2024-07-27 06:32:51
Wireless music boxes for the summer
The best Bluetooth speakers from JBL, Bose and Co.
Updated on 26.07.2024 – 11:48Reading time: 5 min.
The soundtrack for summer can be enjoyed anywhere thanks to compact Bluetooth speakers. We present recommended models from JBL, Teufel, Bose and Co. and show our price-performance tip.
The most important things at a glance
Enjoying music, listening to a current podcast or playing your new favorite audio book: This is especially popular in the warmer months. Bluetooth speakers are the ideal solution because they bring music enjoyment anywhere. We present the best Bluetooth speakers for every budget from Teufel, JBL, Bose and Co.
The simple Bluetooth speaker SoundLink Flex comes from sound expert Bose and is our test winner. It impressed with the best sound in the t-online practical test. Despite its compact dimensions, it delivers a warm and balanced sound with pleasant bass.
The robust speaker weighs around 600 grams. It looks like a pencil case with a practical carrying strap, but is 20 centimeters long. The Bose speaker is waterproof, dust-repellent and is suitable for both home and on the go. The battery life is twelve hours. The battery can be charged via cable or USB.
The Bose SoundLink Flex is available in black, blue and white. It can play music when paired with your smartphone and other speakers. It automatically detects its orientation and adjusts its settings for the best sound reproduction.
JBL’s Bluetooth speakers are among the most popular models on the market. The JBL Flip Essential 2 has the well-known tube design with two bass speakers on the side. In principle, it is a slightly slimmed down version of the Flip 6.
According to the manufacturer, the battery life is up to ten hours. Charging is done via a micro USB charging cable that is included. Unlike most other JBL models, the Flip Essential 2 is only available in black.
The handy Bluetooth box weighs 520 grams and has a diameter of 6.8 centimeters and a length of around 17 centimeters. This makes it easy to take anywhere. It is also particularly robust and waterproof according to IPX7, so using it outdoors is no problem.
In spring 2024, Stiftung Warentest published a new test report on Bluetooth speakers. The test winner among devices weighing up to 2.5 kilograms is the Marshall Middleton with the grade “good (2.4)”.
Visually, the speaker with its retro design looks great and resembles a mini guitar amplifier. Inside there are two tweeters, two woofers and two passive membranes. This combination is supposed to produce a rich bass and a powerful sound. However, with a weight of 1.8 kilograms, the Bluetooth box is also a little less handy than the competition from JBL and Bose.
The Bluetooth speaker also has an aux input for connecting a stereo system or television. Or you can pair the speaker with the projector for public viewing on the terrace. The battery life is up to 20 hours. The speaker can also be used as a power bank for charging your smartphone.
Teufel is also known as a sound brand. The Rockster Air 2 is not for your backpack, but scores with a full sound and an enormous battery life. In the Stiftung Warentest test (issue 04/2024) it received the rating “very good (1.4)” and also achieved the rating “very good” in all of the criteria examined. This makes it the best Bluetooth speaker ever tested.
At 14.3 kilograms, it is anything but light and mobile, but it can still provide sound for a large party. The maximum volume of the speaker is 115 decibels (A). According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts up to 58 hours on one charge at medium volume.
You can transfer music via Bluetooth, USB or the integrated Aux input. The Bluetooth box also has inputs for a microphone and instruments. This makes the model also suitable for a karaoke evening.
An inexpensive alternative to the Bluetooth speakers from the big sound brands is the Soundcore 2 from Anker. Despite the lower price, it offers good stereo sound quality and rich bass thanks to dual bass drivers and the so-called BassUp technology. The battery is also impressive, with a running time of up to 24 hours and charging via USB.
At just 360 grams, the box is a real lightweight. The dimensions of 16.5 x 5.6 x 4.6 centimeters also ensure that it is ideal for taking with you. The IPX7 water protection also contributes to this.
The good range of 20 meters ensures that the connection between Anker’s Soundcore 2 and the smartphone remains stable. This means that nothing stands in the way of enjoying music. However, this speaker does not have any other functions: It is therefore the best Bluetooth speaker for purists and price-conscious buyers.
Which Bluetooth speaker is best for your needs depends on your personal preferences. The devices differ mainly in terms of weight, range of functions and design. In the practical test, the Bose SoundLink Flex convince with rich sound and pleasant bass.
The test winner of Stiftung Warentest, the Marshall Middletonscores “good” and scores with its retro design. If you want to provide sound for a whole party, you should go for the Heavyweight from Teufel – the best Bluetooth speaker ever tested by Stiftung Warentest. And if you want to spend less, the balanced price-performance ratio of the Flip Essential 2 by JBL best advice.
If you want to buy a Bluetooth speaker, you should first consider what you want from the device. The following criteria should be taken into account:
- Klang: Of course, the sound quality is crucial for a loudspeaker. Test results from Stiftung Warentest, as well as the specified frequency range, information on bass and stereo sound, provide clues.
- Battery life: A strong battery is an advantage, especially if you want to use the Bluetooth speaker on the go. How long it actually lasts depends on factors such as the volume.
- Range: The Bluetooth range varies from device to device. If a long range is important to you, pay attention to the manufacturer’s information. How far the signal actually reaches depends on the external conditions.
- Service: Controlling Bluetooth speakers is usually very easy and can be done either via buttons on the device itself, via the smartphone or even via voice control.
- Weight: Especially if you want to take the speaker with you often, a low weight is an advantage. Dimensions can be crucial for easy transport.
Of course, the Design and the Preis of the Bluetooth speaker plays a role in the selection.
Bluetooth is a standard for the wireless transmission of all types of data. In contrast to more complex data transmission technologies such as WLAN, Bluetooth specializes in relatively short distances and a particularly simple connection.
Devices equipped with Bluetooth have a small microchip with a transmitter and receiver unit. Each device is given a unique, 48-bit serial number so that it can be clearly identified within a Bluetooth network. Since its development in the 1990s, the standard has been continually developed and improved, so that modern devices often have a range of a hundred meters.
- Activate the Bluetooth function in the settings of your smartphone if it is not already active. On the PC or laptop, click on the Bluetooth symbol and select “Add device”
- Then switch on the Bluetooth speaker and activate the Bluetooth function. For most speakers, this is done via a corresponding Bluetooth button.
- The Bluetooth speaker should now automatically connect to your smartphone or PC. Most speakers make a sound when the connection is established.
The initial connection or linking of two or more devices via Bluetooth is called pairing mode. In pairing mode, the transmitter and receiver search for each other and exchange their identification data to connect. Once the connection has been established, it is usually automatic the next time; pairing again is not necessary. So if you turn your Bluetooth speaker off and then on again later, it is ready for use straight away.