Portable Bluetooth speakers have come a long way and the ones available in the market today are compact, convenient to carry, and have decent battery life, while some of them also offer exceptional sound output. However, it has to be kept in mind that portable speakers are not meant for audiophiles. They come in all shapes and here, we have listed the top five portable speakers.
Sony SRS-XB33: Interesting Design, Surprisingly Deep Bass For Its Price
Sony SRS-XB33 is one of the best-selling portable Bluetooth speakers of all time. The Sony SRS-XB33 speaker stands out from the rest as it is completely waterproof and can be tagged along while going for treks and outings. The speaker also has cool LED lights and has surprisingly deep bass for its compact size and price. The speaker is also dust resistant which is an added advantage. The Sony SRS-XB33 comes in four colourways: blue, black, red and green, and it has an interesting shape. This portable Bluetooth speaker isn't cylindrical, but has an oblong shape with a flat front face and top panel. There is a strip of LED lights that continually flash and change colours and flash to the beat of the song that is being played. The LED lights can be enabled and disabled via the app. Furthermore, the Sony SRS-XB33 also has support for Google Assistant. The portable speaker was unveiled in India at a price of Rs 12,990.
EPOS Expand 30: Top-Notch Conferencing Solution
Premium audio peripherals maker EPOS' Expand 30 is made to replace the PC and smartphone's microphone to provide an exceptional audio experience. This speaker too, isn't made for a music listening experience, but it gets the job done. Do not expect high-quality bass or defined treble on this one, though. In terms of design, the EPOS Expand 30 has been made out of premium-quality materials. It has a round shape and comes in a compact, lightweight design. The company has made use of metal and rendered a clean and sophisticated design to the speaker. There's cable winding and safe dongle storage, which makes it a very convenient portable conferencing speaker. Moreover, EPOS Expand 30 can be used for both personal and medium-sized conferences with up to eight participants. Setting it up is easy, just plug-and-play via Bluetooth connectivity or via the USB-C cable. The speaker is currently retailing for around Rs 28,000 on e-commerce platforms in India.
JBL Flip 6: Robust Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Flip series of Bluetooth speakers are among some of the most reliable and performance-centric portable speakers. The JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker isn't too different from the JBL Flip 5 or the JBL Flip 4 albeit for the bigger JBL logo on the front of the speaker. The speaker comes with noteworthy dual-pumping passive radiators and a two-way driver. In terms of design language and dimensions, the JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker is cylindrical and measures around 7 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width and weighs almost 550 grams which makes it a super handy and portable speaker for the price. The JBL Flip 6 comes has a Partyboost feature through which one can connect other JBL Partyboost speakers to the main Bluetooth source, and thus, increase the sound output. Some of the cons in this portable speaker are the lack of a microphone and an AUX port. Otherwise, the JBL Flip 6 is very capable, is easy to pair and use, and has good weather-proofing too. It was launched for Rs 11,999.
Anker Soundcore 2: No-Frills Speaker With Exceptional Battery
The Anker Soundcore 2 is an excellent offering for the price. It is, hands-down, one of the best Bluetooth speakers available in the market. The portable speaker comes at an affordable price, has great sound output, courtesy of 12W dual neodymium drivers, and comes with exceptional battery life. The design, however, is pretty basic, and that's not a bad thing. The speaker has a basic, rectangular chassis with rounded corners. There is an Anker branding on the front grille of the speaker and there are two LED indicators, which are very small and do not stand out. The front grille is made out of metal, unlike most portable speakers that make use of mesh or plastic grilles. Overall, there is nothing flashy about the Anker Soundcore 2, and yet, the speaker is one of the best available on an affordable budget. The company has used soft rubber for the device, which makes it prone to fingerprint smudges and grease. The speaker also comes with IPX7 water-proofing so it can be carried for outdoor activities. The Anker Soundcore 2 is currently retailing for Rs 7,521 on e-commerce platforms.
Beyerdynamic Phonum: Purpose-Built Speaker
Unlike conventional Bluetooth speakers, the Beyerdynamic Phonum wireless Bluetooth speakerphone would essentially serve the ones working from home - this speaker is made to help you take calls by connecting it to a PC or smartphone. In terms of design, the Beyerdynamic Phonum opts for a subtle look. It has a round shape with a base that offers a good grip. Pairing the speaker with a computer or smartphone is a breeze -- it can be connected to the source device via Bluetooth and it can be connected to a computer using the included USB Type-C to Type-A. There is a bottom-firing driver, automatic echo and noise cancellation for the mic as well as Bluetooth 4.2 for connectivity. It should be noted that the sound output was inferior via wireless connectivity as compared to wired connectivity. Overall, this speaker is primarily built for making and receiving work calls and it's better to avoid it for listening to music. Beyerdynamic Phonum was launched in India for around Rs 25,000.
