Best Wireless Bluetooth Boom Boxes for 2023: Portable Pool and Beach Speakers, Ranked

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Anker’s unique Soundcore Movement Increase speaker (see under) has been on this checklist for some time and continues to be a good worth at a little bit greater than $100. However the new-for-2022 Movement Increase Plus is considerably improved, significantly when it comes to sound high quality. It is simply among the best new Bluetooth audio system of 2022. 

Weighing 5.29 kilos (nearly a pound greater than the Movement Increase), it makes use of Bluetooth 5.3 and is provided with upgraded twin 3.5-inch woofers and newly added twin 1-inch tweeters, delivering as much as 80 watts of audio output (60W for the woofers and 20W for the tweeters). Battery life is rated for 20 hours at average quantity ranges. It is also IP67 waterproof and dustproof and floats should you occur to drop it in a physique of water.

I used to be impressed with the sound high quality, which measures up properly towards a couple of costlier — and a few bigger — audio system on this checklist. You may tweak the sound profile (with EQ settings) and improve the speaker’s firmware in Anker’s Soundcore companion app for iOS and Android. I tended to go together with the bass increase engaged — there is a button on the speaker to activate it — and located that the speaker delivers full sound with good readability within the mids and highs and good bass definition. For its dimension, the speaker is ready to put out lots of sound and principally manages to keep away from distorting at increased volumes (I tended to maintain the amount within the 50-75% vary). 

For those who’re sitting inside a couple of toes of the speaker, there is a little bit of stereo separation. However should you actually need to up the sound high quality, you’ll be able to wirelessly pair two Soundcore Movement Increase Plus audio system to create an actual stereo pair. Be sure you apply the $20 instantaneous coupon when buying with Amazon to get the $160 value.

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Tribit is understood for its reasonably priced smaller Bluetooth audio system that ship superb sound high quality and options for the worth. Its new Stormbox Blast speaker is its first Bluetooth increase field speaker, and it delivers principally spectacular sound for its dimension and likewise has a built-in mild present and USB-out charging. 

Weighing in at 12 kilos (5.45 kg) with two 30-watt midwoofers and two 15W tweeters, it is mainly twice as heavy as Anker’s Movement Increase Plus (see above) and pumps out extra quantity and bass in comparison with that speaker, however lacks a little bit of readability. Additionally, the midrange — the place vocals stay — is a bit recessed at its XBass default setting (I most well-liked the Music EQ setting within the companion app, which is a little more balanced). The speaker’s firmware is upgradeable, and you’ll pair two Stormbox Blasts to create a stereo pair, which might enhance the sound significantly. 

Battery life is superb. It is rated at up 30 hours at average quantity ranges. And the speaker has an IPX7 ranking, which implies it is absolutely waterproof. Once more, just like the Soundcore by Anker Movement Increase Plus, the Tribit Stormbox Blast is an effective worth that measures up properly from a sound standpoint towards costlier JBL increase field audio system that arguably provide superior styling. Apply the $20 instantaneous coupon when buying with Amazon, to make sure you get the $180 value.

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The Soundcore by Anker Rave Get together 2 will be stood up vertically or laid down horizontally and incorporates a built-in mild present and deal with. Like different bigger audio system that boast increased energy rankings (on this case, 120 watts), this speaker must be charged with its personal AC adapter fairly than a USB-cable and has a USB-A out port on the again for charging your smartphone or every other gadgets that want some juice. 

Although it prices greater than Tribit’s Stormbox Blast, the 11.7-pound Rave Get together 2 is a extra attractively designed speaker and arguably sounds barely higher. Its two 4-inch woofers and two 2-inch tweeters ship aggressive, punchy sound with sufficient quantity to fill bigger rooms (the Tribit’s bass goes a little bit deeper, however I used to be fairly happy with this speaker’s low-end capabilities). For even larger sound, you’ll be able to wirelessly hyperlink a number of Rave Get together 2 and different Soundcore audio system that help the corporate’s PartyCast 2.0 characteristic. 

Whereas this speaker is not absolutely waterproof and may’t float like some audio system can, it is splash-proof, with an IPX4 ranking, and has a microphone enter with discrete acquire and reverb controls (no microphone is included). Within the companion app for iOS and Android, you’ll be able to customise the sound profile and light-weight present. Battery life is rated at as much as 16 hours, however that quantity will drop should you crank the amount.

I did suppose the sound held collectively fairly properly at increased volumes — it principally averted distorting — and the speaker is designed to play loudly open air. That mentioned, indoors the speaker sounds finest under 75 p.c quantity, until you are having a celebration, during which case all vital listening goes out the door. 

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JBL’s third-generation Boombox 3 options some design modifications from its predecessor’s, together with a brand new swankier deal with and a brand new three-way driver system that delivers clearer extra detailed sound and comparable spectacular bass efficiency, creating larger, richer sound total. I might simply hear the distinction when evaluating this mannequin to the Boombox 2. 

Whereas the battery life ranking stays the identical (as much as 24 hours at average quantity ranges), this Gen 3 mannequin contains Bluetooth 5.3 as a substitute of Bluetooth 5.1. Additionally, the speaker weighs about 1.7 kilos extra (14.7 kilos or 6.7 kg) and simply feels that rather more substantial. 

Just like the UE Hyperboom (see under), this has a USB-out port that means that you can cost exterior gadgets like your cellphone, and there is additionally an analog audio enter if you wish to go wired and join a tool with out utilizing Bluetooth connectivity (the Hyperboom provides an optical digital enter).

For out of doors use, I just like the design of the Boombox 3 higher than UE Hyperboom. The transportable Bluetooth speaker is less complicated to hold round and simply seems to be extra like an out of doors speaker. It is also absolutely waterproof and dustproof with an IPX67 ranking (the earlier mannequin was waterproof however did not have a dustproof ranking).

With the JBL Boombox 2, I felt that the speaker, whereas well-designed, did not fairly stay as much as its costly price ticket from a sound high quality standpoint. The Boombox 3 continues to be dear, however its sound now has a extra premium high quality to it — for transportable boomboxes anyway. And when you’ve got actually deep pockets, you’ll be able to hyperlink two collectively to create a stereo pair (or hyperlink a number of collectively to cowl a wider space with sound). 

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The JBL Partybox Encore Important is the corporate’s smallest PartyBox speaker so far however it’s nonetheless received some heft to it, weighing in at 13 kilos (5.9 kg). It is a 11.54 by 10.87 by 12.87-inch dice that has a hoop of sunshine over the driving force that pulsates and syncs to the beat of your music because it modifications colours. The Important is IPX4 splash-proof and has an built-in deal with for straightforward toting. 

Rated for 100 watts of energy (we all the time take energy rankings with a grain of salt), the speaker does not have fairly the amount or sound high quality of the step-up PartyBox 110 (see under). But it surely has a 5.25-inch woofer and two 1.75-inch tweeters and has loads of kick to it, and it is simpler to hold round. In that sense, it affords a pleasant steadiness between dimension and energy. 

Battery life is rated at 6 hours at average quantity ranges, and this speaker expenses with an included AC adapter. It additionally has a charge-out port on the again together with a microphone port if you wish to speak or sing to a crowd (microphone not included). 

To be clear, this can be a mono speaker that is designed to place out lots of sound (there is a bass increase mode) from a fairly sized design. You may wirelessly pair two of those audio system and get considerably higher sound (in stereo). However that might get a little bit dear.

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Launched in 2021, the PartyBox 110 packs some critical punch and delivers larger sound than a few of the transportable boombox audio system on this checklist, together with JBL’s personal Boombox 2 (see under). There’s an built-in deal with for toting the speaker, however the PartyBox 110 is fairly hefty, weighing in at 23 kilos and measuring barely greater than 22 inches tall. You may put this bluetooth increase field up vertically as proven within the image above or place it horizontally, because it has rubber toes on each side of the speaker.

It is rated for as much as 12 hours of playback time at average quantity ranges and has a redesigned mild present that syncs to the beat of your music (you’ll be able to customise the sunshine present from the speaker itself or use the JBL PartyBox companion app). 

The speaker has Bluetooth or a wired USB connection and there are guitar and mic inputs. It is also price noting that the speaker is IPX4 splash-proof and you’ll wirelessly hyperlink two PartyBox 110 audio system collectively for stereo sound. I did not check the stereo mode, however I used to be impressed with the sound of a single PartyBox 110 — this bluetooth machine places out a number of well-defined bass with good total readability within the highs and mids — and I believe that pairing two of those collectively can be fairly superior. 

I additionally preferred how the speaker has no exterior AC adapter brick and solely requires a twine for charging (the ability adapter is within the speaker). For longer events throughout which you are actually cranking the tunes, you’d need to plug the speaker in if potential. But it surely does ship sufficient quantity to fill a spacious lounge with sound and likewise performs loud sufficient for a small pool or seaside celebration. 

The PartyBox 710 ($800) is an enormous celebration speaker that has built-in wheels and requires an influence supply to function; it doesn’t have an built-in rechargeable battery. That is your finest wager if you would like a transportable speaker that may ship large, high quality sound and operates on battery energy. To be clear, this affords larger and higher sound than the JBL Boombox 2 — however it’s more durable to hold round.

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Anker’s Soundcore Movement Increase is what I might name a mini transportable boombox speaker. It is sort of a poor man’s model of JBL’s well-regarded Xtreme 3 speaker, which lists for $350. Outfitted with a deal with and weighing a little bit over 4 kilos, the speaker jogs my memory of a kind of large flashlights or “floating lanterns” that have been in vogue about 30 years in the past. For the file, the Movement Increase truly does float and it is received an IPX7 waterproof ranking. 

Anker says the Movement Increase delivers “big stereo sound” and, sure, this transportable bluetooth speaker performs fairly loud and has a good quantity of bass with cheap readability — however I would not name it big and there is not a lot stereo separation (I stored the bass increase on always as a result of the speaker sounds higher that means.) It could possibly’t compete towards larger and costlier audio system like JBL’s Boombox 2 ($500) and Final Ears’ Hyperboom ($400), however it packs much more quantity and punch than extra compact Bluetooth audio system like JBL’s Flip 5 that price across the identical. It additionally travels properly, so it is ideally suited for a seaside tour or a little bit tailgating. It additionally can be utilized as a backup battery to cost your smartphone or different cell machine.

The newer Movement Increase Plus (see above) does provide a big bump in sound high quality for about $65 to $75 extra, relying on pricing fluctuations. For those who can afford it, the Movement Increase Plus is the higher possibility. If you wish to go smaller, the Anker Soundcore Movement Plus Bluetooth speaker delivers superb sound for its dimension. It isn’t a Bluetooth boombox, nevertheless, and does not characteristic an built-in deal with just like the Movement Increase and Movement Increase Plus.

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Sony’s SRS-XG500 is probably the most direct competitor to the JBL Boombox 2. They’re equally priced and sized, with each that includes an built-in deal with. The Sony is a little bit bigger however weighs barely much less at 12.34 kilos (5.6 kg). 

I went forwards and backwards evaluating the sound of the 2 audio system. Whereas I preferred the JBL’s sound a bit extra as a result of it got here throughout as sounding a little bit clearer with higher element, the Sony pumps out lots of bass — it has a hotter, boomier sound high quality that some folks might favor.

It is IP66 waterproof and dustproof, which means it could actually take a sustained spray of water however it could actually’t be absolutely submerged. You additionally get a mic/guitar rear enter and twin USB-out ports for charging your gadgets. (The speaker has its personal energy adapter; you’ll be able to’t cost it through USB-C.) Battery life is rated at 30 hours at average quantity ranges, which is superb. Crank your tunes and that quantity drops considerably. 

At evening, you’ll be able to mild up the speaker with the LED mild strips that ring the within of the bass ports and use the Fiestable app to regulate the LEDs. The Sony Music app means that you can tweak the sound profile. Moreover, you’ll be able to hyperlink the speaker with different Sony Bluetooth audio system to reinforce the sound.

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Last year I reviewed Anker’s Soundcore Rave Neo party speaker and gave it high marks. The Trance Go is essentially that speaker without the integrated LEDs that allow you to create a mini light show. It costs right around $100, plays loud for its size (it’s a medium-size speaker that weighs about 6 pounds) and has a built-in handle that makes it easy to tote around. The speaker is fully waterproof and can get up to 24 hours on a single charge at moderate levels. A USB port allows you to charge devices. Also worth noting: For those who want more expansive sound for streaming music, you can link multiple Trance Go speakers. 

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If you don’t want to get something quite as big as the JBL Boombox 2, the Xtreme 3 weighs a good deal less but is still large by Bluetooth speaker standards and puts out a lot of sound (though not as much as the Boombox 2). Instead of a built-in handle, a detachable shoulder strap is included.

Like JBL’s smaller Bluetooth speakers, the Xtreme 3 is a versatile boom box that can be stood up vertically or placed horizontally. Though a tad bigger than the Xtreme 2, at first glance it doesn’t look much different from the previous model, but it does have upgraded sound with slightly better bass and clarity while actually weighing slightly less. Here are the key differences between the two speakers, according to JBL: 

• Plays slightly louder: The Xtreme 3’s rated output power is 2 x 25W versus the Xtreme 2’s 2 x 20W.
• The Xtreme 3 is IPX67 (waterproof/dustproof) versus the Xtreme 2’s IPX7 (waterproof).
• The Xtreme 3 offers JBL PartyBoost while the Xtreme 2 has JBL Connected Plus syncing technologies.
• The Xtreme 3 improves charge time to just 2.5 hours, down from 3.5 hours for the Xtreme 2 (both have 15 hours of battery life)
• The Xtreme 3 has Bluetooth 5.1, the Xtreme 2 has Bluetooth 4.2 .
• The Xtreme 3 is slightly larger but at 4.3 pounds weighs less than the Xtreme 2, which is 5.3 pounds.

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