The best Bluetooth speakers on the market today offer an incredible blend of portability and powerful sound, making them an indispensable accessory for music lovers and audiophiles alike. Their wireless nature means you’re no longer tethered to a specific spot; you can carry your music from room to room or even outdoors without skipping a beat. Plus, many models can link together to create a makeshift sound system.
Luckily, if you find yourself toting around a speaker wherever you go, studies show that listening to music does more than make you tap your feet. In fact, research reveals that listening to your favorite songs can reduce pain. So, turn on your speaker and reap the benefits.
One of the most appealing aspects of top-tier Bluetooth speakers is their user-friendly design. Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to ensure that these devices are not only aesthetically pleasing but also incredibly easy to use. Pairing with your smartphone or other devices is typically a breeze, allowing you to start streaming your favorite tunes in a matter of seconds. Many of these speakers have additional features such as voice control, multi-device connectivity, and even waterproof designs, making them suitable for various lifestyles and activities.
Built to withstand daily use, many of these devices boast robust construction and materials that can handle a few bumps and drops, making them perfect for on-the-go. Who wouldn’t benefit from owning one of the best bluetooth speakers? I am sure you will, which is why StudyFinds has crafted an amazing list of the best bluetooth speakers for your review. Check out the list and leave a comment letting us know which one you’ll be ordering.
The List: Best Bluetooth Speakers, According to Experts
1. Bose SoundLink Flex
Number one on the list of best Bluetooth speakers is Bose SoundLink Flex. “No matter how you position the speaker, it automatically adjusts the audio to optimal settings. The battery lasts up to 12 hours,” says Forbes.
These small-sized speakers bring beats anywhere. “When the SoundLink Flex speaker launched, Bose made some bold claims about its new Bluetooth speaker, particularly its bass performance. But it mostly lives up to the hype and is arguably the best-sounding wireless speaker for its compact size. Available in three colors — black, white smoke and stone blue (pictured) — it’s equipped with Bose’s PositionIQ technology to automatically detect the speaker’s orientation and deliver optimized sound based on whether it’s upright, hanging or flat on its back,” writes CNET.
Surprisingly, these pocket-sized speakers deliver powerful audio. “While it’s still not a room filler, the speaker offers some bright, dynamic finesse to your tunes, along with a significant amount of bass for its size. It’s similar to the scale of a small clutch bag, with a very small strap for carabiner-type hanging. Much of the exterior is sheathed in soft-touch silicone, except for the powder-coated steel speaker grilles. Like others in this range, the speaker is IP67 rated so it can handle the elements and sound good doing it. Setup and connecting to the speaker should be done from within the aptly named Bose Connect app. You can also turn off voice prompts (which can become annoying) and pair with similar speakers for either party mode or stereo,” shares Engadget.
2. Marshall Emberton
Next on the list is by Marshall Emberton. “This tiny Marshal speaker is perfectly fine, but it won’t knock your socks off. The biggest draw to the IPX7-rated Emberton speaker is its design and small form factor,” says Sound Guys.
The Bluetooth speakers provide powerful sound with portability. “The recently released Emberton II Bluetooth portable from Marshall has a bumped up set of specs that make it a better value than the previous gen. This clutchable rectangular slab still has a pair of 10-watt full-range drivers and passive radiators to deliver the brand’s signature sound. It may not be the loudest in its size range, but it focuses more on balanced output than raw power,” writes Engadget.
The best feature of this Bluetooth speaker is its immersive sound and long battery life. “Like most Marshall products, the 1.5-pound Emberton speaker has manual controls, but it also adds a circular joystick control to the mix. Move it to the right or left to skip songs, nudge it up or down to raise or lower the volume, or hold it down to power on or off. This might not seem like a game changer, but the delight that comes with this approach shows that good controls shouldn’t be an afterthought. If you like the way old-school guitar amps look, the Emberton will be right up your alley. The speaker is shaped like a brick, feels about as tough as one, and is covered in thick, protective silicone. It produces a full, immersive sound across all genres, whether it’s punk rock, reggae, or even a podcast,” shares NY Mag.
3. JBL Flip 6
The JBL Flip 6 is another model that experts recommend. “For those sticking to smaller get-togethers or solo listening parties, JBL’s smaller Flip 6 provides enough volume to fill a room while having a small footprint. It’s about the size of a small water bottle, and can easily be tossed into a backpack or tote without adding too much heft to your bag. Sound is rich, with surprisingly powerful bass for a speaker this size. It’s louder and has clearer sound than the Wonderboom or Clip, but it’s not quite as loud as the Pulse 5 (though it’s significantly smaller) On the side, there are buttons for volume control, play/pause, and a toggle for JBL’s PartyBoost mode that lets you easily pair multiple JBL speakers together without having to fiddle with any settings. It also has an easily removable fabric loop that you can grab onto when carrying it from room to room or before dropping it into your bag and heading out for the day. Sullivan has been using an older model of the Flip for nearly ten years and says it’s still holding up well enough to use for small gatherings. During a recent get-together, he was able to play six hours worth of music on a patio with a small group of friends,” says NY Mag.
Pairing with your smartphone or other devices with the JBL is typically a breeze. “JBL’s Flip 6 deserves high marks for overall sound quality, durability and volume considering its size, and those features make it the best JBL speaker for most people. As with most JBL speakers, it has a good dynamic range from solid lows to crisp highs with volume tipped towards higher registers. The cylindrical shape works well on its side or even standing on its end to save desk space. It has a capable carrying (or hanging) strap and raised buttons you can discern in the dark. The JBL Portable app gives you a 3-band EQ to customize the sound profile if desired and if you have two Flip 6 speakers, you can run them as a stereo pair. If you happen to have a mix-and-match assortment of different PartyBoost-enabled JBL devices, you can connect multiple speakers for a bigger sound,” writes Engadget.
This Bluetooth speaker prioritizes loud, distortion-free audio. “Jumping on the trend of handheld, pipe-shaped speakers, the JBL Flip 6 stood out because its two-speaker system, with a separate tweeter and a bass radiator on either end, helps it produce loud audio without distortion. When you pair two Flip 6 speakers together using JBL PartyBoost, you achieve true stereo sound on an expanded soundstage. The speaker has a solid build and pleasing design, and it can produce impressive audio. It is safe for use near water, with an IP67 rating,” shares Forbes.
4. Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1
Number four on the list of best Bluetooth speakers is Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1. “Bang & Olufsen’s round, IP67-rated Bluetooth speaker has a luxe price tag, but it’s one of the best-sounding small speakers we’ve ever heard. With the included leather strap, excellent controls, and super-durable build, it quickly became a favorite. If you’re willing to spend a lot more for the best of all portable worlds—looks included—this is the tiny luxury option to beat,” says Wired.
Bang & Olufsen’s A1 delivers the best sound in a tiny package. “Bang & Olufsen has always made products with superior sound, and the next-generation A1 is no exception. Like its predecessor, the latest version of the A1 produces sound with clarity you wouldn’t expect from a speaker this small. On several different albums, vocals came through even on songs with heavy bass. Bowman said, ‘The dustproof and waterproof Beosound doesn’t sacrifice loudness for clarity; it’s tuned just right.’ The Beosound has a battery life of up to 18 hours, and supports USB-C charging for an up-to-date cable setup (many like the Wonderboom still use micro-USB). It weighs just over a pound, but that’s mostly thanks to its tough metal shell and rubber base. Additionally, this speaker supports Alexa, if you like to keep your smarts with you wherever you go, but Bowman notes that in his testing, the voice assistant was a bit tedious to set up,” writes NY Mag.
Durable and stylish, the Beosound A1 offers perfect sound tuning. “This Bluetooth speaker looks like an oversized hockey puck. On the plus side, it’s waterproof and has a long-lasting battery, which runs up to 18 hours. What I didn’t like, however, was its sound quality—especially when listening to music. The audio sounded thin, tinny and at times muddy. It did fine with podcasts and audiobooks, however. Weighing just 1.2 pounds, its circular design made it easy to carry around. The Beosound A1 did not garner a top pick because I expected a more powerful and robust sound from a Bang & Olufsen product. The speaker has control buttons on its side, but it’s much easier to control from a mobile device or computer. When paired with a smartphone, you can use the Beosound A1 as a speakerphone—a task I found it handled well,” shares Forbes.
5. Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam has everything you could want in a speaker. “If you want a Bluetooth speaker that’ll seamlessly integrate into your home-theater setup, the Sonos Roam is a great option. It’s about as portable as many of the other speakers we recommend, while also being able to pair to other Sonos devices like the One or Arc for a more full stereo sound. It supports both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it and the rest of your Sonos gear all with your voice. As for sound quality, Bowman notes that its sound quality was the crispest of any speaker he tested, with the best balance of bass and treble,” says NY Mag.
You can stay connected with hands-free control using Alexa or Google Assistant. “The Sonos Roam is a small, very portable Bluetooth speaker that integrates with the company’s popular whole-home audio platform. It also supports hands-free voice commands with either Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s important to keep your expectations reasonable if you’re looking at buying the Sonos Roam. The company’s larger speakers often deliver audio performance that sounds bigger and more spacious than you’d expect, but that’s not necessarily true of the tiny Roam. Don’t get me wrong: while it’s not going to blanket a room with music, it’s more than capable of putting out clear, dynamic sound if you’re sitting nearby or using it as a shower speaker,” writes Verge.
Highly recommended overall, but something is lacking with this speaker. “This handheld, pipe-shaped Bluetooth speaker is waterproof and durable and weighs just 1 pound. Its battery life is up to 10 hours. In addition to recharging via a USB Type-C cable, Roam supports Qi wireless charging. This speaker missed top honors on this list due to its sound quality not quite living up to similar speakers from competing companies. Pop music sounded flat and tinny, which I found disappointing for a Sonos speaker. However, it sounded just fine for spoken dialogue content, and the Roam’s ability to connect directly to Wi-Fi is mighty convenient,” shares Forbes.
6. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3
Number six on the list of best Bluetooth speakers is Ultimate Ears Wonderboom. “The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a tiny yet powerful portable, delivering the biggest sound in its size range that we tested. It’s still a cute, barrel-shaped small speaker with a nubby little strap that probably needs a carabiner to help attach it to most things. But this refreshed model includes a couple of bright new colors, an extra hour of battery life and improved wireless range. With an IP67 rating on top of the company’s five-foot drop test durability, it can go with you almost anywhere and survive to tell the tale. The audio quality is punchy and bright enough for what you’d expect at this scale and price range. Although there’s no app support or connectivity with the rest of the Ultimate Ears speaker lineup, you can easily pair it with speakers like the Wonderboom 2 or Megaboom 3 for stereo sound. There’s also an outdoor mode button on the bottom that boosts the mid and high range to help the audio carry over a greater distance,” says Engadget.
This one is affordable and easy to pair for a real live stereo experience. “The Wonderboom 3 is the BOOM 3’s little cousin that offers more portability thanks to its compact ball shape. While it’s smaller and lighter than most speakers (note: It’s slightly larger and heavier than the Marshall Willen), it’s just as durable and waterproof as its competition. In fact, it’s also built to withstand drops up to 5 feet, and yes—this one also floats. The Wonderboom 3 produces 360-degree audio for up to 14 hours per charge. It also has an impressive wireless range of 131 feet. What I liked best about this speaker is how well it handles both music and dialogue. It’s worth noting that, unlike the BOOM 3, it does not sync to the brand’s app or connect to Wi-Fi. But, that’s a small sacrifice if you’re on a budget: Priced at around $100 (or less when on sale), it’s affordable to purchase, plus you can pair two of these speakers together to create genuine stereo sound,” shares Forbes.
Speakers perfect for music, handle all audio needs effortlessly. “The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 had our listeners raving over how clear and spacious it sounded, and they couldn’t help cooing over its cute design. With its IP67 water-resistance rating, it can handle immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Plus, it’s dustproof, it can survive a 5-foot drop onto concrete, and it floats. We got 11 hours of battery life in our tests. It’s too chunky to pack easily into a purse or a small bag, and it uses a Micro-USB jack for charging, which may require you to carry an extra cable when you travel,” writes NY Times.
7. Sony XB100
Finally, number seven on the list of best Bluetooth speakers is Sony XB100. “The Sony XB100 improves on our previous favorite travel speaker, the Sony XB13, with bigger sound and a slicker design. If you’re looking to spend less than $60 on a small, great-sounding speaker you can take anywhere, it’s a no-brainer,” says CNN.
Mini speaker, with mighty bass, this is an audio powerhouse. “For 2023, Sony’s smallest Bluetooth speaker has once again been modestly upgraded, with a new Bluetooth chipset, slightly improved sound and speakerphone performance. This portable Bluetooth speaker is both dust- and waterproof with an IP67 certification and, like its predecessor (the SRS-XB13), it’s rated for 16 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels and it charges via USB-C. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the AAC and SBC audio codecs, the speaker plays bigger than you’d think for its small size, with some punch to its bass. It’s pretty impressive for a mini mono speaker,” writes CNET.
You have your pick with the vibrant color choices Sony XB100 offers. “These sub-$100 speakers from Sony have become a go-to when riding to gatherings, thanks to a clever built-in strap, and the fact that they sit flat in a bike basket. They get up to 16 hours of battery life, are IP67-rated for dust- and water resistance, and you can even link multiples together for stereo sound. They also come in a variety of awesome colors—favorites include bright blue and bright orange—so you’ll never be lost in the crowd. At just under four inches tall, these are also some of the smallest and easiest speakers to take everywhere,” shares Wired.
Where do you plan on using your new Bluetooth speaker most often? Leave a comment to let us know!
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
Prices???????
Did you even bother to click the link provided on each review of all the speakers?
A crime not to mention the Marshall Willen
What about the soundcore motion plus? Or the soundcore motion boom plus? And what speaker are you talking about for number 5? You start out as the soundcore flex 2 ? (Is there even such a speaker?!) Then start talking about the flare 2, but show a picture of a soundcore 2 speaker? The motion plus is one of the best speakers you can get and the motion boom plus is right up there to. Both are much cheaper then the U.E., Bose, and the sonos but sound just as good if not better and they get louder. Plus you can use the soundcore app with it’s eq to customize the sound.
What kind of expert are? How can you put anker and the sonos in those positions and not even listing something like JBl charge 5? Sono is rubbish compared to the jbl charge 3 not too sure how can it score above the charge 5 also anker is decent but nothing to be considered if you are actually loooking for good sounds.
JBL ALL THE WAY!!! Several models are outstanding. The Charge 5 is amazing. The Boombox 3 is out of this world, albeit big and heavy.
I am a long time audiophile and I swear by JBL.
Ever tried ultimate ears 😃
The UE3 fell off my motorcycle in the rain at 50mph. Still using it today, a year later, works like a charm. Survived well!
You are one of those people that blasts music from your motorcycle so everyone in the vicinity is force to listen to your bad taste in music? I bet you ride a Harley with loud pipes too. Grow up and have some respect for other people… and use earphone speakers…
Really?? This article is on a website that gives out health advice? Wireless speakers just like wifi and all other wireless gadgets flood your environment with unnecessary microwave radiation which has been proven in literally thousands of studies to have negative health consequences.