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Bluetooth speakers are everywhere. They’re great for syncing your iPhone to play music – and with many waterproof models, you can party by the pool, in the shower – or even near the ocean.
Since the old-school boomboxes were far more battery-intensive, heavy, and a just a pain to travel with – consumers love this lightweight, newer model of portable music. Here are our top picks, for best Bluetooth speakers.
Our Top Pick
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
With over 1,700 positive online reviews, and a near-perfect 5 star score – this is one of our top picks, for best Bluetooth speakers. The affordable price tag does not mean a sacrifice in quality, and the speaker is also available in a wide variety of colors. Highly recommend.
Other Great Picks
Bose SoundLink Revolve Portable Bluetooth 360 Speaker
Bose is well-known for their great speakers – especially when paired with the iPhone. This was our staff’s favorite luxury pick – it has a higher price tag, but it offers the best sound we’ve ever heard in a Bluetooth speaker. The sleek design is paired with Siri or Alexa control, and the battery life is great. A must-buy, if you care about great sound quality.
Sony SRS-XB41 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
With over 700 positive online reviews, consumers agree that this is one of the best Bluetooth wireless speakers on the market. Sony has a great reputation for making the best-quality consumer electronics on the planet, and this speaker delivers amazing sound quality. While it is not the lowest priced model on the market, it is worth every penny, if you are looking for high quality sound in a very portable speaker.
Tribit Bluetooth Speaker
The Tribit Bluetooth speaker is one of the best picks on the market, if you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on portable sound. With great battery life, long range, and great sound for less than $100 – it is almost unbeatable, in terms of value.
Soundcore Flare Wireless Speaker by Anker
Our staff loved the multi-colored lights on this budget pick for best Bluetooth speaker – and they also loved the low price. With over 600 positive online reviews, many noted the great sound quality, and better-than-expected craftsmanship (all for less than $100).
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
This great pick from Ultimate Ears provides great bass, and can go anywhere, as it’s waterproof. With four great colors, it’s a little more stylish than most Bluetooth speakers, and it comes it at a nice, mid-range price.
JBL Boombox, Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
With a near-perfect score, after over 400 positive online reviews, this boombox from JBL mimics the old-school jamboxes of the 80s and 90s – but with much better sound and technology. With 24 hour battery life – this is our pick for a party Bluetooth speaker. It’s also completely waterproof – meaning you can take the party anywhere, without missing a beat.
Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST Portable Waterproof Wi-Fi And Bluetooth Speaker
This mid-range priced Bluetooth speaker is very stylish – but some noted that there were a few connectivity issues. The sound quality could not be better, however, and it sounds much better than some models that cost much more.
RIVA Concert With Alexa Built-In
With over 100 positive online reviews, this Bluetooth speaker has Alexa built right in – so you can play music hands-free. While the white color is a little generic (in our staff’s opinion) – the quality of the device is unparalleled.
LG PK5 XBOOM Go Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
This great model from LG has great sound quality, and a killer price point. With a near-perfect score after almost 200 glowing online reviews, this is a great choice if you don’t want to spend too much – but still want perfect sound on the go.
What Are Bluetooth Speakers?
If you’ve ever seen someone playing music wirelessly – chances are they are using a Bluetooth speaker. After exploding onto the wireless headphone and headset scene, Bluetooth next took over the speaker market.
You can use a Bluetooth speaker by the beach, by the pool, and even in your home. Whether you want a portable speaker or a bookcase speaker, you’ll be quite happy with the best Bluetooth speakers.
Transmitting wirelessly via specific radio waves, Bluetooth devices ‘find’ each other, and pair. This unique mechanism allows your iPhone to control a Bluetooth speaker, for example.
How Do Bluetooth Speakers Work?
Since Bluetooth speakers operate via radio waves, they transmit digital audio information (literally just 1’s and 0’s) from your device to your speaker. This results in amazing sound quality, but there is also a slight delay, known technically as latency.
Bluetooth has some limitations, mostly in terms of range. For example, our staff has wireless headphones, but they won’t work if we climb to the third story of our house, while our iPhone rests in the basement.
Besides this minor issue, Bluetooth is essentially a flawless system, that allows the ‘science fiction house’ of the 1950s to really come to life. Add in your smartphone, smart fridge, and voice assistant – and it’s like living in a Jetsons episode. All that’s missing are the flying cars.
What Kind Of Speakers Do You Want?
When choosing the best Bluetooth speakers, it’s important to look for exactly what you want. There are numerous models out there, all with their own individual (and unique) features.
If you’re an audiophile – be prepared to spend a little bit more. However, if you are more interested in portability – you can get some of the best Bluetooth speakers for $100 or less.
There are even bookcase Bluetooth speakers, which can blend right into your den or family room. Ultimately, you have to determine what you are looking for, and then choose the best Bluetooth speakers in that particular area.
Bluetooth Speakers: Portability
For most of us, portability is one of the main features to look for in Bluetooth speakers. There’s nothing quite as great as lounging in the pool, and being able to blast your favorite tunes – controlling all the playback right from the palm of your hand.
If portability is your thing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that there are numerous models that excel in this area, for Bluetooth speakers. There are even waterproof speakers – which we’d really recommend, if you have a few extra dollars in your budget.
Bluetooth Speakers: Durability
Durability is another important product feature to look for, with Bluetooth speakers. You want to be able to kick your speaker around a little bit (not literally speaking, of course) – and still have it functioning.
We prefer the slightly more expensive options, when it comes to durability, as they will generally be better crafted. We haven’t tested any cheap Bluetooth speakers that held up to much abuse, so we recommend staying away from those.
Bluetooth Speakers: Audio Quality
Audio quality was one of our biggest ranking factors, as no one wants speakers that sound bad. Since audio quality is really the main feature of speakers, we listened to a large number of speakers to determine our best picks.
Bass is typically the most common issue, in terms of audio quality for Bluetooth speakers. We recommend spending a little bit more, if you are big on bass, as the cheaper models never seemed to deliver that viscerally satisfying low-end.
Voice Assistants For Bluetooth Speakers
Initially, only some select devices worked with voice assistants. However, Bluetooth speakers have quickly adapted to the voice assistant revolution, and now many devices work with multiple iterations of voice assistants.
The one exception is the HomePod from Apple, which is the only device that works with Siri. The HomePod is a bit pricier than some of the picks on our list, but it is a very cool device if you have the budget for it.
How To Connect Multiple Bluetooth Speakers
This one is interesting, as it provides for better sound quality (if properly executed). Simply switch into DualAudio mode if using a Samsung device.
If you are using a HomePod, use Apple’s Stereo Pair Setting. And if you’d prefer another solution – get AmpMe – an app that works with nearly every brand and device.
Bluetooth Speakers: Devialet
Devialet has come out with a fairly new Bluetooth speaker – and it’s quite pricey. If you are ready to spend thousands on a Bluetooth speaker – they are probably the best option for you.
But since the price tag is so high, we couldn’t recommend Devialet to everyone. It all depends on what your budget is, and for most people, thousands of dollars on a Bluetooth speaker is just too much to spend.
Wireless Bluetooth Speakers
There is some confusion about whether or not all Bluetooth speakers are wireless. However, we can put this confusion to rest – all Bluetooth speakers will be 100% wireless.
Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers
There are many great outdoor Bluetooth speakers, though they are typically a little more expensive than small portable models. Bose makes very good outdoor speakers, which are available in a wide variety of models. We highly recommend them, as their sound quality is off-the-charts.
How To Connect Two Bluetooth Speakers To One iPhone
The best solution for this is Apple’s Stereo Pair. You will also need to be using two HomePod speakers. However, if you are using different speakers, try AmpMe – it’s not specific to brand or device.
Are All Bluetooth Speakers Compatible With Echo?
While the Echo was not originally able to pair with Bluetooth speakers, now almost every Bluetooth speaker works with the Echo. The Echo Dot has always had the ability to pair with nearly any Bluetooth speaker.
Can Google Home Connect To Bluetooth Speakers?
Yes, Google Home works perfectly with nearly any Bluetooth speaker. Pair it like would with any Bluetooth device, by simply going into the Bluetooth settings on your Google Home device.
Can I Connect My Apple TV To Bluetooth Speakers?
Yes, it’s very easy to connect your Apple TV to Bluetooth speakers. Start by making sure your Bluetooth device is in pairing mode.
Next, go into your Bluetooth settings on your Apple TV (found under Settings > Remotes And Devices). Simply choose your Bluetooth speaker, and voila – you’re connected.
Can You Convert Wired Speakers To Bluetooth?
In short, yes. But we do not recommend it for most people, as it involves the purchase of at least an adapter, as well as potentially other components.
However, if you already have an expensive home stereo, converting them to Bluetooth may be a good option. You simply connect a Bluetooth receiver to your stereo, which is already connected to your wired speakers.
What Are The Best Sounding Bluetooth Speakers?
This is a very subjective question, and of course there is no ‘right’ answer. We are highly partial to Bose speakers, though they may be a little bit more of an investment. However, if you are serious about sound quality, they provide some of the best sounding Bluetooth speakers on the market.
What Bluetooth Speakers Have The Best Bass?
This is another highly subjective question, and there is no one model that will satisfy everyone. However, we do love the JBL Boombox, and think most consumers will be quite happy with the booming bass it produces.
Are Bluetooth Speakers Mono Or Stereo?
In short – both options are available. Stereo boasts much better sound quality, but mono speakers are far cheaper.
The best sound quality will come from stereo 2.1 speakers. In addition to stereo, these speakers also typically have a built-in subwoofer – for that extra low end.
How Can I Connect My Laptop To Bluetooth Speakers?
Connecting your laptop to your Bluetooth speakers is very easy. Simply go into your laptop’s settings for Bluetooth, and look for your speaker.
If the device is not shown, make sure the power is on, and if needed, hit the ‘pair’ button on your speaker. Within seconds, your device should sync with your laptop.
Bluetooth Speakers vs. Wi-Fi Speakers
If you are serious about audio, you may want to look beyond Bluetooth, and go into Wi-Fi speakers. This is because Wi-Fi will allow for higher-fidelity audio, as well as easier multi-room listening.
Multi-Room Audio
While not the focus of this article, if you’re really serious about audio, you’ll want to get a multi-room speaker system. Sonos is our recommendation, as they have reigned supreme as the king of multi-room audio for some time now.
Budget For Bluetooth Speakers
There’s great news for those who love to save money – you can get some top-notch Bluetooth speakers for $100 or less. In fact, we were pretty impressed with some of the lower-end models.
As smart speakers have risen in popularity, Bluetooth speaker prices have dropped. This might be bad news for the manufacturers – but it’s great news for us.
How To Pick The Best Bluetooth Speakers For You
When it comes to picking the best Bluetooth speakers for you, it all comes down to your individual needs. Do you want something portable? Maybe a waterproof Bluetooth speaker? Or do you want something with ample sound quality and bass?
There are tons of Bluetooth speakers out there – but it’s important to invest in quality. Some of the lower priced models are not the best, but the good news for the consumer – there are some great Bluetooth speakers available for $100 or less.
The age-old adage about audio quality still holds true though (‘you get what you pay for’). So if you want something top-of-the-line, be prepared to spend a little more.
The Best Bluetooth Speakers
There you have it – our picks for the best Bluetooth speakers. The world of technology is certainly not limited to just these – make sure to take a look at our other picks, in the electronics category.