The 6 Best Sounding Bluetooth Speakers - Winter 2023 Reviews

The JBL Boombox 3 is the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker we've tested. Right out of the box, this premium device brings an impressive sound quality suitable for everything from classical music to EDM and hip-hop. With its balanced frequency response, voices and lead instruments are reproduced with accuracy and clarity. Plus, there's plenty of rumble in the bass. The JBL Portable app also gives you access to a graphic EQ, meaning you can adjust the bass, mids, and treble according to your liking.

This speaker is a great choice for bringing your favorite tunes on the go, too. Since it's battery-powered, you can take it outside, and it lasts for almost thirty hours of playback time. Since it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, it can hold up to some light exposure to the elements. The manufacturer even says it can float in water, which is ideal for your next pool party. Since it gets loud, it's more than enough to fill up your backyard with sound. Audio reproduction remains clean and pure even at max volume, making it a great pick for audio lovers.

The Sony SRS-XG300 is a great alternative if you're looking for a Bluetooth speaker with a great sound quality at a more affordable price. Like many premium speakers on the market, this device has a built-in calibration feature that automatically adjusts its output based on the acoustics of the room you're in—Sony calls it ClearAudio+. With a balanced frequency response, voices and instruments are clear and accurate in the mix, and there's even a little extra boom in the high-bass to emphasize genres like EDM and hip-hop. If you prefer a different sound, there's also a graphic EQ available in the Sony Music Center app.

This speaker is another great choice for listening wherever you go. Its boombox-style design is easy to transport, and it's even available in lots of different colors to suit your style. Plus, you'll find RGB lights around its passive radiators, which you can customize through its companion app. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning you can bring it outside. That said, its battery life of fourteen hours falls a little short of the JBL Boombox 3, and it can't reproduce as much low-bass. Still, if you're looking for a more affordable choice, it's a solid pick.

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is another more wallet-friendly Bluetooth speaker that's great for listening to music. Available in many different colors, this cylindrical speaker's 360-degree design is ideal for those who want a wide and open soundstage when listening to their favorite tunes. Compatible with the Ultimate Ears app, it comes with many of the same sound customization features as more premium devices on the market, including a graphic EQ and presets. Its built-in hook makes it easy to transport, and it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.

Compared to our top picks, this speaker's default sound is a little boomier in the bass range, so you feel the bass in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Still, voices and lead instruments are present in the mix, and you can customize its output to get a more even sound. That said, even with its customization tools, you can't get it to reproduce as much low-bass as the Sony SRS-XG300, which is disappointing if you love bass-centric music genres. If you don't listen to a lot of EDM and hip-hop, you may find it's the better value overall.

For more budget-conscious shoppers, the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is another great pick. It's perhaps the most outdoor-oriented speaker on our list, so it's ideal for music lovers who like to take the party outdoors. It's well-built, and the manufacturer says it's rated for impact resistance, as well as dust and water resistance. Plus, it can float in water, so it's ideal for listening to music at the pool. With a built-in strap, you can even attach it to your bag while you're on your next adventure.

Though this speaker doesn't come with as many sound customization tools as the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, you may find that you don't need them. While you won't find as much low-bass, voices and lead instruments are clear and detailed right out of the box, and its 360-degree design brings a wide and spacious feel to your audio. Its Outdoor sound mode is also handy for adventurers since it makes audio sound more crisp while in the elements. It lasts over 22 hours off a single charge, so you can listen for multiple days without worrying about power.

Even if you're shopping on a budget, you can still find Bluetooth speakers with great sound. The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is the best we've tested, and while it doesn't bring as much rumble in the low-bass as larger speakers on the market, it's still a solid pick for listening to most music genres. Voices and other lead instruments are clear and present in the mix, resulting in an even and balanced sound overall. With its 360-degree design, it provides a wide and open soundstage to immerse you in your audio from all angles. Plus, if you want a different sound, this speaker comes with a fantastic selection of customization tools, especially for its price—there's a full graphic EQ in its app, as well as a BassUp feature for EDM and hip-hop fans.

Given its portable design, this speaker is also a great choice for listening to music while on the go. It's lightweight, meaning you can carry it in one hand, and it's durable enough to bring on your next picnic in the park. With an IPX7 rating for water resistance, it can withstand some light exposure to the elements. Its built-in RGB lights add some flare, so you can take the party wherever you go. In the Soundcore app, you can even switch up the lighting to suit your mood. That said, it only lasts a little over eight hours off of one charge, which isn't nearly as impressive as the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3. Still, for the price, this speaker offers great value.

Looking to host a party? Love to sing karaoke? Check out the JBL PartyBox 310. It's a large party speaker designed specifically for rocking out at events, with lots of extra features and functionalities to add to the excitement. Customize its distinct RGB lights to set the mood, or plug in a microphone or guitar to sing along with your favorite songs—this speaker does it all. The JBL PartyBox app gives you access to DJ effects as well as special karaoke settings so you can adjust the microphone performance as you sing along. Like any good party speaker, this device gets loud, too, so you can shake the floor as you party into the night.

This speaker's sound quality is also quite impressive. Given its size, it has no trouble reproducing the deep and rumbling low-bass found in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Voices and lead instruments reproduce with fidelity, and there's a little extra boom in the mix to emphasize the excitement in your songs. If you want to adjust the sound, there are a lot of customization tools on hand. Its Bass Boost setting lets you add and subtract thump and punch according to your preferences, while the full graphic EQ in the app gives you control across the entire frequency range. Overall, this speaker is a great pick for party animals who want a speaker with a great sound.