People prefer to bring this portable speaker with them on weekend treks or to backyard gatherings, and before long, they’re using it almost daily. For $90 (was $140), it punches far below what many people expect to pay for portable audio. Anker engineered the Boom 2 to endure whatever life throws at it and still create a sound that’s a lot greater than you’d expect from a speaker of this size.
Engineers have managed to compress an incredible amount of audio power into a speaker that is small enough to be held with one hand. Listeners who attach the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen, priced at $119 (was $149), to a backpack or throw it in a beach bag are in for a surprise: sound that fills a patio or campsite so convincingly that you forget it’s a compact device, with no distortion or muddiness to worry about.
Bluetooth speakers exist in a variety of forms and sizes, but to be honest, most of them are quite basic; they don’t look like they could be used as headgear by a giant. JLab introduced the Blue XL Speaker Headphones last year, and it does an excellent job of blending the design of headphones with that of a speaker.
Gadget Industry wanted to build the world’s smallest Bluetooth speaker, so they began by disassembling a regular module to see how small they could make things. To begin, they ripped the antenna directly off a 3W Bluetooth amp module, then had to rebuild the entire thing by hand after stacking the components. This small electronics stack is slapped onto the back of an 18mm x 14mm 3W speaker driver. A TP4056 charging module received the same treatment, being disassembled and reassembled to fit the small space required.
An old 1982 FM radio from a thrift store rested on a shelf, its weathered plastic shell broken and discolored with years of use. Few people would give this antique from the days when having a portable radio meant fumbling with dials to find a station a second thought. However, one maker, who goes by the name Distracted by Design, saw something in it. He grabbed it at home with a clear plan: remove the old guts and convert it into a Bluetooth speaker that would work perfectly with today’s devices.
Too many pocket-sized Bluetooth speakers provide music that is faint and distant, requiring way too much effort to hear. Then there’s the JBL Go 4, priced at $39.95 (was $49.95), a small brick-sized device aiming to turn that notion on its head. At less than half a pound and small enough to fit in a coat pocket, it not only provides, but truly delivers, clear, powerful audio that makes you grab for the volume dial rather than throw your hands up in the air in disgust.
Portable Bluetooth speakers can cost hundreds of dollars and promise premium sound and fancy features. But the Anker Soundcore 2, for just $29.44 (down from $44.99), makes a strong case for keeping your wallet happy without sacrificing quality.
Berlin’s Teufel has been crafting audio gear for 45 years, and their latest creation, the MYND, feels like a quiet revolution. This Bluetooth speaker is built to last, repaired, and made your own. It’s a device that invites you to pop it open, swap out parts, and even 3D-print new components.
The Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth speaker offers over 30 hours of play time on a single charge, and you can get one for $99.99 shipped today, originally $169.99. Its IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating means rain or dirt won’t get in the way of your music. Product page.
