Are there any really good portable bluetooth speakers?

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Joe1987

Joe1987

Senior member
Jul 20, 2013
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Rubycon said:
The Bose isn't as clear nor plays as loud as the UE Boom. It does have better bass and a replaceable battery pack.

However the UE has a mic so it makes a decent speaker phone and is daisy chain-able to a single device for either stereo output or dupe output so sound can be shared over a larger area, etc.
Click to expand...

The Soundlink Mini doesn't have a replaceable battery pack, you may be thinking of a different speaker, Ruby.

I use mine at work, and get comments on it daily, typically they say "Wow, I can't believe a speaker that small sounds that good."

http://mashable.com/2013/06/04/bose-soundlink-mini/

the Jawbone Jamboxes are getting pretty cheap, they sound very good and work as a speakerphone extension too

https://www.shnoop.com/yesterday
 
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Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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Joe1987 said:
The Soundlink Mini doesn't have a replaceable battery pack, you may be thinking of a different speaker, Ruby.

I use mine at work, and get comments on it daily, typically they say "Wow, I can't believe a speaker that small sounds that good."

http://mashable.com/2013/06/04/bose-soundlink-mini/

the Jawbone Jamboxes are getting pretty cheap, they sound very good and work as a speakerphone extension too

https://www.shnoop.com/yesterday
Click to expand...

Actually, the battery *is* user replaceable!

http://worldwide.bose.com/productsupport/en_us/web/soundlink_bluetooth_mini/page.html

This was one of the selling points over the other products.


The Jawbone devices just don't have the appeal at the asking price with the other devices. They tend to have exaggerated highs and boomy bass and overly aggressive anti-distortion (compression) filtering built in to their amps. For most pop music this is generally OK. For those listening to recordings with a wide dynamic range the music is castrated. D:

The big jambox makes a pretty decent TV speaker when it's engaged in surround mode. At its price point (of course) a more suitable sound bar makes more sense for a permanent solution.
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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Which has better clarity the jawbon or the UE boom ? I have a bit of an issue with voices when they are distorted.
The ue boom seems around $170 and the jawbone is aruond $120.
 
Joe1987

Joe1987

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Jul 20, 2013
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Rubycon said:
Actually, the battery *is* user replaceable!

http://worldwide.bose.com/productsupport/en_us/web/soundlink_bluetooth_mini/page.html

This was one of the selling points over the other products.


The Jawbone devices just don't have the appeal at the asking price with the other devices. They tend to have exaggerated highs and boomy bass and overly aggressive anti-distortion (compression) filtering built in to their amps. For most pop music this is generally OK. For those listening to recordings with a wide dynamic range the music is castrated. D:

The big jambox makes a pretty decent TV speaker when it's engaged in surround mode. At its price point (of course) a more suitable sound bar makes more sense for a permanent solution.
Click to expand...

LOL, I should have known better :) Thanks Ruby.
 
Scarpozzi

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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I bought a cheap one from Kroger of all places that I saw selling at Walgreens too. Kroger was selling it for $20....Walgreens was selling it for $40. They're all made in China, but there are typically very few companies churning these out and a bunch of companies willing to place a bulk order, slap a logo on them, package them, and resell them in convenience locations at a premium (airports/coffeeshops/gas stations/etc).

I'd just look at the styles and see which one looks the biggest. The $20 one I got from Kroger was a gift I was giving. It was a sizable rectangle and puts out decent volume.


Another option is to look for a bluetooth receiver and use either tape adapters or auxillery ports to use your stereo receiver to amplify the sound. There are quite a few products that can fit your needs, but all will be a little more complicated and possibly more money than just a bluetooth speaker. They'll just sound a lot better coming through 4 speakers than 1.
 
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Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,048
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I have the UE Boom, love it. I resisted buying a bluetooth speaker for so long as I much prefer my large, homebuilt speakers with a proper amp but it is so convenient when on the go. Waterproof, great battery life, upgradeable firmware, and respectable sound for the size.
 
Midwayman

Midwayman

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Jan 28, 2000
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Capt Caveman said:
I got this one when there was a $15 off promotion. Sounds great for the price.
Click to expand...

I have that one too. Sounds nice for what it is. Not sure if I'd use it in a car though. Noisy environment and you need something fairly loud.

You'd be way better off finding a way to hook your phone directly up to your car stereo via bluetooth.
 
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doubleapril

Junior Member
Jul 27, 2015
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I got a nice shower bluetooth speaker recently—it’s an Inateck speaker BP2101. The appearance looks good with a silver box and the sound is very loud. These are my favorite parts, LOL. The price was reasonable (less than 100$ as I recalled).
 
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Raduque

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
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Joe1987 said:
Bose Soundlink Mini (and I hate Bose prices)

http://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundLink...soundlink+mini

It's the best sounding tiny speaker I've heard yet.

Note the 1000+ reviews and 5 stars.
Click to expand...

I will second the Soundlink Mini (or Mini II); I had the Mini II and it was great. Solid, heavy speaker with AMAZING sound for the size. It plays like a speaker twice it's size. I was afraid it was too nice to use at work though (kitchen) so I actually took it back and got a Soundlink Color II in red, and I love THAT one, too. It doesn't sound as good, or as big as the Mini II, but it still sounds great.

I'm not allowed to have it at work anymore, so I actually use an Altec Lansing H20 Mini that I paid $30 for. It sounds good for it's size, but you can't crank it too high or it starts to distort.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
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Saw a pretty well built Harmon Kardon portable speaker at AT&T store a while back that looked amazing. Very nice materials. I'm not qualified to comment on sound quality though. Never listened to it.
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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If budget is not a factor which one gives the purest sound (not nec loudest)?
 
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Ebnul Karim

Junior Member
Feb 2, 2017
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You can go for Epyc Aqua 4000.
Its looking good and also waterproof.
But price a bit higher maybe.
But I found it good.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
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you2 said:
If budget is not a factor which one gives the purest sound (not nec loudest)?
Click to expand...

Small size: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1
Size is of second concern: There are several. B&W, Marshall (not battery powered), KEF and some other custom ones come to mind.
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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Each brand has many models; are there specific models ?

Rubycon said:
Small size: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A1
Size is of second concern: There are several. B&W, Marshall (not battery powered), KEF and some other custom ones come to mind.
Click to expand...
 
dainthomas

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,592
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The Boom 2 is fantastic. Basically indestructible, good battery life, and sounds great.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

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Ebnul Karim said:
KEF?!! Never heard of this brand.
Click to expand...

Wow, yes in the 1980s Laurie Fincham's design ruled in the 107 series.

Of course the name is sold and everything is imported from the Orient...

The KEF speaker here:

https://www.amazon.com/KEF-MUO-Wireless-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B015ZT6SR4

you2 said:
Each brand has many models; are there specific models ?
Click to expand...

Marshall:

https://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Woburn-Bluetooth-Speaker-4090963/dp/B00OGQMXSQ

B&W:

https://www.amazon.com/Bowers-Wilkins-Zeppelin-Wireless/dp/B015XIHMQI

Want to hear how they sound? Grab a good pair of cans (earphones) and check out this guy on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/clavinetjunkie
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
5,705
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Ouch! $500 for a speaker ? Btw of the three you linked the Marshall seems like the best by a wide margin - though it is $550.
 
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