Best Bluetooth Speakers for Outdoor Party & Travel
Here we list the best outdoor wireless Bluetooth speakers to accompany you anywhere. Waterproof, shockproof, sandproof, you name it, these are the ones. Sorted according to price, the pros and cons are compared to make your selection easier. These outdoor Bluetooth speakers are selected from numerous products tested and reviews analyzed.
For a Bluetooth speaker mainly for travel purpose, the main features to consider are portability or compactness, ruggedness which means waterproof, dustproof etc., loudness (the speakers should be loud), design and price. If you are very specific about your needs, you can check out our best waterproof Bluetooth speakers or best loudest Bluetooth speakers.
This list includes outdoor speakers from as cheap as $35 to best high end outdoor speakers such as JBL Xtreme, small Bluetooth speakers and big ones, all sorted and classified accordingly.
So… Let’s start with the cheapest segment.
Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers Under $50
Divoom Voombox – The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Under $50
Divoom Voombox is a cheap yet good quality Bluetooth speaker which combines passive radiator with a vibrating membrane that increases bass and fullness with an actual subwoofer. The Voombox is available in black and silver color, the design is good too. The metallic and rubberized contour of voombox can withstand splashes and shock.
The top panel consists of the power button, Bluetooth pairing button, play/pause and volume up/down buttons. The pairing process is quick and simple, you can connect using NFC also if you have NFC enabled smartphone.
The rear panel houses 2 passive radiators and front panel hosts 2 active stereo drivers with a dedicated subwoofer. I must say it is hard to find this combo in a budget model. This system delivers loud and clear audio with excellent bass even at higher volumes without distortion. At higher volumes, the bass response brings out the lower register instruments a bit more which makes the whole track sounds fuller. In short, the bass and vocals are always in the forefront but the mids gets pulled back.
Overall, Divoom Voombox is an excellent budget travel partner for uninterrupted music.
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Philips BT6000 – The Best (For the price)
Quick look
- Good sound quality, economical.
- The high and mid tones stand out too much, weak low when using at low volume.
Technical characteristics
- Size: 70 X 90 mm
- Power: 12W
- Battery: 8 hours
Design and quality
The portable speaker BT6000 Philips has a very simple design, has buttons for playback, Bluetooth synchronization and a dial for volume. Its design has a cylindrical shape, with a solid plastic housing that provides protection against water I PX grade 4. It measures 9 cm long x 7 cm in diameter. It weighs 500 grams.
Sound
Inside the loudspeaker are two pairs of drivers and passive radiators, responsible for producing the sound with a power of 12W. We perceive that this device emphasizes the medium tones, while the bass is somewhat loose when used at low volume. The high tones are clear although sometimes they stand out too much in certain songs. In general, it produces a clear sound since it does not distort it, no matter what power we use. Its audio does not compare with the Bose or UE speakers, but it has a good frequency response that places it among the best Bluetooth speakers on the market.
Connectivity
At the bottom of the speaker, we will find a 3.5 mm auxiliary input to connect sources in analog form. It also has a USB port, with which we can load our mobile devices. Both have a rubber cover designed to protect them from the water. The Bluetooth synchronization is quick and easy, both by using its integrated NFC chip or under the traditional manual process.
Battery
Philips claims that the integrated 4,400 mAh capacity battery is capable of playing 8 hours. When performing a test we noticed that the announcement is correct even if we tried 60% of the volume.
Conclusion
The Philips TB 6000 speaker is a good choice if you are looking for an affordable model with good sound quality. Its performance does not compare with those of the JBL or UE speakers, but it is available at a much lower price than these, much less than the speakers of other brands. This good value for money has been very important at the time of including it in our comparison of the best Bluetooth headsets.
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Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers Under $100
JBL Flip 4 – The Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Under $100
Quick look
- Very handy and portable, IPX7 protection, water resistant, good battery backup.
- JBL connect + is not compatible with JBL connect.
Technical characteristics:
- Size: 68 x 175 mm
- Power: 2 x 8W
- Battery: 14 hours
Design and quality:
The JBL Flip 4 speaker is among the best Bluetooth speakers in 2018. It has a cylindrical shape that includes two external passive radiators at each end of the speaker. It is covered by a cloth that provides resistance to water and IPX7 dust, which means that it can be submerged about a meter deep for a time of approximately thirty minutes. Its weight, size, and protection make it one of the best options to take on any trip or excursion. Undoubtedly, this little guy had to be on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers 2018.
Sound:
The JBL Flip 4 has a lot of power for a portable speaker of its size. Its capacity, both indoors and outdoors, generates good results. It has the power of 16W and a sensitivity (SPL) of 90 decibels, although it is not recommended to go above 85 to avoid possible distortions. Its features are similar to the portable speaker Boom 2, but we have seen a better performance of the JBL in terms of sound clarity and the power of its bass.
Connectivity:
Its Bluetooth connection range is remarkable: at 12 meters it works without problems and can connect to two wireless sources simultaneously. It has an integrated microphone from which we can activate virtual assistants such as Siri or Google Now. The JBL connect + technology enables you to synchronize the Flip 4 with other portable speakers sound both greater capacity to form a stereo system. Although few JBL speakers have this technology, such as the JBL Boombox, it is expected that several models receive an update to be able to use it. You can also find a 3.5 mm auxiliary connection and a charging port micro-USB, both very useful as alternatives to Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
Battery:
The JBL Flip 4 brings us a 3,000 mAh capacity battery. When performing a test using 50% of the volume capacity, we get up to 14 hours of continuous playback. When testing it using the maximum power, however, we have noticed that it yields about 4 hours.
Conclusion:
The sound of this portable speaker provides deep bass and achieves very clear mid and high tones. In addition to its sound benefits, the IPX7 protection makes it an ideal option to take it wherever we go. This Bluetooth speaker has an excellent combination of quality together at an affordable price.
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JBL CHARGE 3
It allows you to listen to music for up to 20 continuous hours, thanks to its lithium-ion battery of 6000 mAH. Of course, this model is wireless and works under the Bluetooth system. Charge 3 is water resistant and you can even submerge it, but keep in mind that it should not be deep or for a long time, for safety. It is also weather resistant; You are on a trip and if it rains you will not have to worry about the speaker. You can use almost any type of electronic device, tablets or smartphones with Bluetooth and use up to 3 at a time. In addition, this model has hands-free feature, with just a touch of a button you can talk on the phone with clarity. The main plus points are
- Battery life: It has lithium-ion battery gives it great durability and life of up to 20 continuous hours.
- Design: It has a closed design, compact, light and, above all, water and weather resistant.
- Connection: It allows you to establish a connection with 3 speakers at the same time.
- Hands-free: By just pressing a button you can use hands-free and answer calls with great comfort.
And the main negatives are
- No inbuilt microphone: You can only listen when you receive calls and you must speak through the speaker of your phone.
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Altec Lansing Life Jacket
If your outdoor activities do not require well sounding speakers but an extremely durable one, the $ 150 Altec Lansing Life Jacket can be considered. The Altec Life Jacket’s focus is on the durability and its design reflects this decision in a way that is both good and bad. The good thing is that the layers of silicon packaging to the device evoke a more playful vibe. The jacket is designed as an elongated octagonal shaped, and although it is thick, you can still access it with one hand.
The loudspeaker unit of the life jacket is housed in hard plastic, but you will never see it unless you try to take a look at the two layers of blue and black protection silicon creeping. There are two LEDs for the visual feedback like the battery and Bluetooth connectivity status.
There is a micro-USB charging port, a 3.5 mm input for wired devices and a simple USB connection for charging devices using speaker’s battery. The package contains a 3.5-mm-cable, if your device does not support Bluetooth, or if you just want to save battery power.
Speaking of performance, the speaker is not that fantastic, but the battery lasts a long time, and it performs with grace underwater, dust and pressure, making it a winner for the outdoor area. The Life Jacket offers an impressive degree of protection with the IP67 certificate, which ensures that it is dustproof and can be submerged in water up to 1 meter.
Speaking of sound, I was under the impression that it is not or should not be the main reason you invest in this speaker. It sounds flat, missing bass and the general level of richness that one would expect from a Bluetooth speaker in this price class. But it is very loud though. You can use it for party or backyard and can hear clearly from far away.
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Grace Digital ECOXBT
The Ecoxbt is a great small unit, with a rubber handle that is easy to hold, suitable for hiking and camping, which produce just as great sound as it looks. The speaker is available in many colors including red, orange and black. To the right of the speaker volume control buttons, there is a telephone button for handling calls while away from your smartphone.
The speaker is rugged, splash proof and impact proof. I once dropped it from 1 m height but nothing happened.
Speaking of audio performance, it clings more to the midrange, tones of guitar, vocals, and percussion can be heard loud and clear. However, for a speaker without a passive radiator, it is fairly good performing in the mids and highs but the bass is low.
Grace Digital is on the right road – an external antenna and a passive radiator may be all that is required to make this speaker is the best in its class. Although it is not fully waterproof, it is a durable speaker with an excellent wireless capability and sonic performance.
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Monster SuperStar Backfloat – Best Floating Bluetooth Speaker
The Monster SuperStar back float floats on the surface of the water and can handle the splashing. Measuring 7.3 x 3.3 x 1.6 inches and weighing half a pound, the back float is very portable. The sound output is clear and crisp. The bass is not overwhelming though, but you would not expect that a speaker of this size to sound like a subwoofer and for what it is, the back Float produces impressive lows.
At $72, the Super Star back float is a rare speaker that is rugged, has splash-proof design and delivers solid audio, but still, the price seems a bit out of step with the rest of the contest.
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NudeAudio Super M
The Super-M is NudeAudio’s newest portable speaker offering high-quality sound in a very small and waterproof package that you can slip in your back pocket.
NudeAudio brand believes in the creation of good-looking speakers that sounds better for a budget price, the super-M is one of them, ultra-portable speaker we came about which is reasonably priced at $100, but still has a surprisingly promising 6 -Speaker driver array which is capable of performing a compelling 360-degree wide audio output – all packed in a resilient-IPX5 valued watertight construction, that is little more than an inch thick.
A super slim portable speaker holding the sexy look at first glance with a solid rubber coated feel, the super-M rocks an attractive and super modern design that is essentially a refined and a slimmed-down version of their award-winning model MoveL.
Unlike nude audio’s Move series portable speakers, the super-M feels like a more updated portable speaker with up-to-date functions such as a waterproof case, Bluetooth 4.0, 8 hours life from the built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
There is a pill-shaped rubber piece in the form of the nude Audio logo embedded on the front and rear side if the device that is not only the tasteful branded identity to indicate the super-M, but also a protective barrier at the top of the dual-sided speaker grilles which will help prevent them from blue spots of the impact.
Regardless of the slim profile, the super-M is intended to be used upright because there are dual front and rear-facing speakers.
The Super M sounds good at all levels. With fairly loud sound output, you can pack this anywhere you go. Comparing to the move series, sound signature is somewhat same for both. The ease of use is another strong point of this rugged speaker. Bluetooth connection offers wide uninterrupted range.
Overall, Super-M is a cheap $ 100 Bluetooth speaker that promises premium audio using full-range six neodymium drivers and two passive bass radiators. This is, without doubt, the smallest waterproof speaker with 6 drivers which sounds loud and clear.
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Braven’s BRV-X
Braven’s BRV-X portable Bluetooth speaker combines power with the functionality and ruggedness that makes a sound system truly enjoyable. Make no mistake, the BRV-X is not a lightweight or pocket-friendly speaker, but it’s perfect for stuffing in a suitcase or picnic bag.
The front speaker grille hides two powerful drivers and a status LED. Power, Bluetooth Pairing, Play/Pause, and Volume Up/Down controls are located at the top of the speaker, and the volume controls work independently too. The BRV-X can also be used as a speakerphone as microphone helps keep the ambient noise down, which is helpful for outdoor use.
The BRV-X is loud enough and can be heard from quite a distance, unlike many portable speakers its size that drop off at relatively short distances when outside and away from walls.
As for the performance, at absolute top volumes, I noticed no distortion, though the speaker generates plenty of vibration. At normal levels, the bass is intense and the audio is clean and clear. The speaker delivers plenty of high-mid presence, while the low frequency remains quite substantial. Lower register instruments sound a bit fuller though.
The BRV-X sounds far more powerful than most speakers of its size; the design is perfect for your travel adventure. If you’re looking for rugged, portable power packed sound with Bluetooth functionality, the BRV-X will not disappoint.
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Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Under $200
JBL Xtreme – The Best Outdoor Wireless Speaker Under 200
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Features: Bluetooth 4, 2 x USB, 3.5mm jack
- Dimensions and weight: 283 x 122 x 126 mm, 2.1 kg
It is the largest of the speakers on this list: the JBL Xtreme would undoubtedly be our choice for a party. It is able to play the bass with fury and fill the room, or your entire house, and you can connect up to three phones at a time if you want to vary from DJ. The speaker handles with the equal grace that rocks classical or vocal music, although it lacks some of the clarity of the KEF Muo especially in handling audio with subtle bass.
The JBL Xtreme is solid and robust to get where you want to take it: it is resistant to splashing (not immersion) of water, and you can have it outdoors even on a rainy day without a problem. JBL offers the ability to hang it, which is a good thing because, if you notice, it weighs a little over 2 kg. The other good news is that it has two USB ports, and since it has a huge capacity battery (10,000mAh) it can serve as the perfect charger for other devices.
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FUGOO Tough XL – The Runner Up
When it comes to the Bluetooth speaker market, there is a huge selection currently. That said, not all speakers are created equal and while some offer a more streamlined design or additional user-friendly feature, there are a number of speakers which are simply created tough. The Tough XL from Fugoo is a good example of this type of speaker.
This is still a very attractive speaker which is supplied with a design that uses metal finish and for more industrial-like appearance and attractiveness.
Moving to the features, this comes with all major Bluetooth speaker specs you would expect. On the top of the speaker, you have the volume up or down, Track Forward and reverse controls. More often, the controls on Bluetooth speakers many come together in a smaller space and become often difficult to use. Fugoo has taken good care of placing the controls far enough for easy operation.
There is also a number of sturdy handles positioned to either bottom of the speaker that can help make it easier to carry out the speaker and strong enough to support the weight of the speaker.
FUGOO have used an omnidirectional approach to this speaker thereby emitting sound from all angles. When it comes to sound quality, it is a lot more difficult to judge the Tough XL. There is no doubt that this is a heavy bass speaker. A speaker built like this with quite large passive radiators and outward facing drivers are designed to push the bass and they do. Compared to the NudeAudio SuperM, the Fugoo tough XL sounds more punchy and warm.
But unlike Super M, the connections to smartphone kept cutting off sometimes and I had to reconnect manually every time. Battery backup is more than expected for such a large sized speaker, Fugoo claims 35 hours of battery life. The small light displayed on the connection side of the speaker change colors and start flashing red, offers you a visual reminder that the battery is almost empty.
Fugoo Tough XL also features voice command once connected via Bluetooth and is very easy and convenient to operate through voice command. It is a nice feature and when you want to quickly move to a song or album.
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Fugoo Style XL – outdoor
Pros
- Extraordinary battery capacity.
Technical characteristics:
- Size: 102 x 178 x 229 mm
- Power: 38W
- Battery: 40 hours
Design and quality:
The Fugoo speaker is undoubtedly yet another one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market and has earned its reputation in this section. It comes in three models with different covers (Style, Tough, Sport) all having resistance against water, dust, and shock. The Fugoo has a very solid body, built with plastic and rubber. However, the Style case adds an extra layer of protection.
Sound:
The sound is one of the features of Fugoo that stands out. It comes with a tweeter, a passive radiator and two woofers, one at each end covered by a protective layer. These provide a complete 360 degrees sound experience. The audio it emits is well-balanced, with full bass and mid and high tones that do not distort, as long as we use it below 70 decibels since as you begin reaching this power, the quality begins to reduce.
Connectivity:
On one side of the portable speaker, there is a micro-USB port and a 3.5 mm. The company provides the appropriate cables to the product to connect through these means. Connecting it via Bluetooth is very simple. Just click on the dedicated button for this function and in a few seconds, the speaker will have found the mobile device. You will need a built-in microphone, so you can access virtual assistants like Siri and you can also use it as a “hands-free” for your mobile device.
Battery:
In this section, the Fugoo is really surprising. Most of the best Bluetooth speakers offer about 10 hours of playback before needing a charge but the Fugoo has a capacity of 40 hours at moderate volumes. When tested at its maximum power the speaker reached 18 hours of continuous playback.
Conclusion:
This speaker can go unnoticed, since its name does not compete with that of the big audio equipment companies, but it should not. It is a gem that is ignored by people. It emits a sound in 360 degrees of high quality and its battery does not have the comparison with any other speakers out there. It also has a very strong body resistant to water and shock.
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