Today we will talk about the music you can always have with you, without cables!

How? With portable Bluetooth speakers!

How to choose a portable speaker?

The answer depends on one main factor: Where will you use it? You can find a wireless speaker ideal for your needs at home, or even a speaker that can handle a small party at the beach or your rooftop!

What sets them apart is their portability, autonomy, power, and durability. Below we will see their basic functions and we will suggest top portable speakers for every occasion!

Always and everywhere! (up to 20 Watt) 

This category is for you if you are looking for something small in size, so you can easily carry it with you everywhere, inside and outside the house!

Small group, ready for big musical moments (up to 50 watts)

We can also call it the mid-range category, in terms of volume, sound quality, and portability. It can cover a wider range of your music and sound quality needs, without losing the convenience of its compact size.

Party! (up to 100 watts)

Here we reach another level of intensity, size, quality, and possibly category. In this category, we have the most powerful Bluetooth speakers!

#SkroutzTip

In some cases, you can connect and play together up to 2 speakers at the same time!

For example, the company JBL has the PartyBoost technology in its newer models, which allows you to pair 2 speakers for an even more powerful sound.

Now let's take a look at some technical specifications that you should pay attention to before your new purchase!

Main features

Everything you need to know before choosing a portable Bluetooth speaker.

1. Volume - Power

Watts indicate the power of the speaker, while decibels (dB) are the unit of measurement for its volume. As the power increases, usually the maximum volume also increases.

A 10-20 watt speaker is a good choice for listening to music at home or in the office, if you don't have specific requirements.

If you are in an outdoor space with your friends, then speakers with a range of 30-80 watts are a good choice. For parties, speakers with 100 watts will most likely cover your needs!

2. Sound quality

When it comes to sound quality, the type of music you listen to in relation to the speaker plays an important role. For example, a device that has more subwoofer-type speakers (speakers designed for lower frequencies) performs better in music with a lot of bass. The way the sound is compressed, encoded, and transmitted to the speaker via Bluetooth also plays a significant role in the audio result. In Android devices, the aptX encoding seems to provide better sound quality, while in iPhone devices, AAC is preferred.

3. Portability

When we talk about portable speakers, size and shape play a very important role. Before purchasing a speaker, check its dimensions and weight to make sure it will be functional for the intended use.

4. Dust and water resistance

Do you want a speaker for the beach, the pool, or the bathroom at home? The IP (Ingress Protection) rating certifies the device's resistance to water and dust. It is usually indicated as IPXX.

What does the IPXX rating mean? As an example, let's take the ratings IP67 & IPX7.

The first number refers to dust protection. The 6, in the case of IP67, means absolute protection against dust. The second number refers to water protection. The 7 means that the device, according to this certification, can withstand being submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes. This makes it quite resistant to water but not completely waterproof. Also, in speakers, you may encounter the same rating with the first number replaced by an X (IPX7). This means that it applies the same to water as in IP67, without specifying resistance to dust.

In general, the higher the number in this rating, the greater the protection.

5. Battery

Almost all Bluetooth speakers have a lithium battery. Its size, combined with the power of the speaker, mainly determines its consumption and autonomy.

Most manufacturers mention the battery life in hours for each device, so you can get a first idea of whether it meets your needs.

In real conditions, however, depending on the volume, usage, and battery status, the autonomy may be shorter. If you are outdoors, you can also take a powerbank with you to make sure the music will play as long as you want.

6. Connectivity

We are definitely dealing with Bluetooth connectivity. The newer the Bluetooth version, the more stable the connection between the speaker and the other device, and the lower the power consumption required for the connection.

In addition, many speakers may have USB ports, as well as 3.5mm!

#SkroutzTip

Prefer the Bluetooth version of the speaker you choose to be at least 4.2 or later for better connectivity.

Extra features

1. Radio

For analog experience lovers, some bluetooth speakers also have a radio!

2. LED Lighting

If you want to catch the attention of your friends, there are speakers with LED lighting.

3. Built-in microphone

You're listening to music. You receive a phone call. You don't want to disconnect the speaker. If it has a microphone, you can speak directly from it! This convenience is available in speakers with Hands Free!

4. Smart Assistant

There are also speakers with built-in Smart Assistant, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, Siri, to control it with voice commands!

5. Multiple speaker connection

As we saw above, many models have the ability to connect 2+ bluetooth speakers together. If your friends have the same speakers, you can connect them, place them in different corners or sides of the room for a stereo effect.

While choosing a portable bluetooth speaker may seem like an easy task at first glance, as you have read, there are many factors that you need to consider in order to make the best possible choice.

Now that you know, choose your favorite speaker and get ready for unique, wireless music moments!

➜ New: See now also used Bluetooth speakers on Skoop, the new service for selling used products!