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Editor’s Choice
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Winner
The Bang & Olufsen Beosound 2 (3rd Generation) is a stylish and premium tabletop Bluetooth speaker tailored for those who want high-quality sound and multiroom capabilities rather than portable use. It delivers impressive 360-degree sound with 60 watts of power, filling a room evenly and providing a rich listening experience. Its connectivity is versatile, supporting Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and multiroom control through the Bang & Olufsen app, making it easy to integrate into smart home setups and stream music from various devices and services.
The speaker is quite heavy (9 pounds) and designed to be plugged in, so it lacks battery life for wireless portability, which might not suit users looking for a speaker to take outdoors or on the go. The build is elegant and durable with aluminum and metal materials, but it is not water-resistant, so care is needed around moisture.
This speaker is best suited for home settings where immersive sound and seamless connectivity are the priorities over portability and ruggedness.
The Sonos Era 100 is a compact smart speaker designed to deliver impressive sound quality for its size. It uses a dual-tweeter setup and a larger midwoofer to provide clear stereo sound and richer bass than many similar small speakers. Thanks to Trueplay tuning, it can adjust its sound to fit the room for better listening. It supports WiFi streaming from many music services and also includes Bluetooth with a typical range of about 10 meters, so you can easily connect phones or tablets on the go. Connectivity is versatile with options like Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, and an auxiliary line-in adapter, which is handy if you want to connect older devices like turntables.
The device is not battery-powered and requires being plugged in, so it lacks portability compared to speakers with built-in rechargeable batteries. It is relatively lightweight and small, making it easy to place on shelves or desks but less suited for outdoor use given it is not water resistant. Durability is average, with a polycarbonate build that should handle indoor use well but might not withstand rough conditions.
The speaker also supports voice control via Amazon Alexa, adding convenience for smart home integration. This makes the Sonos Era 100 suitable for anyone looking for high-quality, versatile sound with smart features primarily for indoor use but less ideal if you need a portable, rugged Bluetooth speaker with long battery life.
The Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker stands out in the loud Bluetooth speaker category with impressive strengths in several key areas. The sound quality is a major highlight, delivering deep bass and rich audio that can enhance any gathering. If you're someone who values clear and powerful sound, this speaker won’t disappoint. The battery life is another strong point, offering up to 20 hours of playtime, meaning you can enjoy your music all day without needing to recharge frequently. Additionally, the USB-C port allows you to charge other devices, which adds to its convenience during long outings.
The IP67 rating guarantees that the speaker is both waterproof and dustproof, making it highly durable and suitable for outdoor use, even in challenging conditions. This feature, combined with its shock and rust resistance, ensures that the speaker can withstand rugged environments like camping trips or beach outings. However, at 4.89 pounds, it is relatively heavy for a portable speaker, which might make it less convenient to carry around compared to lighter options. The soft removable climbing rope handle helps, but the weight could still be a drawback for some users.
The Bluetooth range of 30 feet is decent but not exceptional, which might limit its use in larger spaces. On the connectivity front, the inclusion of a 3.5mm AUX input is a nice touch, allowing for wired connections with older devices, and the speaker is easy to control using the Bose app. To summarize, the Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker is an excellent choice for those prioritizing sound quality and durability in their Bluetooth speaker, though its weight and Bluetooth range might be minor drawbacks for some users.