Tribit XSound is going: Despite being on the market for a few years now, the Tribit XSound Go remains one of the best Bluetooth speakers for the money. In addition to sounding decent for streaming your favorite music and more, this affordable Bluetooth speaker is also completely waterproof. It has received a few minor upgrades over the years.
JBL Pulse 5: JBL’s Pulse speaker is now in its fifth generation, and both the sound quality and the 360-degree light show have been improved. JBL has “extended the transparent exterior” to make the customizable light show look more impressive. (There’s a companion app for iOS and Android that lets you customize the colorful lighting effects.) The speaker is also IP67 dust- and waterproof and offers up to 12 hours of battery life at moderate volume levels.
Anchor Movement Tree: Anker’s more expensive Soundcore Motion Boom Plus (seen above) is a substantial sonic upgrade over the original Motion Boom, but this model remains a very good mini boombox for the money. Equipped with a carrying handle and weighing just over 4 pounds, it reminds me of one of those giant flashlights or “floating lanterns” that were fashionable 30 years ago or so. For the record, the Motion Boom actually floats and is completely waterproof with an IPX7 rating.
UE Hyperboom: Ultimate Ears’ Boom Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of sizes, but none are as large as the Hyperboom. A supersized wireless speaker that tips the scales at a hefty 13 pounds, the Hyperboom makes the UE Megaboom 3 look decidedly dwarfed. It’s not cheap, but its sound quality is better than many of the jumbo portable speakers on the market today. Read our review.
Marshall Will: Marshall’s diminutive mono Willen speaker is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Micro and other micro speakers like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 . Also like those speakers, it has an integrated strap at the base, so you can attach it to a backpack or even the handlebars of your bike. The 2-inch full-range driver and dual passive radiators pump out more sound than you might think for its small size, and it offers decent clarity and just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny (you can choose from three preset sound modes).
Tribit StormBox: The StormBox looks like a cross between a UE and a JBL speaker. We suspect that’s no coincidence. This fully waterproof speaker costs significantly less than the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6 and produces bigger sound. Its rechargeable battery gives you up to 20 hours of music playback and more. Tribit’s XSound speakers are arguably a better value, but the StormBox is more stylish.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd generation): A few years ago, Bang & Olufsen updated its dome-shaped aluminum-clad A1 speaker with improved battery life, better speakerphone performance (it now has a three-microphone array), and slightly improved sound. Not only is it the Danish company’s smallest wireless speaker, it’s also technically its most affordable.
Sonos Roam: Available in white or black for $179, the Roam is currently the smallest and most affordable Sonos speaker (if you don’t count those $99 Sonos-compatible Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi bookshelf speakers ), though it is quite expensive for a mini wireless speaker. This Sonos Roam model, like the larger Sonos Move 2 portable speaker, is equipped with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and can tap into an existing Sonos multi-room audio system and pair with other Series 2-compatible Sonos speakers.
Bose SoundLink Micro: While a bit pricey and due for an upgrade, the Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably decent for its small size, and delivers more bass than other portable speakers. It’s a fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker and comes in three colors, though the blue version seems hard to find.
Anker Soundcore Motion Plus: Anker’s Soundcore Motion Plus came out in 2019, but it’s still one of the best-sounding speakers available under $100. It’s larger than many mini Bluetooth speakers, but still compact. It sounds much fuller than many competitors in its price range, with more bass, more volume, and better clarity. It’s also fully waterproof (IPX7 rated) and supports the aptX streaming codec for devices like Samsung’s Galaxy phones that support it.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore:While the Beosound Explore is slightly overpriced for the sound quality it delivers, it’s a very good little speaker with a sleek, eye-catching design, is completely waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rating) and has an excellent battery life of up to 27 hours of music listening at medium volume.
Monoprice Sound Image 3: Monoprice typically makes fairly generic-looking electronics products, and the understated Soundstage 3 Bluetooth speaker probably won’t wow you with its design, though its minimalist aesthetic is appealing. I wouldn’t buy this speaker at its $250 MSRP, but it’s often marked down to closer to $150, where it represents a good value thanks to its ability to play big sound with strong bass and decent clarity, with 50 watts of power driving a 5.25-inch “concave aluminum cone woofer” flanked by two 1-inch silk dome tweeters. It has good connectivity options, too, including digital optical, 3.5mm analog, and RCA analog wired inputs that let you hook up your TV or other stereo component. There’s also a sub-out port.
Tribit XSound Mega: Tribit has made a number of Bluetooth speakers over the past few years that deliver a lot of sound for the money. Add the new XSound Mega to that list. Tribit is marketing the XSound Mega more as an outdoor speaker — it comes with a lanyard so you can carry it around like a mini boombox — but it works just as well indoors. It has an LED light show that you can turn on and off, and there are three EQ settings for the sound: XBass, Music, and Audiobook. Plus, it can double as a power bank to charge your mobile devices.
