Akai Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Built-In Rechargeable Battery and Microphone, Crystal Clear 3 W Speaker, Elegant Fabric Design, Black

Product Information

When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, the first thing you should ask yourself after setting a budget is what you want from it. Does the speaker need to be portable and versatile enough to use both indoors and outdoors? Or are you happy with a mains-powered speaker that can fill a big room with brilliant audio? Bluetooth is like a short-range, low-powered, low-bandwidth version of wi-fi used to connect compatible devices together rather than to the internet. Bluetooth uses radio waves like wi-fi does but at a different scale. Want a speaker roughly the dimensions of a bottle of wine that'll charge your phone and sound great? Enter the Charge 5. Sound, of course, should play a huge part in your decision, because there's absolutely no guarantee that two models of a similar price will end up sounding the same in terms of quality, audio presentation and general timbre. Some Bluetooth speakers will be peppy and exciting, while others will prioritise pulsating bass to get the party started.

The only issue is that it can start to suffer from distortion at louder volumes, but we found it to be one of the best-value options if you’re really on a tight budget. Really impressive stuff. Building on the success of the original Stormbox Micro and featuring an all but identical woven finish design, the Micro's sequel trumps its predecessor when it comes to delivering enjoyable audio and massively improved battery life. We easily coaxed 12 hours of listening out of a single charge, while an IP67 rating let one of our reviewers use it in the bathroom/shower without any issue or damage. Again, the Stormbox Micro 2's diminutive size and durable design make it well-suited for travelling far beyond the confines of a bathroom or kitchen. And while we're not expecting audiophile-grade quality sound here, brands have realised that people do care about sound quality alongside other user-friendly features, so the quality of Bluetooth speakers' audio has risen significantly in recent times. All products are judged on a performance-per-pound basis and, as part of the process, put up against the current class leader(s) at that price point to see how they compare and to help us settle on a star rating. Its dedicated mains charging port and bundled UK, EU and US plugs make it an easy fit for your lounge too, though, and once there, it'll sound as detailed, clear and expansive as this sort of money can buy.As you'd expect, Bluetooth speakers are wireless in that they don't require a wire to connect to an audio source; they use a Bluetooth codec. However, they don't necessarily also support wi-fi, which is a necessary feature of what we term 'wireless speakers'. A wireless speaker can connect to an audio source via the internet (i.e. wi-fi) – by way of Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast, for example – whether or not it also has Bluetooth.

Besides the sound quality of a Bluetooth speaker, which we test with every genre of music from classical to pop, we also scrutinise other aspects of its design, including battery life, the robustness of its Bluetooth connection, how easy it is to use and set up, and finally how well built it is. Our review philosophy doesn't change whether we're evaluating a basic, budget Bluetooth speaker or a more premium model. The Katch oozes a sort of continental class, finished to the highest quality and with a luxurious aesthetic that really can rival some of the best dedicated domestic speakers in the style stakes. When we took our Katch G2 home for some hands-on pics, we found it to be akin to a great model or a timeless beauty of the age; stunning from every angle. The Addon C3 is basically the wi-fi-enabled, multi-room version of Audio Pro's Addon T3. It has the same minimalist looks that the Scandinavian company is known for, complete with textured surfaces and an embossed leather carry handle, but the wireless tech adds a whole new dimension to your listening. Bang & Olufsen isn’t noted for following the herd. In the Danish electronics specialist’s catalogue you'll find a wheel-shaped wireless speaker, a TV that opens up like a butterfly, and an 8200-watt monolithic speaker comprising 18 drivers. Its output could reasonably be described as "innovative" – and the B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) wireless speaker is no exception.

While this will depend on the kit you are using and your wi-fi limitations at home, transmitting audio over wi-fi rather than Bluetooth comes with certain benefits: wi-fi doesn't have as limited a signal range as Bluetooth, generally facilitates better sound quality and is capable of transmitting higher-quality audio (Bluetooth is not widely capable of transmitting CD-quality or above music). However, Bluetooth-only speakers are generally more portable (as they don't require an internet connection to work) and often more affordable. How many watts is good for a home Bluetooth speaker? It boasts similar dimensions to a large floury bap, but that's where any comparisons with baked goods end. The new A1 supports Qualcomm’s latest aptX AdaptiveBluetooth 5.1 codec, and of course, Alexa is built-in. What this all translates into is vastly improved sound, and while the Sonos One was mono only, the Era 100 distinguishes itself by providing a superb stereo experience. The bass is deeper and fuller, there's more clarity and detail throughout and even at higher volume, timing is excellent and the tonal balance is wonderfully even. It's predominantly a stationary, use-at-home type of product, but the Era 100's Bluetooth connectivity gives it more flexibility in use and makes it eligible for a spot on this list. Once you've narrowed down your search, it's time to draw up a shortlist of contenders. There should be something for everyone here... FAQ What's the difference between wireless and Bluetooth speakers?

Set-up is a painless process whether you choose a Bluetooth or wi-fi connection. When setting up a multi-room system, the app searches for other Audio Pro speakers in the vicinity on the same network, and you can then drag-and-drop from here to group or separate speakers, either in stereo pairs or multi-room zones, or else make manual adjustments to bass and treble. Sonos has been synonymous with multi-room music for many years now, and the Era 100 – the spiritual successor to the excellent Sonos One– pushes the bar even higher than before. If all you want from a decent outdoor speaker is portability and affordability, you really couldn't do much better than the excellent Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. A tiny, satchel-friendly Bluetooth speaker, this is easily one of the best we’ve tested at this meagre price point.Pairing a Bluetooth speaker and Bluetooth device is easy: you simply put the speaker in 'pairing mode' (usually by pressing a button), go into a device's Bluetooth settings and 'scan' for available speakers and then select your speaker. Is JBL a good brand? Better than Bose?

There isn't a simple answer here. Basically, you'll want a speaker that's going to be able to fill your intended space with sound. So, if you're looking for a small, portable Bluetooth speaker to use casually on the table outside when you're hanging out, a relatively low-powered speaker with a 30 to 50-watt output will get that job done for you without any problems. Over the past few years, we’ve seen (and heard) everything from giant room-filling Bluetooth speakers to dinky travel options pass through our listening rooms, and many have impressed by offering great value for money, lengthy battery life, waterproofing and even engaging, capable audio quality. Of course, there are plenty of Bluetooth speakers out there that haven't cut the mustard, which is why our team of reviewers have created this handy guide detailing only the best Bluetooth speakers that are worth considering. If you want more from the midrange and less from the treble, you can now tweak it thanks to a new EQ feature in the app, which adds significant value. For a nominal price hike over the launch price of the Flip 5, there’s certainly more detail here, too.It's at the pricey end of the market, yes, but the Dali Katch is a stone-cold stunner, delivering excellent clarity, impressive bass weight and good looks in spades – so much so that we've handed it a What Hi-Fi? Award in 2021, 2022 and 2023. If you've got the money, we'd struggle to recommend anything else at the same price. In the audio world, it is tough to compare how good one brand is to another on the whole, especially when it comes to big brands that have many products in their arsenal. While we do recommend some JBL speakers on the above list, don't assume that everything JBL makes is better than everything Bose makes. How we test Bluetooth speakers At What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year at our state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath. We have complete control over the testing process, and we also review products as a team as opposed to individually, ensuring no opinion goes unheard. Our team is filled with experts in the audio world with over 100 combined years of reviewing experience. No, the Echo Dot isn't a traditional Bluetooth speaker in the sense of what we traditionally deem to be a Bluetooth speaker here at What Hi-Fi?. It's not portable, for one thing, as it requires a plugged-in connection to the wall to work, and it relies on wi-fi to function as an AI-boosted virtual assistant. You can (and will), however, utilise Bluetooth to connect your iPhone to the Echo Dot, especially if you want to play music stored locally, qualifying it as a Bluetooth speaker on more than a mere technicality.