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The last handful of years we've been using a small 6cm(ish) cubed portable bluetooth speaker. Gets tossed in luggage for holidays, kit bags for going away for weekend sorta thing. Sound quality is ok, but 'thin' and lacking in depth.
I thought this was to be expected.
However last week a joint smoking yoot on a bike had terrible music emanating from his rucksack as he rode past (less than 2m away the scoundrel!).
Despite the type of music being played, the sound quality was very good. Not loud - could not hear it from too far away but the sound had real depth and punchy bass despite low volume.
So what portable bluetooth speaker, with 12v / usb charging with decent sound quality for impromptu raves for the decerning chap.
Headphones. Thanks.
Look no further than whatever is the latest from Anker.
We have a Bose soundlink, had it about 4 years and still going strong, with great sound quality, even despite junior taking to many drunken gaffs in fields and the like 😁
anker too for us......
Have had a Mini Rig for a few years now and love it. The battery lasts ages as well. Not cheap at £130 though. They’ve a new more powerful one now.
Creative Metallix are very good for the money. The bass is not as overwhelming as on other cheapish units.
https://www.ultimateears.com/en-gb
I like the Logitech/Ultimate Ears ones. Decent sound and battery life. Alexa support is a bit hit and miss so I wouldn't bother with those. The basics work, but skills aren't reliable (so BBC Sounds rarely works.)
Anker, as recommended in this here parish. 🙂
I have an Anker and Bose Mini.
The Bose sounds a million times better but is a lot heavier and more expensive.
I take the Anker if flying.
Just been into this myself. I was tempted to get the new Makita radio which has a great sound and has Bluetooth as I have all the batteries anyway.
However, following the reviews I went for this off Amazon. The name is.....interesting, but the speaker itself is dope!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083K77PZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JLh-EbJAYRT55
You can daisy chain them for stereo, great for tv use and there is a lower powered version too.
I'm really into bassy reggae and dub and it handles it pretty well. Good sound. Battery lasts hours or plug it in to a usb outlet. I'm thinking of adding one in my van too.
Naturally I customised mine..
[mod edit, naughty.]
I've got the little Sony XB10, size of a dumpy can, sounds reasonably good and the battery last ages.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom
i got a tribit max sound plus, it has good sound and good battery life, fits in the Mule with a couple of tinnys for the end of ride (wild) pub stop.
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-bluetooth-portable-speaker/#post-11270813
^ This. The Sony XB-20 is an amazing bit of kit, I'm a bit of an audiophile, and they have a much 'funner' sound than the likes of Bose. At £59 for the XB21, you can't go wrong.
Really rich bass, good mids, clean treble and a pretty good soundstage.
I have had 2 Bose Soundlink minis & one Bose big soundlink jobby
really overhyped
changed to a Fresh ' n ' Rebel RockBox Bold L for £80
flippin bonkers good, loud on minimum volume, very very good longevity on a single charge, charge 2 Iirc mobiles at same time And is waterproof
Deffo worth checking out!
despite junior taking to many drunken gaffs in fields
This. Pleased with mine. As are my sons. Went on one last week in fact. Downside is that It’s heavy for a suitcase and the mic doesn’t work with Microsoft for work duties with the laptop In the office. The newer smaller one looks and sounds good too.
For work international travel I have a much smaller sony SRS-XB01 I bought for £15 in the US. It does the job in a hotel room for Radio 3. He steals that too for the shower! He’s had an Anker that was fine too.
Minirig - sounds great, made in Bristol and their customer service is fantastic. Fixed my sub FOC out of warranty after it was abused at a party!
Minirig are great. A bit light on the bass, but they are tiny, and you can get a subwoofer too...
Another vote for Bose Soundlink, the one I have is the Micro. Not sure they get so much depth from a small unit, easily fills a room/garage or patio without sounding tinny. Rubber strap on the back so you can hang it off stuff too.
We've a JBL Flip 2....had it a good few years now and use it most days; great little speaker. Think its the Flip 5 now
I've got the Anker Soundcore. Great sound for a relatively tiny speaker, IPX7 waterproofedness, you can pair two together for stereo goodness, and it's forty of your pounds.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Upgraded-SoundCore-Bluetooth-Waterproof/dp/B01MTB55WH
2nd the Anker Soundcore, cracking bit of kit.
Thanks all, went for the ultimate ears wonderboom 2 as recommended above - 8,500 5* reviews so should be fairly decent!
I've got an Addon T3. Won lots of award's year's ago.
https://www.whathifi.com/audio-pro/addon-t3/review
Anker Soundcore
AudioPro - hands down best sound quality for the money. There’s a good reason that they keep having awards thrown at them,
Bose Soundlink and Soundlink Mini for me.
Had an Anker Soundcore, decent enough, was well pleased with it until parents nicked it. Replaced with the £30 Tribit and it sounds significantly better, also doesn't beep loudly when you're at max volume and press it again like the Soundcore, that's bloody annoying!
The Anker Soundcore looks good, a bargain at the price.
I’d still go with Minirigs though. Good sound, Great battery life, easy to stow away, you could use it as a football for half an hour and it would still work*. You can buy one them add another and a subwoofer to make a pretty decent system. The only downside is the cost, but I guess quality costs.
* don’t do this. You’d break your toes.
Anker Soundcore here too, great for the money and sturdy. Mine get some abuse at work and its still spot on!
My Bose Soundlink Mini died (flashing red light of death) and was replaced with a magnificent B and O Beolink A1 which I think sounds much better than the Bose.
Bose Soundlink Revlove+, I heard a street performer using one in Rome and the power of it blew me away. I have an Anker Soundcore and it is a toy in comparison.
The Revolve+ is expensive but an incredible speaker with enormous bass and I am so glad I splashed out on it.
Audio Pro T3.
These are pretty decent, tough, good sound and a great price for a pair as some shops sell as a single for the price they are on offer.
Anker Soundcore Mini for size and similar to what you're replacing.
Anker Soundcore 2 for a bigger, louder unit that's also waterproof.
I've got the mini and it's good for its size. For a louder and better sound you really need a bigger unit.
Naturally I customised mine..
[mod edit, naughty.]
😂 Sorry.
Thanks all, went for the ultimate ears wonderboom 2 as recommended above – 8,500 5* reviews so should be fairly decent!
So. Literally. End of thread.
"I've got this."
"I've got that"
We don't GaS.
Why’re you posting then?
I recently got a tribit max sound plus. Good price and sound. Did try a Anker soundcore and it wasn't very good - sounded thin. Did have a ue boom, which was ok.
Get the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom for fathers day - very happy!