Recommend me a Bluetooth speaker

HAL9000

As per the title I’m after a Bluetooth speaker for playing music from my iPad.

I’d like...

Mains and battery power
Indoor and outdoor use.
Stereo
Good quality sound
Simpler the better - I understand that some speakers such as the Riva S have an associated App and that these Apps can be a bit temperamental.
£150 tops
Something Mrs9000 won’t object to the looks of when it’s in the living room

Thanks.

Bygone_Tones

JBL xtreme. You might have to go second hand with that budget though.

shaunyshaun1234

Bose Soundlink Mini is absolutely brilliant but don't think it's stereo. 

I'm sure people will be along to bash it shortly.

JasonRice666

If you’re looking for quality, Bluetooth is not your friend, get a CD player. 

If your certain on Bluetooth speakers, have a look at these 3:

1: Bose soundlink mini
2: UE boom 2
3: Bang and Olufsen Beoplay 2

but If you walk into a shop and someone recomends a JBL or Beats speaker for sound quality, leave ASAP

HAL9000

JasonRice666 said:

If you’re looking for quality, Bluetooth is not your friend, get a CD player. 

I realise this, and all my favourites and stuff which I like to listen properly are on CD. I'm after a halfway decent speaker for the 'everything else' music. It needs to be portable enough to go into the garden in BBQ season, and i other rooms as required.

Sporky

JasonRice666 said:

If you’re looking for quality, Bluetooth is not your friend, get a CD player. 

I would be surprised if anyone can reliably tell 328kbps over Bluetooth from CD through these sorts of speaker.

Actually, assuming no dropouts, I don't think many people can tell 328kbps from uncompressed through anything any normal person has in their house. If your source and sink both support APTX then I would put good money against anyone reliably  telling that from the output of a CD player playing the same media.

joneve

I use a Jambox by Jawbone. It's ace. 

I want one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Lexibook-Star-Wars-Darth-Vader-Wireless-Bluetooth-Portable-Speaker-Black-/292214772329?clk_rvr_id=1429852293799&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=twenga&utm_campaign=twenga&utm_param=eyJlcyI6MCwicyI6OTcyMDIzNywiY2kiOiIwM2RmMWQ2ZThiNDI0OWVlOTUzZTg1ZmU5MjI2OTQ4NiIsImkiOiIyOTIyMTQ3NzIzMjkiLCJ0cyI6MTUxNzQ5NjEzNSwidiI6Mywic28iOjE1MDAsImMiOjExMTY5NH0=&rmvSB=true

the sound quality is decidedly average, BUT when you twist the silver volume dial on top, it makes an absolutely awesome light saber sound. 

not_the_dj

I got one of these recently after a recomendation on here, and it's a bargain.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/content/aether-cone-wireless-speaker

Iamnobody

not_the_dj said:

I got one of these recently after a recomendation on here, and it's a bargain.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/content/aether-cone-wireless-speaker

Hmmm I was looking at this Sony one. 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/audio/hifi-systems-and-speakers/sony-extra-bass-srs-xb20-portable-bluetooth-wireless-speaker-white-10160611-pdt.html

Do so you think the cone will be a better option - it’s almost half the price.

John_P

I got a cone last week and it’s fantastic - genuine bargain at that price imo 

Flink_Poyd

This dudes channel helped me pick mine. Well worth a look

https://www.youtube.com/user/clavinetjunkie

not_the_dj

Iamnobody said:

not_the_dj said:

I got one of these recently after a recomendation on here, and it's a bargain.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/content/aether-cone-wireless-speaker

Hmmm I was looking at this Sony one. 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/audio/hifi-systems-and-speakers/sony-extra-bass-srs-xb20-portable-bluetooth-wireless-speaker-white-10160611-pdt.html

Do so you think the cone will be a better option - it’s almost half the price.

The sound quality from cone is superb...I haven’t heard the Sony one but i’d be surprised if I’d came close. 

Read the back story on the cone, it genuinely was hundreds originally

ICBM

https://www.samma3a.com/upload/images/reviews/marshall/kilburn/marshall-kilburn-potable-bluetooth-speakers-samma3a-001.jpg

Because it's one more, innit.

Very slightly over budget... but just look at it!

DiscoStu

not_the_dj said:

I got one of these recently after a recomendation on here, and it's a bargain.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/content/aether-cone-wireless-speaker

Is the Cone mono or stereo? 

BigBearKris

I have two Anker Soundcores - regular on and Boost version - both super affordable and with decent sound quality (for a small bluetooth speaker). Boost will give you some extra db and bass as well.

mart

John_P said:

I got a cone last week and it’s fantastic - genuine bargain at that price imo 

Good shout. I picked up one of them and it sounds superb.

Does anybody else notice much clipping through bluetooth? On most of the mp3s I’ve got on my phone it sounds fine, but there’s a couple of albums that are clipping, whatever the volume is. It’s not the cone, cos I get the same problem on my bluetooth headphones too, but it doesn’t seem to be the mp3 file cos they sound fine through a wired connection.

Rocker

Sonos. Over your budget but you only have to buy it once. And it woks well with music from Spotify. More than good enough for background music but it is not a hi-fi system in a box. It is good but not that good.

HAL9000

Thanks all. Will probably go with the Cone. At £35 it seems too good to miss.

Chuffola

I have 2 sonos 1s in stereo and they are superb. But it's wifi, not Bluetooth so not exactly what you're after. Also, 5x the price of that cone thing!

TheMarlin

I’ve tried a few, and have different ones scattered around the house.  Price is no guarantee of quality. 

I had a high end Philips Fidellio Unit, it died inside warranty, the replacement didn’t last half as long.  Sounded good enough, no wow factor. 

Had Sony AirPlay stuff, again, meh!

UE boom 2 is pretty decent.  JBL Flip is nearly as good as the UE Boom 2, though battery life poor, which makes it very fristrating. . 

The Bose Soundlink Mini is very impressive.  The first version with wireless charge is actually better than the second version.  It has an amazing wide open detailed sound for such a small box, nice tight yet present bass.  It fills a room easily.  I’m after another.   Nearly worn my old one out. 

My favourite at at the moment is my Anker Soundcore Bluetooth speaker which I bought from Amazon for about £25. 

Its not my favourite because it sounds the best, it doesn’t. It’s the worst of the three I’ve mentioned (not terribly though, only a little less detailed and less punchy than the JBL flip).  

Its my favourite because I’ve used it daily since I got it in early January.  Used it every day, for at least two hours a day, left it on standby all day.....played loud without distorting.....but most of all, it’s still on its original charge.  I charged it the day it arrived, and I’ve still not had to charge it by the end of February.  I’ve no idea how the hell it’s still going.  All others can’t make it through a full radio show.  I get 90 minutes out of the JBK max!!  Six weeks without a charge is astonishingly impressive.    It sounds pretty decent, a relaxed slightly compressed presentation, but still very pleasant. 

Its decent sounding, and thoroughly reliable, solidly built, nicely packaged..with astonishingly good battery performance.  

Even if you do get some upmarket Bluetooth speaker, get an Anker as a backup.  You can drag it around the house with you as you do your chores.  No need to worry about finding the charger.  Buy one now! You won’t regret it. Only £29!!!

Iamnobody

This is a good thread as I’m looking to buy soon. The cone is very tempting. However I noticed that Currys have these Samsung 360 things in store with £20 off.

A lot more expensive but the 360 appeals as it will be placed in a long room. In theory the sound should project well all around the room.

Gimmick?

I’d appreciate some input if anyone has tried one.

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/audio/hifi-systems-and-speakers/samsung-r1-360-wireless-smart-sound-multi-room-speaker-white-10153560-pdt.html