Greatest Transportable Mini Bluetooth Audio system for 2023: Prime Compact Waterproof Wi-fi Audio system

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When it launched, Bose made some daring claims about its new SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, significantly its bass efficiency. Nevertheless it largely lives as much as the hype and is arguably the best-sounding wi-fi speaker for its comparatively compact measurement. Obtainable in three colours — black, white smoke and stone blue (pictured) — the speaker is IP67 dust- and waterproof, and rated for 12 hours of battery life at average quantity ranges.

It is also geared up with Bose’s PositionIQ expertise to routinely detect the speaker’s orientation and ship optimized sound primarily based on whether or not it is upright, hanging or flat on its again. The Flex additionally floats and Bose says it could actually survive drops and bumps, with a tender silicone again and powder-coated metal grille that “will not peel or flake and is proof against corrosion and UV mild.”

Whereas Bose’s SoundLink Micro additionally delivers spectacular sound for its tiny measurement, this speaker is larger, weighing simply over a pound (0.45 kg) and measuring 7.9 inches vast, 2.1 inches deep and three.6 inches excessive (20 by 5.3 by 9.1cm), so the Flex sounds considerably higher than the Micro. For some cause, it makes use of the older Bluetooth 4.2 as an alternative of 5.0, however I did not have any issues with connectivity.

Bose says it could actually fill a front room with sound. From my assessments, I might say it must be a comparatively small front room — it could actually solely output a lot sound as a single speaker. Nevertheless, should you pair two of them collectively in stereo mode, the sound will get to a complete different stage and certainly fills a bigger room with sound.

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Again in 2020, Tribit launched the StormBox Micro, a finances model of Bose’s glorious SoundLink Micro speaker that delivered surprisingly good sound for its measurement and modest worth. Now we get the StormBox Micro 2, which provides improved sound and battery life, together with a charge-out characteristic that turns the speaker into an influence financial institution for cell units equivalent to smartphones and tablets. An built-in strap means that you can clip it to your backpack or your bike’s handlebars.

Like the unique, it is a wonderful worth and simple to suggest should you’re in search of an excellent compact transportable wi-fi speaker. 

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With every new model of the Flip, JBL makes small enhancements, and whereas the most recent mannequin, the Flip 6, would not look a lot totally different from the Flip 5 on the skin, it does characteristic improved sound. It has two-way drivers with a woofer and tweeter and twin passive radiators that assist the Flip 6 ship a lot deeper bass than you suppose it may. 

It is totally waterproof and dust-proof with an IPX67 ranking. Just like the Flip 5, it is rated for as much as 12 hours of audio playback at average quantity ranges and expenses through USB-C. Obtainable in a number of colour choices, it is one of many best-sounding audio system for its compact measurement.

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The JBL Bluetooth speaker that obtained the most important enhancements over the earlier mannequin is among the many firm’s smallest. The JBL Go 3 has a totally new look — it is now coated in sturdy cloth as an alternative of getting the bare plastic design of its Go predecessors — and that new design, coupled with surprisingly respectable sound for its small measurement, makes the Go 3 one of many prime micro Bluetooth audio system on the market.

Obtainable in a number of colour choices, it has an IP67 water-resistance ranking, that means it may be dunked in water and is dust-proof. Battery life is rated at as much as 5 hours.

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The Roam is at present Sonos’ smallest and most reasonably priced speaker (should you do not depend these $99 Sonos-compatible Symfonisk Ikea Wi-Fi bookshelf audio system). This mannequin, like Sonos’ earlier Transfer transportable speaker ($400), is supplied with each Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and might faucet into an present Sonos multiroom audio system and hyperlink with different Collection 2-compatible Sonos audio system. The Sonos Roam makes for starter Sonos speaker for these new to the Sonos world. Learn our Sonos Roam evaluation.

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We favored Final Ears’ Wonderboom 2 and the third-generation mannequin, the Wonderboom 3, provides some small enhancements, together with barely higher battery life (as much as 14 hours as an alternative of 13, at average quantity ranges) and a brand new Bluetooth chip that enables for prolonged wi-fi vary of over 130 toes (40 meters). The design has not modified, although the speaker now is available in totally different colour choices.

Like its predecessor, the Wonderboom 3 carries a listing worth of $100, however typically sells for rather less. Its IP67 ranking signifies that it isn’t solely waterproof but in addition dust-proof (and in a position to float).

This mannequin retains the particular Outside Increase mode that reinforces treble and you’ll hyperlink two collectively (or pair a Wonderboom 3 to a Wonderboom 2) to create a stereo sound pairing by merely urgent a button on every speaker. So far as I can inform, the Wonderboom 3 sounds similar to the Wonderboom 2 and options superb sound for its small measurement. That stated, whereas there’s some punch to the bass (being quick but squat helps it produce extra low finish), it could actually solely ship a lot kick. 

Alas, Final Ears, which is owned by Logitech, has not upgraded the charging port to USB-C. The speaker nonetheless expenses with a Micro-USB cable, which is a little bit of a bummer.

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Marshall’s little mono Willen speaker is much like Bose’s SoundLink Micro and different micro audio system just like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2. Additionally like these audio system, it has an built-in strap on its base so you possibly can clip it onto a backpack and even to your bike’s handlebars. Its 2-inch full vary driver and two passive radiators put out extra sound than you’d suppose it could for its tiny measurement, and it provides respectable readability as effectively simply sufficient bass to keep away from sounding tinny (you possibly can select from three preset sound modes). 

Battery life is sweet at round 15 hours of playback time at average quantity ranges, and the speaker is IPX67 dust-proof and waterproof. The primary strike in opposition to it’s its $120 worth — ideally it could price round $80, although proper now you possibly can choose it up on sale for $100. Nevertheless it’s properly designed, feels rugged and suits in a jacket pocket, weighing in it at 0.68-pound (308 grams).

The Willen can rise up vertically or lay down horizontally and has a built-in microphone for speakerphone calls. It is available in a few colour choices and will be linked wirelessly with different Willen audio system to reinforce the sound.

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Over the previous couple of years, Tribit has made a number of Bluetooth audio system that ship plenty of growth for the buck. Add its new XSound Mega to the listing.

Tribit is billing the XSound Mega as extra of an outside speaker — a lanyard is included for toting it round as a form of mini boombox — but it surely works simply nice indoors. It has an LED mild present which you could activate or off and there are three EQ settings for sound: XBass, Music and Audiobook. Moreover, it may be used as an influence financial institution to cost your cell units.

In my assessments, the speaker in contrast fairly favorably to dearer audio system just like the JBL Cost 5. There’s loads of bass and the speaker performs loud for its measurement, with respectable readability. That stated, it is a mono speaker with a single driver and two bass radiators — that is the way you get all that bass. So when you can count on massive sound, the soundstage would not really feel all that vast, significantly at decrease volumes. It truly sounds higher at greater volumes.

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With its new canister-like design, completely sized to slot in a chair cup holder, Sony has created a conveyable Bluetooth speaker that has a design you are in all probability aware of from common audio system just like the UE Increase and JBL Flip, which have been upgraded through the years with improved bass and battery life. 

An Additional Bass mannequin, the SRS-XB23 undoubtedly has a hotter sound. It delivers higher sound with extra bass and quantity than lots of the cheaper generic Bluetooth audio system you could find on Amazon within the $40-$100 vary on Amazon. It is also a sleeker trying Bluetooth speaker that is obtainable in 5 totally different colour choices: black, taupe, coral crimson, mild blue and olive inexperienced. Some colours can be found for much less.

Geared up with two new full-range drivers and passive bass radiator, it delivers 12 hours of battery life at average quantity ranges and is water-, dust-, rust- and shock-proof with an IP67 ranking. It has USB-C charging and might join with as much as 100 different Sony audio system utilizing Sony’s Occasion Join characteristic.

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Bang & Olufsen has upgraded its dome-shaped aluminum-clad A1 speaker with improved battery life, higher speakerphone efficiency (it now has a three-microphone array) and barely improved sound. It is not solely the smallest wi-fi speaker from the Danish firm, but in addition probably the most reasonably priced because it typically drops to round $200.

Whereas the speaker drivers stay the identical, the Qualcomm chipset that powers the speaker has been upgraded (the speaker makes use of Bluetooth 5.1), bumping the sound high quality up a tad, significantly at greater volumes, with higher digital sign processing. It stays one of many best-sounding mini Bluetooth speaker fashions, with richer extra tonally balanced sound than different Bluetooth audio system its measurement — and it ought to sound good, contemplating its elevated worth level.

It is also price noting that the A1 has multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you possibly can join this to your PC and smartphone on the similar time and simply change backwards and forwards between the 2 if a name is available in in your telephone. Moreover, the speaker is Alexa-enabled, that means you possibly can activate Amazon’s voice assistant by simply saying “Alexa.” 

Battery life is rated at as much as 18 hours at 50% quantity (the sooner A1 did not stay as much as its battery life claims, however this quantity is extra correct) and should you can afford it, you possibly can hyperlink two A1 audio system to create a stereo pair. The speaker is waterproof with an IP67 ranking that enables it to be submerged briefly in shallow water.

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At round $30, the Tribit XSound Go is without doubt one of the prime audio system with Bluetooth connectivity for the cash. Apart from sounding respectable, it is also totally waterproof. It additionally has glorious battery life — as much as 24 hours at 50% quantity ranges.

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Though a bit expensive and because of be upgraded, the Bose SoundLink Micro sounds remarkably respectable for its tiny measurement, delivering extra bass than different pocketable audio system. It is a totally waterproof Bluetooth speaker and obtainable in three colour choices, though the blue model seems to be arduous to search out. 

Whereas this mannequin is actually pocket-size — and that is definitely an interesting characteristic — the larger however nonetheless compact SoundLink Flex sounds considerably higher and can also be the higher worth although it prices extra.

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Tribit’s StormBox speaker appears to be like like a cross between a UE and a JBL speaker. We suspect that is not an accident. Absolutely waterproof, it prices about $50 lower than the JBL Flip 5 and produces greater sound and has as much as 20 hours of battery life. Tribit’s XSound audio system are in all probability a greater worth, however the Stormbox is extra fashionable. It additionally has a chargeable li-ion battery in a position to energy as much as 20 hours of steady playtime.

Full disclosure: That is the one product on this listing we did not take a look at in individual. However we discovered a lot to admire in its predecessor, the Oontz Angle Plus, again in 2017. This one has marginally higher battery life, barely greater sound and is extra water resistant than the Plus, and it provides stereo pairing, too. We’ll have a hands-on analysis quickly, however we’re together with it right here primarily based on our optimistic expertise with the Plus and the enthusiastic 4,800-plus person evaluations on Amazon, the place it sells for $35 to $40. Make sure to apply the on the spot coupon obtainable at Amazon for an extra low cost.

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