Bluetooth speakers – How to choose the best one

Bluetooth speakers are cool little gadgets. They are portable sources of entertainment, they can get the party started, they can be taken with you everywhere, they are easy to carry and use.

But not all speakers are equally good. Some are better than others, in terms of construction, sound, features or/and price.

Here are some things to have in mind when in market for a Bluetooth speaker:

• Quality of sound. This depends on many factors, but here are the most important ones to look out for:
  • Frequency response: the human ear has a hearing range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The wider the range, the more detailed and clear the sound will be, because you’ll hear more frequencies
  • Watts (the output power): watts are related to the volume a speaker can emit. The higher the number of watts, the louder the speaker
  • Impedance (Ohms): in simple terms that you can understand, the lower the impedance, the better your speaker will sound
  • Drivers: Bluetooth speakers are usually equipped with 30 or 40mm drivers. The bigger the driver, the better and louder the sound
• Connectivity. This is an important aspect to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker. Aside from the Bluetooth wireless connection, you should also look for other connectivity options as well: an aux input for a wired connection (wired speakers will always sound better in terms of quality than wireless ones) and maybe NFC, as it makes the pairing process even easier
• Battery capacity. Bluetooth speakers can last up to 35 hours or even more on a single charge. The general rule is: the cheaper the product, the lower the capacity. Inexpensive, budget speakers will run out of juice after 2 or 3 hours of playback. Do some research on the battery life before you settle for a certain model. Another aspect to consider is the charging style. Does the speaker use the classic micro USB port, do you need a special adapter, do you have an option to use AA batteries and so on
• Size and weight. Bluetooth speakers are meant to be carried around with you, in your bag, backpack and so on. The more compact, light and portable, the better. However, don’t exaggerate with that either. If you choose a really small speaker, with really small drivers and a small wattage, you will compromise the sound quality and volume, too
• Features. This is a complex aspect. Bluetooth speakers have evolved a lot over the years. They now come equipped with a plethora of interesting features, and it is up to you to decide which ones are important for you. Here are some common features in Bluetooth speakers: hands-free functionality that allows you to take calls directly through the speaker, the ability to connect multiple speakers when you want to cover a bigger space or when you are outdoor, available mobile apps, waterproofness, voice control through virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa, the ability to charge your smartphone from the Bluetooth speaker and more.