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The best Bluetooth speakers, expert recommended and tested
When King Harald Bluetooth, son of Gorm the Old, died in the year 986, he could never have foreseen that his name would one day be linked to hundreds of millions of household devices. Bluetooth is so called because it “unites” gadgets in the same way Harald united Denmark.
Only a decade ago, even the best portable speakers sounded awful, offered limited range and made pairing with phones or MP3 players a tiresome process. Now, they’re far better performers, and Bluetooth is an essential feature of the best wireless speakers. Particularly for outdoor settings.
Prices start at under £100 for compact options, rising to nearly £700 for premium models. Major brands such as Bose, Sony and Bowers & Wilkins all offer excellent choices. You will find our full reviews below, along with advice to help you decide and answers to frequently asked questions.
If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at the key players. Bluetooth speakers are often discounted at big annual sales events like Black Friday, so it may be worth holding off if one is around the corner.
The best Bluetooth speakers: At a glance
How to choose the best Bluetooth speaker
“The best Bluetooth speakers fit your needs, working around you, not the opposite”, says Simon Powell, operations director at hi-fi experts Henley Audio.
“Compare it to buying a car. You wouldn’t expect an Alfa Romeo Spider to fit a family of five and the dog, so don’t expect a teeny Bluetooth speaker to fill a big space with sound.”
Before diving into details, consider the essentials like power and pairing options. These are the features most likely to affect how well a speaker suits your lifestyle.
Power
“The sound can get lost in outdoor settings,” Powell says. “If it’s for garden use, consider a larger unit that can fill the space. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s quoted battery life if you’re using it far from a power source.”
Pairing
One function worth your attention is the ability to create a stereo pair. “Here, you buy two speakers of the same model and wirelessly link them, creating a stereo effect.” Not all Bluetooth speakers offer this feature.
Specifications
Regarding waterproofing, look out for an ingress protection (IP) rating. IP67 is the highest. “If your Bluetooth speaker will never be near water, don’t pay the premium for a highly water-resistant model,” Powell advises.
How we test Bluetooth speakers
We synced each Bluetooth speaker with a smartphone to test how quickly and easily they paired. All the speakers under test performed well on this score, pairing rapidly. This is something that has changed in recent years, as many devices used to be fiddly to connect.
For water- and dust-proofing, we noted which devices were certified to the highest standard (IP68). This would mean that they are completely resistant to dust ingress and can withstand being immersed in water up to a depth of 1.5 metres for 30 minutes.
For sound quality, we tested each speaker with a variety of tracks and musical genres, including both rock and classical, as well as spoken-word podcasts. We noted the difference at low and high volumes in different room sizes.
Powell explains: “Playing at a lower volume is a great way to test audio gear, requiring the speaker to offer a high degree of detail and finesse. Classical music is an excellent test of a speaker’s dynamics, from the treble highs to the bass lows. Humans are great at gauging the realism of voices, so test with a speech-based radio station or a podcast.”
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