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Our #1 Rated
Our #1 Rated
This speaker is a great solution for those looking to listen to beats on the move, and will survive the worst weather conditions; snow, rain, UV rays, etc
The sound you get from this little unit is pretty incomparable to most, and even after dropping it twice there wasn’t a single scratch on it.
Not only does it make a fantastic sound system on its own, it’s also great for karaoke and charging up your devices at the same time.
The battery life also upholds its promise and we got a solid 14 hours out of the Xtreme 2 at full volume.
The Live Sound Mode truly made a difference to the bass and gave it a superbly deep quality.
The Kilburn II rocks a badass, mini amp design and gives off a loud and clean-cut sound quality that’s hard to match with most portable speakers above this price range.
The greatest aspect of this speaker has to be the bass. Even cranked up at the highest of volumes, it remains distortion-free and pristine clean on the ears.
We concluded the Revolve to be a powerful and highly responsive little speaker that provides beautifully clear mids and a nice amount of bass.
The bass has depth and doesn’t distort at high volumes, while vocals sound clean and smooth and can be adjusted via the 3-channel mixer.
You don’t need a fully-fledged sound system to fill out a room these days; there’s a wide scope of fantastic portable Bluetooth speakers which can achieve high volumes, are incredibly easy to set up, and don’t cost through the roof.
To take the pain out of research and sussing out the right ones for you, we’ve put together this detailed roundup review of the best portable speakers that tick the boxes.
In this article, we’re going to review the following Portable Bluetooth Speaker:
How Should You Choose
There are some things you’ll want to think about before you start looking for your new speakers.
Battery Life – You’ll probably want a speaker with a long-lasting battery life if you plan to use it outdoors. You’ll also need to establish if you need a separate docking station for your speaker, as these are not always included in the package.
Portability – If you’re looking to take it on the move with you, it should be lightweight and easy to transport with minimum fuss.
Resistance – Many portable speakers are both dust and waterproof these days, while some are simply splash proof and will not survive certain conditions.
Voice Control – If your speaker is specifically for home listening, something with a remote or voice assistance that can manage your schedule/calendar may be helpful.
Our Recommendation:
The Sonos Move is a lightweight and highly portable speaker with Bluetooth, WiFi connections and built-in Alexa. The heavy duty build material makes it resistant to extreme elements and the battery provides up to 10 hours worth of play time. The SonosMove is compatible with several different apps including Airplay 2 and human voice control.
PROS
- Loud and rich sound quality
- Great low end response
- IP56 weather resistant
- Alexa voice control
- Portable and strong build
- Up to 10-hours battery life
- Charging dock incl.
CONS
- No carry case
Why We Recommend: We’d say this speaker delivers the best bass responses out of the list. At 4.89 pounds, the SonosMove is small and compact yet capable of producing a rich and full-bodied sound. The battery will keep any indoor or outdoor gathering going for up to 10 hours regardless of the weather. Shuffling playlists, setting alarms and appointments can all be conveniently managed with your voice, and the unit can be charged through the charging base or USB-C.
This is the second edition of the SoundCore from Anker. It provides up to 24+ hours of battery life, and features dual 12w drivers for producing high volumes of stereo sound. The design is strong and the casing makes it durable and resistant to most elements. It also comes with the ability to connect to Bluetooth devices, as well as a pair of SoundCore 2 speakers for broader coverage.
PROS
- Clear sound for the small price
- Highly portable and lightweight
- Sleek and rugged design
- Fantastic battery life
- IPX7 resistant to all weathers
CONS
- Quality a bit tinny
- Bluetooth drops out occasionally
Why We Recommend: This speaker is a great solution for those looking to listen to beats on the move, and will survive the worst weather conditions; snow, rain, UV rays, etc. The battery life is pretty good for the price, but it’s not the best if you’re looking to fill out a large room because the volume won’t accommodate it. For a small room however, this speaker will give a good performance even up to 60ft.
The BOOM 3 from Ultimate Ears features everything needed to get a pumping, 360 degree sound on the go for up to 15 hours. Aside from Bluetooth pairing and a unique ‘Magic Button’ that allows for skipping, playing and pausing the music – it can also be paired with other MEGABOOM speakers to create a complete stereo setup. The material is entirely waterproof and dustproof and it features a USB charging input. There is also a bungee grip for easy handling and transport.
PROS
- Waterproof and dustproof
- 15 hours of battery life
- Clean and loud sound
- Multi pairs with speakers
- PartyUp controls for streaming
- Easy to transport
CONS
- Charging dock sold separately
Why We Recommend: We had nothing but good things to say about the BOOM. The sound you get from this little unit is pretty incomparable to most, and even after dropping it twice there wasn’t a single scratch on it. If you connect two of them together, it practically works as a home sound system and you won’t need to splash out on a separate sub or sound bar. The bass is deep and heavy and it definitely wins us over in terms of how loud it can get!
The Tailgater weighs in at 16.98 pounds and is a wireless and Bluetooth enabled all-in-one PA speaker. The battery life lasts up to 50 hours, and comes complete with a microphone for karaoke nights, and an EQ and tonal board for adjusting everything from the lows, highs and volume for eliminating any unwanted distortion. It also works as a USB power bank to charge all smart devices, and features a built-in radio.
PROS
- Crystal sound quality
- Exceptionally loud
- 50 hours of battery life
- Mic and AUX cables and ports incl
- Bluetooth and wireless
- Tone and EQ controls
CONS
- A bit big
Why We Recommend: If you’re looking for something to power a backyard gig or gathering, this powerful little baby will have you covered for a couple of days. Not only does it make a fantastic sound system on its own, it’s also great for vocals and charging up your devices at the same time. It has full EQ controls and a built-in AM/FM radio if you can’t decide on a playlist. Despite being quite bulky, it has a solid design that keeps everything in tact and makes transportation a breeze.
This is the next one up from JBL’s acclaimed Xtreme portable Bluetooth speaker. The latest edition can stream wirelessly and connect to Bluetooth devices to provide up to 15 hours worth of play time. The material is IPX7 waterproof with passive radiators on both ends to produce a warm and rich low end. The Xtreme 2 is charged via an AC adaptor and features a USB output for other devices.
PROS
- Fantastic battery life
- IPX7 waterproof
- Battery life up to 15 hours
- Rugged and durable
- Powerful sound
CONS
- Could be louder
Why We Recommend: Testing out the Xtreme’s waterproof capabilities was incredibly fun and a bit of an eye opener with this speaker. We’ve submerged a few similar ones in water in the past, and we can safely say there was no damage or loss of quality in this model whatsoever. The battery life also upholds its promise and we got a solid 14 hours out of the Xtreme 2 at full volume. The volume itself could do with setting higher, but if you’re looking for a solid and reasonably-priced speaker to take to the pool or beach – this could be a good option.
The SRS-XB31 by Sony is a durable and lightweight speaker with both dust and waterproof resistance. The battery life lasts for a whopping 24 hours, and it can be hooked up as part of a multi stereo speaker system. The SRS also features a unique Live Sound Mode to produce added bass and an all rounded 3D listening experience. There is also a multicoloured light complete with flashing strobe for that authentic party effect.
PROS
- Up to 24 hours of battery life
- Multi speaker connections
- Live sound mode w/ 3D bass effect
- Lightweight and durable
- Waterproof and dust proof
CONS
- Volume lowers when charging
We really loved the sound that Sony’s SRS-XB31 delivered. The Live Sound Mode truly made a difference to the bass and gave it a superbly deep quality. It’s also extremely lightweight and will take a bit of a battering if you’re looking to take it out with you regularly. We weren’t able to give it the full 5 stars simply because the volume automatically lowers when the battery is low, and you can’t do anything about it until it’s fully charged. However, if took around 12 hours to get to that point so we can hardly complain too much. Just keep a charger handy!
Marshall is back with the second and newly improved edition of the Killburn speaker, which provides up to 20 hours playtime and connects with Bluetooth devices up to 30ft in distance. It’s completely waterproof, and unlike its predecessor, it now features a new build design that includes corner grips and a refurbished grille. Weighing in at 3kg, the Killburn II is considered the loudest and largest in the Marshall portable speaker range, designed for most indoor and outdoor uses.
PROS
- Fantastic sound quality
- Up to 20 hours of battery life
- Bass and treble controls
- Durable and sturdy build
- Waterproof and dustproof
CONS
- No AUX
Why We Recommend: Not only does the Killburn II rock a badass, mini amp design – it also gives off a loud and clean-cut sound quality; hard to match with most portable speakers above this price range. We were dubious about the battery life, but we had it blasting all day and it took ages for it to finally die. We were marginally disappointed by the fact you can’t hook up an AUX, but if you’re going to be primarily using smart devices for this speaker, this will be an easy oversight for most.
The Exos-9 is a stereo-driven portable speaker with up to 9 hours battery life. It’s compatible with all Bluetooth smart devices in addition to being controllable via kindle, Windows and Mac. The Exos-9 sports a 5-band EQ feature to fully adjust the high, mids and lows, and it also features a built in dual voice-coil subwoofer. Under AIWA’s product guarantee, it comes with a 2-year warranty.
PROS
- Excellent bass response
- Good battery life
- Fantastic-sounding vocal
- Decent price with warranty incl.
- Great range for streaming
- Sleek and classy build
CONS
- Large in size
Why We Recommend: Possibly the greatest aspect of this speaker has to be the bass. Even cranked up at the highest of volumes, it remains distortion-free and pristine clean on the ears. It’s also LOUD, and the fact you can play with the equalizer to get your optimum sound is a nice touch. The only downside is the bass will cost you precious battery life. We only got 3-4 hours when we had it pumped out at max, so if you’re planning to use it for long periods – make sure you’ve got an alternative power source.
The SoundLink Revolve is an intuitive, waterproof Bluetooth speaker that delivers up to 12 hours of sound. It’s one in the top range for portable speakers that offers voice control, command prompts and allowing users to takes calls and arrange their calendars through Siri or Google Now. Bluetooth pairing allows up to 30ft, and the unit memorizes up to 8 previously connected devices. There is also a ‘Party Mode’ which can be utilized with more Revolve speakers via the Bose app.
PROS
- Great and clear sound quality
- Strong aluminium build
- Up to 12 hours playtime
- IPX4 splash resistant
- Multi Bluetooth device pairing
- Sync with other Bose speakers
CONS
- Charging dock sold separately
- Bose app needs improvement
Why We Recommend: We concluded the Revolve to be a powerful and highly responsive little speaker that provides beautifully clear mids and a nice amount of bass. Even though the Bose app could do with some work, we were able to link it with a couple of other Bose speakers to get wider room coverage. It also worked a treat outside despite having 2 beers and an ashtray shamefully spilt on it. As it’s only IPX4 it probably wouldn’t survive the pool test, but it sure can take a beating or two.
Bose’s lightweight and portable Sound1 Pro is a PA speaker which caters for multiple audio sources, including instruments, microphones, AUX and Bluetooth devices. There is an EQ for making custom adjustments to the sound, with built in sensors which auto adapt to the connected system’s different tones. The S1 provides up to 11 hours of playtime, and can stream up to 30ft away.
PROS
- Wireless Bluetooth Pairing
- All-in-one PA system
- 11 hours battery life
- Automatic Equalizer
- Highly portable and durable
- Deep and rich low end
CONS
- Expensive
- Not waterproof
Why We Recommend: The S1 Pro is for those serious about making noise because it has so many versatile uses; band practice, small events and parties, and it can act as a studio monitor. The bass has depth and doesn’t distort at high volumes, while vocals sound clean and smooth and can be adjusted via the 3-channel mixer on the back. The battery life may not be as good as some of the others, but it’s expected for the size and output of the system. It will certainly deliver a lot to marvel at in this timeframe that’s for sure!
Conclusion
We were on the look out for a portable speaker with great sound quality, design, and which can handle tough conditions, including being kicked and thrown around a bit. Many of them outdid our expectations, but the Sonos Move presents itself as the most efficient in all of these areas. It can handle practically all weathers and doesn’t lose any of the immaculate sound we heard when it was first switched on. The built-n Alexa is responsive to voice commands, and the battery life held out for the full 10 hours as promised. While you may not be able to keep a party going for days with this speaker, this is hardly a bother when you take into account what it delivers and how it performs.
