Top 10 Wireless Speakers In 2016
What
is Wireless Speaker?
Wireless speakers are loudspeakers which receive audio
signals using radio frequency (RF) waves rather than over audio cables. The two
most popular RF frequencies that support audio transmission to wireless
loudspeakers include a variation of WiFi IEEE 802.11 while others depends on
Bluetooth to transmit audio data to the receiving speaker.
Wireless speakers are composed of two units: a main speaker
unit combining the loudspeaker itself with an RF receiver, and an RF
transmitter unit. The transmitter connects to the audio output of any audio
devices such as hi-fi equipment, televisions, computers, mp3 players, etc. An
RCA plug is normally used to achieve this. The receiver is positioned where the
listener wants the sound to be, providing the freedom to move the wireless
speakers around without the need of using cables. The receiver/speaker unit
generally contains an amplifier to boost the audio signal to the loudspeaker;
it is powered either by batteries or by an AC electric outlet. Batteries may
last for three to four hours; some wireless speakers operate on rechargeable
batteries.
The signal frequency range used by wireless speakers is
generally the same as that used by cordless telephones — 900 MHz. The RF signal
can traverse walls and floors/ceilings. Most manufacturers claim the signal
transmits over a range of 150 to 300 feet. Many wireless speakers feature
variable transmission channels that can be set using a tuning knob to overcome
potential RF interference with other nearby wireless devices such as cordless
phones or baby monitors. Bluetooth devices use a radio communications system
and therefore do not have to be in a visual line of sight with each other.
Here
is the list of Top 10 Wireless Speakers In 2016:
1. UE
Boom 2
Price:
$129.99(amazon.com)
The UE Boom 2 is the follow-up Bluetooth speaker to Ultimate
Ears' 2013 UE Boom – a waterproof speaker that made a splash with its insane
maximum volume and stellar battery life. It fell slightly flat on audio
quality, however.
The new Boom box aims to fix the flaws of the original Boom
and comes with improved software and hardware.
By and large it achieves this goal and earns itself a place
on the list of 2016's best Bluetooth speakers.
The UE Boom 2 is similar in design to its predecessor. The
67 x 180 mm, 548g tube features a 360 speaker grille that’s divided by a rubber
strip running up its long side and along the top and bottom faces. The band
houses the speaker’s physical volume and power controls the speaker is
available in a number of vibrant colour options – which may put off some buyers.
The speaker has been built to IPX7-certification standards.
On paper, this means the UE Boom 2 can survive submersions in puddles, lakes,
ponds, pints and bath tubs to a depth of 1m for up to half an hour.
2. JBL
Pulse 2
Price:
$312(amazon.com)
JBL's Pulse 2 is a splash-proof Bluetooth speaker with a
cylindrical design and a price of $312. That's not entirely unique. What makes
the Pulse 2 stand out is the dazzling LED light show it performs beneath—and
projects onto—its metallic grille surface. It may be a gimmick, but it's a
pretty cool one. As for audio quality, the Pulse 2 improves on the bass
response of its predecessor, the Pulse, by adding passive radiators that do a
decent job of beefing up the low-end. The audio is crisp, full, and doesn't
distort.
The Pulse 2, with no light show running, resembles plenty of
portable Bluetooth speakers out there. Its 7.6-by-3.3-inch (HW), 1.7-pound
cylindrical design houses drivers and an LED system beneath the nearly
360-degree splash-proof grille. Passive bass radiators are located on the top
and bottom panels of the speaker.
3. Bose
SoundTouch 10
Price:
$199(amazon.com)
The Bose SoundTouch 10 is the Bose equivalent to the Sonos
Play: 1, a little speaker that has proved incredibly popular.
It’s a similar size, the same price and is far more
flexible, with a much more ‘open’ approach than any Sonos speaker. It seems
likely to be a great success.
However, with sound quality and software not quite on-par
with the Sonos Play: 1, the SoundTouch 10 doesn’t do quite enough to become
go-to recommendation.
The Bose SoundTouch 10 is a speaker designed for multi-room
audio. It’s small, it’s not too expensive but it’s still big and capable enough
to offer better sound quality than most TVs and radios. Multi-room systems used
to be expensive and intimidating, but boxes like the SoundTouch 10 can almost
be bought as an experiment. They work just fine on their own, but could be made
into a multi-room setup in the future if you fancy it.
4. JBL
Charge 2+
Price:
$150(amazon.com)
The $150-and-up price range is where portable Bluetooth
speakers start delivering robust audio with more powerful bass response. With
most genres of music, the $149.99 JBL Charge 2+ delivers a rich, crisp sound
with an impressive sense of bass, but tracks with seriously deep lows can make
the speaker distort dramatically at top volumes.
Whether this is a major issue really depends on what type of
music you listen to most often. For those whose libraries don't have lots of
deep bass tracks, the splash-proof design of the Charge 2+, along with its
ability to connect to three Bluetooth devices at once and charge mobile
devices, will outweigh this negative.
5. Bose
SoundLink Mini II
Price:
$179(amazon.com)
The Bose SoundLink Mini II is a small Bluetooth speaker. It
isn't small enough that you'll carry it with you every day, and you’re
definitely not going to fit it in a pocket.
However, it's about as small as a speaker can get without
compromising on sound quality. And if you haven’t heard one of these small
size, big output speakers before, you'll most certainly be impressed by how
good the Bose SoundLink Mini II sounds.
Cheaper rivals are available, but if you're after powerful
bass in a tiny box then the Bose SoundLink Mini II is worth its asking price.
The Bose SoundLink Mini II looks and feels much the same as
the first SoundLink Mini. It’s a lightly curved brick of aluminium, small
enough to grasp easily in one hand, but it's too long and deep to fit in a
pocket.
This doesn't rule it out as an ultra-portable speaker,
though; you’ll just need to put it in a rucksack.
6. UE
Megaboom
Price:
$199.99(amazon.com)
The UE Boom 2 is a tour de force in the Bluetooth speaker
scene. First off, it's one helluva good-looking device. Then, it keeps
impressing with class-leading performance, waterproofing, and a unique set of
features allowed by its free companion app.
So, the only way to make it better is to give you more of it.
With the UE Megaboom, that's exactly what you get.
The UE Megaboom is nothing more than a bigger Boom 2, and
that qualification alone makes it an easy recommendation off the cuff. But
digging in a little deeper, this plus-sized variation sounds louder and fuller
than its smaller next of kin. The larger form factor even allows for the
battery life to stretch on for 20 hours, 25% longer than the Boom 2 is capable
of.
With these improvements in mind, the Megaboom makes good on
its price point, especially if you're in need of more power for your parties.
But, on the other hand, it offers nothing different in the way of features from
the Boom 2.
7. JBL
Flip 3
Price:
$99.95(amazon.com)
JBL's latest affordable portable Bluetooth speaker, the
Flip3, packs some serious power for its modest size. At $99.95, the Flip3 is a
solid option if you're looking for a splash-proof speaker that can be thrown in
a tote or a carry-on.
It can get quite
loud, and while it does occasionally distort at top volumes on deep bass
tracks, it offers a clean output for most genres, and there's no distortion at
all at low-to-moderately loud volume levels. You can connect up to three
devices simultaneously to the Flip3, and it also has built-in speakerphone
functionality, making it a versatile option.
8. UE
Roll 2
Price:
$95(amazon.com)
Some may call it a gimmick, but waterproof speakers are here
to stay. It might've been a passing fad when the first few manufacturers, like
Ultimate Ears (UE, for short) and JBL, first started releasing these
water-tolerant audio devices a few years back, but now they're a staple of the
market.
But even in an increasingly crowded field, the UE Roll 2
manages to stick out.
The latest IPX7-rated speaker from the manufacturer offers
improved sound from the original on top of a reduced price tag - the Roll 2
sells for just $95.
While a muddy bass keeps it from becoming one of the best
portable pieces of audio hardware out there, a solid waterproof coating,
detailed mids and surprising range make it a definite contender for the crown.
9. JBL
Clip 2
Price:
$60(amazon.com)
JBL's Clip speakers have been among our favorite micro
Bluetooth speakers, and the new Clip 2, which comes in five color options and
costs $60, is also a winner.
The Clip 2 has couple of notable changes from its
predecessor. For starters, it's fully waterproof. It also comes equipped with a
real metal carabiner instead the plastic "clip" mechanism found on
the Clip and Clip+. And finally, battery life has been improved to eight hours
from five.
Like those earlier models, this one has a nifty integrated
audio cable for devices that don't support Bluetooth, and there's a built-in
speakerphone that works reasonably well.
10. Bose
SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III
Price:
$269(amazon.com)
Whatever you may think of Bose, the company makes some
excellent Bluetooth speakers. Its previous two models, the SoundLink Mini and
SoundLink II, both earned their categories for putting out a surprising amount
of warm, clear sound in portable, relatively affordable packages.
The SoundLink III is
the latest iteration of Bose's Bluetooth speaker, replacing the SoundLink II as
its wireless model. It doesn't look quite as stylish as the SoundLink II, but
it puts out an accurate, slightly warmer sound that will appeal to casual
listeners even more (but might turn off audiophile purists compared with the
previous model). It's still the Bluetooth speaker to beat in this size and
price category.
According to Bose, the SoundLink III's battery can last
almost twice as long as the previous model, offering 14 hours of listening time
after a three-hour charge. Like the SoundLink II, the SoundLink III uses a DC
power-in jack instead of a micro USB port, so you'll need to bring the power
cable with you instead of relying on your phone charger like many other
Bluetooth speakers. It does have a micro USB port on the back, between the
power port and the 3.5mm auxiliary port, but it's just for firmware updates and
isn't used for charging the speaker.
