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Best-Sounding Bluetooth Speaker of 2024

Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Bose Soundlink Max
Bose
Soundlink Max
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Powerful & Compact

The SoundLink Max is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker and scored highly in our testing for its clear stereo audio.

Powerful & Compact
Bottom Line

The SoundLink Max is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker and scored highly in our testing for its clear stereo audio.

Pros

This speaker tops our list for its powerful bass with plenty of definition and impact. We enjoyed the articulate mids and highs, which we didn't expect in a mini boombox speaker. We appreciated its stereo sound and how loud it could go without distortion. It's shock-resistant, dust-proof, and waterproof.

Cons

It's expensive, and it doesn't have speakerphone capability.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
Ultimate Ears
Wonderboom 4
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Great Value

It's hard to find a speaker under $100 that delivers 360-degree sound better than the Wonderboom.

Great Value
Bottom Line

It's hard to find a speaker under $100 that delivers 360-degree sound better than the Wonderboom.

Pros

It comes with two separate drivers to create stereo sound. Its two passive radiators generate more bass presence than expected in a small, round speaker. Opposite-facing drivers create a 360-degree stereo sound we can enjoy at every angle. It's cute, waterproof, and buoyant.

Cons

It doesn't connect to a smartphone app, so we can't adjust its EQ.

Marshall Emberton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Marshall
Emberton II Portable Bluetooth Speaker
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Most Stylish

The rock n' roll vibe of this mini Marshall speaker comes with immersive, spacious sound.

Most Stylish
Bottom Line

The rock n' roll vibe of this mini Marshall speaker comes with immersive, spacious sound.

Pros

Impressive staging and imaging for a small box speaker. Full presence with punchy bass and crisp mids and highs. Opposite-facing drivers create stereo imaging and wide dispersal throughout a room. We can pair it with an app for custom EQ settings if we choose. It has a waterproof case with vintage styling.

Cons

It's pricey for its size. There's no aux in and no strap.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
Bang & Olufsen
Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
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Most Premium

The elegant design hides a powerful sound system that surprised and impressed us.

Most Premium
Bottom Line

The elegant design hides a powerful sound system that surprised and impressed us.

Pros

Its woofer and tweeter combine to create 60 watts and 92 decibels of power. We love the room-filling sound. It's capable of surprisingly deep bass frequencies despite its compact form. The understated, elegant design is IP67-rated against dust and liquids. It pairs well with iOS and Android.

Cons

Mono sound. Premium-priced.

Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Outdoor Speaker
Soundcore
Boom 2 Plus Outdoor Speaker
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Best Boombox

This floating speaker packs plenty of power and is a top choice for beach parties, picnics, and other outdoor gatherings, based on our tests.

Best Boombox
Bottom Line

This floating speaker packs plenty of power and is a top choice for beach parties, picnics, and other outdoor gatherings, based on our tests.

Pros

With 140 watts of power, we could listen to loud, bass-heavy music with minimal distortion. The handle and straps are convenient for carrying. The battery lasts up to 20 hours and has lighting effects on both sides. Pairing devices to the speaker was quick and easy in our tests.

Cons

It's too big to pack in a bag or backpack.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
July 30, 2024
30
Models
considered
30
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for best-sounding Bluetooth speaker

Jmar Gambol
Written by Jmar Gambol

Updated October 2024

Ready to buy now? Shop the best:

Bluetooth speakers are all the rage these days, and why not? With a Bluetooth speaker, you can bring your tunes along wherever you go, sharing them with friends and the world. 

The best-sounding Bluetooth speakers aren’t just the loudest speakers. They’re the ones pumping out full, clean, immersive audio. It takes clever engineering, smart design and attention to detail to create a product like that.

Portable Bluetooth speakers were once considered too small and compact to create full-sized sound. The technology has grown, however, and you can get fantastic sound from a range of Bluetooth speakers, from full-sized to mini.

At the BestReviews Testing Lab, we scoped out the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers. The Bose SoundLink Max has the best sound available right now, but there are other awesome contenders as well. Let’s take a look.

Which Bluetooth speaker sounds the best?

Bose SoundLink Max

Bose Soundlink Max on product box
The Bose SoundLink Max wowed the testing team with its powerful, punchy bass.

Best of the Best

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 35 hr (tested) | Dimensions: 10.42" W x 4.13" D x  4.73" H | Connectivity range: 80’ (tested) | Weight: 4.7 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.4

The Bose SoundLink Max is the top Bluetooth speaker we tested, and its sound quality makes it the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker we’ve seen. Its full-stereo sound and impactful bass, combined with sleek styling and high build quality, make it our top choice.

The SoundLink Max is a mini-boombox with a soft, flexible rope handle that can be replaced with an optional shoulder strap. At almost 5 pounds, it’s heavier than it looks, and we think the heft contributes to its powerful, punchy bass. Two 3.5-inch woofers are combined with a 23-millimeter tweeter and two “racetrack” radiators to produce articulate mids and pristine highs. We didn’t notice distortion in our testing until we reached volumes above 75%.

The SoundLink Max is sturdily built, surviving 3-foot drops in our testing without a scratch. It’s IP67-rated against dust and water ingress and is buoyant enough to float. It lasted over 35 hours at 65% volume during our tests playing white noise. It’s expensive, but we think the sound and build quality are worth the price.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 on white background
The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 features a rugged build that can withstand 5-foot drops.

Best Bang for the Buck

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 14 hr | Dimensions: 3.72” W x 4.09” H | Connectivity range: 131’ | Weight: 0.93 lb | Bluetooth version: NA

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is the latest entry in the highly recommended Wonderboom line. It features omnidirectional stereo sound and a surprisingly big and full bass presence. At around $100, it’s one of the best values in portable speakers.

The Wonderboom 4 has 40-millimeter drivers on either side of its rounded body, creating stereo separation and 360-degree audio. Two elongated passive radiators sit between the drivers, enhancing its bass response. It gets as loud as 86 decibels in normal use, which is about as loud as is comfortable. Outdoor mode increases mids and highs up to 87 decibels.

The Wonderboom 4 includes a USB-C port for charging its 14-hour battery. It’s waterproof and buoyant, making it fun for the pool. What’s more, it can withstand 5-foot drops. With a colorful design, flexible built-in strap and excellent sound, it’s one of the best Bluetooth speakers available.

Marshall Emberton II

Marshall Emberton II on gray background
The Marshall Emberton II speaker offers 30 hours of battery life on a single charge and has an appealing rock ’n’ roll look.

Most Stylish

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 30 hr | Dimensions: 6.30” L x 2.68” W x 2.99” H | Connectivity range: 30’ | Weight: 1.5 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.1

The Marshall Emberton II is one of the best-sounding mini Bluetooth speakers available. With a rugged grille and soft-touch silicone skin, it retains the rock ’n’ roll feel of Marshall’s larger amps.

The Emberton II has two 10-watt, 2-inch drivers and two passive radiators. Customers rave about its sharp, clear mids and highs and punchy bass down to 55 hertz. Like the UE Wonderboom, the Marshall Emberton II’s drivers face opposite directions, projecting left-channel audio one way and right-channel the other, creating a wide stereo soundstage that feels unified.

It’s rated IP67 against dust and water, so it’s good for use at the beach or pool. There’s no mic or speakerphone, but it supports EQ presets with the Marshall app and comes with a handy visible battery gauge.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 on white background
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 boasts a sleek look and clean, articulate sound.

Most Premium

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 18 hr | Dimensions: 5.24” L x 5.24” W x 1.8” H | Connectivity range: NA | Weight: 1.2 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.1

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 is among the most elegant portable Bluetooth speakers available. It’s also one of the best-sounding ones. Inside its slim, upward-firing disc is a 3.5-inch woofer and a 0.6-inch tweeter, each delivering 30 watts of power for a total of 60 watts and a loudness as high as 92 decibels. Bang & Olufsen says it's loud enough to fill a room of 300 square feet.

The Beosound A1 is a mono speaker, but it possesses a clean, articulate sound with plenty of presence despite its size and design. It can scoop down as low as 55 hertz, which is impressive bass for any mini Bluetooth speaker but especially for a disc-shaped one like this. It supports both AAC and aptX codecs to play nicely with Android and iOS sources, and it supports fast pairing with iOS, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.

Soundcore Boom 2 Plus

Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Outdoor on table with hand on carrying handle
Perfect for a party, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus offers powerful bass and colorful, flashing RGB lights.

Best Boombox with RGB Lights

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 65 hr (tested) | Dimensions: 17.4” L x 5.94” W x 8.98” H | Connectivity range: 150’ (tested) | Weight: 8.38 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.3

The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus from Anker is a big boombox speaker with a powerful bass sound courtesy of massive bass radiators at either end. The radiators vibrate with the music and integrate RGB lights that flash or pulse in time, making the Boom 2 Plus extra fun for parties.

Out of the box, we found its sound to be a little closed and thin, but activating its BassUp setting filled out not only its bass but also its mids and highs. We liked that we could customize its sound even more with a full EQ via the Soundcore app. Two 50-watt woofers and two 20-watt tweeters combine for 140 watts of stereo sound.

Playing mostly white noise for a test, we got over 65 hours of battery life from a single charge. Buoyant and waterproof, it was able to float for 30 minutes in a swimming pool and encountered no issues afterward. Considering its capabilities and reasonable price, we think it’s one of the best-sounding Bluetooth values available.

Sony ULT Field 1

Orange Sony ULT Field 1 on white background
The Sony ULT Field 1 is a compact canister speaker with bass radiators at either end to multiply the bass effect.

Lowest Bass

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 12 hr | Dimensions: 8.11” L x 3” W x 2.99” H | Connectivity range: NA | Weight: 1.4 lb | Bluetooth version: 5.3

Maker of many popular portable Bluetooth speakers, Sony is one of the top audio companies in the world. The Sony ULT Field 1 features Sony’s ULT Power Sound technology, enhancing not only the bass but also its overall sound impact.

The ULT Field 1 is a compact canister speaker with a 0.65-inch tweeter and a 3.6-inch elongated “racetrack” woofer, both angled slightly upward when the speaker is placed on its side to enhance sound dispersion. Bass radiators at either end multiply the bass effect. With ULT processing, Sony claims the Field 1’s bass can go as low as 20 hertz, the lowest frequency the human ear can hear. ULT mode can be switched on or off with a prominent button, but the overall sound feels fullest with ULT mode left on.

The ULT Field 1 is mono; for stereo sound, you’d need to pair two Field 1s together. It’s IP67-rated against dust and water, but it doesn’t support Sony’s own LDAC codec, only SBC and AAC.

Bose SoundLink Flex

Bose Soundlink Flex
The Bose SoundLink Flex can sense whether it’s on its base or back and shifts audio quality to match.

Best mono speaker

Product Specifications 

Battery life: 12 hr | Dimensions: 7.93" W x 2.06" D x 3.56" H | Connectivity range: 30’ | Weight: 1.3 lb | Bluetooth version: 4.2

Another mono speaker with impressive sound, the Bose SoundLink Flex looks like the SoundLink Max with a subtle, minimalist grille and grippy silicone skin. Inside its book-shaped design is a 2.3-inch full-range driver to handle the sound plus a pair of elongated bass radiators firing front and back. This gives it plenty of bass presence down to the 60-hertz level while providing clear mids, especially in vocals. The SoundLink Flex can sense whether it’s on its base or back and shifts audio quality to match.

The SoundLink Flex includes a built-in strap for carrying. It’s rated IP67 dustproof and waterproof. Surprisingly, it runs only on Bluetooth 4.2, but its performance doesn’t seem to be negatively affected aside from its somewhat paltry 30-foot range. Two SoundLink Flexes can link into a stereo pair for extra volume and staging.

How we tested

We surveyed the Bluetooth speaker market for models whose audio specs were a cut above the rest. We didn’t restrict our list to stereo speakers, but we were impressed by the speakers that provided stereo sound. Even more important to us was a speaker’s ability to produce full-sounding audio at all frequencies, from bass to mids to highs.

We paid attention to amp wattage, the size and number of drivers and any published specs on each product’s loudness in decibels. We favored newer models from reputable brands we’ve had good results from in the past, but we avoided models that were too new to have much audio analyses available.

Our testing experiences informed our choices. Using a standardized playlist of music in various genres, we analyzed sound quality and fidelity. We looked for well-defined bass indoors and outdoors as well as full mids and highs that were clear without being harsh. We favored speakers that created a wide, spacious sound.

We timed how long a speaker could play at a specific volume before running out of battery power. We measured Bluetooth range, pairing ease, connection stability and multipoint pairing. Finally, we dropped test speakers onto turf from heights of 3 to 4 feet to test durability and immersed them in water to test their water-resistance.

Understanding sound quality

The sound quality of any speaker depends on a variety of factors. Key factors you may encounter when evaluating Bluetooth speakers include audio clarity, bass response and power.

  • Audio clarity: Audio clarity refers to how well a speaker can reproduce audio without distortion. The better the audio clarity, the more faithful the speaker’s sound.
  • Frequency range: This is the range of sounds a speaker can produce, measured in hertz or kilohertz (kHz). The human ear can perceive a frequency range from 20 hertz to 20 kHz. A good Bluetooth speaker should be able to handle a similar range, although they often have trouble going lower than 40 hertz.
  • Bass response: Powerful bass is one of the most important features consumers want from a speaker, but good bass isn’t just about shaking the walls. Bass adds depth and body to sound; without it, audio can sound thin, no matter how sharp or clear.
  • Volume and power: Speakers are often described by how much power they deliver. Power is measured in watts. The loudest speakers have high wattages, translating to greater decibel outputs.

Our top picks: Sound quality

  • The Bose SoundLink Max was the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker we tested, combining commanding bass response with excellent audio clarity.
  • The Marshall Emberton II has impressive clarity, power and bass presence for its size. It has two 10-watt drivers that reach as low as 60 hertz.
  • The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 delivers excellent audio clarity and bass response for its size and shape

Speaker design and acoustics

A significant part of a speaker's sound quality is its physical design and acoustics, including its drivers and shape.

  • Drivers: A speaker’s drivers produce sound. As a rule of thumb, bigger drivers are better. For good sound quality, we think it’s best to have at least two drivers per Bluetooth speaker. It could be a mono configuration consisting of a large woofer (for low and middle frequencies) and a small tweeter (for high frequencies) or a pair of similar sizes for stereo sound.
  • Driver placement: For great stereo sound, the farther apart the drivers are, the better. Creating a wide soundstage is a challenge for Bluetooth speakers, which fit all drivers into a single unit.
  • Enclosure design: Small Bluetooth speakers can have a hard time outputting deep bass. Larger ones have more space for the drivers to move (more excursion) and to move more air. Bluetooth speakers that aim their drivers to the front tend to sound best from one direction; those that fire their sound upward tend to sound the same from all angles.
  • Sound dispersion: A Bluetooth speaker can have directional or omnidirectional dispersion, delivering sound directly in front or evenly all around. We like Bluetooth speakers with wide sound dispersion since the audio comes from a single, compact source.

Our top picks: Speaker design and acoustics

  • The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom packs two 40-millimeter drivers into a 4-inch-wide barrel, delivering impressive omnidirectional sound and stereo.
  • The Marshall Emberton II uses a pair of two-inch (50-millimeter) drivers placed back-to-back, creating wide spatial dispersion and stereo sound despite its small, boxy design.
  • The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 uses a large 3-inch woofer and a smaller tweeter to fire 60 watts of omnidirectional sound upward from its disc-like shape.
  • The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus boasts two 50-watt woofers with two 20-watt tweeters that produce powerful sound throughout the frequency range.

Advanced audio technologies

The best-sounding Bluetooth speakers rely on advanced audio technologies to overcome size and shape limitations.

  • DSP (Digital Signal Processing): Digital signal processing smooths out the peaks and valleys of an audio signal to minimize distortion. Many Bluetooth speakers and other portable audio devices also use DSP to generate bass boost, spatial sound and other enhancements.
  • EQ settings: We appreciate Bluetooth speakers that allow us to adjust their frequency response with an equalizer in a companion app. We can increase or decrease a specific frequency to suit us. The app may also offer EQ presets, such as those for voice, extra bass and specific music genres.
  • Audio codecs: Bluetooth audio transmits via various codecs. The basic Bluetooth codec is SBC, supported by practically every Bluetooth device. Most Bluetooth speakers also support AAC, which is the codec used by Apple, Spotify and YouTube. The aptX family is supported by many Android devices, while the LDAC codec comes from Sony. Higher-quality codecs can transmit more information, resulting in high-fidelity or even lossless audio.

Our top picks: Advanced audio technologies

  • The Sony ULT Field 1 uses its DSP for its ULT sound with deeper bass and fuller overall audio. Surprisingly, it doesn’t support Sony’s own LDAC codec.
  • The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus uses its BassUp feature to fill out its sound. It has an app with a detailed multiband equalizer and supports aptX.
  • The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 uses its DSP to enhance its bass presence in tandem with its passive radiators.

Connectivity and compatibility

A wireless speaker will connect to any Bluetooth source. We think the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers use up-to-date Bluetooth versions, preferably Bluetooth 5.0 and later.

  • Bluetooth 5.0 has twice the data speed of the previous version, Bluetooth 4.2, doubling data speed from one megabyte per second to two. It also uses less power, extending the device's battery life. Bluetooth 5.0 has been succeeded by Bluetooth 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, any of which you might find in the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers. The differences between these versions can be subtle, but Bluetooth 5.2 notably introduced LE (low-energy) audio.
  • Multidevice pairing: Also known as multipoint pairing, this allows a Bluetooth speaker to pair with more than one source at a time. For example, the speaker could pair with two smartphones at a party or to a smartphone and a laptop at home. Bluetooth speakers with multidevice pairing can switch from one source to the other without repeating the pairing process every time.
  • Additional inputs: A Wi-Fi connection can deliver higher-quality sound than Bluetooth. A wired aux input lets you connect an aux cable for a low-power, high-fidelity connection. Some larger Bluetooth speakers may offer microphone and musical instrument connections for use as a loudspeaker or amp.

Our top picks: Connectivity and compatibility

  • The Bose SoundLink Max supports Bluetooth 5.4 and has an aux port you can use to connect an aux cable.
  • The Soundcore Boom 2 Plus has an aux port to connect to wired audio sources and supports Bluetooth 5.3.

Portability and durability

Bluetooth speakers must maximize their sound quality because of their killer feature: portability. They’re designed to make it easy to play audio wherever you are. Battery life, build quality and aesthetics are almost as important as sound quality, even for the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers.

  • Battery life: Based on our experience, you should expect at least 10 hours of nonstop playback from a portable Bluetooth speaker. The bigger the speaker, the bigger the battery and the longer the speaker can play. Playing high-bass, high-volume audio can drain a Bluetooth speaker battery faster than playing white noise or soft music.
  • Build quality: Using a Bluetooth speaker outdoors can be great fun. Look for one with impact resistance to drops and shocks. An IP67 rating means a Bluetooth speaker is impervious to dust and water, making it suitable for the campground, pool and beach.
  • Design aesthetics: A Bluetooth speaker can be an expression of personal style. You can find Bluetooth speakers in different colors and aesthetics, from minimalist to bold, including some that offer RGB light shows.

Our top picks: Portability and durability

  • We dropped the Bose SoundLink Max from a height of 3 feet onto a grass lawn and immersed it in water until it floated. It showed no damage and played perfectly, even while wet.
  • We did the same thing to the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus. We also let it float in a swimming pool for 30 minutes. It showed only minor scuffing and worked perfectly after we fished it out of the pool.
  • The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 and Marshall Emberton II are visibly striking speakers. The Beosound has a refined, elegant aesthetic, and the Emberton II boasts a vintage rock ’n’ roll vibe.
  • The brightly colored, adorably round Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 can withstand drops of 5 feet and can float.

Our expertise

Jmar Gambol has been addicted to high-quality audio since he was very young. For BestReviews, he has researched and written extensively on headphones and speakers, testing more than half a dozen products for audio quality based on his special multi-genre playlist. He tested two of the Bluetooth speakers picked here and has owned several other speakers, including his go-to Marshall Emberton II.