Best bluetooth powered speaker?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Wombat Reynolds, Apr 29, 2016.

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  1. Wombat Reynolds

    Wombat Reynolds Jimmy Page stole all my best riffs. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA, USA
    The wife and I are interested in having some nice bedtime music. I plan on using my Moto G phone, and an app called neutron, to broadcast music via bluetooth.

    I cheaped out to see if it would even work, with a low-budget remote speaker thing I bought on Amazon called the DKnight magicbox.

    Its ok, pretty good I guess, and it does work (phone-bluetooth-sound from speaker).

    I'm thinking there are probably powered-bluetooth-speakers that are worlds better. I've got a bunch of long loops of rain sounds, and these dont sound like rain thru the magicbox, they sound like pure white noise hiss.
    That actually isnt terrible for sleeping, but it would be better if it sounded more like rain. I suspect the lack of low end is causing this.

    I saw a Bose thing for about 200 bucks and it looked interesting, but theres no way to try before I buy.

    Any recommendations?

    Thanks for any replies.
     
  2. KeninDC

    KeninDC Hazy Cosmic Jive

    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    You talking portable? I've got teen kids so I've been through a number of portable Bluetooth speakers and I keep loving the JBL products. No gimmicks to make them "loud" and solid construction. No distortion when cranked and the balance/tone is quite natural.

    Of course, there are other less portable and more expensive options by B&W and Marantz.
     
    Art K likes this.
  3. Wombat Reynolds

    Wombat Reynolds Jimmy Page stole all my best riffs. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA, USA
    thanks! Yes probably portable as we're going on vacation and I'd like to be able to take it with us.

    Let me look into the JBL stuff.
     
  4. jlykos

    jlykos Forum Resident

    Location:
    Parts Unknown
    I have an Infinity One and love it. It's a little more rugged than the average Bluetooth speaker so I can take it outside and around barbecues. Sounds pretty good for what it is, and has a legitimate 8 to 10 hour battery life.
     
  5. cdash99

    cdash99 Senior Member

    Location:
    Mass
    I'd also suggest the Cambridge Soundworks Oontz. I have the medium size one but they've all gotten good write ups.
     
  6. Alert

    Alert Forum Resident

    Location:
    Great River, NY
    I have two Nokia Play 360's. The beautiful thing about them is that they can be "paired" and play stereo. One unit plays the left channel and the other plays the right channel.

    I take these things everywhere.

    But -- I have no idea if the stereo aspect is important to you -- maybe not.
     
  7. FunkyNut

    FunkyNut Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicagoland
    I've got the Bose Wave IV & Soundlink III (Soundtouch) systems. They sound sweet to my ears and work with my pc, tablet and smart phone. Keep in mind these are used as "secondary" or portable systems but sound way bigger than they are when needed (kitchen, garage, etc.). Don't listen to the Bose bashers on here, they're excellent choices!
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2016
    nightstand68 likes this.
  8. vinylsolution

    vinylsolution Forum Resident

    Location:
    Denver, CO, USA
    I love my UE Roll for portability around the house, and pretty good sound too.
     
    russk likes this.
  9. Jack Flannery

    Jack Flannery Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Riva.
     
    500Homeruns likes this.
  10. bmoregnr

    bmoregnr Forum Rezident

    Location:
    1060 W. Addison
    I have the non blue tooth version of the Soundmatters foxL speaker and it is very portable so great for trips; and likewise very very accurate sounding. You can crank it enough, but still it does better being accurate more so than loud.

    My wife needed one and so I got her a Bose Soundlink Mini and it is also very nice. That one probably makes more sense as a night stand unit, perhaps looking more suitable, and the docking power station is a nice feature; put it there and forget it, lift just the speaker when you need portability. It has a house sound, fatter to bloated say, but all in all very nice and I use it a fair bit as well; this would be better for a gathering of people say because it definitely projects well.
     
  11. Wombat Reynolds

    Wombat Reynolds Jimmy Page stole all my best riffs. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA, USA
    I did a bunch of listening at Best Buy over the weekend (granted, not the best place in the world to listen and compare, but, better than nothing)

    the Bose Soundlink Mini had the best overall balanced sound. The JBL was probably second best and it was louder... but loud isnt what we're looking for.
     
  12. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    Bluetooth is a lossy medium for audio. Even the better of it, which uses the APT-X codec.
     
    Bender Rodriguez and Dennis0675 like this.
  13. Dennis0675

    Dennis0675 Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Ohio
    Did you listen to the Marshall? I like the fact that it looks like an amp.
     
    Bingo Bongo likes this.
  14. BCJaysfan

    BCJaysfan Forum Resident

    For indoor use I don't think you can do much better than the Bose options, although I'd like to hear Riva.

    For more portable/rugged use there are many great options. I've got an UE Boom which supports stereo pairing, has very good battery life and solid construction. It's also water/rain resistant. Perfect for camping.
     
  15. mdm08033

    mdm08033 Senior Member

    Read up. The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker »

    I bough the now discontinued UE Mini Boom on The Wirecutter's advice for the house when I sick of hearing music come out of iphone speakers. It still flotas around the house and makes an excellent companion when smoking cigars and drinking bourbon around the fire pit in my friend's back yard.
     
    jfeldt, rainspainplain and Dennis0675 like this.
  16. Wombat Reynolds

    Wombat Reynolds Jimmy Page stole all my best riffs. Thread Starter

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA, USA

    I never even saw the Marshall. I didnt know they made one.
     
  17. Dennis0675

    Dennis0675 Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Ohio
    [​IMG]

    It's pretty spendy at $300.
     
    BayouTiger and SandAndGlass like this.
  18. KeninDC

    KeninDC Hazy Cosmic Jive

    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    In addition to the JBLs, I have a small Oontz. Probably the most neutral sounding of my portables, but at the risk of sounding like a meathead, I wanted more "loud."

    I returned a Skull Candy "Air Raid." Distortion galore and a wonky upper mid-range boost in order to sound too "loud." But you can drop it or bang your head with it if that's your thing.
     
    Dennis0675 likes this.
  19. Galley

    Galley Forum Resident

    I've always preferred Soundfreaq speakers.
     
  20. LEONPROFF

    LEONPROFF Forum Resident

    I prefer my Riva but the Bose isn't band. Did you live anywhere near Roswell Ga for demonstration of the Bose? The store number is
    (678) 494-5040
     
  21. DonnyMe

    DonnyMe Forum Resident

    Location:
    SC
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  22. SammyJoe

    SammyJoe Up The Irons!

    Location:
    Finland
    I have Marshall Kilburn, it sounds great and is very useful.
     
    aroney likes this.
  23. bmoregnr

    bmoregnr Forum Rezident

    Location:
    1060 W. Addison
  24. SandAndGlass

    SandAndGlass Twilight Forum Resident

    From what I have read, Peachtree's Deepblue2 is the go to MP3 speaker/player.

    I have not heard one, but I do have many other Peachtree Audio products that I would not hesitate to completely endorse.
     
  25. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

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