2024-04-23 08:56:35
A good speaker should play powerful bass and fine details. In the current test by Stiftung Warentest, the large Bluetooth boxes in particular provide a good overall package. We present the test results.
The most important things at a glance
Which Bluetooth speakers make your favorite music sound best? This question doesn’t just arise in summer, when you want to spend the evenings outside or go on a bike ride or camping vacation. The boxes are also ideal for the next family celebration or outdoor cinema.
Stiftung Warentest has the ongoing Bluetooth box test in its “test” issue 05/2024 expanded by 21 models. We explain how to test and present the test results as well as the currently best Bluetooth speakers.
Bluetooth boxes in the test: This is how Stiftung Warentest tests them
For the current test, Stiftung Warentest examined 21 new Bluetooth boxes, including 20 models with battery operation and a speaker with a power cable. The result is incorporated into the entire Bluetooth speaker test, which now includes 102 speakers. The boxes cost between 30 euros and 650 euros, but some models are no longer available.
The speakers are divided into two categories: models over and under 2.5 kilograms of weight. The sound, handling and battery are taken into account for the rating.
The results of the Bluetooth box test at a glance
Basically, the volume of a speaker is crucial for the sound: “Big box, rich beats,” is how the testers explain the simple principle. For this reason, it is not surprising that the heavier and larger speakers are more convincing in the test than the lighter models. In the weight class under 2.5 kilograms, only two Bluetooth boxes achieved a “good” overall grade. There are often deductions, especially when it comes to sound, because it sounds too thin with small speakers.
The current test winner among the lightweights is the “test” quality rating “good (2.4)”. Box Middleton von Marshall. The cheapest and by far the lightest box with an overall grade of “good (2.5)” is this LG XBoom Go. It was already examined by the examiners in the “test” issue 04/2023 and complements the current test.
The powerful heavyweights, on the other hand, are significantly better. They are larger and heavier and therefore offer more sound, better sound and precise tonal details. The battery life, additional features and the number of ports are also better on the heavier models.
The new test winner is the Bluetooth speaker Rockster Air 2 from Teufel with the “test” quality rating “very good (1.4)”. It performs “very well” in all criteria examined. Stiftung Warentest still counts this as one of the cheap good ones Box SRS-XG300 von Sony. It was examined for the first time in the “test” issue 04/2023. Still a price tip for the inspectors!
You can read all the results of the Stiftung Warentest Bluetooth box test in the “test” issue 05/2024.
Test winner among the heavyweights: Rockster Air 2 from Teufel
The test result: With the “test” quality rating “very good (1.4)”, the Teufel Rockster Air 2 is the test winner in the group of models over 2.5 kilograms. It scored “very good” in all test categories. The testers describe the model as “the best wireless Bluetooth box we have ever tested”.
Product details: At 14.3 kilograms, the speaker is one of the heaviest models in the current test. However, the mass also brings the best sound compared to the competition. There is a tweeter and a woofer inside. They bring clear sound and rich bass.
The battery should last for up to 58 hours at medium volume. Another advantage: the battery can be changed, which was possible with only two speakers in the test.
You can also use the speaker as a power bank and charge your smartphone. You can transfer music via Bluetooth, USB access or via the aux input. The Bluetooth box is also ideal for the stage, parties and speeches thanks to the inputs for microphone and instruments. Thanks to its wide dispersion, the loudspeaker ensures very good speech intelligibility.
The cheap “good” one: Bluetooth box from Sony
The test result: The Bluetooth box from Sony already achieved the “test” quality rating “good (2.3)” in the “test” issue 04/2023. The model scores “good” to “very good” in the important sub-disciplines of sound and battery. When it comes to handling, the model shows a few weaknesses.
Product details: The box weighs just under three kilograms. This puts the model in the middle range and is also suitable for mobile use. The speaker scores points with its high volume and lots of bass. Inside there is a subwoofer, a front tweeter speaker and passive radiators.
The integrated battery should last for up to 25 hours. Thanks to the quick charging function, ten minutes of charging time can be used for another 70 minutes of listening time. The speaker has a USB-C port for charging the battery and a USB-A port that you can even use to charge other devices.
The integrated lighting can also be changed to match the beat using Sony’s Music Center app. Thanks to splash protection, a drink can go awry at the party.
Test winner among the lightweights: Bluetooth box from Marshall
The test result: The best Bluetooth speaker in the weight class up to 2.5 kilograms comes from Marshall. The Middleton achieved the “test” quality rating of “good (2.4)”. Due to the small volume, there are reductions in sound compared to the heavy models. The handy Bluetooth box for on the go is impressive in terms of handling.
Product details: The speakers from Marshall are visually impressive. They look like retro-designed guitar amplifiers. Just not for the stage, but for the living room or on the go. Marshall is one of the best-known amplifier manufacturers and also builds Bluetooth speakers like the Middleton.
The speaker weighs less than two kilograms and has two tweeters, two bass speakers and two passive membranes.
It connects to your cell phone via Bluetooth and also serves as a power bank for on the go. The model achieves even stronger sound in stack mode by connecting to other Middleton speakers. According to the manufacturer, the box has a battery life of up to 20 hours. However, in the Stiftung Warentest test it was only 11.5 hours.
The affordable lightweight: Bluetooth speakers from LG
The test result: The LG XBoom Go received the “test” quality rating “good (2.5)” in the “test” issue 04/2023. This makes this Bluetooth speaker one of the only two “good” lightweights under 2.5 kilograms. The LG model is the cheapest and by far the lightest Bluetooth box in the test and is therefore a price tip from Stiftung Warentest.
Product details: The speaker has a decent sound for its weight. The battery lasts twelve hours on a single charge. A big plus: The Bluetooth box is significantly cheaper than the other models in comparison.
It has an output of 30 watts and changes the colors of the LED lighting to match the rhythm of the music. At parties, several devices can be connected together and they will all play the same songs. And if the loudspeaker gets wet at the lake, it doesn’t need to be replaced straight away: the box is protected from splash water.
Our conclusion on the Bluetooth box test
If you value good sound, you should look at the larger and heavier Bluetooth speakers. The best wireless Bluetooth box ever examined by Stiftung Warentest is the current test winner Rockster Air 2 from Teufel. However, it is heavy and expensive with a price of around 600 euros.
On the other hand, the lightweight speaker is for those on a budget XBoom Go from LG good advice: The speaker is significantly cheaper and easy to transport. If a particularly powerful and good sound is important, then this is it Sony model the right choice.
Important questions about Bluetooth boxes
How do you connect a Bluetooth speaker to your smartphone?
All Bluetooth speakers in the test can be connected to smartphones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. To do this, first switch on the corresponding function on your smartphone and press the Bluetooth button on the speaker. This then sends its name via radio, which is displayed on the smartphone under “available devices”. If you click on the speaker there, both devices will be connected. This manual process is usually only necessary once: the smartphone and box usually recognize each other the next time they are used and connect automatically.
Near Field Communication (NFC) radio technology is also available on newer models. This technology makes the connection much easier. If both devices are NFC-capable, you only have to briefly hold the smartphone against the contact surface of the Bluetooth speaker. The question will then appear on the smartphone display as to whether it should be paired with the box. You then just need to confirm this.
How can you connect multiple Bluetooth boxes?
Connecting or pairing two or more Bluetooth speakers works via an app from the respective provider. The two speakers then either share the stereo signal, so that music sounds more spatial, or both devices play the same thing. Then you hear the same thing in two different places, such as the front garden and the terrace.
However, the limitations of the Bluetooth connection must be taken into account: Only speakers from the same provider or even identical speakers can be connected to one another.
How far does Bluetooth reach?
In the past, Bluetooth devices could only span up to ten meters, but today they can often cover a hundred meters. However, this only works outside and under optimal conditions. Obstacles such as walls significantly limit the range.
What do the protection types and protection classes mean?
The protection types provide information about the suitability of electrical devices for different environmental conditions. The letter combination IP (International Protection) is followed by a combination of up to four digits of numbers and letters.
The first number describes the protection against foreign bodies and contact. The second number describes the protection against water. The general rule: The higher the number, the higher the protection. If a device only has protection against water, but not protection against foreign bodies and contact, the first number is replaced by an X (IPX7).
Protection classes mean something completely different from protection types: The protection class defines the safety measures taken to avoid a power accident caused by an electric shock. Classes 1-3 indicate whether the device is protected by protective grounding, protective insulation or safety extra-low voltage.