Here are our top picks for the best wireless speakers that deliver superb sound performance, long lasting battery life and high quality wireless music streaming. These speakers are designed to be lightweight and compact, and are able to pair instantly with Airplay, Wifi and wireless mobile devices to stream music on the go with minimal battery power consumption. Furthermore, these best wireless speakers have some of the best sound performance we have ever heard, producing crisp highs, detailed midrange and punchy bass with an unparalleled level of clarity. At the time of writing, some of these speakers are now selling at a very good price point, so don’t forget to check them out!
How we choose
There are many wireless speakers to choose from, but which ones are the best? In our 2019 roundup we look at the best wireless speakers that deliver the best sound performance, unique and lightweight design, value-added features and of course the best value for money. These speakers are hand-picked and tested by our editors to ensure their quality – the sound performance on these speakers must be crystal clear, with crisp highs and detailed midrange with decent bass response. We also look how convenience and ease of use, in which case the design and portability of the wireless speaker comes into play here. Another factor which we take into account is how long the battery life can last and how portable these speakers are. While there is always a wireless speaker for every taste and budget, we have finally agreed upon the list of best wireless speakers that outperform the rest of the competition and give the best value you can get for the price. These speakers deliver the best sound performance, and are designed for convenience and portable use indoors and outdoors with high quality audio streaming (some of which are Wi-Fi or aptX codec enabled). Be sure to check out our list of wireless speakers below!
Be sure to also check out our top picks for the loudest bluetooth speakers and best outdoor bluetooth speakers that are capable of delivering stunning sound performance at a budget price.
#1 Best Overall: Anker Classic Wireless Speaker
The Anker Classic is hands down one of the best wireless speakers you can find at a budget price with excellent sound performance and long battery life. The Anker Classic is able to pump out crisp audio performance in high definition through its 4W, 2-inch driver and integrated bass port. It contains a 2100mAh li-ion battery which is capable of delivering up to 15 to 20 hours of continuous playtime, and has one of the longest lasting battery life for a wireless speaker. This speaker is capable of high quality audio streaming with virtually all wireless-enabled devices, and also comes with a 3.5mm audio port for connection with non-wireless devices. The connection range of the Anker Classic is a good 33 feet, with a wireless pickup range of 2 feet. Overall, if you are in the market for one of the best wireless speakers at a budget price, the Anker Classic is probably your answer.
The sound performance of the Anker Classic is surprisingly good for its small and compact size. We were surprised that the Anker Classic sounded very good and had a rich, detailed quality to the sound which made listening to music with these speakers a very enjoyable experience. The bass response from the Anker Classic were also a lot better than we expected; the low end is enhanced by the integrated bass port and also gives a little weight to the mids and low-end. The mids and highs were clear and the bass response is great without any dedicated subwoofer. The sound performance of the Anker Classic is generally very impressed and we were surprised that a speaker of this size could deliver very good sound with decent bass at a budget price.
In terms of the design, the Anker Classic is clean and basic, and is built with durability and portability in mind. The speaker is roughly the size of a normal fist and comes with a nice carrying case which you can take on the go. The exterior of the Anker Classic looks very durable and well made, and is wrapped a nice rubber coating that gives it a little extra protection from bumps or accidental drops. The metal build quality also looked very sleek and minimalist. The battery life on the Anker Classic is phenomenal and can last a good 15 to 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge – this is by far the longest battery life out of all the speakers that we tested. Simply put, we were really blown away by the ease of use, quality design of the speaker and great sound.
The Anker Classic comes with a universal cable and micro USB charging port (together with the micro USB charging cable), and a charging indicator light which turns on when the speaker is charging. The front of the speaker displays the connectivity indicator light, three buttons (volume, play and pause) and a microphone for hands free calls and works well for Skype calls. The bottom of the Anker Classic is designed with an anti-slip pad to keep it in place and reduce vibration noise while streaming and playing music. Pairing the Anker Classic to your wireless device is nearly instantaneous; simply turn on the wireless connection and the device will automatically pair with the latest Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
The Verdict? The Anker Classic is easily one of the best wireless speakers available at a budget price, and delivers extraordinary sound performance and impeccable wireless streaming. Connecting your mobile device to the Anker Classic was almost instant, and the Bluetooth 4.0 technology provided a stable connection without any dips or distortion. The sound quality of from the Anker Classic was excellent, and can go up to maximum volume without any distortion and sound clear and crisp. Furthermore, the battery life lasts an incredible 15 to 20 hours, meaning that you can take this speaker on the go without needing to recharge for a long period of time. All these functionality combined into a single portable speaker makes the Anker Classic easily one of the best wireless speakers you can get.
#2 Best Value: BOHM SoundBlock Wireless Speaker
The BOHM SoundBlock is one of the best wireless speakers available that can deliver extremely powerful audio performance with an integrated microphone to take hands free calls. The SoundBlock is designed to produce clear, detailed and rich sound with enhanced bass – it features two powerful 40mm drivers to deliver crisp and clean sound without any distortion. The SoundBlock is also equipped with Bluetooth 3.0 for you to connect to the speaker wireless from up to 33 feet away, and can connect to virtually any wireless enabled device. Apart from wireless connectivity, it also has a built-in 3.5mm auxiliary input to connect to non-Bluetooth enabled devices. The built-in rechargeable battery supports up to 8 to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, which is a pretty decent amount of time. Overall, the SoundBlock is one of the best wireless speakers you can find on a budget price that delivers crisp and superb audio performance with its dual 40mm drivers with a combined output of 10 Watts.
The sound clarity of the SoundBlock is impressive – the music sounded really nice and clear with rich details without any distortion at higher volumes. We found that the vocal performances in the music soundtracks were extremely clear and precise, and the highs and mids felt deep and rich. Listening to soundtracks from electronica and classic pop genres made the music feel alive and deeply satisfying to listen to. That being said, we felt that the bass from the SoundBlock was somewhat lacking in larger spaces, although this is really to be expected from a speaker of this size. Apart from the bass, the sound performance of the SoundBlock was very good and you can really hear the details in the music from the dual 40mm drivers with a combined power output of 10 Watts. Overall, the sound performance of the SoundBlock was very satisfying and will definitely impress those looking for a wireless speaker to stream and play stereo music.
The design of the SoundBlock is nice and compact, and has an overall very sleek and minimalist appearance. The SoundBlock measures approximately 6 x 2 x 1.6 inches, and is designed for portability – you can easily put this speaker into a backpack or travel case. The entire metallic box and components look well made and durable, and built to last for a long time. You can charge this speaker with a generic USB charger and the battery life lasts a good 8 to 10 hours, which is pretty decent considering the compact size of this speaker. The SoundBlock is also compact and small enough to be carried in a medium to large purse or briefcase, which makes it ideal for travelling or office use. The wireless range on this speaker is around 30 – 40 feet as advertised, and delivers fantastic sound at a budget price point in terms of quality and range. You can also make hands free calls using the microphone on the SoundBlock which is a nice added touch.
The wireless connectivity on the SoundBlock is seamless – the speaker paired instantly with our smartphone, and will automatically pair up the moment you turn on the speaker and your mobile device. We found that you can also change the tracks and adjust the volume from the mobile device, or use the control buttons located on the speaker. The smartphone also displays the battery life when connected to the wireless speaker, and the speaker will give an audible warning when the battery is running low. This provides useful information on when you would need to charge up the speaker. The auxiliary line-in connection to the speaker is also a good feature in case you prefer to connect to a non-wireless enabled device.
The Verdict? The BOHM SoundBlock is one of the best wireless speakers you can find at a budget price point, and delivers excellent stereo sound performance with its dual 40mm drivers. We really liked the fact that SoundBlock sounded crisp and clear and the total combined output of the drivers is a nice 10 Watts of pure power. The built-in battery supports up to 8 to 10 hours of continuous playtime on a singe charge, and it also features an integrated microphone for you to also take hands free calls. The sound quality on the SoundBlock sounded rich, clean and detailed, with a particularly good emphasis on stereo sound quality. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that will deliver clear and crisp stereo music at a budget price, the SoundBlock comes highly recommended.
#3 Best Sound Quality: Bose SoundLink III Wireless Speaker
The Bose SoundLink III is arguably among the very best wireless speakers of the SoundLink series and delivers top of the line wireless audio performance on the go. The sound performance of the SoundLink III is one notch above the rest – the sound performance is unique and better than most mobile speakers of this size, and connects wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet or other mobile device for instant playback. The SoundLink III has a very elegant design, and features nice curved edges and a thin profile for portability on the go. The rechargeable battery on this speaker lasts a whopping 14 hours on a single charge, which is pretty incredible. It also features a nice silicone button panel which protects the speaker from wear and tear and increases its durability. With four drivers and two passive radiators, the SoundLink III is hands down one of the best wireless speakers capable providing full-spectrum audio and clarity with very good bass performance.
The selling point of the Bose SoundLink III is that it looks much nicer, sounds way better and has vastly superior battery life to the previous SoundLink speaker versions. We were very impressed with the improvements in sound quality from the Bose SoundLink III. The sound from SoundLink III emphasize bass response in music reproduction and use DSP (digital signal processing) technology to make the sound feel richer and more detailed. The speaker fully utilizes four drivers behind the front grill and 2 passive radiators behind the back grill to enhance the overall bass response and sound output. The SoundLink III can easily fill up a large room with music; it sounds best when you place this speaker near a wall to allow the passive radiators to reflect the sound off the wall and enhance the bass response. It is also capable of producing high quality sound that can easily fill a large room without any distortion even at maximum volume.
To elaborate more on the bass performance, the bass response on the SoundLink III feels rich and fuller as compared to other wireless speakers. It can maintain a clear layer of sound with good bass and the bass has a powerful presence in the music. This made listening to electronic, rock or pop music especially enjoyable on the SoundLink as the beats can really be heard and felt with a certain degree of impact. The sound signature of the SoundLink III is slightly colored to accentuate the bass, but this actually makes the music sound smoother rather than unnatural. Overall, we loved the sound performance of the SoundLink III and thoroughly enjoyed listening to music and soundtracks with the crisp, clear sound and deep bass.
The design of the SoundLink III is minimalist and aesthetically pleasing. The design of the SoundLink is sleek, and the top row controls sports a protective rubberized cover to increase durability. The silver design of the speaker box is paint sprayed mesh, and the black parts have a fine texture on it which makes it feel high quality. The button controls include the power, wireless connection, aux, mute and volume controls. The bottom of the speaker also has rubber pads to prevent it from sliding around and reduce vibration noise. All in all, the SoundLink III has a very solid build but is also compact enough to carry it around in a backpack on the go.
We would also mention that the SoundLink III features aptX connection and Bluetooth NFC streaming for high quality sound performance. We experienced practically no dips or drops in connection with pairing to the SoundLink – the sound performance felt very high quality and we did not feel that the details in the music were lost or hollowed up by the wireless connection. The SoundLink III also features an integrated microphone for you to take hands free calls on the go.
The Verdict? The Bose SoundLink III is a vast improvement over the other SoundLink series and is one of the best wireless speakers you can come across in the Bose line-up. The sound performance, bass response and overall quality and depth of the music is phenomenal – we did not expect to hear such rich and clear mids, highs and decent lows with enhanced bass that feels full and whole. Furthermore, the design of the SoundLink III is clean and minimalist, and looks aesthetically pleasing with its curved edges and painted mesh. The speaker itself houses four drivers and two passive radiators for maximum sound output, and has a splendid battery life of up to 14 hours of continuous playtime. If you are an avid music listener who favors the rock, pop or electronic genres, the SoundLink III is definitely one of the best wireless speakers that you can get that will impress you.
#4 Best Home Listening Speaker: Sonos PLAY 3 Wireless Speaker
The Sonos Play 3 is one of the best wireless speakers that deliver richer, deep sound with more powerful bass than its predecessors in the Sonos Play series. The Play 3 is able to deliver rich and clean sound with deep bass, and comes equipped with three Class-D amplifiers and three custom built drivers which create a full and wide soundstage which brings out the details in vocals and instruments. It is also equipped with a rear-firing bass radiator which pumps out exceptionally deep lows for a speaker of this size, and sounds great in virtually any position due to the Trueplay speaker tuning which optimizes sound performance in your preferred orientation. You can also wirelessly pair the Play 3 with another Play 3 into separate left and right channels for a bigger and deeper stereo sound. The Play 3 will pair wireless to your home Wi-Fi or mobile device through an app, and can stream music from Pandora and Spotify without any issues. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that deliver very good sound performance, the Sonos Play 3 is an excellent choice.
The sound performance of the Play 3 is phenomenal and much better than we expected. The best thing about the sound performance is how crisp and detailed our music sounded, and you can hear details in the music which you have never heard before. The highs and mids are very clearly defined and crisp, and it also has a nice bass response that feels impactful and goes very deep. We also liked the soundstage on the Play 3 which felt really spacious with good musical separation; you can hear the details of the music as if you were in a live concert, although there are some practical limitations due to the size of this speaker. That said, we absolutely loved the excellent sound quality from these speakers and thoroughly enjoyed listening to music and instrumental performances on the Play 3.
The Play 3 has a minimalist, versatile design that fits nicely in almost any setting, and can be positioned vertically or horizontally, or use as home theatre rear speakers and as a stereo pair. It is specially designed to optimize sound based on your preferred orientation, so the sound quality will remain just as good in virtually any position (although we recommend placing it near a wall or better bass resonance). The Play 3 is also incredibly easy to set up – you can connect to this speaker using your home Wi-Fi and expand your home audio system by adding more wireless speakers to additional rooms. With this setup, you can play different songs in different rooms at the same time, or play a single song in perfect sync throughout your home. Since the Play 3 uses Wi-Fi wireless connection, the sound quality is preserved through the Wi-Fi connection and there are no dips or drops while streaming music.
With that in mind, you will need to install the Sonos app in order to properly use this speaker. The Sonos app simplifies all the functionality into a simple menu and you can create playlists easily by the touch of a button. That being said, the Play 3 does not connect like a traditional Bluetooth speaker – you have to connect the speaker to a wireless access point and then connect to the speaker through the app. The app well designed and provides you with the ability to have the speakers work in group sync or as an individual speaker, and allows you to control the sound in different speaker units. The app also comes with a nice function that allows the speaker to tune itself to the room and adjust the sound accordingly to get the best sound quality from the Play 3.
The Verdict? While the Sonos Play 3 does require a wireless access point and an app to stream music, it is one of best wireless speakers in terms of sound performance and does an extremely good job of tuning itself to the surrounding environment to optimize the sound quality. The highs and mids on the Play 3 are exceptionally crisp, clear and detailed, and we were very impressed with the bass response which felt impactful, deep and powerful. The sound from the speaker has a certain presence and authority that makes it feel very enjoyable to listen to. The design of the Sonos Play 3 is clean and minimalist, and is inconspicuous enough to blend in easily into the room. The Play 3 can also fill a large room with powerful sound without any distortion, and is suitable as rear speakers for your home theatre system. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers with extremely good sound quality and deep bass, the Sonos Play 3 is the speaker you should get.
#5 Most Portable: VAVA Voom 20 Wireless Speaker
The VAVA Voom 20 is one of the best wireless speakers with stunning music performance with a strong emphasis on bass output. The Voom 20 features two 8W drivers and two passive subwoofers to produce high quality sound with a good deal of bass response. It features aptX Bluetooth 4.0 streaming technology which delivers crisp CD-like audio quality over Bluetooth transmission. This speaker is specially designed for those who prefer bass emphasis over stereo music; you can adjust the bass equalizer to get the most out of the dual passive subwoofers and enhance the bass impact to your music. Furthermore, it comes with an impressive 5200mAh battery power that delivers an incredible 8 hours of playtime at mid-high level volume. It can even double as a power bank for your mobile device with its built-in charging port on the speaker. To top it off, the Voom 2 is also IPX5 splash proof which makes it perfect for taking to beach parties or near the pool. At the time of writing, the Voom 2 is one of the best wireless speakers now selling at a good price.
The sound performance of the Voom 2 is, quite simply put, unbelievable for a speaker at this price range. The highs and the midrange on the Voom 2 were clearly emphasized and well defined, and felt very crisp and impressive. The bass on the Voom 2 is something that we never heard before on a speaker of this size; the bass gets earth-shatteringly low and can vibrate even the speaker itself. The punchy low-end on this speaker made listening to electronica, rock and pop music seriously fun and enjoyable – you can literally power a disco party with the Voom 2 on full blast. The frequency range on the Voom 2 was also very impressive, and you can hear the highs and trebles very well. The music performance on the Voom 2 sounded punchy and crisp, and this was enhanced by the high quality aptX Bluetooth streaming with built-in NFC technology. You can literally throw any music genre at the Voom 2 and they would sound just right and perfect, with a little emphasis on the bass response. Overall, we would go as far as to say that the sound quality on the Voom 2 is simply quite extraordinary and the Voom 2 is definitely a low-cost alternative to other high end wireless speakers.
Apart from the phenomenal sound performance and high quality wireless streaming, the Voom 2 is also IPX5 splash proof which makes it very convenient to take around with you, especially around pool or beach areas with exposure to water. The speaker features a rubber reinforced design which enhances its durability and comes with rubber padding to keep the speaker from vibrating at maximum volume. The battery capacity on the Voom 2 is a phenomenal 5200mAh and you can even use the speaker as a portable power bank for your USB devices. It comes with a built-in 5V/1A charging port for you to easily charge your mobile device via USB connection. The Voom 2 comes in a nice box which includes a carrying pouch for portability.
As expected, the wireless connectivity on the Voom 2 is top-nothc. It comes with the latest aptX audio coding and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity for high quality audio streaming – the end result is that you get CD-like audio quality while streaming your music to this speaker. You can even connect the Voom 2 to two wireless devices at the same time and switch from one to the other at will. Apart from the Bluetooth, the Voom 2 also comes with built-in NFC technology and an included 3.5mm audio cable for non-wireless music sources. In terms of wireless connectivity and versatility, it doesn’t really get better than this.
The Verdict? The Vava Voom 2 is a phenomenal and one of the best wireless speakers you can ever find which delivers top notch sound performance. The Voom 2 is specially designed to play crisp, clear and detailed music with an emphasis on the bass with its two passive subwoofers. The end result is that your music will literally come to live with powerful bass response and superb audio clarity – you can literally power a small disco party with the Voom 2 speaker. Furthermore, the battery life on the Voom 2 is a phenomenal 5200mAh of battery power which provides a solid 10 hours of playtime at mid-high volume; you can even charge your mobile device using this speaker as a power bank. It also features all the latest aptX streaming and wireless technology for high quality music streaming from your mobile device. Overall, the Voom 2 is definitely one of the best wireless speakers you can find that rivals that of high-end speakers at just a fraction of the price, and we highly recommend them.
#6 Best Small Form Wireless Speaker: Alpatronix AX400
The Alpatronix AX400 is one of the best wireless speakers in terms of battery life, portability and compact design at a budget price. The AX400 features a built-in rechargeable battery with 12 hours of continuous playback and 720 hours of standby time. It is also equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 technology for high quality audio streaming and connectivity of up to 30 feet. The boombox design of the AX400 looks very sleek and modern and will fit comfortable into the palm of your hands. The AX400 offers 6 Watts of clean sound and is universally compatible with a range of wireless mobile devices, and even comes equipped with a built-in mic with full hands free calling capability. It also includes a nice 3.5mm Aux audio input for you to switch to a non-wireless source. For enhanced sound performance, it also comes with a built-in subwoofer that provides enhanced bass boost and resonance for low end sound reproduction. Overall, the AX400 is one of the best wireless speakers with a perfect combination of portability, size and sound performance and is now selling at an incredible price.
The sound performance of the AX400 is very impressive for this size – although the AX400 is small and compact, the sound quality feels very good and detailed. While the bass is not thumping, you can feel the bass presence and the beats in the music, and it does not muddy into the mids and highs. The mids and highs are clean and detailed, and we thoroughly enjoyed the stereo sound performance which provided good separation between the left and right speaker channels. In particular, we felt that the midrange was clear and precise. The internal drivers are compact and powerful enough for you to listen to your favorite music while travelling in a car or in the room, and does not distort at maximum volume. That being said, the sound projection of the AX400 may be limited outdoors due to its small and compact size. When we tested this speaker indoors in a standard size room, the sound and volume was impressive and clear. Overall, we felt that the AX400 produces excellent, well rounded sound quality and accurately captures the highs and lows without any distortion or static noise in the wireless connection.
The design of the AX400 is very practical and compact, and is probably among the best wireless speakers in terms of portability. The speaker has nice touch controls on the top of the unit that allows you to control the volume, skip tracks and use the speakerphone function. The controls are simple and intuitive to use, and can be activated by touching a specific spot on the top of the speaker unit. The speaker itself has a slide-toggle power switch in the back, and will turn off and on easily on toggling the power button. The speaker charges via the included micro USB cable and the battery life is an incredible 10 to 12 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge. This speaker is small and compact enough for you to take it outdoors or travel on the go. Finally, the wireless range is a good 30 feet of signal range and the Bluetooth 4.0 technology makes the connection more stable with lesser dips and drops. Connecting the AX400 to your mobile device is almost instantaneous and the wireless connection did not dip or present any issues.
The AX400 also comes with a high quality microphone for you to take hands free calls on the go. The call performance was good, and we could easily hear the person on the other line as though we were conversing through the mobile device. You can also use the AX400 to listen to podcasts, audio books or to stream music online from your mobile device. The build quality of the AX400 is excellent, and feels solid and durable despite its small and compact size.
The Verdict? The AX400 definitely punches above its weight and is one of the best wireless speakers available on a budget price with all the functionality and versatility you will need. The sound performance of the AX400 is very good considering the size of this speaker; there is decent bass with clean and crisp stereo sound, and a good midrange which feels present and clear. Listening to music on the AX400 felt smooth and enjoyable. The battery life is a stunning 10 to 12 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, and we really liked the fact that the speaker itself is small and compact enough to fit the size of your palm. Furthermore, the touch sensitive controls on the speaker are very intuitive to use and you can easily adjust the sound settings according to your preferences at the touch of a button. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that will deliver superb sound performance with Bluetooth 4.0 technology, the AX400 comes highly recommended.
#7 Best Bass Response: Bose SoundLink Revolve Wireless Speaker
The Bose SoundLink Revolve is one of the best wireless speakers that have deep, clear and immersive sound with a true 360 degree sound coverage. The unique design of the SoundLink Revolve speaker allows instruments and vocals to naturally separate and spread across an immersive soundstage. It is crafted with a sleek aluminium body which is durable and water resistant up to IPX4, and comes with an incredible battery life of up to 12 hours of continuous playtime. The SoundLink Revolve also supports wireless pairing with your mobile devices with voice prompts, and allows you to take calls or access Siri or Google Now from the speaker microphone. You can also pair two speakers together for extra sound and larger sound coverage. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers for a fully immersive 360 sound experience, the Bose SoundLink Revolve would be an excellent choice.
We really enjoyed the sound performance of the Bose SoundLink Revolve. The sound which this speaker produces fills the entire space easily and has depth and good bass response. The 360 design of this speaker allows the sound to separate out evenly with detailed clarity – we were extremely pleased with the rich quality of the sound and impactful bass. The 360 design allowed the music to spread out in all directions, which means that you do not need to orientate these speakers at a certain angle to make them sound good – you could place them in the center of the living room and they would sound just fine. Furthermore, this speaker produces very good highs and detailed midrange which made our music sound natural and smooth. The speaker can go up to maximum volume and play music without any distortion – we got consistent, smooth, clear and crisp sound throughout while streaming music on the SoundLink Revolve. The speaker itself has very good bass response, although we would recommend placing the Bose SoundLink Revolve near the corner of the wall to improve the bass resonance if you require more bass.
The sleek and stylish design of the SoundLink Revolve speaker makes it blend in easily into most modern home settings. The speaker itself feels very high quality and the round aluminium finish gives it a very elegant appearance throughout. The battery life on this speaker is incredible and can last a good 12 hours on a single charge. We also liked the fact that we could connect this speaker up to two mobile devices and the setup was almost instant with the Bose Connect App. The speaker also charges fairly quickly with the included micro USB. The voice prompt functionality was also useful to guide us through the wireless pairing process with our mobile device.
The SoundLink Revolve comes equipped with an auxiliary input in case you need to connect the speaker to other non-wireless sources. The speaker itself is designed for portability and the cylindrical shape of this wireless speaker makes it easy to grab and travel on the go. One great aspect about this speaker is that it is water-resistant which means that you can take it to the pool or the beach without having to worry about splashes of water damaging the circuitry. It is also possible to pair two SoundLink Revolve speakers in party mode through the Bose Connect App to increase the overall sound performance; this is perfect if you need to use this speaker in wide open spaces or for a larger party.
The Verdict? The SoundLink Revolve is one of the best wireless speakers you can find which provides a truly immersive 360 degree sound experience with deep and impactful sound. Apart from the stylish and sleek aluminium finish, the speaker itself is designed to be extremely durable and water resistant, allow you to take it virtually anywhere on the go. The battery life is a stunning 12 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge, and the speaker can be paired with another SoundLink Revolve for twice the music output for larger spaces. It can also connect instantly to your mobile device via the Bose Connect App which also provides firmware updates to enhance the sound performance of the SoundLink Revolve. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers to take around with you for parties or gatherings to stream music on the fly, the SoundLink Revolve is undoubtedly a great option to consider.
#8 Best Desk Side Wireless Speaker: Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3
The Harmon Kardon Onyx Studio 3 is easily one of the best wireless speakers in terms of sound performance. It has a dedicated 2 x 75mm tweeter and 2 x 20mm tweeter system that produces up to a whopping 60W of power when connected to a power outlet, and up to 30W of power when running on battery power. This wireless speaker can connect to almost any wireless device and also comes equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 technology with transmitter modulation for a smoother and steadier audio transmission. The battery life on this speaker is a good 5 hours of continuous playtime with its integrated rechargeable battery. The good thing about the Oynx Studio 3 is that it can wirelessly connect with another Oynx Studio 3 for dual sound performance – this is especially useful if you need a bigger soundstage in an open environment. It also comes equipped with a microphone for you to make hands free calls with the speaker and is also equipped with noise and echo cancellation technology. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers for sound performance and exquisite design, the Onyx Studio 3 comes highly recommended.
We loved the sound of the Onyx Studio 3 straight out of the box. The entire speaker produces a good 60W of pure power when connected to a power outlet, which gives plenty of sound that can easily fill up a large room. The sound performance of the Onyx Studio 3 is phenomenal – the highs and midrange are crisp, clear and detailed, and the sound had depth and a level of sophistication that is usually only present with higher-end speakers. The bass response on the Onyx Studio 3 is powerful and impactful, and you can really feel the bass reverberate through the room while playing your favorite music. This is enhanced by the dual passive radiators which enhances the clarity and the impact of the low end frequency. It does feel like the Onyx Studio 3 speaker was built like a mini home theatre sound system, except that it is portable and has wireless connectivity included. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that produce home-theatre like sound, the Onyx Studio 3 definitely comes close.
The exterior design of the Onyx Studio 3 is sleek and modern, and fits very well into almost any home setting – the speaker is built to stand on its ‘legs’ which looks pretty cool after setting it up. The speaker exterior is crafted with high-end materials and aluminium, which compliments and blends into most rooms easily. We also liked the unique oval shape appearance of this speaker and we recommend purchasing an additional carrying case for you to take it on the go. The speaker comes with the standard power cord for you to charge it when plugged into an electrical outlet. Do note that due to power constraints, the Studio 3 speaker will play at 30 Watts when running on battery life and 60 Watts when connected to an electrical outlet. The battery life provides a nice 5 hours of playtime at medium volume, but do expect faster battery depletion at higher or maximum volume.
The wireless range on the Studio 3 is a good 30 – 35 feet and we did not experience any performance dips while using the wireless connection. The sound quality was also very good while using the wireless connection and there was no noticeable drop in sound quality while streaming music. The microphone feature on this speaker also sounds clear and you can take hands free calls without any issues. The great thing about the Oynx Studio 3 is that you can pair two Studio 3s together via wireless connection for a much larger, synchronised sound that is perfect for larger parties or multi-room listening.
The Verdict? If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that can produce incredible sound performance that rivals that of high-end speakers, the Onyx Studio 3 is a great choice. The sound performance of the Studio 3 is simply breath-taking – we enjoyed listening to every bit of music from these speakers with incredibly clear midrange, crisp highs and impactful bass. The bass goes deep and low, and makes it feel as if you have a mini home theatre setup while this speaker. The design of the Studio 3 is also sleek, modern and top-notch, and will blend in easily into your home or room décor with its light aluminium cover. At the time of writing, this incredible speaker is now selling at a very good price, so don’t forget to check it out!
#9 Best Design: ARCHEER A320 Wireless Speaker
The ARCHEER A320 is one of the hardest hitting, beautifully designed best wireless speakers you can find at a very good price. The A320 speaker features dual 5W drivers which produces detailed midrange and crisp highs, with one 15W subwoofer which produces incredibly punchy bass. It comes equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 technology for easy wireless pairing with smartphones, iPads, tablets or other wireless devices. The built-in rechargeable 5200 mAh li-ion battery can deliver a whopping 11 hours of playtime at 50% volume, and you can also purchase a separate ARCHEER 17W 3.4A wall charger or USB charger to quickly recharge the speaker. Overall, the A320 speaker pumps out some serious audio performance with its dual 5W drivers and is great for small gatherings, parties or as a home TV speaker.
The ARCHEER A320 is designed for high-fidelity audio reproduction and delivers sound performance that is incredibly enjoyable to listen to. The speaker carries two drivers for the midrange and high frequencies, with a single woofer in the center for low-end frequency extension. This speaker has a very good crossover design which improves sound integration with the tweeters and subwoofer, and creates a very impressive frequency band. The end result is that the sound feels rich and detailed, with crystal clear midrange that does not sound muddy. The bass on this speaker sounds clean and tight, and stays where it should be without becoming overpowering or muddy – each bass beat is well separated from the other aspects of the music.
With this in mind, the A320 speaker is incredibly good for playing a wide range of music genres including classical, acoustic, rock and pop – the vocals sounded rich and detailed, with crisp highs and incredibly tight midrange as well. While most stereo setups are often lacking in bass or midrange, the A320 speaker manages to hit the sweet spot by producing clear stereo sound with detailed mids and deep bass. This unique combination greatly enhances the music listening experience, and makes the ARCHEER A320 one of the best wireless speakers you can listen to with full-bodied audio reproduction.
The ARCHEER A320 speaker has a heavy and solid construction with a unique bamboo wood design. The bamboo feels thick and has a beautiful finish, and looks like a piece of art which blends in easily into modern home décor. The speaker also has great volume output and you can easily fill your entire room with sound by cranking it up to just 50-60% volume. While you can connect to the A320 speaker via wireless connection, you can also use the AUX line-in jack for non-wireless audio sources. You can also adjust the audio output with an equalizer app and fine tune the speaker’s output if you are using your mobile device to stream music. On the whole, we would say that the A320 speaker looks very high quality and sounds expensive, which is a pretty rare combination for a speaker of this size.
The A320 speaker comes with an auxillary cable as well as a USB to micro USB charging power cable. It also comes with an instruction manual with instructions on how to set up the speaker. While you can use the included micro-USB cable to charge the speaker, the manufacturers do recommend purchasing a separate wall charger which charges the speaker quicker. Connecting our wireless mobile device to this speaker took a couple of seconds and the connection was instantaneous. The speaker also blends in easily into modern home décor and looks pretty classy with the bamboo wood finish.
The Verdict? The ARCHEER A320 is a beautifully clean, bamboo wood speaker with rich sound and tight sounding bass. It’s one of the best wireless speakers in terms of design and sound performance, and feels and looks expensive. Despite the small size of this speaker, it sounds extremely good and is able to pump out detailed and rich sound performance without any distortion at higher volumes. We would also mention that the drivers on this speaker are very well implemented with the subwoofer and the end result is that the sound feels rich and beautifully defined. Our only minor quibble with this speaker is that it charges via a micro USB and we would have preferred a dedicated power charger to quickly charge up the speaker. That being said, the ARCHEER A320 is still hands down one of the best wireless speakers ever designed with a beautiful bamboo finish and rich clean sound that will definitely impress you for a long time to come.
#10 Most Battery Life: Marshall Kilburn Wireless Speaker
The Marshall Kilburn is one of the classiest and best wireless speakers in the Marshall line of speakers, and can pump out an incredible 20 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge. It comes with two 3/4″ dome tweeters and one 4″ woofer for enhanced stereo sound performance, with a clear midrange and extended highs for a both articulated and well balanced sound. The Kilburn features a classic Marshall design with a vintage looking front and gold-colored metal details. You can easily connect to the Kilburn speaker using your smartphone, tablet or laptop to wirelessly stream music to the speaker. The built-in rechargeable battery is capable of delivering a solid 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, which clearly makes it as one of the most portable best wireless speakers you can get in terms of longest battery life. The Kilburn speaker weighs slightly under 7 pounds which makes it lightweight enough for easy transportation; it also comes with a nice leather strap for you to take it around on the go. If you are looking for a stylish, vintage wireless speaker with very good sound and long lasting battery life, the Marshall Kilburn is an exceptional choice.
The sound on the Marshall Kilburn feels very good and high quality; it comes equipped with individual bass and treble tuning knobs on the top for you to adjust the sound performance according to your personal preference. The volume output on the Kilburn can get very high with its 4″ woofer and is clearly very good at filling at room with full-bodied sound without any distortion. The speaker itself is capable of producing deeper, cleaner bass with crisp highs and detailed mids, which makes a very enjoyable listening experience for a variety of music genres. We found that the sound is more bass-heavy than stereo speakers and is suited for those who enjoy listening to the deep low-end frequencies from rock and pop genres. That being said, because this speaker is designed with a single woofer, you will not get much stereo separation in the music but the upside is that you will get cleaner, much deeper bass without any distortion. The midrange on this speaker feels clean and detailed and the highs are crisp and well defined.
One feature that we really liked on the Marshall Kilburn was the treble and bass knobs which looked really classy and vintage. This brings back the “old-school” feeling when using this speaker, and we really liked the option of adjusting the bass and treble settings on the speaker itself. Adjusting the bass settings to maximum output can make the bass feel extremely deep and somewhat overwhelming at times, which is pretty incredible considering the small compact size of this speaker. The wireless connectivity on the Marshall Kilburn was very good and paired with our mobile device instantly; the connection is stable and does not have any performance dips while streaming music. On the whole, we would say that the amount of volume and sound quality that we got from this small portable speaker was definitely comparable to high end wireless speakers.
The Marshall Kilburn also comes with a aux input for non-wireless sources, although we would recommend running this with a USB sound amplifier to push the speaker drivers for the best sound. Running your audio sources through an amplifier will greatly enhance the sound performance through the Marshall speaker, although this may be a slight hassle to set up. That being said, this is highly recommended if you are considering driving this speaker using an aux input rather than through the wireless connection. The battery life on this speaker is nothing short of phenomenal and you can get an incredible 20 hours of solid music performance before having to recharge this speaker.
The Verdict? We were extremely impressed with the Marshall Kilburn and felt that every single detail about this speaker was carefully thought out by the manufacturers – from the carefully crafted vintage design to the elegant knobs on the top of the speaker and brilliant sound performance, we were simply blown away by the attention to detail and the classy vintage design. The sound performance on the Marshall Kilburn was very good, with crisp highs, detailed midrange and very good low end frequency reproduction. We also liked the option of being able to adjust the volume, bass and treble through the knobs on the top of the speaker and the knobs looked very stylish and pretty amazing. The speaker also comes with a nice leather strap which you can use to transport the speaker around conveniently. Overall, the Marshall Kilburn is definitely one of the best wireless speakers you can find with a vintage and classy design and superb sound performance, and we highly recommend them.
#11 Best Budget Wireless Speaker: TaoTronics Pulse X
The TaoTronics Pulse X is one of the best wireless speakers you can find at a budget price. It comes with dual built-in 7W high performance acoustic drivers for a combined total output of 14W pure power. The Pulse X features a 4000mAh rechargeable battery which delivers a whopping 8 hours of continuous playtime. The speaker has a stable, reliable and consistent wireless connection for uninterrupted audio performance from up to 33 feet away and also includes a nice 3.5mm jack for you to connect to non-wireless sources. The speaker is beautifully designed and supports hands free calls and dual Bluetooth connection for you to connect to up to 2 devices at a time. It also features responsive buttons on the top of the speaker which make it easy and intuitive to use. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers in terms of sound quality and battery life, the Pulse X comes as a great choice.
The sound quality on the Pulse X is very decent for a speaker of this small size. The highs and mids on this speaker are crisp and clear, and the speaker does emphasis quite a bit on the midrange performance. The maximum volume on the Pulse X is good enough to fill a large room with music. We really liked the rich sound coming from the dual front speakers and the little woofer at the back of the speaker also helped to enhance the bass response. This made listening to music on the Pulse X more enjoyable and quite a fun experience; you can instantly turn your place into a mini disco party with the Pulse X with its good audio performance and crisp sound. On the whole, we felt that this speaker has a rich and wide frequency range and pretty decent bass response. The stereo music on the Pulse X was also clean and detailed; and while there was a little distortion at maximum volume, this is really to be expected from a speaker of this small size.
Where the Pulse X really shines it is internal 4000mAh batteries which allow this speaker to play for a continuous period of 8 hours without interruption. This makes the Pulse X one of the most convenient and portable wireless speakers to carry around and play music anytime on the go – you don’t have to worry about the battery life running out on this speaker. The overall design of the Pulse X is also clean and sleek; the buttons on this speaker are very easy to push, and there are two rubber pads on the bottom of the speaker to prevent it from sliding around while playing music at higher volumes. The speaker weighs a mere couple of pounds but feels really solid and durable on the outside.
The wireless connection on the Pulse X works like a charm and it will pair to virtually almost any wireless mobile device, iPad, iPhone or laptop. Once the speaker is turned on, simply find the “Pulse X” on your phone and pair it to the speaker and you will hear a tone indicating that the speaker has connected. The connection speed is also fast and stable, and we did not experience any dips or drops in performance while using the speaker. There is an LED indicator on the top of the speaker to indicate power, charging and connection status. You can charge the Pulse X by connecting it to a micro USB cord. There will be a small red light that comes on when the speaker charges and will turn off once it is fully charged. The speaker also comes with an included 3.5mm audio cable for you to connect to non-wireless music sources, which is a nice added touch.
The Verdict? We were very impressed with the overall design, portability and sound quality of the Pulse X, which exceeded our expectations for a speaker of this size. It is truly one of the best wireless speakers you can find that delivers superb sound performance at a budget price, and has virtually all the functionality and portability that you need in a wireless speaker. The sound performance on this speaker is also crisp and clean, with detailed midrange and decent bass response which is amplified by the passive bass radiator at the back of the speaker. The battery life on this speaker is a whopping 8 hours of battery life, which means that you can take it virtually anywhere without having to worry about the battery running out. At the time of writing, the Pulse X is a really popular speaker that delivers superb sound performance, so don’t forget to check it out!
#12 Best Frequency Range: Music Angel 12W Wireless Speaker
The Music Angel is a high performance wireless speaker that delivers enhanced sound performance with the latest wireless technology. The speaker features 12W dual acoustic drivers and a two-channel enhanced bass module which provides strong bass without distortion at maximum volume. The speaker is designed to be lightweight and weighs just under 15 ounces, which makes it easy and convenient to store and carry around. It comes with a built-in rechargeable 1800mAh battery which provides an incredible 12 hours of continuous music playback and can be recharged in 2-3 hours. The Music Angel features Bluetooth 4.0 technology which allows you to connect to all wireless mobile devices from up to 33 feet away; the speaker also reconnects automatically to the last device used. If you are looking one of the most versatile best wireless speakers on the market, the Music Angel is definitely a great choice.
The sound performance of the Music Angel is incredible for a speaker in this price range. The sound quality is extremely good and you can literally feel the bass in some of the sounds; it has a very nice and rich sound for a speaker of this size. The speaker does produce decent tight bass which is pretty amazing – it made listening to rock and pop music come to live, and we could hear the beats in the music which made it quite an enjoyable listening experience. The stereo speakers sounded crisp and clean and did produce a reasonable soundstage; vocal performances sounded open and clear on the Music Angel, and you can hear the crisp instrumental notes and tunes played on this speaker. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers with excellent sound reproduction, the Music Angel will deliver a truly enjoyable listening experience.
The Music Angel will connect to virtually any wireless mobile device and pair instantly. It can also play music from an inserted micro-SD card which is great if you don’t want to use the wireless connectivity. This makes the Music Angel one of those few speakers which can play directly from a micro SD card or through wireless connectivity. The speaker does feel solid and durable, but lightweight enough for easy portability and transportation in a small backpack. The Music Angel is packaged in a high quality box and comes with a charging cord and a nice carrying bag to take it around.
We really liked the sleek and convenient design of the Music Angel – the curvature design makes this speaker easy to pick up and carry around, and the buttons at the top of the speaker are rubberized which gave it a nice texture. The speaker is beautifully designed and it can actually blend into your home or room environments easily. It also comes in multiple colors to choose from to suit your preferences.
Where the Music Angel really shines is its incredible 1800mAh rechargeable battery which can provide an incredible 10 to 12 hours of continuous playtime. This means that you can take this speaker along to a party and play it all evening without having to worry about the battery life. To top it off, it also comes with multiple built in features such as a built-in microphone for hands free calling and the 3.5mm auxiliary input. We were able to take calls on this speaker by switching the audio to the Music Angel. This is especially convenient for those who prefer to listen to music while driving and taking calls on the go.
The Verdict? We were overall very impressed by the rich and nice sound from the Music Angel, together with its decent bass response. It’s one of the best wireless speakers you can find which delivers great sound performance and versatility in such a small package. The highs and mids on this speaker are crisp and well defined, and vocal performances sounded smooth and refined. The bass impact was certainly there and felt tight and impactful, which is pretty impressive. The battery life on the Music Angel can deliver a whopping 10 to 12 hours of continuous music playtime and the buttons on the top of the speaker are easy and intuitive to use. Overall, the Music Angel is highly value for money and one of the best wireless speakers you can find in terms of sound performance.
#13 Largest Sound Output: The Aiwa Exos-9 Wireless Speaker
The Aiwa Exos-9 is one of the best wireless speakers for home theatre and massive sound performance. The Exos-9 can pump out a massive 200Ws of power with its 5 high performance acoustic drivers, and includes a 6.5” dual-voice coil subwoofer which delivers incredible stereo sound. You can optimize the sound performance by adjusting the bass, mids or highs with the 5-band graphic equalizer or use one of the pre-set EQ settings that suits your sound preference. Apart from the intricate customization options, the Exos-9 is capable of producing distortion free sound with the deepest bass that you will hear from a set of wireless speakers. It also features the latest wireless connectivity technology with aptX and A2DP support and android NFC streaming, and also supports a 3.5mm audio jack for direct connection with non-wireless sources. The battery on the Exos-9 is a massive 57.2Wh lithium ion rechargeable battery which provides an incredible 9 hours of continuous music playback. At the time of writing, the Exos-9 is selling at a good price point and is hands down one of the best wireless speakers you can find that delivers massive home-theatre-like sound performance at a fraction of the price.
The sound of the Exos-9 is exceptionally good and hard to believe. These speakers are designed to literally rock a party with a massive 200W of pure audio authority. The bass is rich, powerful and clear, and never muddy. The midrange is present and crisp, and the highs are not overbearing. At maximum volume, the Exos-9 can literally shake your house and the sound does not distort even in the slightest, which is truly impressive for a battery powered speaker. The music separation on this speaker is fantastic and you can really hear the instruments and subtle notes in the music. The bass output is quite insane – the bass is tight and punchy and stays where it should be at the low-end without bleeding over into the midrange. Listening to rock and pop songs on the Exos-9 was one of the most enjoyable experiences we had in audio listening.
One of the reasons why the Exos-9 sounds so good is because of its 6 internal acoustic drivers that maintain a sense of balance between the highs and the midrange, keeping them present and detailed. The 6.5” inch dual-coil subwoofer also enhances the bass response and creates a sonic low-end that makes your music literally jump out of the speaker. The end result is phenomenal sound performance that makes the Exos-9 suitable for home-theatre setups to provide cinematic sound. We were truly impressed with the sound performance of this wireless speaker.
While the Exos-9 is slightly larger than most wireless speakers, it weighs a mere 13 pounds which makes it quite portable to carry around. The great thing about the Exos-9 is that you are able to link up two Exos-9s easily to provide either stereo separated (left and right) or dual stereo sound for extra sound performance. This makes it easy to setup for larger parties and gatherings with a larger dual sound performance. You can also customize the EQ settings for almost every genre of music and adjust the bass, midrange of treble settings. The drivers on this speaker do not distort at maximum volume and produces clean and crisp stereo sound. As mentioned above, the battery life on the Exos-9 is an incredible 9 to 10 hours of continuous playtime which makes it perfect for disco parties or large gatherings.
The Verdict? The Aiwa Exos-9 is one of the best wireless speakers you can ever get for the value and incredible sound performance. The manufacturers have so much trust that you will like this speaker that they have included a 1 year warranty on these speakers and a 60 day satisfaction guarantee. Not only were we so impressed with the sound performance, impactful bass and crisp highs on this speaker, you also have the added option of adjusting the EQ settings and pairing the Exos-9 with another Exos-9 for dual sound performance. It also comes with the latest wireless music streaming technology for high quality audio streaming. With its massive 200W of pure power and subwoofer, it is no surprise that the Exos-9 is really one of the best wireless speakers you can get at an affordable price with high end sound performance.
#14 Best Lightweight Wireless Speaker: The URPOWER
The URPOWER is one of the best wireless speakers equipped with seven kinds of music pulsating LED visual displays and superb sound performance. The acoustic drivers on this speaker are specially designed to deliver crisp and clean sound. It also features Bluetooth 3.0 technology for you to connect your mobile device instantly, and has a good connection range of up to 31 feet. The URPOWER is compatible with virtually all wireless mobile speakers and is also equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack for non-wireless music sources. The battery life on this speaker lasts a good 3.5 to 4 hours of playtime at 50% volume, and recharges under 3 hours using the included micro USB cable. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers with an intricate LED display and superb sound performance at a budget price, the URPOWER is definitely a speaker to consider.
The sound performance of the URPOWER was definitely better than we expected. It features a built-in high quality dual voice coil speakers which delivered bright treble, detailed midrange and deep bass response. The overall sound quality of the URPOWER was really crisp and detailed, and we liked how perfectly the bass and midrange is balanced. Although the bass is not the earth-shattering type of bass it was decent and certainly present throughout the music. The speaker can easily fill up a living room or kitchen with music at maximum volume and the sound has little to no distortion at close to maximum volume. On the whole, we would say that the sound quality on the URPOWER is of excellent quality and surpasses our expectations from a small speaker of this size.
The URPOWER is designed to be ultra-compact in size and can easily fit into a backpack, suitcase or travel bag. The built-in 800 mAH rechargeable battery provides a decent 3.5 to 4 hours of playtime on a single charge, and can be easily recharged by connecting the speaker to a power outlet via a micro USB cable. We also liked the rubber-like casing around the speaker which increases its durability and provides some stability when playing music at maximum volume. It also comes with a built-in microphone for easy hands free calling and intuitive controls on the top of the speaker to adjust the volume, skip tracks and power on or off.
The unique feature of the URPOWER is its built-in 21 RGB LED lights, which features a total of 7 kinds of pulsating LED visual display modes which vary according to the music played. This makes the URPOWER one of the most visually stunning wireless speakers with its flashy LED display – we also liked the option of changing the LED visual patterns while cycling through the music soundtracks. It also gives you the option to power off the LED display where required to save battery power. The speaker is also designed to be sleek and modern looking and will blend in easily into your home décor. The entire package comes with a micro USB cable, 3.5mm audio cable for auxiliary input for non-wireless music sources, and a detailed instruction manual.
The Verdict? The URPOWER is one of the best wireless speakers with its visually stunning LED display, superb sound performance and sleek design at a budget price. The sound performance on the URPOWER is incredible smooth, crisp and detailed, and we really liked the fact that there was some emphasis on the bass and midrange which made our music come to live. The wireless connectivity on the URPOWER is flawless and we did not experience any dips or drops in sound performance while connected to our mobile device – the connection to our wireless device was near instantaneous and easy to configure. The unique LED display on this speaker was visually stunning and it also comes with the option to change the visual patterns on the speaker, which is pretty cool if you are intending to use this speaker for a disco party or under dim light conditions. It also comes with a nice and sleek rubber coated exterior design which enhances the overall durability of the speaker. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers with a visually stunning LED display at a budget price, the URPOWER speaker definitely comes highly recommended.
#15 Best Waterproof Wireless Speaker: Photive M90
The Photive M90 is an incredibly tough and one of the best wireless speakers that pumps out a solid 20Ws of pure power. This speaker combines 20W of acoustic drivers with a passive subwoofer to amplifier higher and lower bass frequencies, giving you more power and sound than other portable wireless speakers. Furthermore, the M90 is IPX5 certified waterproof and shockproof, which means that you can take it virtually anywhere beside the beach, pool or house parties and it will easily rock a small to medium sized party with powerful music. It also features a beautifully crafted design with polished aluminium grills, rubberized exteriors and sturdy hand carry above the speaker. The battery life on this speaker lasts a whopping 10 hours on a single charge which is plenty of time to keep the speaker going through long hours into the night. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers available with full rugged protection and 20W of power, the Photive M90 will not disappoint.
The Photive M90 is capable of producing thumping stereo sound with crisp, clear audio powered by its dual 10W drivers. It also features bass matching technology for enhanced bass performance which enhances the low end frequency response on your soundtracks, making the music literally come to live. The sound quality on the M90s is very good, and you can hear the details in the music very well with crisp highs and good midrange. Playing rock and electronic music through the M90 felt as though we were having a large speaker in the room. The great thing about the M90 is that you can turn it up to maximum volume and it will play music without any distortion; the sound will easily fill up a large room and is perfect for gatherings or parties. We found that the M90 is also able to produce decent separation of sound with a good sound stage presence, which is pretty good for a speaker of this size.
The design of the Photive M90 is modern and minimalist, with a rubberized finish on the speaker which makes it more durable and resistant to the outdoor elements. It also has a nice aluminium grill which covers the acoustic drivers, giving the speaker a nice sleek and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The speaker itself contains a powerful 5000mAh rechargeable battery which can easily provide up to 8 to 10 hours of continuous music playtime depending on the volume of the speaker. We also liked the fact that this speaker is designed to be shockproof and water resistant, which means that you can take it virtually anywhere on the go without worrying about damaging the speaker.
The M90 comes with nice rubberized buttons at the top for you to adjust the volume settings or power on or off, or turn on the wireless connection. It also features a nice sturdy rubberized handle for easy transportation and a built-in screw mount at the bottom of the speaker for you to attach it to a tripod while streaming music. The wireless connectivity on the M90 is very good, and we were able to connect it to our wireless mobile device to stream music almost instantly. The M90 features a dedicated subwoofer at the back of the speaker which enhances the bass response. The entire package comes with the M90 speaker, micro USB cable, 3.5mm auxiliary cable and a detailed instruction manual.
The Verdict? The Photive M90 is one of the best wireless speakers with an incredible combined 20W sound performance and rugged exterior design. This speaker will last for around 8 to 10 hours on a single charge which provides plenty of time for music parties and gatherings. In addition, we really liked the sleek and modern design of this speaker with polished aluminium grills at the front and rubberized exterior for enhanced durability. It even comes with a dedicated subwoofer at the back of the speaker to produce the deep-low end while playing music. The speaker has little to no distortion at close to maximum volume, and it can easily fill up a large room with ear throbbing sound without any issues. The Photive M90 is a really good wireless speaker that is definitely worth checking out.
#16 Best Medium-Sized Speaker: Holan Stereo Wireless Speaker
The Holan Stereo wireless speaker is capable of producing stunning cinematic sound with its two 57mm, 10W acoustic drivers and an integrated passive radiator for extra deep bass. The sound performance on the Holan is incredible, with smooth highs, crystal clear midrange and deep impactful bass. This makes streaming music or watching movies with the Holan speaker particularly enjoyable and entertaining to listen to. It also features Bluetooth 4.0 technology for instantaneous wireless pairing with your mobile devices or music sources, and also features a 3.5mm audio jack to connect to non-wireless sources. The speaker has a semi-circular design which looks stunning and aesthetically pleasing from almost any angle with its polished finish. It’s definitely one of the best wireless speakers you can find for home use that will easily blend into your home décor with its sleek and modern appearance.
The sound performance of the Holan speakers was much better than we expected. The Holan features a unique loudspeaker cavity structure with two 57mm, 10W dynamic drivers to deliver premium acoustic sound with minimal distortion. The result is that the sound feels really premium and high quality, with detailed and crisp highs and a smooth midrange that feels present in the music. The dual combined output of 20W means that the Holan speakers will have no difficulty filling up a large room or space with music – you could easily power a disco party in the living room with these wireless speakers. We also loved the fact that the music sounds clear and crisp at full volume, with no static or distortion. The bass response on the Holan speaker is nice and punchy but not overpowering, and definitely made listening to electronic and rock music quite an enjoyable experience. Overall, the Holan speaker definitely delivers a premium sound experience that is comparable to higher end speakers at a fraction of the price.
The Holan Stereo supports Bluetooth 4.0 connection with NFC technology which remembers your wireless mobile device after the first pairing so that it automatically connects every time they are in range of each other. In addition, the speaker has a built in microphone for you to take hands free calls on the go. That being said, the downside of the Holan speaker is that it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet for it to power on, which may not be suitable for those who need a wireless speaker for portable usage. This may be suitable for those who intend to use the Holan speaker for streaming audio at home or for watching movies. The sleek and elegant appearance of the Holan speaker with its polished finish does make it blend in easily into the house décor, making it ideal to compliment home theatre setups.
We had no issues with the wireless connectivity on this speaker and it paired instantly to our mobile device. The music streaming was stable and clean and we did not experience any drops or static interference while playing music. The music sounded clear, well balanced and detailed and we only experienced slight connectivity issues from a distance above 30 feet. The entire package comes with the Holan speaker, a power supply, 3.5mm auxiliary cable, quick start guide and a 12 month free warranty, which is testament to how much the manufacturers stand behind this product.
The Verdict? The Holan Stereo is one of the few best wireless speakers that is able to produce stunning cinematic sound. Its dual 10W drivers are capable of producing extremely detailed midrange, crisp highs and deep lows that makes the music sound rich and crystal clear. The total power output of this speaker is an incredible 20W of pure power which is enough to host a small disco party in your home and rock the neighbors – it can easily go up to maximum volume without any distortion or deterioration in sound quality. Furthermore, this speaker features a sleek semi-circular design that looks aesthetically pleasing and will blend into most modern home decors without any issues. The wireless connectivity on this speaker is stable and intuitive to use, and also features Bluetooth 4.0 with NFC pairing technology which remembers your mobile device. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers for home use at a budget price, the Holan Stereo is our favorite choice.
#17 Best High End: Libratone ZIPP Wireless Speaker
The Libratone ZIPP is some of the best wireless speakers that feature a full 360 degree sound and up to a whopping 100 watts of pure power. The sound performance of the ZIP is pretty remarkable, with the its acoustic drivers able to produce deep bass, full midrange, and crisp highs from multiple wireless music sources. The battery life of the ZIPP can produce an incredible 10 hours of continuous playtime on a single charge, and is easily portable with its convenient carrying handle. The speaker is capable of streaming music from a variety of wireless sources including Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect. It also comes with a nice Libratone app which allows you to pair up to 6 ZIPPs together to create an immersive and wide listening experience in multiple rooms. The ZIPP has a very unique circular design and shape which helps to distribute the sound in a 360 degree fashion, which means that you can place the speaker virtually anywhere and it can fill a room with music easily. The ZIPP is easily one of the best wireless speakers if you are looking to stream music over a variety of music sources with an incredible 100Ws of power.
The ZIPP speakers do a good job of producing 360 degree surround sound with its 4” neodymium woofer and 2 X 1” tweeters, which gives a very wide and dynamic coverage in a large room or an open space. The sound quality on these speakers is very good, with dynamic highs, detailed midrange and impactful bass. The bass on this speaker is enhanced with its 2 X 4” low frequency radiators. At maximum volume, the sound from the ZIPP speakers can easily fill up a large room and is perfect for disco parties or just playing music in a large room. The app is particularly handy for you to adjust the equalizer settings with different kinds of sound profiles to emphasize the treble, bass or vocals depending on your audio preferences. We really enjoyed playing all genres of music through this speaker and the music sounded smooth, detailed with deep bass – in fact, we would go as far as to say that these speakers sounded on par with high end speakers given its size. The 360 degree sound is also quite effective and you can pair up multiple ZIPPs together to enhance the soundstage and audio dispersion.
The interesting thing about the ZIPP speakers is that you can pair two of these speakers with each other using the app and set them both at full 360 degree sounding to get a wider soundstage, or use them as separate left or right channel speakers. This is pretty handy if you want to set up a mini home theatre system using the ZIPP speakers to achieve surround sound. Furthermore, these speakers have a great connectivity range and can pair with Wifi, AirPlay, laptops, Android devices and Spotify Connect to stream your favorite music. You can save your favorite radio stations and Spotify playlists, and then play them on the touch interface of the ZIPP or in the app. You also have the option of toggling between the Spotify app and iTunes on your laptop by pressing the Airplay button, which is really convenient and intuitive to use.
We really liked the design of the Liberatone ZIPP with its sleek and modern circular shape. The speaker feels very portable and is specially designed for you to take it with you on the go – it even comes with a nice handle at the side for you to carry it. The battery life on this speaker lasts a phenomenal 10 hours on a single charge and will fully recharge in 3-4 hours after plugging it into an electrical outlet. We also liked the fact that you can interchange the covers on this speaker to swap the colors. It also comes with a host of extras such as the nice touch interface, speakerphone for hands free calling, gesture detection and internet radio.
The Verdict? You simply cannot go wrong with the Liberatone ZIPP with its stunning 100Ws of power and 360 degree sound dispersion. Its hands down one of the best wireless speakers that you can find if you need plenty of sound to fill up a large room for a disco party or a large gathering. We also liked the fact that you can pair up to 6 of these speakers together to create a larger soundstage and field of dispersion over multiple rooms. The sound quality on the ZIPP speakers is also excellent, with crisp highs, detailed mids and a punchy low-end that does not sound muddy. The app that comes with this speaker is also very intuitive and convenient to use, and can be used to easily pair the speaker with a variety of wireless music sources including Wifi or Airplay. Although slightly on the more expensive range, the ZIPP is one of the best wireless speakers you can find that will truly deliver a superior sound experience that you will enjoy.
#18 Best for Travel: Comiso 30W Bamboo Wood Wireless Speaker
The Comiso speakers are some of the best wireless speakers capable of producing a ear-throbbing 30Ws of the power to provide full-spectrum audio clarity and deep bass. These speakers feature advanced digital signal processing technology which ensures consistency in sound quality and captures the details in the music. The Comiso has a built-in 5200mAh rechargeable battery which can deliver an amazing 20 hours of continuous playtime at mid-level volume and you can charge the speaker with a USB cable. It also features a built-in mic for you to take hands free calls and Bluetooth 4.0 technology with an excellent range of 33 feet. The speaker also has nice voice prompts which provide instructions for you to pair the speaker with your smartphone and automatically reconnects to your mobile device the next time you turn them on. Overall, the Comiso is one of the best wireless speakers capable of delivering a stunning audio performance and is now selling at a good price.
The sound performance of the Comiso is really exceptional for a speaker of this size. The acoustic drivers are able to produce a total of 30Ws of pure power which really makes the music come to live – the speaker will be able to easily fill up a large room with music without any distortion at maximum volume. The bass response on this speaker was also very good and it has a nice subwoofer punch to the sound. The quality of the sound is also very good – we were able to hear the details in the music clearly and the midrange sounded present and detailed throughout. Vocal performances on this speaker were brought to live with crisp highs and nice treble, while instrumental music sounded smooth and refined with decent sound separation. The bamboo wood design on this speaker also somewhat enhances the bass response by increasing the bass resonance, giving that extra kick to electronica and rock music genres. We were overall very impressed and pleased with the sound performance of the Comiso.
The Comiso has versatile wireless connectivity and pairs easily with Apple TV, MacBook, android, iPhone and widows mobile devices. It features nice interactive buttons at the top of the speaker allowing you to adjust the volume, skip songs and pause/play. The speakers are also made from Bamboo wood and feel really very high quality – it is also of a nice portable size which makes it convenient to carry around in a small bag while travelling or on the go. The speaker will blend into your modern home décor and it matches nicely with the texture of wooden furniture in the room.
The Comiso speaker features a built-in microphone for you to take hands free calls and the battery life lasts a very long time of up to 20 hours on a single charge, which is pretty amazing. The entire package comes with a USB cord and an aux cord for you to connect non-wireless music sources to the speaker. It also comes with a nice carrying bag which you can use to easily transport this speaker around. Overall, we really liked the design and sound performance of this speaker; it is one of the most chic and modern looking wireless speakers we have come across.
The Verdict? The Comiso is one of the best wireless speakers you can find in terms of sound performance featuring a modern bamboo wood design. The speaker itself feels very premium and high quality, and is able to stream music from a variety of wireless music sources including Apple TV, MacBook and mobile devices. The sound performance on the Comiso is really exceptional, producing crisp highs, detailed midrange and deep bass with its integrated passive subwoofers. The acoustic drivers have the ability to pump out a combined total of 30W of pure power, making it perfect for parties or large gatherings at home. To top it off, the Comiso is made from hand crafted bamboo wood, giving it a very unique and chic design that will blend easily into your home décor. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers at a decent price, the Comiso is definitely a great choice.
#19 Best Portable Sound: Logitech UE Boombox Wireless Speaker
The Logitech UE Boombox is one of the best wireless speakers you can find that delivers a truly phenomenal sound experience. The UE Boombox has a unique sound signature and delivers a superb sound performance with its 4 custom-tuned drivers and 4 passive bass radiators – it has 2 tweeters for crisp highs, 2 woofers for warm and detailed midrange and 4 passive radiators to enhance the bass response. It also comes with a built-in rechargeable battery which delivers a nice 6 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge. The UE Boombox features an elegant, durable design with its die cast aluminium handle, stainless steel grill and toughened rubber protective casing. You can also connect and toggle between different wireless mobile devices at the same time, allowing you to switch between your favorite soundtracks with ease. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that deliver insanely good and detailed sound, the UE Boombox will not disappoint.
The sound performance of the Logitech UE Boombox is pretty phenomenal and it sounds great in a large room. The speaker produces extremely clear highs, detailed midrange and very deep bass – the bass gets very deep and powerful when the UE Boombox is placed near a wall to increase the bass resonance. The volume on this speaker goes way beyond anything we have heard so far, and is actually too much for most rooms at full volume. That being said, the sound does not distort at close to maximum volume and this speaker will produce decent bass to accompany the music; it is good enough for you to use this speakers in an open space without any issues. Compared with other speakers such as the Bose SoundLink II, this speaker has a much clearer high end and detailed midrange which made the music really come to live. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers with exceptional sound performance, the Logitech UE Boombox comes close to perfect.
The UE Boombox is beautifully constructed and is designed to be highly portable which means that you can take this virtually anywhere on the go. It also comes with a nice aluminium handle for you to carry this speaker around by your side. You can also connect up to three mobile devices to this speaker at the same time and toggle between them to change the music. The wireless range on this speaker is a good 50ft which is pretty impressive. While the battery only lasts 6 hours, this is quite good considering how powerful the UE Boombox is – the battery consumption on this speaker can get very high due to its power hungry acoustic drivers. The entire package comes together with an included AC adapter for you to charge the speaker on the go.
Although the price of the UE Boombox is on the expensive side, we would say that this speaker still deserves a spot on this list because of its phenomenal sound performance. The sound quality on this speaker is practically unmatched – the level of detail in the midrange, the crisp highs and subtle notes will be picked up by this speaker. The result is that you will hear music exactly as how the artist intended it. The bass on this speaker has the depth and range that few speakers can actually match. You can also easily adjust the EQ settings on this speaker to tune it to suit your music preferences.
The Verdict? Although the UE Boombox is on the expensive side, it is hands down one of the best wireless speakers in terms of sound performance. With a total of 8 custom drivers in this speaker, the sound performance doesn’t really get better than this, which intensely crisp highs, detailed midrange and deep low end that will literally shake your room. This speaker does not distort even at maximum volume, and the sound remains very clear and detailed over a broad frequency spectrum. We also liked the sleek and modern design of this speaker which gives it a very aesthetically appealing appearance. It is also designed partially for portability and has a built in aluminium hand carry for you to take it on the go. The UE Boombox is truly one of the best wireless speakers you can find purely for the sound performance, and we are pretty sure you’ll as impressed as we are.
#20 Best Sound System: Klipsch KMC 3 Wireless Speaker
The Klipsch KMC 3 is one of the best wireless speakers you can find with an amazing 130 watts of digital system power. This speaker features dual 2” full range drivers that produce incredibly detailed sound, together with a 5.25 inch subwoofer combined with a dual port system for deep bass reproduction. The KMC 3 is compatible with smartphones, portable music players and laptops and comes with AptX technology for high quality music streaming. It also features advanced DSP equalization for accurate sound reproduction for all music genres. The speaker also comes with a 3.5mm input which allows you to play music from non-wireless music sources, and USB inputs to charge your smartphones and portable music devices. To top it off, the KMC 3 comes with a nice remote control for you to conveniently control the volume and playlists while playing music. The KMC 3 is one of the best wireless speakers available for home use and can double as a 2.1 wireless home music system for party-level sound.
The sound performance of the Klipsch KMC 3 is very impressive. The KMC 3 is capable of producing a frequency response down to 45Hz, meaning that it can deliver rich, full bass right down to that level while playing music. Sound performances on this speaker from the electronica and rock genres will sound exceptionally good and you can literally feel the detailed bottom end frequency response on this speaker. The bass notes has projection and authority, and does not sound muddy or bleed into the mids. The highs and midrange on this speaker are very crisp and detailed and sound extremely clean. The treble on this speaker was also decent and gave a nice sparkle to the music. Overall, the sound performance on the Klipsch KMC 3 was really good with almost every single music genre we tested and we thoroughly enjoyed the detailed and great sounding audio from these speakers.
The interesting thing about the design of the KMC 3 is that they feature dual 2” full range drivers which are internally chambered to minimise distortion, and provide a clean and highly balanced sound up to 24kHz and down to 40Hz with its dual-flare port system and subwoofer. It also comes with an incredible 130Ws of bi-amped digital amplification with DSP equalization which maintains a certain level of consistency in the sound quality. These speakers sound extremely good straight out of the box and will accurately play whatever genre of music that you can throw at it without any issues. The sound does not distort at maximum volume and remains clear and crisp, although the speaker may start to vibrate due to the amount of bass reproduced at that level of volume.
The design of the KMC 3 is minimalist and portable – it has a built-in handle which makes the KMC 3 easy to transport around. The speaker will power on when plugged into an electrical outlet, although you can also power the speaker through 8 “D” cell batteries. The speaker also comes with a nice remote control which can control the volume, muting and soundtracks while connected to wireless music streaming sources. The wireless connection with the KMC 3 was very good and we did not experience any dips or drops in sound performance while pairing with our mobile device. The wireless streaming is also very high quality and you can feel that consistency in audio quality from the sound performance of the KMC 3.
The Verdict? The Klipsch KMC 3 is one of the best wireless speakers that excel in producing extremely good sound, deep bass and detailed midrange with unparalleled clarity. The sound is so good and clear that it will literally reintroduce you to your favorite soundtracks – the sound quality distinction between the KMC 3 and your average wireless speaker cannot be starker. You will literally pick up details in the music which you never heard before, and the bass response on this speakers are quite phenomenal. The bass tight and punchy, and never overbearing or muddy – listening to electronica and rock genres with the KMC 3 was sheer pleasure. The design of the KMC 3 is also very clean and minimalist, and comes with hand carry for convenient transportation. While the KMC 3 does lean towards a more expensive price tag, it’s definitely one of the best wireless speakers you can get if you don’t mind paying extra for an incredible sound experience.
#21 Runner Up: Meidong Wireless Speaker
The Meidong is one of the best wireless speakers that is capable of delivering crystal clear sound performance. It comes with 4 X 2W high quality acoustic drivers with an amplifier IC boost to increase the volume by up to 50%. It is also able to produce balanced, rich bass with a passive subwoofer design at the back of the speaker. The speaker is primarily designed for portability with a nice compact size, which means that you can take this wireless speaker around with ease. It also comes with the latest Bluetooth technology with A2DP wireless streaming for fast and stable connection. The wireless connectivity on this speaker is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod, Samsung phones, Kindle, Echo dot and tablets, with an additional 3.5mm auxiliary cable for non-wireless music sources. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers that can deliver good decent sound performance at a budget price, the Meidong is a great option.
The sound quality of the Meidong is very good for a speaker of this size and budget. The speaker has 4 integrated low-impedance drivers which deliver distortion free sound with good clarity. The bass response on the music is decent, and is enhanced by the passive subwoofer – although you shouldn’t expect too much bass from a speaker of this size. We really liked the clarity and detail of the music that came with the stereo speakers – the music sounded clean and clear, and you can also pick up subtle details in the music which shows how good the acoustic drivers are. The sound quality on this speaker is also very good and we enjoyed listening to our favorite soundtracks on the Meidong. It can also fill up a medium sized room with music at close to maximum volume without any distortion.
The wireless connectivity on the Meidong works like a charm. It features the latest Bluetooth 4.1 technology for compatibility and pairing speed. The wireless connection on this speaker is smooth and stable, and we did not notice any dips or drops in sound quality while streaming music from our mobile device. In addition, the Meidong comes with a built-in microphone for hands-free calling and a TF card port to store music. The design of the Meidong is simple and minimalist, but does look quite sleek and modern and blends in easily into home décor. It’s a great wireless speaker to have on your bookshelf or in the living room.
The Verdict? The Meidong is one of the best wireless speakers for those looking for an inexpensive option, but still want a certain level of audio quality in their music. For such an affordable price, the Meidong does manage to pull in the best of both worlds by achieving very good sound performance together with a stunning portable design. Although the sound quality is not top of the line and the bass response may not be the best, it certainly does perform very well for a speaker of this size. You can tell that the manufacturers really put in a lot of attention to detail to ensure that the Meidong speaker works just as intended. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers on a budget price, the Meidong definitely comes close to perfection.
#22 Runner-Up: Bluedio BS-3 Wireless Speaker
The Bluedio BS-3 is one of the best wireless speakers for those looking for an inexpensive speaker for home use. The speaker is designed with 3 magnetic acoustic drivers which play very crisp and clear audio with full frequency coverage from 20Hz to 20KHz. The speaker also has an interesting 3D sound feature which extends the stereo stage for a much fuller sound. The wireless connectivity on this speaker is very good, and it is compatible with smartphones, tablets or Bluetooth mp3 players with a wireless range of up to 32 feet. The speaker is intricately designed and has great portability for you to take it on the go. The battery life on this speaker lasts a good 5 hours on a single charge, and takes approximately 3 hours to recharge. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers at an affordable price, the Bluedio BS-3 is worth considering.
The sound performance of the Bluedio BS-3 is nice and crisp. The sound does not feel cheap and feels quite high quality. These speakers are capable of pumping out sound with a nice treble and good deal of sparkle, with detailed midrange and decent bass. We were quite surprised with the bass response on this speaker as it hits hard but does not get too overpowering. When the 3D feature is turned on, you can notice a better soundstage and musical separation in the notes and beats. You can also adjust the volume on this speaker to maximum and it will play music without any distortion; the sound can easily fill up a small to medium sized room with music. We would describe the overall sound profile of the Bludio speaker as bass heavy with detailed midrange and audible highs. There is a richness to the music quality that’s hard to exactly pin point, but it does sound very good once you have listened to this speaker for a couple of hours.
The build quality on the Bluedio speaker is top notch, and we were very impressed at how solid and well-crafted this speaker is. The buttons are covered by silicone rubber and well labelled, and the over design of the speaker feels solid and durable. The speaker also looks quite premium and blends in easily into home décor with its sleek and modern appearance. The Bluedio is also equipped with a built-in microphone for you to take hands free calls while streaming music. The battery life on this speaker lasts a good 5 hours of continuous music playtime before having to recharge.
The Verdict? While the Bluedio BS-3 is not designed to be a high end speaker, it certainly does have the look and sound performance of one. It’s definitely one of the best wireless speakers you can get for the price with superb sound performance and aesthetically pleasing design. The sound quality, packaging and design of this speaker are top notch and you can tell that the manufacturers really put in a lot of effort to make sure that this speaker delivers as promised. The entire package comes with a micro USB charging cable, audio cable and user friendly manual for you to navigate the controls. We were quite surprised that the Bluedio BS-3 managed to deliver an incredible sound experience at just the fraction of the price. If you are looking for one of the best wireless speakers on a budget, the Bluedio BS-3 will surely not disappoint.
Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi?
Contrary to popular belief, Bluetooth streaming is actually different from Wi-Fi streaming. Wi-Fi streaming is what your laptops and tablets use to stream data over the internet, and Wi-Fi connectivity is generally better at producing better, high quality sound performance. Why? Because Wi-Fi streaming is able to stream more data per second and is therefore suited for high quality soundtracks (think FLAC format soundtracks). This means that wireless speakers with Wi-Fi streaming enabled will generally deliver more detailed and richer sound than its Bluetooth counterparts.
Bluetooth streaming, by contrast, was originally created to transfer data between mobile devices and takes up considerably less energy. That being said, some data may be lost over the transmission and affect the overall sound quality. Although wireless speakers with Bluetooth streaming enabled are capable of producing very good sound, the sound quality is generally not as good as Wi-Fi streaming. Most manufacturers are aware of this; however, since the majority of people use their mobile devices for Bluetooth streaming, most wireless speakers adapt to Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi. That is not to say that Bluetooth speakers should be avoided altogether – some of them feature aptX Bluetooth technology for better sound compression and high sound quality. This results in music quality that sounds virtually the same over Wi-Fi streaming and is discernible only by the sharpest of listeners and audiophiles.
We have listed some of the best wireless speakers with Wi-Fi connectivity above, so do check the list out for the best options available today.
The Winner: Wi-Fi
What about NFC Pairing?
Near Field Communication pairing is an added feature in most wireless speaker devices which helps the speaker resolve pairing issues with Android Smartphones and iPhones that use Bluetooth to connect and stream music. The rationale behind NFC pairing is effectively to help your mobile device remember and automatically pair with your wireless speaker the next time you switch it on. This makes wireless listening especially convenient once NFC is enabled; you simply turn on your wireless speaker and it will instantly pair with your mobile device (assuming that Bluetooth on your mobile device is switched on). The wireless speaker recognises the proprietary last paired mobile device and proceeds to pair on the go. This can practically save you a lot of time and hassle with pairing, and avoids instances when your mobile device and wireless speaker cannot seem to connect or discover each other on the network.
What is aptX streaming?
The aptX audio codec is a form of proprietary audio codec compression which delivers real-time streaming of lossy stereo audio over Bluetooth A2DP connections. “Lossy” means that it discards the audio data that are not essential to sound performance and only streams the data which directly impacts the sound. This provides, in short, better audio compression which ensures that the music files are streamed without loss in data quality – you can get “CD-like” sound quality through aptX compression which reduce audio-coding delays and lag issues. This translates into much better sound quality and wireless music streaming. Generally, aptX runs at 354 kbits per second and has a fixed 4:1 compression ratio to maximum sound performance.
That being said, aptX streaming is only available if both the wireless speaker and the audio source has the aptX codec enabled. Some of the wireless speakers above are aptX enabled, so you can pair them with your aptX enabled Bluetooth device to instantly stream high quality music.
While there has been no consensus in the audio industry on which is the best sound codec to use to stream music, it is also generally accepted that aptX does produce better sound quality, provided that the audio speakers which use it are fine-tuned enough to demonstrate the difference.
Battery Life
Although most of the wireless speakers on this list have generally very good battery life with an average of 8 hours of continuous music playtime on a single charge, the battery life generally depends on a single factor: the volume output. As such, how long the battery life in a wireless speaker will actually last depends on how much you use it and how much volume you intend to get out of it. Of course, don’t forget that turning on the speaker without streaming music will use the standby battery time (which is on average around 100 hours), which means that your speaker is also consuming battery during this time, but much less. Some of the very best wireless speakers are designed with extreme battery capacity and can even double as a USB power bank to charge your mobile devices. We feature some of the best wireless speakers with the longest battery life per charge above, so be sure to check these out. Remember, a speaker is only as portable as you can use it, so be sure to keep the battery life in mind when purchasing your next wireless speaker.