Bluetooth travel speakers… Need to know<\/h2>
How long should the battery last?<\/strong><\/p> With travel speakers, battery life is crucial, as is recharge time, and ideally you\u2019ll want more than 10 hours of playback. The smaller and lighter the speaker, the lower the battery rating, so decide which is more important.<\/p> What connectivity do I need?<\/strong><\/p> With the exception of Sonos\u2019s portable speakers, which use both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, most designs focus on Bluetooth streaming from your favourite music apps. The latest version, Bluetooth 5.3, uses less power and has an extended range of up to 240 metres.<\/p> What do the IP waterproof ratings mean?<\/strong><\/p> Usually displayed as two digits, the first number refers to how good something is at resisting dust, while the second relates to water. IPX5 is considered splashproof; IPX7 speakers could be dropped in a paddling pool for up to 30 minutes; and IP67 offers both dust and waterproofing.<\/p> Soundcore Motion 300<\/strong><\/p> When Chinese online mega brand Anker started to make audio products, I predicted they\u2019d be cheap and easily ignorable. I was correct on one front, but after testing many Soundcore<\/a><\/strong> products, I am now happy to recommend them. And the Motion 300 Bluetooth speaker is a great example of what they\u2019re capable of.<\/p> This stylish, superbly built speaker is compatible with wireless hi-res audio, is fully waterproof (IPX7), and features two 15W full-range speakers, automatic EQ settings, smartphone app, long Bluetooth range (I managed 50 metres) and 13hr battery life, all for \u00a380.<\/p> It can be played either standing up, hanging via the cloth carry strap or lying flat and, cleverly, a tiny gyroscope inside senses the speaker\u2019s orientation and changes the sound accordingly. It\u2019s a neat trick, but it sounded best with the speakers firing towards me \u2013 that said, lying flat on a solid surface can amplify the bass frequencies.<\/p> At 800g, it is relatively heavy, but the large battery means you\u2019ll rarely need to charge up for a weekend away. The IPX7 rating means it can survive a brief dunking, but be warned: it doesn\u2019t float.<\/p> The Motion 300 is also loud, and while audio quality does, understandably, fall away at extreme volumes, I\u2019ve been more than impressed by it overall \u2013 piano pieces manage a degree of poise I simply didn\u2019t expect, while full orchestral performances remain cohesive and entertaining. A genuine surprise and highly recommended, especially considering the price.<\/p> Harman Kardon Luna<\/strong><\/p> With the premium market in mind, Harman Kardon<\/a><\/strong>‘s Luna Bluetooth speaker has a neat, executive look to it, with a choice of black or off-white. It\u2019s not the smallest travel speaker, measuring 210x78x80mm and weighing 0.71kg, but achieves a solid hotel room-filling performance from the 48x90mm woofer driver and a 20mm diameter tweeter. <\/p> There\u2019s 40W of combined power here and, despite being a mono speaker, it sounds impressive. Connectivity is almost instantaneous, while the 12hr battery life is great. It\u2019s IP67 dust- and waterproof, and you can pair two for stereo sound.<\/p> JBL Go 4<\/strong><\/p> Virtually every Bluetooth speaker will improve the sound of the music from your smartphone, but most budget options still sound weedy. Thankfully, JBL<\/a><\/strong> ensures you can now spend very little \u2013 in Hi-Fi tech terms \u2013 and get good sound. <\/p> The JBL Go 4 is tiny \u2013 190g and only 9.4cm long \u2013 yet still impresses with presence and detail. Obviously, a tiny speaker won\u2019t have much bass, but as a travel solution it\u2019s still enjoyable. It\u2019s easy to connect to your phone, the buttons and build are solid, and it\u2019s IP67 dust- and waterproof. It won\u2019t sound great at full volume, but temper expectations and you won\u2019t be disappointed.<\/p>Bluetooth travel speakers… Best in test<\/h2>
Grown-up design<\/h2>
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<\/figure>Bluetooth travel speakers… Cheap and very cheerful<\/h2>
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