Mobile Technology

The great, wide Bluetooth sea: A Bluetooth speaker buyer's guide

The great, wide Bluetooth sea: A Bluetooth speaker buyer's guide
The Phoenix 2 by Beacon Audio
The Phoenix 2 by Beacon Audio
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The budget HMDX Jam Plus
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The budget HMDX Jam Plus
Samsung's DA-E750 100-Watt Dual Audio Dock is both AirPlay and Bluetooth compatible
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Samsung's DA-E750 100-Watt Dual Audio Dock is both AirPlay and Bluetooth compatible
The Oontz Angle from Cambridge Soundworks
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The Oontz Angle from Cambridge Soundworks
The ruggedized Philips Shoqbox
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The ruggedized Philips Shoqbox
Jawbone's Big Jambox
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Jawbone's Big Jambox
Jawbone's Big Jambox is a top tier Bluetooth speaker
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Jawbone's Big Jambox is a top tier Bluetooth speaker
JBL's Flip speaker
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JBL's Flip speaker
The Buckshot from Outdoor Tech is designed for active use
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The Buckshot from Outdoor Tech is designed for active use
The Buckshot from Outdoor Tech is designed for active use
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The Buckshot from Outdoor Tech is designed for active use
JBL's Charge is a good mid-level option
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JBL's Charge is a good mid-level option
JBL's Charge is a good mid-level option
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JBL's Charge is a good mid-level option
The back of JBL's Flip
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The back of JBL's Flip
The Phoenix 2 by Beacon Audio
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The Phoenix 2 by Beacon Audio
The Jawbone Jambox family
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The Jawbone Jambox family
The college speaker from Bem Wireless
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The college speaker from Bem Wireless
JBL's Micro Wireless speaker
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JBL's Micro Wireless speaker
The Oontz XL Stereo from Cambridge Soundworks
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The Oontz XL Stereo from Cambridge Soundworks
Top view of the Bose Soundlink III
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Top view of the Bose Soundlink III
The Soundlink III from Bose
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The Soundlink III from Bose
The Soundlink III from Bose
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The Soundlink III from Bose
The Soundlink III from Bose
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The Soundlink III from Bose
The Soundlink III from Bose
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The Soundlink III from Bose
The Bose Soundlink III Mini
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The Bose Soundlink III Mini
The Bose Soundlink III Mini
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The Bose Soundlink III Mini
The Bose Soundlink III Mini
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The Bose Soundlink III Mini
The UE mobile boombox
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The UE mobile boombox
The Logitech UE Boom
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The Logitech UE Boom
The Logitech UE Boom
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The Logitech UE Boom
Divoom's budget Bluetune Bean
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Divoom's budget Bluetune Bean
The Mini Jambox
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The Mini Jambox
Trio from Bem Wireless
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Trio from Bem Wireless
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It seems everyone has a Bluetooth speaker in their product lineup today, and selecting the right one is a dizzying experience inciting even more vertigo with each passing week as the mountain of wireless sound options grows bigger. I'm going to walk you through some of the best Bluetooth options in this buying guide, but first it's good to consider a few basic rules of thumb.

Before diving in to the ocean of Bluetooth audio, consider what your needs are. Do you need a speaker that's portable and compact? Or are you looking for great sound in your home without all those irritating wires? It's also good to have an idea of how much you're willing to spend.

With so many different shapes, sizes and companies to choose from, a good way to wade through it all is simply to remember that the names that are already established in home audio and Bluetooth audio in particular are going to be your best bets. I've owned, demoed and reviewed a number of different Bluetooth speakers from a wide array of manufacturers, and the old adage about getting what you pay for generally holds true, but so does the one about the value of experience.

Go with recognized brand names and avoid super-cheap speakers, and you're also likely to avoid one other complaint you often hear about Bluetooth, that its audio is noticeably inferior to other options like traditional wired speakers or AirPlay sound systems. Yes, it can be argued that Bluetooth's sound quality is technically a step down, however it has improved greatly in recent years, and the vast majority of consumers who aren't obsessive audiophiles are unlikely to notice the difference compared to wired or more expensive wireless options.

With that basic primer in mind, let's look at some specific Bluetooth speaker categories and models.

High-end portables

Most people are looking for a Bluetooth speaker big enough to deliver high-quality sound but still small and durable enough to be thrown in a backpack or suitcase. Not surprisingly, you'll find premium audio brand Bose at the top of the heap here, with its Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker III. The third generation of the Bose take on Bluetooth is just out this month and will set you back about US$300, but it sets the standard for portable Bluetooth audio. It's a little large, but Bose offers smaller versions as well, which I'll get to later.

The Soundlink III from Bose
The Soundlink III from Bose

Jawbone's Big Jambox is a potential runner-up in this category, that doesn't quite measure up to the best Bose has to offer in terms of sound, but it's a solid option that's a little less bulky and might save you $30 or so.

Middle range compact portables

Here is where quality speakers get a little more rugged and smaller, and so do their prices. If you're willing to sacrifice a little bit of volume and power in order to save some money or find something a little more portable, then this is the category you should be shopping.

The Logitech UE Boom
The Logitech UE Boom

Bose still leads the way here with its smaller Soundlink Mini, and it still comes at a price premium over arguably more hip options like Logitech's cylindrical UE Boom speaker.

Jawbone's Mini Jambox also offers top-notch sound at this level, and JBL's Charge speaker is also worth considering and may offer a little more value at a lower price.

If you take another step down in price, in the $80 - $120 range, you'll find less powerful ultra-compact offerings like JBL's Flip speaker and Logitech's UE Mobile Boombox that will still get the job done. This range is also where we find the Oontz line from Cambridge Soundworks, which attempts to offer inexpensive but still acceptable takes on each size of Bluetooth speaker. For example, the Oontz XL is meant to compete with the Big Jambox, but is available for almost half the price.

The Mini Jambox
The Mini Jambox

Budget options

Below $80 the field of speakers starts to get very, very crowded, with lots of new entrants that you may or may not have heard of. These models are likely to be quite basic, offering simple sound and perhaps a speakerphone option.

The Oontz and its stylish sibling the Oontz Angle are a few reliable options here. Among the lesser-known entrants, I've had good luck with the Phoenix 2 from Beacon Audio and I'm also quite partial to the nice-looking, compact and durable speakers from Bem Wireless that are marketed to university students.

The Oontz Angle from Cambridge Soundworks
The Oontz Angle from Cambridge Soundworks

Ultra-rugged or compact

Some of the smallest Bluetooth speakers out there are looking to carve out that niche to become the go-to way to enjoy and share sound on the trail, the road or anywhere else where extreme durability and compactness are required.

Outdoor Technology is a standout here, with a speaker, the Buckshot, that can likely survive being dropped off a cliff or into a creek and is about the size of a candy bar. The Philips Shoqbox also gets rave reviews from active outdoor audiophiles.

For road trips, I came to depend on the tiny Bluetune Bean from Divoom, one of the few super-simple ultra-budget options that defies the "you get what you pay for" rule. The HMDX Jam Plus and JBL Micro Wireless speaker also get similar reviews at this end of the spectrum.

Divoom's budget Bluetune Bean
Divoom's budget Bluetune Bean

Home audio replacements

If you're looking to get rid of all that speaker wire in your home, there are a few Bluetooth options, besides simply putting the Bose Soundlink in the middle of your home.

One of the more compelling and affordable options I've found is the Trio from Bem Wireless. These three large speakers all connect to a base unit, which then connects wirelessly to your phone or other device. Each speaker can be moved around your house to keep the tunes flowing from room to room. The range isn't superb, but it makes for a nice party.

Trio from Bem Wireless
Trio from Bem Wireless

Samsung's DA-E750 100-Watt Dual Audio Dock is both AirPlay and Bluetooth compatible, and represents probably the best-looking melding of your old HiFi and wireless technology, for a price.

Once you go Bluetooth, it's very hard to go back to the world of wires. Enjoy living a louder life and let us know in the comments if there's any awesome speakers out there that we missed.

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5 comments
5 comments
Chevypower
Forget Bose, it's mediocre performance with a premium price. The Klipsch KMC3 is the premium one to get (unless you can afford the Klipsch Stadium). The article had zero mentions of Bluetooth Apt-X technology, which sends a lossless signal through Bluetooth. The Bose (Buy Other Sound Equipment) does not support Apt-X. Bose does not publish specs (for obvious reasons), but I think I worked out that the Soundlink was about 17 Watts (calculated from the battery and running time specifications). No idea about the frequency response, but Bose's $3000 5.1 system is reported to be 280Hz-13.3Khz @ +/- 1-.b db for the cube speakers, and 46Hz-200Hz for the Acoustimass module. It would be reasonable to assume that their Soundlink will be even less impressive than that. The Klipsch KMC3 has 130 Watts (much higher than Bose's 17), with a frequency response of 40Hz-24Khz (with no gap in the middle). Oh, and the Klipsch supports Apt-X!
Richard Widman
I had hoped you would have commented on connectivity. I bought the Samsun F60. The connectivity is terrible and frustrating every time I want to use it.
Is that the same for other brands? Bluetooth is so easy in my car, why not in a speaker?
Nick Herbert
TDK's A33 Waterproof (water-resistant...), Bluetooth has great sound, a USB phone charging socket and a hands-free phone function - and it's more than loud enough. It would have been better if the charger had been built-in - and it doesn't have a carrying case. That said, for rough & tough party music and good sound, I liked this so much more than the Bose equivalent that I bought a second one.
Shalini Dixit
This is great article. Everybody should keep in mind these things before buying bluetooth speakers. I have bought Samsung bluetooth speakers and would say that its just amazing.
Shalini Dixit
Nice article..The portable Bluetooth speaker makes a great choice in this direction as you don’t have to hassle with those long wire and extensions. These speakers are very handy, easy to play. They could be carried anytime and everywhere more like a mobile phone. Samsung bluetooth speakers are superb in performance.