We liked the JBL Charge 5’s full bass response. We also didn’t hear any humming sound in the highs that made listening to speakers for long periods of time uncomfortable. But we found that anything in the mid-range, such as male vocals and most instruments, sounded a bit dull—especially when compared to similar sounds coming from the Megaboom.
However, it’s waterproof and supports PartyBoost, allowing you to pair the speaker with other JBLs for a fuller sound. Plus, as you might have guessed from the name, there’s a USB output that allows it to charge your smartphone, so your playlists never have to die when the phone’s battery runs out.
Best take-anywhere Bluetooth speaker: Sonos Roam
We were really attracted by the crisp sound quality of Wander when it launches in 2021. Then again, why should we expect less from the audio geniuses at Sonos? We’ve taken this little thing everywhere, from outdoor adventures to pool adventures, which is especially easy considering its light weight and slim profile. The IP67 rating isn’t just equipped to handle certain types of cannon rounds, as long as you don’t let it swim there for longer than 30 minutes (or let it sink deeper than 3 feet). We even used Roam to connect to the Nintendo Switch, and if you’ve never been rocked, it’s Super Mario Kart 8 soundtrack, then you’re not living your life to its fullest.
Best Bluetooth speaker with lights: Balmuda Speaker
Balmuda isn’t really known for its audio products—the most popular Japanese brand at $300 oven– but we have to admit that it makes a quite impressive speakers. We found it a bit light in the bass range, but it really excelled at bringing out vocal-heavy tracks like SZA’s “Gone Girl” or Maggie Rogers’ “Alaska.” Sublime pops, pops and fakes come out so crisp and clear that you almost feel like you’re in an intimate concert, where we’re chalking up the speaker’s 360-degree sound . Like the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 below, the Balmuda speaker also offers a vibrant LED light show that’s synced to what you’re listening to, and does a great job when it comes to tracking your music. Its battery is pretty weak compared to everything else on this list and isn’t water resistant, but it’s still a great home speaker.
4 more speakers we like
Chances are, you discovered Marshall at a live music show. The brand’s amplifier is synonymous with rock musicand its recently released Middleton Bluetooth speaker feels like it condenses those epic sounds into something you can deliver to your studio apartment. The mid-sized speakers deliver Megaboom-like powerful sound, whether you’re listening to the heavy bass of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” or the powerful sound of Metallica’s “Whiplash” (which happens to include lyrics, too. : “Here on stage, Marshall noise is piercing your ears.”)
One of the best parts about the speaker is that you can actually control the bass and treble via the controls on the speaker, so you never have to mess around with another app. It’s a feature borrowed from Marshall’s guitar amplifier that makes it a killer speaker, though it’s certainly a price increase over the Megaboom (which is why we still recommend it. should choose that one as your first choice). If you decide to get one of these puppies, you can pair them together for a bigger and better sound. Hell, if you buy a ton of Middletons, literally build a wall of noise to piss the neighbors off in the true rock n’roll spirit.
Three iterations in the JBL Go series, we get this durable, bass-heavy bopper for just under $50. The pocket-sized Go 3 has front-firing speakers, so it won’t necessarily fill a room, but it’s compact enough to act as a reliable companion on the road. It is also available in several bold colors that help it stand out despite its petite size. You’re a bit limited in what you can control directly from the speaker—volume, pause, play, and skip—but that’s no surprise since there’s really no room to put more buttons on Go 3. We also wish it lasted longer than the battery life, but hey, for a $40 speaker equipped with JBL’s superior sound quality, you can really ask for a bag. how much?
If the Soundcore Flare 2 looks like it’s built for a craze, that’s because it is (those party lights are its giveaway). That light show is a bit corny, like something you’d expect from a college student dorm room, but it can be fun for a few minutes. And if you’re really a student or just someone on a tight budget, you’ll appreciate the sound quality and water resistance that come with your budget speaker. Its IPX7 means it’s as water-resistant as an IP67-rated speaker, but it lacks testing to determine if the speaker is truly dustproof. That means the Soundcore Flare 2 can work perfectly poolside, but maybe don’t take it to the beach where sand can ruin it. The speakers provide 360-degree sound, but if you want to hear more, you can link up to 100 (!) of these sounds together for an authentic party feel.
If you know Bose, you know the crisp, clear sound quality is the full benefit of the brand, and its SoundLink Flex deserves that great reputation: It’s an intuitive little speaker that manages to Packs just the right amount of heavy bass notes into a small package. One cool feature is that it automatically detects its orientation—whether vertical, sideways, etc.—and will adjust the EQ to best suit its environment. At 1.3 pounds, it’s one of the lightest options on this list, and its IP67 rating means it’s perfectly capable of performing in the great outdoors, despite dust or rain. . A person who is often on the go will love having this speaker on hand as it is very easy to carry. carry a bagwithout adding much weight or bulk.
