Bluetooth speakers have always been a great addition to any music lover's kit bag and a budget option is a must for lazy days at the beach, or more energetic mornings clearing storm debris from the drive.
Beyond solid sonics, a fairly common trait in the wireless speaker world is a rugged, outdoor-friendly portable build. While you might be looking for something for your office desk or home bookshelf, many speakers in this price range feature tough, water-resistant builds that can take a beating on a hike, and backpack-friendly designs so you can easily tote them anywhere. And that's just one thing to look for. Here's what else to keep in mind when shopping. Also, you can quickly get discounts on the bluetooth speakers coupons.
JBL Charge 5
The JBL Charge 5 is even more durable and better sounding than the four Charges that came before it-and if you needed any more proof than its five-star review, it's a current What Hi-Fi? 2021 Award-winner. The Charge 5's predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof. Want a speaker roughly the dimensions of a bottle of wine that'll charge your phone and sound great? You've found it.
Thanks in part to a new 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 is currently as good a sound as you can get in a portable Bluetooth speaker design for under £200 ($200, AU$300). It boasts marginal improvements, both sonically and aesthetically, over its predecessors.
One day JBL may produce a Charge that can be outdone by a new and plucky rival, but rest assured, that has not happened with the rather splendid Charge 5. Here are JBL Coupons, Promo Codes.
Sony SRS-XB13
If you prefer bumping up your speaker's volume and are looking for something with less compression at max volume, check out the Sony SRS-XB13. While it doesn't get as loud as the Anker Soundcore 3, there are significantly fewer compression artifacts present at max volume, so the quality of your audio doesn't degrade as much as you increase its volume. Its directivity is also much better, resulting in a wider and more spacious-sounding soundstage. Its sound profile is better-balanced out-of-the-box, though it doesn't produce a bass as deep as the Anker. That said, there aren't any sound customization features to tweak its sound to your liking.
If you prefer a stereo speaker that can get louder and lets you customize its sound to your liking, go for the Anker. If having a speaker with less compression and a wider-sounding soundstage is more important to you, consider the Sony instead.
Marshall Emberton
This amp-like accessory is the smallest member of Marshall’s speaker family by some margin. Designed for grab-and-go audio, don’t let its palm-sized form factor fool you into thinking it’s not serious: with a meaty 20 hours of playtime, IPX7 waterproofing and reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, its feature list is as solid as Motörhead’s back catalogue.
Even with its Marshall heritage, the Emberton’s power is unexpected. Turn it up to 11 and the sound still doesn’t sound pushed, while Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-directional tech eliminates sweet spots by serving up audio in the round.
It’s superbly balanced for a speaker at this price – and more refined than you might think. Bass is rich and rumbly without overwhelming, while the mids are captivatingly clean and clear – and trebles are crisp and controlled to boot. Overall, it's Emberton's energetic and engaging character that makes it so likeable, whatever genre’s on your playlist.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3
UE made its name delivering quality sound at reasonable prices. Launched in 2020, the Boom 3 still hits the Goldilocks sweet spot, offering a solid set of features without breaking the bank.
That familiar big-button cylinder is as tough as ever: UE put it through drop, dunk and durability tests to check it’ll keep bringing the beats. And with a 15 hr battery life, it should certainly do that.
Sound is vigorous, even if it’s not as weighty at the low-end as some rivals. Audio is well-controlled, with no shortage of power when the party calls for extra punch. Mids and trebles are lively, without ever sounding harsh.
It’s worth downloading the Boom app to unlock a few extra features and settings-PartyUp in particular. This allows you to connect up to 150 Boom speakers for a serious shindig (or just two, for a stereo effect). You can also use the smartphone software to programme the Magic Button on top of the speaker, for one-touch access to your favourite playlists.
Anker Soundcore Flare 2
Check out the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 if you prefer a more customizable speaker under $100. While it doesn't get as loud as the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2, it comes with a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. This small speaker comes with customizable RGB lights and offers an excellent soundstage that you'll perceive as open and spacious, thanks to its 360-degree design. With its default settings enabled and its BassUp feature turned on, it has a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix. However, like most speakers its size, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music like EDM. Also, while it supports voice assistants through your smartphone, its performance isn't very good.
If you're looking for a better-built speaker under $100 that can get louder, get the Ultimate Ears. That said, if you're looking for a more customizable speaker with RGB lights, consider the Anker instead.
JBL GO 2
For the money, this dinky JBL speaker is an absolute steal. It's waterproof, highly portable and looks adorable-it's like a bar of soap that plays music. And the sound is surprisingly good given its diminutive dimensions, providing an open, three-dimensional listen-though obviously it doesn't pack much bass. Our only real gripe? Battery life. Topping out at a mere five hours, it won't last you a full afternoon of wireless listening, which is something many look for in a Bluetooth speaker. Still, if you can make that sacrifice, it's well worth your consideration-especially if it's on offer.
