Whether it is going to the beach or just lounging in the backyard, having the best bluetooth portable speaker is an important accessory to have by your side. We researched all of the tech websites to see what the experts picks were for the best of 2017.
Marshall Kilburn Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The highest rated portable bluetooth speaker on pcmag.com was the Marshall Kilburn Portable Bluetooth Speaker. The 411 from pcmag.com:
PROS Excellent audio performance with adjustable bass and treble. Cool retro amplifier design.
CONS No speakerphone functionality. Unique look isn’t for everyone.
BOTTOM LINE The Marshall Kilburn portable Bluetooth speaker delivers a powerful audio performance that can be tweaked to your liking.
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Bose SoundLink Revolve+
According to CNET, the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ was their pick scoring high on design and sound. What did CNET have to say:
The Good The sleek Bose SoundLink Plus Bluetooth speaker sounds excellent for its compact size, has a built-in handle for easy transport and is water-resistant. Battery life is good at 16 hours, there’s a threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the speaker and an integrated microphone for speakerphone calls.
The Bad Expensive, and the cradle that makes charging easier is an optional $30 accessory.
The Bottom Line Bose’s expensive SoundLink Plus is arguably the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker for its size.
UE BOOM 2
Our friends over at Techradar say the best speaker overall is this bad boy, the UE Boom 2.
FOR Brilliant design, Slightly improved sound, More robust feature set, Waterproof
AGAINST Battery life isn’t improved, Same price (as previous version)
OUR VERDICT This sequel to the UE Boom nails everything it aims to accomplish. Even better, what used to be the best Bluetooth speaker around for most occasions is now the best one for every occasion, thanks to the waterproofing.
UE ROLL 2
UE is on a roll (no pun intended) as they get another product that was ranked as the best portable speaker. thewirecutter.com did an extensive search for the best bluetooth speaker and the UE ROLL 2 came out on top. thewirecutter.com did not do the conventional pros and cons, so here is an excerpt from their review:
The Roll 2 sounds full, with smooth reproduction of everything from bass notes to cymbals, and it plays loud enough to fill a hotel room or a spot at the beach with sound. It’s so watertight, it will survive being dunked 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. Its 10.5-hour tested battery life and 60-foot range are remarkable for a speaker of this size. Seventeen months of worldwide traveling with the Roll 2 and the original Roll have only confirmed our love for this design. The only real downside is that it lacks a speakerphone function.
JBL Flip 4
This is what is on my desk as we speak blasting I’m the One by Dj Khaled. I’m by no means a qualified audiophile to give a pros and cons review on this unit. I previously used the JBL Flip 2, so I guess it was more of a brand comfortability factor that led me to use this. I can tell you that the sound is crisp and I’m pretty excited to test out the submergible water proof feature.