Bluetooth speakers, likeBluetooth headphones, have become a staple for every household. Whether people aregoing on a tripor just hanging out in the backyard with some friends and listening to music, these small and powerful speakers make it easy to get thathome stereo soundon the go.
The Best Bluetooth Speakers in 2024
Soundcore Motion 300
Users don’t have to sacrifice sound quality when they’re on the go. The compact but powerful Soundcore Motion 300 uses 30W stereo sound that fits in and fits easily in any bag. The impressive 13-hour battery life is sure to keep any adventure filled with music; plus, with an IPX7 rating, users can feel confident that this speaker can withstand the elements.
The Anker Soundcore Motion 300 is the jack of all trades when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. It is compact yet powerful and is ready for any adventure with its IPX7 rating. Plus, at $80, it is not ridiculously expensive like some options that produce a similar sound quality. The Motion 300 is perfect for anyone looking for a great all-around Bluetooth speaker that won’t cost them an arm and a leg.
Despite its relatively small form factor, weighing just 1.7 pounds, this speaker produces quite a powerful sound with 30 watts of maximum output. To put that in perspective, the JBL Clip 4, which is just a bit smaller but in the same price range, only produces five watts. Not only is it powerful, but the drivers producing that power also sound amazing for their size. Because it has two drivers, this speaker is technically a stereo setup, but there won’t be much separation since the drivers are so close. Luckily, this speaker can be paired with another one to create a true stereo listening experience if users want to.
Because of its size and power, Game Rant expected the Motion 300 to have lackluster battery life. However, thanks to Soundcore’s excellent battery management, which has also been implemented on their other devices, like the Space One, this speaker delivers an outstanding 13 hours of battery life. That should allow most users to get through parties and adventures with some time left over.
Sony SRS-XB100
The Sony SRS-XB1000 produces quite a large sound for its minimal form factor and price point. With an updated design and 16 hours of battery life, this speaker is a perfect budget option. It offers a powerful, clear sound that can easily be thrown in a bag and ready to go within seconds.
The Sony SRS-XB100 is an excellent example of a speaker that delivers a premium experience for a budget-friendly price. If people are looking for a speaker under $60 but don’t want to compromise on sound quality or durability, the SRS-XB100 is the way to go.
Using a single 2-watt speaker, the SRS-XB100 will not be nearly as loud as the Motion 300, but it still delivers an excellent listening experience. People will need to be a bit closer to the speaker for the best results. This speaker won’t deliver earth-shattering bass like the UE Hyperboom, but it does produce surprisingly powerful bass for its size, and thanks to the digital signaling processing, there is minimal distortion. However, on some surfaces, the speaker can shake itself a bit, creating distortion-like sounds, but this can easily be fixed by hanging it up with its included strap.
For a long time, most Bluetooth speakers looked the same, so it’s nice to see speakers like the SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4 break the mold and have a unique look. The SRS-XB100’s cylindrical shape makes it incredibly easy to throw in a backpack or even put into a car cupholder for people whose cars don’t support Bluetooth connectivity.
JBL Clip 4
The latest in the line of loved Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Clip 4, continues the excellent reputation that the previous models created. This speaker delivers surprisingly rich audio and punchy bass for its compact size, and thanks to the clip, this speaker is incredibly easy to carry anywhere.
The JBL Clip series has been a fan favorite for quite some time. The latest iteration, the JBL Clip 4, continues that trend and makes some improvements to its overall durability and louder output. The Clip 4 is perfect for anyone looking for a speaker for their next adventure and likes the ease of portability thanks to its integrated carabiner clip.
The whole Clip lineup has had a very distinct look, and the Clip 4 carries some of those looks forward but is making some updates that make it its own. This speaker is gorgeous no matter the colorway, and most people will feel comfortable carrying it outside their backpacks as JBL intends. Thanks to the IP67 rating, users can feel confident carrying this speaker on the outside of their backpack or bike handlebars, knowing that rain, dust, or dirt won’t harm the speaker at all.
Using a standalone dynamic driver like the Sony SRS-XB100, the Clip 4 isn’t the most powerful speaker, but it produces incredible sound quality for its size. Its reasonably accurate frequency response works well for most music genres. However, the lack of bass emphasis might leave bass fans wanting more power. Compared to the last generation Clip speaker, the Clip 4 makes a considerable jump up in volume with five watts of max output instead of the measly 1.7. That alone might make it worth the upgrade for users with the Clip 3.
UE Hyperboom
Take any party to the stratosphere with three times the loudness and over six times the bass of MEGABOOM 3. This speaker is the most powerful speaker from Ultimate Ears. It does not cut any corners and makes no compromises. Powerful precision woofers, huge passive radiators, and soft-dome tweeters deliver a high-fidelity listening experience regardless of the volume or content.
The UE Hyperboom is a big jump in price compared to the other speakers in this guide and a considerable jump in power. While this speaker might seem too big for some people to be considered portable, thanks to its beefy battery that is rated for up to 24 hours of playback time, it is perfect for anyone’s next trip to the beach or as a wireless party speaker.
The Hyperboom takes advantage of its larger size by having multiple tweeters and multiple woofers to deliver a powerful sound that smaller speakers like Motion 300 can not even dream of producing. With a max output of 229 watts, this speaker is sure to get any party bumping in no time. While the size might limit the number of outings this speaker has, it more than makes up for it with its power, and for those who tailgate or car camp, the extra size is no big deal.
Many Bluetooth speakers in this category fall into the similar trap of overemphasizing the bass, making any song sound muddy and rumbly, no matter the setting. While the Hyperboom is certainly bassy and thumpy, the Adaptive EQ uses a tiny microphone on the speaker to change the settings depending on the environment it is in for the best results. This automatic EQ setting might not be to everyone’s liking, but whether the speaker is inside in the corner or out in the park, it delivers a nice balance between the lows, mids, and highs, creating an enjoyable listening experience.
Harman Kardon Luna
The iconic Harman Kardon sound is now in a Bluetooth speaker package. Hear every music detail with balanced, high-quality audio from the advanced drivers of the Harman Kardon Luna’s 2-way speaker system. The sleek and elegant design will fit anyone’s style, and thanks to the reasonably small footprint, users won’t have to make too much room for this speaker to find a home.
Harman Kardon is known for its premium audio equipment, so it makes sense that its Bluetooth speakers follow suit. The Harman Kardon Luna is an excellent Bluetooth speaker, perfect for anyone who wants fantastic sound quality, as long as they are willing to give up some of the portability offered on other speakers like the JBL Clip 4.
With Harman Kardon being the parent company to JBL, the Luna and Clip 4 actually produce a very similar frequency response. However, thanks to Luna having a tweeter and woofer, there is a bit more separation between the bass and mids/highs. This is much more evident in bass-heavy music, but even in higher-pitched music, the Luna produces a clearer and cleaner sound across the volume range. This speaker will not deliver high-fidelity sound like a complete stereo system, but for a fraction of the cost and size, the Luna does an excellent job of allowing users to enjoy their music entirely.
This speaker is designed to still be portable, but with a slightly larger form factor, it will probably be best as a home speaker that can also go on a trip if needed. Plus, the sleek and classy looks of this speaker feel much more natural for a backyard listening session than on the trail like the Clip 4.
Sonos Era 100
The Sonos Era 100 allows users in smaller spaces to enjoy the excellent sound and convenience of a Sonos setup for a relatively affordable price. Unlike its predecessor, the Sonos One, the Era 100 allows users to connect directly via Bluetooth instead of over the WiFi network, making it even easier to start enjoying music in a flash.
If users want to take the home sound setup to a new level but still retain the ease of use that a Bluetooth speaker brings, the Sonos Era 100 is a perfect choice. As a follow-up to the incredibly well-received Sonos One, the Era 100 has some pretty big shoes to fill, but thanks to the new stereo sound and Bluetooth streaming, it is a worthy successor.
The Era 100 has an incredibly clean and minimalist design that can easily fit in anyone’s decor without sticking out like a sore thumb, like some home audio setups. The relatively small footprint makes finding a spot for this speaker easy. However, it has no battery power, so it must be plugged in. This can ruin some of the minimalist, wireless aesthetic, but with some clever cable management, it is not a dealbreaker.
The Sonos One was renowned for its crisp and spacious sound that is incredibly detailed, but the Era 100 makes it even better. Even though the Era 100 and One have similar dimensions, the Era 100 produces a much wider sound covering a much larger space. Thanks to the two angled tweeters and bigger subwoofer, this speaker delivers a much more powerful and even better sound than the One. If people live in an apartment, one Era 100 speaker can effectively cover the whole space, making it great for those cleaning days or just jamming out to some music.
How to Choose the Best Bluetooth Speakers
There are several key factors to consider before buying a Bluetooth speaker, including form factor, sound quality, and special features.
FAQ
Q: What are the best Bluetooth speaker brands?
Narrowing it down to one brand for the best Bluetooth speakers is nearly impossible, but some notable mentions are JBL, Sonos, and Anker Soundcore. These three brands produce excellent and reliable speakers for various use cases and price points.
Q: What is a powerful Bluetooth speaker?
There are a couple of speakers competing in terms of raw power, but the UE Hyberboom does one of the best jobs of balancing ridiculous power and excellent sound quality.
