Buying advice: How to find the right Bluetooth speaker
Smartphones are getting bigger and bigger, but the speakers still often sound modest. A Bluetooth speaker provides more music fun. You can find the right model here.
Getting hold of good music has never been so easy and so cheap. Streaming services offer access to several million music tracks via smartphone. The problem is that although the devices are getting bigger and bigger, the speakers often sound modest. Tracks with a lot of bass, in particular, rattle a lot when you turn up the volume on your smartphone. If you want to add some music to a party or a trip to the beach, it's better to use a Bluetooth speaker.
Bluetooth speakers for outdoors
If you like being outdoors, meeting up with friends for barbecues or camping, your speaker should offer two other features in addition to good sound and a long battery life: It must be able to withstand adversity and not be too bulky. The UE Wonderboom 2 fulfils all of these requirements: the small speaker is dust and waterproof to IP67, meaning it can withstand up to 30 minutes in one metre of water. The manufacturer states a battery life of up to 13 hours.
It also impresses with its ease of use: there is a button to start and stop the music and switch to the next track. In addition to the Bluetooth function, you can also connect a device to the speaker using an audio cable. The Wonderboom 2 has a little extra trick up its sleeve. You can use the app to pair the speaker with a second Wonderboom 2 or the older Wonderboom. This ensures better sound. A loop for attaching to a rucksack rounds off the speaker.
An alternative is the Anker SoundCore Flare. The 360-degree speaker is IPX7 waterproof and should therefore survive an accidental dip in cool water unscathed. Visually, the speaker sets accents with its fabric cover and the luminous ring on the base. Like the Wonderboom 2, the SoundCore Flare can also be connected to a second unit and then offers stereo sound.
Speakers for big beach parties
The JBL Flip 4, which is also waterproof, has the same trick up its sleeve. The 2.1 loudspeaker can also be connected to another speaker to provide sound for the party. The successor is even better suited for larger outdoor celebrations. The JBL Flip 5 is, like its predecessor, a waterproof 2.1 speaker, but it can be connected to any number of other speakers that also support the "PartyBoost" function. The JBL Charge 4 is also particularly practical for weekend trips: although it doesn't have 2.1 sound, it can also be used as a power bank to charge your smartphone.
If you're going on holiday to the water, you should take a look at the UE Boom 3 and its bigger brother, the Megaboom 3. Both speakers are also IP67 waterproof. However, they have another special feature: both speakers can float and are therefore particularly suitable for a swimming trip. You can use the "Magic Button" not only to control music playback, but also to start pre-defined playlists. But that's not all. Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 can connect to more than 150 other speakers (Boom 2 and 3, Megaboom 2 and 3) via the Boom app. But that's not even necessary. Even a single speaker offers plenty of music power and sounds very good.
Stylish speakers for the home
Of course, there's nothing to stop you using one of the above speakers in your home. However, the sometimes bright colours of the devices don't match every interior. The Bluetooth speakers from Marshall present a different picture. They are modelled on the iconic amplifiers from the British music company and bring more style to the home.
You can use the rotary knobs on the Marshall Acton BT II to adjust the volume as well as the intensity of the bass and treble. The same works via the manufacturer's app. In addition to Bluetooth, you can also connect your mobile to the speaker via a jack. You can start and pause playback using another button. The Acton 2 also supports Bluetooth 5.0, making it possible to connect two smartphones to the speaker.
The larger Marshall Stanmore BT II offers the same benefits as the small Acton 2, but also supports aptX for higher wireless transmission quality. Both speakers, like the even larger Woburn BT II, are also available as multi-room output. This means you can equip every room in your home with a speaker and listen to the same music everywhere. In addition to Bluetooth, the speakers also support Cream and AirPlay 2 from Apple and can be integrated into the WLAN. Incidentally, you should not take the Marshall devices outside: they are not waterproof.
Bluetooth speakers with smart assistants
The Libratone Zipp 2 Mini and Zipp 2 speakers are a good hybrid between a home Wi-Fi speaker and a Bluetooth speaker for on the go. Both come with a stylish fabric cover that can be easily changed thanks to a zip and replaced with optional sleeves. This allows you to customise the speakers to suit your preferences and your interior design.
On the go, you can connect your smartphone via Bluetooth or cable. Alternatively, you can also plug in a USB stick. The Libratone speakers recognise all common file formats. A carrying strap on both speakers ensures better mobility. Just don't let them get too close to the water.
At home, the Libratone speakers can also be integrated into the Wi-Fi network and used as multi-room speakers. In addition to AirPlay, they also support Spotify Connect. You can use the corresponding app to assign rooms to the speakers and start web radio stations. The speakers are operated via a touchpad. As a special feature, both Zipp 2 speakers are equipped with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. As with the ECHO devices, you simply speak to the Libratone speakers equipped with six microphones using "Alexa". However, the range of functions is somewhat limited. The call function via the smart assistant does not work with the Zipp 2 (Mini), for example.
The Bose Portable Home Speaker is also worth a look. You can use the 360-degree speaker at home as a multi-room speaker (with other Bose devices). It also supports aptX, AirPlay and various streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music. You can choose the smart assistant: According to the manufacturer, the speaker works with both the Google Assistant and Alexa. You can use both assistants to control smart home devices, among other things.
The speaker is charged via USB-C or the optional charging station. Although the manufacturer does not specify a protection class for outdoor use, it does promise a water-repellent design. <p
After finishing my dust-dry teaching degree early, I actually wanted to work in radio. Along the way, I just wanted to get a brief taste of the tech field. That was over seven years ago.
