If you are new to the Bluetooth speaker’s legion you would be looking for the best possible option and best value for your money. So, before proceeding to buy, it’s worth knowing what to look for in a Bluetooth speaker. Here, we have prepared a comprehensive guide to ensure that you get the best portable speaker that meets all of your requirements. Before discussing the factors, we want to briefly discuss what a Bluetooth speaker is and how does it work. Bluetooth speakers are the type of wireless speakers that are designed to provide comfort and convenience of listening to music. Unlike traditional speakers that are connected to audio speakers using wires, Bluetooth speakers allow you to connect your music player without the need of a cable. Bluetooth speakers contain the Bluetooth connectivity, an amplifier and the speakers where the sound is transmitted from the source via airwaves and received by the speakers. They also include a battery making it usable for outdoors. The Bluetooth speakers also consist of volume controls, on/off button, and NFC ( Near Field Communication) to pairing easier. By understanding what Bluetooth speakers are, how they work and how to choose the right one, you can get the ultimate experience while listing to your favorite music or watching videos. Below we have mentioned some important factors you should know when buying the best Bluetooth speaker that gives you sound listening pleasure. Let’s discuss them.
1. Portability
If you travel a lot, then portability is an important factor to check when purchasing a Bluetooth speaker. While packing your travel backpack, you might want to fit everything in your luggage so an ultra-portable and compact speaker would be a great choice. Many manufacturing companies have developed lightweight Bluetooth speakers that can be carried anywhere with ease. You can easily take them anywhere without even thinking about them. If you are looking for a standard model you can carry for air-travel then choose the one that doesn’t measure more than 15 cm.
2. Sound Quality
There is no doubt that sound quality is the most important parameter one should look for before investing in a Bluetooth speaker. You should look for speakers that offer a good balance of low-frequency speakers for strong bass and high-frequency speaker for balanced audio output. You should know the lower and high-frequency response to choose the right model. The frequency response is described in the range of 100Hz to 20kHZ where 100Hz is the low frequency and 20 kHz is the highest frequency. In an audio track, most of us can hear up to 20kHz, since the ability to hear certain frequencies diminish as wet gets older.
3. Battery Life and Charging Style
Another essential parameter is battery life. You should buy one which can give you long hours of playback so you can enjoy music without worrying about its battery charging. Nowadays, the market is dominated by a plethora of portable Bluetooth speakers that allow up to 20-hours with a single charge, so you can take them anywhere. It is good especially when you’re outdoors or at a music festival. Apart from that, you should also ensure that the Bluetooth speaker has a standard USB charging port so you can easily charge them with power banks too if you’re taking your speakers outdoors.
4. Design
Many Bluetooth speakers come with really exciting designs that should blend with your active lifestyle. You should look for the one which comes with a lightweight and compact design in order to avoid space management issues if you are traveling. Along with that, you should also look for some additional features like dust, water, and shock resistance and a built-in microphone to take calls hands-free.
5. Connectivity
As far as the connectivity is concerned, it’s good to have the option of wired connectivity so you can connect with the devices which do not have Bluetooth connectivity. You should ensure that the speaker has a 3.5mm of jack input to connect via an AUX cable. In addition to this, it is always best to check that the wireless speakers should have Bluetooth version 4.1 or above.
6. Water-Resistant
As Bluetooth speakers are portable means you can carry them anywhere, even near water. If you indulge in outdoor sports and activities, then the chances of accidental water spills can be higher. So it’s advisable to look for the ones which are waterproof. If the Bluetooth speakers are water-resistant then they can withstand against rain and are also shock/dust resistant.
7. Bluetooth Version
The Bluetooth version plays an important role to determine the quality of audio transmission. It also tells how much distance you can keep between your phone and the speaker. We recommend you to buy the speaker that has Bluetooth 4 or better. This version has a range of about 60 meters and supports for low energy profile. The higher versions also provide additional features like data collection from things like a fitness tracker and other sensors.
8. Connecting Multiple Speakers
The other essential feature you should look for is the ability of speakers to connect multiple speakers together for a bigger sound. This feature is great when you’re outdoors or at a pool party where one speaker is not loud enough. Nowadays, most brands like JBL offer this feature and let you pair more than 100 speakers for stereo sound. By using the pair of two speakers in stereo mode, you’ll get a much better audio experience.
9. Where you’ll be using the speaker?
Last but not least, you also need to think about, how you will use the speaker. If you’re planning to use it for home use, then you should look for something that will blend with your home decor. But, if it’s mostly for outdoors, then you should consider durable, dust and water-resistant speaker. There are plenty of budget options to consider that offer such features. For more details, you can check this guide for the best Bluetooth speakers under $200.
Final Words
We hope this buying guide will help you to choose the right model for your needs. There are a plethora of options available to buy from many manufacturers. Some models look cool in shape and sizes and others incorporate virtual assistants and voice recognition. Some are very cheap, while others can be quite expensive. So, to decide which one is best for you is by knowing your budget and requirements. Which speakers you have decided to buy? Let us know in the comment section below.
