 1.2 pounds.
You will also appreciate the speakers build quality, which is quite impressive for the price. The UE Boom 2 is shock resistant and stain resistant and fully waterproof. If you ever needed a high-quality wireless speaker that accommodates your wild outdoor life, then the UE Boom 2 is one of your best picks.
The battery life of the speaker is also decent. At full volume and when it is paired with other devices, the lithium-ion battery can go for up to 11 hours. If you are using the speaker at standard volume, the speaker can run for up to 15 hours before the battery is fully drained. The Boom 2 also comes with better and louder sound output as compared to its predecessor, the Boom. You can pair the Boom 2 with other UE speakers, and the 100-feet Bluetooth range should increase your reach significantly. However, we noted that obstructions affected the device’s range quite easily.
Final Thoughts
Everything said and done, there cannot be one particular speaker that is perfect for everyone. It all comes down to what your priorities are. Once you’ve identified the key factors that you need in a speaker and you know your budget, shopping should become a breeze. We hope that the above review leaves you in a better position where you’re capable of making an informed decision.