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

Anker’s unique Soundcore Movement Increase speaker (see beneath) has been on this listing for some time and remains to be a good worth at somewhat 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 top-of-the-line 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 reasonable quantity ranges. It is also IP67 waterproof and dustproof and floats in the event you occur to drop it in a physique of water.

I used to be impressed with the sound high quality, which measures up effectively in opposition to a couple of costlier — and a few bigger — audio system on this listing. 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 measurement, the speaker is ready to put out numerous sound and largely manages to keep away from distorting at increased volumes (I tended to maintain the amount within the 50-75% vary). 

Should you’re sitting inside a couple of ft of the speaker, there is a little bit of stereo separation. However in the event 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. You’ll want to apply the $20 prompt coupon when buying with Amazon to get the $160 value.

Tribit is thought 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 largely spectacular sound for its measurement 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 dwell — 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 may 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 reasonable quantity ranges. And the speaker has an IPX7 ranking, which implies it is totally waterproof. Once more, just like the Soundcore by Anker Movement Increase Plus, the Tribit Stormbox Blast is an efficient worth that measures up effectively from a sound standpoint in opposition to costlier JBL increase field audio system that arguably provide superior styling. Apply the $20 prompt coupon when buying with Amazon, to make sure you get the $180 value.

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

Although it prices greater than Tribit’s Stormbox Blast, the 11.7-pound Rave Occasion 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 somewhat deeper, however I used to be fairly glad with this speaker’s low-end capabilities). For even larger sound, you’ll be able to wirelessly hyperlink a number of Rave Occasion 2 and different Soundcore audio system that assist the corporate’s PartyCast 2.0 characteristic. 

Whereas this speaker is not totally 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 lightweight present. Battery life is rated at as much as 16 hours, however that quantity will drop in the event you crank the amount.

I did suppose the sound held collectively fairly effectively at increased volumes — it largely averted distorting — and the speaker is designed to play loudly outside. That mentioned, indoors the speaker sounds greatest beneath 75 p.c quantity, except you are having a celebration, during which case all important listening goes out the door. 

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 may 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 reasonable quantity ranges), this Gen 3 mannequin consists of Bluetooth 5.3 as an alternative 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 beneath), this has a USB-out port that permits you to cost exterior units 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 outside use, I just like the design of the Boombox 3 higher than UE Hyperboom. The moveable Bluetooth speaker is simpler to hold round and simply seems to be extra like an out of doors speaker. It is also totally 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 dwell as much as its costly price ticket from a sound high quality standpoint. The Boombox 3 remains to be dear, however its sound now has a extra premium high quality to it — for moveable boomboxes anyway. And when you have 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). 

The JBL Partybox Encore Important is the corporate’s smallest PartyBox speaker so far however it’s nonetheless acquired 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 at all times take energy scores with a grain of salt), the speaker does not have fairly the amount or sound high quality of the step-up PartyBox 110 (see beneath). 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 provides a pleasant stability between measurement and energy. 

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

To be clear, this can be a mono speaker that is designed to place out numerous 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 will get somewhat dear.

Launched in 2021, the PartyBox 110 packs some severe punch and delivers larger sound than among the moveable boombox audio system on this listing, together with JBL’s personal Boombox 2 (see beneath). 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 ft on each side of the speaker.

It is rated for as much as 12 hours of playback time at reasonable 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 value noting that the speaker is IPX4 splash-proof and you may wirelessly hyperlink two PartyBox 110 audio system collectively for stereo sound. I did not take a look at the stereo mode, however I used to be impressed with the sound of a single PartyBox 110 — this bluetooth system places out numerous well-defined bass with good total readability within the highs and mids — and I believe that pairing two of those collectively could be fairly superior. 

I additionally preferred how the speaker has no exterior AC adapter brick and solely requires a wire for charging (the facility 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 attainable. 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 social gathering. 

The PartyBox 710 ($800) is an enormous social gathering 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 greatest wager if you need a conveyable speaker that may ship large, high quality sound and operates on battery energy. To be clear, this provides larger and higher sound than the JBL Boombox 2 — however it’s tougher to hold round.

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

Anker says the Movement Increase delivers “big stereo sound” and, sure, this moveable bluetooth speaker performs fairly loud and has a good quantity of bass with affordable 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 manner.) It will possibly’t compete in opposition to 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 similar. It additionally travels effectively, so it is ultimate for a seaside tour or somewhat tailgating. It additionally can be utilized as a backup battery to cost your smartphone or different cell system.

The newer Movement Increase Plus (see above) does provide a major bump in sound high quality for about $65 to $75 extra, relying on pricing fluctuations. Should you 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 measurement. 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.

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 somewhat 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 somewhat clearer with higher element, the Sony pumps out numerous bass — it has a hotter, boomier sound high quality that some folks could desire.

It is IP66 waterproof and dustproof, which means it could actually take a sustained spray of water however it could actually’t be totally submerged. You additionally get a mic/guitar rear enter and twin USB-out ports for charging your units. (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 reasonable 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 manage the LEDs. The Sony Music app permits you to tweak the sound profile. Moreover, you’ll be able to hyperlink the speaker with different Sony Bluetooth audio system to reinforce the sound.

Final yr I reviewed Anker’s Soundcore Rave Neo social gathering speaker and gave it excessive marks. The Trance Go is basically that speaker with out the built-in LEDs that assist you to create a mini mild present. It prices proper round $100, performs loud for its measurement (it is a medium-size speaker that weighs about 6 kilos) and has a built-in deal with that makes it straightforward to tote round. The speaker is totally waterproof and may rise up to 24 hours on a single cost at reasonable ranges. A USB port permits you to cost units. Additionally value noting: For many who need extra expansive sound for streaming music, you’ll be able to hyperlink a number of Trance Go audio system. 

Should you do not need to get one thing fairly as large because the JBL Boombox 2, the Xtreme 3 weighs an excellent deal much less however remains to be massive by Bluetooth speaker requirements and places out numerous sound (although not as a lot because the Boombox 2). As an alternative of a built-in deal with, a removable shoulder strap is included.

Like JBL’s smaller Bluetooth audio system, the Xtreme 3 is a flexible increase field that may be stood up vertically or positioned horizontally. Although a tad larger than the Xtreme 2, at first look it does not look a lot totally different from the earlier mannequin, however it does have upgraded sound with barely higher bass and readability whereas truly weighing barely much less. Listed below are the important thing variations between the 2 audio system, in keeping with JBL: 

• Performs barely louder: The Xtreme 3’s rated output energy 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 provides JBL PartyBoost whereas the Xtreme 2 has JBL Related Plus syncing applied sciences.
• The Xtreme 3 improves cost time to only 2.5 hours, down from 3.5 hours for the Xtreme 2 (each have 15 hours of battery life)
• The Xtreme 3 has Bluetooth 5.1, the Xtreme 2 has Bluetooth 4.2 .
• The Xtreme 3 is barely bigger however at 4.3 kilos weighs lower than the Xtreme 2, which is 5.3 kilos.