Honorable Mentions
Here are some other good speakers we’ve tested that didn’t quite make the cut for our top picks:
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (Gen 3) for $399: Gorgeously designed, flawlessly finished, and this is still one of the most covetable Bluetooth speakers around. The brushed aluminum puck has barely changed since 2016, which says plenty about the strength of Cecilie Manz’s original design. The latest version adds a richer, more powerful 360-degree sound from its 3.25-inch woofer, 0.6-inch tweeter, and 60 watts of amplification. It is IP67 rated, lasts up to 24 hours, and is appreciably more repairable and upgradable. I loved using it, but it’s just a little too expensive when the KEF Muo exists and sounds as good as it does.
Photograph: Chris Haslam
JBL Go 5 for $55: Great looks, cute dimensions, and instantly stolen by my tweenage daughter, the new Go 5 is a meaningful, if not massive, upgrade over the also awesome JBL Go 4. Buy the Go 4 if you’re looking to save a few bucks, but the new option does have improved bass response and clearer dynamics, Auracast for quick pairing, a solid, 8-hour battery life, and beefier IP68 protection. It’s just a great little speaker packed full of cool tech that takes up no space. If only I knew where my daughter had put it.
We Are Rewind GB-001 for $580: The fact it has a cassette deck steals the headlines, but the reality is, most people will spend most of their time using this as a wonderfully retro Bluetooth boombox. The 19-inch-wide body, chunky rotary controls, full-width folding handle, and backlit VU meters give it real presence—it’s not for travel, obviously—which is matched by the enjoyably bassy 104-watt output which gives it real scale. I love that you can record directly onto blank tape, but without a radio it doesn’t scratch all my nostalgic itches. Up to 15 hours of battery life is acceptable, and recharging is much cheaper than shelling out for another pack of size-Ds like the old days.
Photograph: Chris Haslam
Gomi Collection One for $380: Handmade in the UK from waste plastic, the Gomi Bluetooth speaker is a rare example of genuinely impressive sustainable design. No two cases are the same, and the extruded plastic feels wonderfully tactile. Inside, they’ve repurposed waste lithium-ion e-bike battery cells, which is a genius move and gives up to 32 hours of listening. For its mid-range audio performance it does feel expensive—the KEF Muo is better and cheaper—but for me that’s not the point and the sound quality from the 3-inch full-range driver is more than enjoyable. There’s free and fast shipping to the USA too.
Trelab HD-360 Pro for $128: Imagine if the Apple HomePod had a 22-hour battery, worked over Bluetooth, and cost peanuts. OK, I’m being flippant, but with 360-degree sound, 90 watts of peak output, five active drivers, eight passive bass radiators, and a ridiculous amount of low end for a portable speaker, it’s a surprisingly good alternative. At 5.7 pounds it’s a brute and could actually do with a handle, but the weight helps with the audio, and means it houses a 22-hour battery too. Understandably, there’s no smart control or Wi-Fi, but it’s good if you only have space for one (very) loud (compact) speaker.
Bose Soundlink Max for $399: The Bose SoundLink Max has quickly become my favorite speaker to drag along to outdoor events. It’s not as big as the boombox that John Cusack held over his head in the ’80s, but this robust, rubberized speaker has bold sound and gets loud enough to woo your sweethearts with a love song. I also like that you can plug in your phone while it plays music, which is nice for those of us who forget to charge on our days off. Bold bass, even when outside, makes this good for dance parties in the middle of nowhere, and the handle is easy to tie up to packs, kayaks, or tents. —Parker Hall
Beats Pill for $150: Apple’s latest Beats Pill is surprisingly versatile. Quick one-touch pairing for iOS and Android devices make it great for mixed-phone homes, while old-school callbacks like a built-in speakerphone and the ability to charge other devices can come in handy. Beats didn’t stop there, offering massive playtime, great dust and water resistance, and the ability to play lossless audio over USB-C with supported devices. While the design isn’t as robust as my favorites, new drivers provide the slick treble and hefty bass you expect from Beats, with refined clarity. —Ryan Waniata
JBL Charge 6 for $200: The JBL Charge offers big and beautiful sound from its football-shaped frame, along with extras like a USB-C port to charge your phone from and 24-hour battery life. It can be plugged in for lossless playback on supported devices and uses Auracast to sync up with other newer JBL models, though that leaves out older versions like the Charge 5. The Charge isn’t as easy to pack as our top pick, weighing 3 pounds and stretching 9 inches across, but if you bring it along, you’ll be rewarded with clear jams and plenty of bass. —Ryan Waniata
Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 for $200: If packability isn’t of top concern, the 9-inch-tall Megaboom 4 is one of the best outdoor speakers you can buy. It’s got rich and full 360-degree sound with plenty of low-end punch. Its drop-tested, weatherproof body is ready for any outing, from surf to sand, and it offers over 150 feet of wireless range and up to 20 hours of battery life (more like 15 hours at volume). As with other UE speakers, the app adds features like the ability to connect multiple speakers in a group or two Megaboom 4s in stereo, adjust the EQ, and wake the speaker from sleep. This rugged sound pillar is key to my backyard jams and well worth adding to your semi-mobile arsenal. —Ryan Waniata
Sony Ult Field 1 for $140: The smallest of Sony’s Ult speakers is a solid tubular portable up against tough competition. It offers good sound with the “Ult” bass key engaged, but its midrange is less defined and dynamic than favorites like the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 or JBL Flip 7, and it packs less battery life than either. —Ryan Waniata
DemerBox DB2 for $399: The DB2 is a great companion for your boldest outdoor adventures, in large part because it serves two purposes: It’s a loud portable speaker with 40 hours of built-in battery life, and it’s also a crushproof Pelican case. Load it up with any particularly fragile items, plug the bass port with an included rubber stopper, and you’ve got yourself an everything-proof box to keep your stuff safe. —Ryan Waniata
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