Summer is here, and there’s one thing you need to take your barbecues, beach trips, and festivals to the next level: a Bluetooth speaker.
That’s right, a portable speaker is sure to bring the vibe up — well, if you’ve got one that’s actually good. And believe me, there are a lot of models out there that really aren’t worth your time. Whether it’s an unbranded speaker that only costs $15 / £15 and produces distorted sound, or an overpriced luxurious alternative, you’ll want to steer clear of the slop.
Luckily, I’ve tested more than 50 Bluetooth speakers, so I know good value when I see it. And today, I’m here to share three of my very favorite portable speakers with you, all of which are well worth their asking price, and excel in crucial areas like sound quality, design, and feature-set. So, want to ensure you get a high quality audio companion for the summer? Look no further than these top picks.
1. The ultra-cheap option: Tribit Stormbox Micro 3
I could’ve easily given this one to the JBL Go 5, but spoiler alert: JBL is featuring later on in this list — and hey, it’s good to get a bit of variety in there, right? And so, enter the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3, which is easily among the best Bluetooth speakers in the ultra-cheap category.
This palm-sized speaker offers a lot more quality than you’d expect at its moderate price point. What grabs you first is its seismic bass output. But don’t be fooled: this isn’t the bloated, overstated low-end that a lot of budget speakers produce — it’s impactful and commanding. This is great for genres with pumping bass like House and other electronic genres, for instance.
What’s more, this speaker is IP68-rated, meaning that it’s fully dustproof, and can survive a 30-minute-long dunking in a meter and a half of water. It’s also made of a rough and ready fabric material, and is drop-proof, which, paired with its compact size, makes the Stormbox Micro 3 the ultimate speaker to take out and about.
Another real highlight is the Stormbox Micro 3’s 24-hour battery life, which is absolutely exceptional. For reference, that’s double the amount you’d get with the Bose SoundLink Micro Gen 2, and while that model may offer slightly more detailed mids and more expressive treble, its underwhelming bass and high price means I’d pick the Stormbox Micro 3 every time.
2. The mid-range maestro: JBL Flip 7
The JBL Flip 7 is one of those pieces of tech that seems too good to be true — except it isn’t.
It supplies sound far greater than you’d expect for its size, with huge yet controlled bass, powerful yet detailed mids, and vibrant yet articulate highs. The Flip 7’s dual-driver configuration and 35W max power output also helps it to get surprisingly loud, making it a versatile option for either bedroom listening or a party environment.
In addition, the Flip 7 is compatible with Auracast, enabling you to easily connect to other JBL speakers, there’s USB-C lossless audio support, and again, IP68 dust and waterproofing for on-the-go use. Sprinkle in a high-quality build, AI Sound analysis for optimized audio, and a neat array of color options, and the Flip 7 really does feel like the full package.
Usually, the Flip 7 will cost you about $149 / £129 / AU$179, but it goes on sale quite a lot of the time — even when writing this article, I spotted it going for less than $100 / £100 / AU$150, which is unspeakably good value for money.
3. The premium powerhouse: Marshall Kilburn III
Let’s finish up with the speaker I always reach for at my desk: the Marshall Kilburn III. This beautiful amp-inspired model is a true work of art, with faux-leather casing, a gorgeous metallic speaker grille, and eye-catching golden details. But it’s a lot more than a pretty face.
Yes, the Kilburn III sounds exceptional even with the lack of higher-res Bluetooth codecs like LDAC or aptX Adaptive. It serves up deep, regimented, almost moving bass, well-separated mids, and controlled highs, and there’s a great sense of balance right across the frequency range. The Kilburn III also makes use of Marshall’s “true” 360-degree stereophonic sound, which means the speaker has no real sweet spot — it sounds fantastic from all angles.
One of the things I love most about the Kilburn III, however, is its S-tier battery life. You get a mammoth 50 hours of playtime here, and there are also battery health options that you can activate in the Marshall Bluetooth app. On top of this, you get a 3.5mm port for wired listening, a USB-C port that enables you to charge external devices, and there’s even a placement compensation feature for getting optimized audio, no matter where your speaker sits.
At $379 / £299 / AU$599, this is by no means the cheapest speaker on the market, but I’ve seen it go on sale for less than $300 / £250 / AU$500 before. And if you’re looking for something with a touch of class, then it really doesn’t get much better than the Marshall Kilburn III.
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The best Bluetooth speakers for all budgets
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
