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

Anker’s authentic Soundcore Motion Boom speaker (see under) has been on this listing for some time and continues to be a good worth at slightly greater than $100. But the new-for-2022 Motion Boom Plus is considerably improved, notably when it comes to sound high quality. It’s simply top-of-the-line new Bluetooth audio system of 2022. 

Weighing 5.29 kilos (virtually a pound greater than the Motion Boom), 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 average quantity ranges. It’s additionally IP67 waterproof and dustproof and floats in case 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 some bigger — audio system on this listing. You can 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 discovered 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 quite a lot of sound and principally manages to keep away from distorting at greater volumes (I tended to maintain the quantity within the 50-75% vary). 

If you are sitting inside a couple of ft of the speaker, there is a little bit of stereo separation. But in case you actually need to up the sound high quality, you’ll be able to wirelessly pair two Soundcore Motion Boom Plus audio system to create an actual stereo pair. Be certain to use the $20 immediate coupon when buying with Amazon to get the $160 worth.

Tribit is understood for its reasonably priced smaller Bluetooth audio system that ship excellent sound high quality and options for the worth. Its new Stormbox Blast speaker is its first Bluetooth growth field speaker, and it delivers principally spectacular sound for its measurement and additionally 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 Motion Boom Plus (see above) and pumps out extra quantity and bass in comparison with that speaker, however lacks a little bit of readability. Also, the midrange — the place vocals dwell — is a bit recessed at its XBass default setting (I most popular the Music EQ setting within the companion app, which is a little more balanced). The speaker’s firmware is upgradeable, and you’ll be able to pair two Stormbox Blasts to create a stereo pair, which might enhance the sound significantly. 

Battery life is superb. It’s rated at up 30 hours at average quantity ranges. And the speaker has an IPX7 ranking, which implies it is totally waterproof. Again, just like the Soundcore by Anker Motion Boom Plus, the Tribit Stormbox Blast is an effective worth that measures up effectively from a sound standpoint in opposition to costlier JBL growth field audio system that arguably provide superior styling. Apply the $20 immediate coupon when buying with Amazon, to make sure you get the $180 worth.

The Soundcore by Anker Rave Party 2 will 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 greater energy scores (on this case, 120 watts), this speaker must be charged with its personal AC adapter fairly than a USB-cable and has a USB-A out port on the again for charging your smartphone or some other gadgets that want some juice. 

Though it prices greater than Tribit’s Stormbox Blast, the 11.7-pound Rave Party 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 slightly deeper, however I used to be fairly glad with this speaker’s low-end capabilities). For even greater sound, you’ll be able to wirelessly hyperlink a number of Rave Party 2 and different Soundcore audio system that help the corporate’s PartySolid 2.0 function. 

While this speaker is not totally waterproof and cannot 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). In the companion app for iOS and Android, you’ll be able to customise the sound profile and mild present. Battery life is rated at as much as 16 hours, however that quantity will drop in case you crank the quantity.

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

JBL’s third-generation Boombox 3 options some design adjustments 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 related spectacular bass efficiency, creating greater, richer sound general. I might simply hear the distinction when evaluating this mannequin to the Boombox 2. 

While the battery life ranking stays the identical (as much as 24 hours at average quantity ranges), this Gen 3 mannequin consists of Bluetooth 5.3 as a substitute of Bluetooth 5.1. Also, the speaker weighs about 1.7 kilos extra (14.7 kilos or 6.7 kg) and simply feels that rather more substantial. 

Like the UE Hyperboom (see under), this has a USB-out port that lets you cost exterior gadgets like your telephone, and there’s 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 out of doors use, I just like the design of the Boombox 3 higher than UE Hyperboom. The moveable Bluetooth speaker is less complicated to hold round and simply appears extra like an out of doors speaker. It’s additionally 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 continues to be dear, however its sound now has a extra premium high quality to it — for moveable boomboxes anyway. And you probably 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 Essential is the corporate’s smallest PartyField speaker up to now however it’s nonetheless acquired some heft to it, weighing in at 13 kilos (5.9 kg). It’s 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 adjustments colours. The Essential 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 quantity or sound high quality of the step-up PartyField 110 (see under). But it 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 gives a pleasant stability between measurement and energy. 

Battery life is rated at 6 hours at average quantity ranges, and this speaker fees 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, it is a mono speaker that is designed to place out quite a lot of sound (there is a bass increase mode) from a fairly sized design. You can wirelessly pair two of those audio system and get considerably higher sound (in stereo). But that might get slightly dear.

Released in 2021, the PartyField 110 packs some severe punch and delivers greater sound than among the moveable boombox audio system on this listing, together with JBL’s personal Boombox 2 (see under). There’s an built-in deal with for toting the speaker, however the PartyField 110 is fairly hefty, weighing in at 23 kilos and measuring barely greater than 22 inches tall. You can put this bluetooth growth field up vertically as proven within the image above or place it horizontally, because it has rubber ft on either side of the speaker.

It’s rated for as much as 12 hours of playback time at average 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 PartyField companion app). 

The speaker has Bluetooth or a wired USB connection and there are guitar and mic inputs. It’s additionally price noting that the speaker is IPX4 splash-proof and you’ll be able to wirelessly hyperlink two PartyField 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 PartyField 110 — this bluetooth system places out plenty of well-defined bass with good general readability within the highs and mids — and I think that pairing two of those collectively can be fairly superior. 

I additionally preferred how the speaker has no exterior AC adapter brick and solely requires a wire for charging (the ability 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 doable. But it does ship sufficient quantity to fill a spacious front room with sound and additionally performs loud sufficient for a small pool or seaside occasion. 

The PartyField 710 ($800) is an enormous occasion speaker that has built-in wheels and requires an influence supply to function; it doesn’t have an built-in rechargeable battery. This is your greatest wager if you would like a transportable speaker that may ship large, high quality sound and operates on battery energy. To be clear, this gives greater and higher sound than the JBL Boombox 2 — however it’s more durable to hold round.

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

Anker says the Motion Boom delivers “big stereo sound” and, sure, this moveable bluetooth speaker performs fairly loud and has a good quantity of bass with cheap readability — however I would not name it big and there’s not a lot stereo separation (I stored the bass increase on always as a result of the speaker sounds higher that manner.) It cannot compete in opposition to greater and costlier audio system like JBL’s Boombox 2 ($500) and Ultimate Ears’ Hyperboom ($400), however it packs much more quantity and punch than extra compact Bluetooth audio system like JBL’s Flip 5 that value across the identical. It additionally travels effectively, so it is splendid for a seaside tour or slightly tailgating. It additionally can be utilized as a backup battery to cost your smartphone or different cell system.

The newer Motion Boom Plus (see above) does provide a major bump in sound high quality for about $65 to $75 extra, relying on pricing fluctuations. If you’ll be able to afford it, the Motion Boom Plus is the higher choice. If you need to go smaller, the Anker Soundcore Motion Plus Bluetooth speaker delivers excellent sound for its measurement. It’s not a Bluetooth boombox, nevertheless, and does not function an built-in deal with just like the Motion Boom and Motion Boom Plus.

Sony’s SRS-XG500 is essentially 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 slightly bigger however weighs barely much less at 12.34 kilos (5.6 kg). 

I went again and forth evaluating the sound of the 2 audio system. While I preferred the JBL’s sound a bit extra as a result of it got here throughout as sounding slightly clearer with higher element, the Sony pumps out quite a lot of bass — it has a hotter, boomier sound high quality that some folks might desire.

It’s IP66 waterproof and dustproof, which means it might take a sustained spray of water however it might’t be totally submerged. You additionally get a mic/guitar rear enter and twin USB-out ports for charging your gadgets. (The speaker has its personal energy adapter; you’ll be able to’t cost it by way of USB-C.) Battery life is rated at 30 hours at average quantity ranges, which is superb. Crank your tunes and that quantity drops considerably. 

At night time, 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 lets you tweak the sound profile. Additionally, you’ll be able to hyperlink the speaker with different Sony Bluetooth audio system to reinforce the sound.

Last yr I reviewed Anker’s Soundcore Rave Neo occasion speaker and gave it excessive marks. The Trance Go is basically that speaker with out the built-in LEDs that mean you can 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 can rise up to 24 hours on a single cost at average ranges. A USB port lets you cost gadgets. Also price noting: For those that need extra expansive sound for streaming music, you’ll be able to hyperlink a number of Trance Go audio system. 

If you do not need to get one thing fairly as large because the JBL Boombox 2, the Xtreme 3 weighs a very good deal much less however continues to be giant by Bluetooth speaker requirements and places out quite a lot of sound (although not as a lot because the Boombox 2). Instead 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 growth field that may be stood up vertically or positioned horizontally. Though a tad greater than the Xtreme 2, at first look it does not look a lot completely different from the earlier mannequin, however it does have upgraded sound with barely higher bass and readability whereas really weighing barely much less. Here are the important thing variations between the 2 audio system, in accordance with JBL: 

• Plays 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 gives JBL PartyIncrease whereas the Xtreme 2 has JBL Connected 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.