The 5 Best Sounding Bluetooth Speakers - Fall 2023 Reviews

The JBL Boombox 3 is the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker we've tested. Right out of the box, this premium speaker brings an impressive sound quality suitable for everything from classical music to EDM and hip-hop. Its balanced frequency response ensures plenty of thumpy, rumbly bass without muddying the voices and lead instruments, which are reproduced clearly and accurately. If you want a different sound, the JBL Portable app features a graphic EQ that lets you customize its output.

This speaker is great for listening to music at home or outside. Since it's battery-powered, you can take it outside, and its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance keeps it safe against the elements. It even floats in water, which is great for your next pool party. With a battery life of almost 30 hours, you can rock on all day without worrying about a recharge.

The Sony SRS-XG300 is a great alternative if you're looking for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker at a more affordable price. With a balanced sound right out of the box, everything from vocals to lead instruments are clear and detailed in the mix. There's even a little extra boom in the high-bass to emphasize the excitement in bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Plus, the Sony Music Center app gives you access to a graphic EQ to switch up its sound if you like.

This stylish speaker is available in several colors to suit your style, and the RGB lights around its passive radiators are customizable to set the right mood. With a boombox-style design, it's easy to transport, too, so you can rock out to your favorite tunes at home or on the go. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, just like the JBL Boombox 3, which is a nice touch. However, its battery life falls short of the JBL. While the manufacturer advertises 25 hours of continuous use, we only got fourteen out of our unit, which isn't ideal for long days outside. It also lacks some low-bass in comparison. Still, this speaker is worth a look if you're on a tighter budget or looking for a smaller speaker.

Looking for something more wallet-friendly? Check out the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. Despite its mid-range price point, its sound quality rivals some of our top picks. It's a solid choice whether you're listening to classical music or bass-heavy pop tunes, with a clear reproduction of voices and lead instruments in the mix. Plus, its 360-degree design ensures a wide and open soundstage with your favorite tunes, so you can place it in the middle of a table and get a clear sound from all around. Best of all, this speaker is lightweight and super portable. Its built-in hook makes it easy to transport, and it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.

The Ultimate Ears app has many of the same sound customization features as more premium devices on the market, including a graphic EQ and presets. You can switch up its sound across the range to get your desired output, which is cool. That said, it can't reproduce as much low-bass as the Sony SRS-XG300 due to its smaller size, which is disappointing if you love bass-centric music genres. If you don't listen to much EDM and hip-hop, you may find it's the better value overall.

You don't have to break the bank to find a speaker with good sound quality. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is a great option for the budget-conscious and offers versatile performance despite its low price. If you like to take the party wherever you go, its compact size, sturdy build, and IP67 rating for dust and water resistance make it a great choice for taking your tunes on the go and outside. It also floats in water, so you can listen to your tunes when swimming in your pool.

While you won't get much low-bass out of this pint-sized speaker, voices and lead instruments are clear and detailed right out of the box, and its 360-degree design means you'll get clear sound no matter where you are in the room. Fewer sound customization tools are available than on the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, but it still has an outdoor sound mode that boosts the high-end to make up for ambient outdoor noise, drowning out vocals while out and about. It also lasts over 22 hours off a single charge, so you can listen for multiple days without worrying about power.

The bass-heavy JBL PartyBox 310 has no trouble bringing out the thump and rumble in the low-bass range, which is ideal if you're a big fan of EDM and hip-hop. Since it's designed with parties in mind, this speaker gets loud, so you can shake the floor as you dance into the night. Voices and instruments still sound clear and detailed, making it versatile for different genres if you're looking to mix your playlist up.

You can use both the Bass Boost tool and the graphic EQ to adjust the overall sound how you like, and their companion app lets you customize the color scheme to set the right mood with its RGB lights. Plus, you can plug in instruments, like a microphone or a guitar, to sing along with your favorite songs. Some special DJ effects and karaoke settings are also available in the JBL PartyBox app, which is a nice touch. That said, it's pretty big, so it's not quite as portable as the JBL Boombox 3—but if you're a big fan of bass, it's worth checking out.