“Convenience” is among the words that give portable speakers an added advantage since they use a wireless connection, namely WiFi and Bluetooth to play music from your mobile device. Portable speakers are easy to carry and move around too. So, if you are looking to invest in a portable speaker, we have listed 8 of them to enhance your audio experience.
1) Sonos Roam
Simplicity meets functionality with Sonos Roam, a high-end portable speaker that sounds just as good as it looks. The minimalist, semi-cylindrical design sports a choice of black and white, complete with the Sonos logo on the side. It’s slim and lightweight too, making it easier for you to carry or move the speaker around. Not to mention it happens to be both drop and water-resistant, thanks to its IP67-rated build quality.
As expected from Sonos, the overall sound has a full-bodied quality in terms of bass and treble presentations. The battery life can last up to 8-10 hours on a single charge and the speaker itself supports seamless connection via WiFi, Bluetooth and even Apple AirPlay 2. Despite being a high-end product, the fact that it costs RM1,000 onwards is admittedly steep for a portable speaker. Certainly not for everyone but fans of Sonos and anyone who don’t mind spending a fortune on a portable speaker might want to check this out.
2) Anker Soundcore 3
Here’s a cheaper option worth considering here, beginning with Anker Soundcore 3’s IPX7-certified casing that protects your inner speaker from minor splashes and raindrops. The sound quality isn’t exactly the best of its class but given its reasonable price point, it has an overall decent bass and balanced mid-range frequencies. For the latter, you can expect better audio clarity when comes to the vocals and instruments. The Anker Soundcore 3 supports Bluetooth 5.0 while the battery life is amazingly durable around 20-24 hours. And for added convenience, you can adjust the presets and EQ (equalizers) using the downloadable Soundcore app.
3) JBL Flip 5
JBL Flip 5, which famously received a 5-star rating from What Hi-Fi? magazine boasts a waterproof IPX7-certified casing and a battery life capable of lasting up to 12 hours. The speaker is also made tough using a combination of fabric material and rubber housing, making it suitable to play your favourite music outdoors. Speaking of music, expect punchy bass upon listening to the likes of rock and drum-heavy pop songs. JBL Flip 5 comes with a PartyBoost feature — perfect for those who want to create a roomy sound by pairing two or even multiple PartyBoast-compatible speakers. And finally, JBL Flip 5 offers plenty of colours from the traditional black to a military-like squad design.
4) Sony SRS-XB23
Blessed with a slim cylindrical design that makes it easy to carry and above all, lightweight, it even has a strap attached to the top side — ideal if you want to hang it somewhere. Portability aside, the speaker boasts the brand’s signature EXTRA BASS sound while its X-Balanced Speaker unit not only gives you better audio clarity but also minimum distortion. The IP67-rated casing makes it a perfect companion for outdoor uses while the 12-hour battery life allows you to listen to your favourite music all day long.
5) UE Boom 3
The US-based Ultimate Ears is renowned for its quality Bluetooth speakers, as evidently seen in their UE Boom 3 model. It features a rugged design that can handle the likes of accidental knocks and drops. If that’s not enough, it’s both dust and waterproof too. Using only a one-touch button (they call it the “Magic Button”), you can easily control your speaker from pressing play to skipping tracks. Despite its compact design, the Boom 3’s 360° sound is loud and powerful and even packs a robust bass response. The 15-hour battery life is worth mentioning here as well and so does the Boom 3’s two-tone design. For the latter, they have various colour choices from Seashell Peach to Sunset Red, Lagoon Blue and Forest Green.
6) Tribit Stormbox Micro
The word “small but mighty” best describes the Tribit Stormbox Micro, which is shaped like a portable SSD. But don’t let the ultra-compact size fool you, since it packs a surprisingly deep bass and better-than-expected sound clarity. The build quality is no slouch either, sporting an IP67-rated casing that is both dust and waterproof. At the back of the speaker, you will find a tear-resistant strap designed for mounting, say over the handlebar of a bicycle. Tribit Stormbox Micro supports Bluetooth 5.0 too, allowing you to wirelessly connect to your phone seamlessly up to 100 feet.
7) Bose Portable Home Speaker
At first glance, it’s easy to mistaken the Bose Portable Home Speaker for a stylish water tumbler. Besides, it even comes with a carrying handle, which may look odd for a portable speaker. But the truth is, it does make it easier for you to carry the speaker around. The build quality is reasonably solid and also made suitable for outdoor uses, thanks to its water-resistant casing. When it comes to sound quality, it’s crisp and balanced regardless of listening to the vocals or the musical instruments. It also helps that Bose’s 360° sound adds richness, making it as if it comes from every direction around you. The biggest setback, however, is its steeper-than-usual price.
8) Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)
Sure, it’s pretty costly for such a tiny speaker (it’s shaped like a casing for earphones). But given Bang & Olufsen’s integrity for mixing quality sound and luxury, it is understandable why Beosound A1 costs that much. Let’s start off with its refined, minimalist design that looks as if the speaker can be doubled as a high-end fashion statement. It’s lightweight and durable as well while it supports Bluetooth 5.1 and even has a built-in Alexa included. The sound quality is incredible — all crisp bass and solid treble. What’s more, it supports Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec, which gives you low latency, yet superior wireless audio.
