I heard a song once, that reminded me of a girl I once knew. The times we spent together, the time since we’ve been apart. Songs are a loving embrace of the past, but also serve the setup for for tomorrow’s love. That’s why I’m constantly on the hunt for the speaker that will provide the sound track to our lives.
That said, I’ve tested over fifty Bluetooth Speakers for Jekko so far. I took these speakers to parties, events, and even yoga classes to see if they’d hold up to what life throws our way. After drying them out and knocking off all the sand, I can definitively this is a list of the Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers you can buy today.
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UE Roll 2
The UE Roll 2 roll is the go to speaker I choose in most situations. This portable all weather Bluetooth speaker grabs onto your backpack or bicycle and stays there for your entire adventure. After a season or two with this Tron Sound Disc, you’ll come to appreciate, as I have, it handles the rain, sand, and snow. The buttons can hardly be confused and have great tactile response. And despite having access to more fanciful speakers the UE Roll 2 is the old friend you sing your favorite songs with. Like an old friend, it has it’s flaws – No speaker phone and lack luster bass. But you’ll look past that for all the great times you have together.
Tribit Sound X Go
The Tribit Sound X Go refines the classic Bluetooth speaker design we’ve seen for years, a magic black box that makes sound; And Tribit nearly perfects it. The Sound X Go is small enough to forget in a back pack and but big enough in sound liven up your study room later. The humble design hides a 24 hour battery and IPX7 waterproofing. If you’re looking for a cheap speaker with two day shipping, this is the best bang for the buck.
Splendid Sound iPop
Iotton’s Splendid Sound iPop may not have a catchy name, but it has the most memorable sound out of the group. Two 8W speakers are accompanied by a passive sub-woofer in the back. The iPop is a tactical upgrade for those into bass. EDM, Hip Hop, or Vaporwave, consider getting this for your day trips backpacking. What is impressive about this speaker is with all the sound it puts out, the battery still lasts around 10 hours.
Skullcandy Barricade Mini BT
The square Skull Candy Barricade Mini BT is one of the lightest speakers on the list coming in at 294g. In our testing it’s sound came out clear and un-distorted. In the category of mini bluetooth speakers it’s remarkable how close it replicates what musicians record in the studio. The speaker falls short on waterproofing (IPX5) and battery life (6hr), but it more than makes up for it in durability.
Anker Soundcore 2
The Anker Soundcore 2 improves on their already notable design from version 1. Better bass, a 24 hours battery, and rock solid design makes it a mobile master of music. The bluetooth range is also endearing for those beach or campfire hangouts. Anker has released a new series of speakers this year, the Soundcore 2 still retains its ranks as one of the best portable speakers in the market today. There’s no reason not to pick one up if you have an Amazon Prime account.
Considerations; Sound matters. I’ve worked with thousands of bands and produced music festivals for over a decade. I can tell you, musicians, producers, and promoters get frustrated putting effort into recording only to have their albums sound crappy on speakers. That said, these speakers go the distance in replicating the effort musicians put into their craft. They would serve as a wonderful upgrade from your phone or a gift for family or friends.
The Vantrue VAAN V1 was an honorable mention, but has since been discontinued. We’re looking forward to reviewing the Sony XB10 and WZK Portable Wireless speakers. While there are many options on the market, we look for the most reliable ones.
Upcoming guides: Best Speakers for the Smart Home, Best Portable Speakers (Mid Range).