Quick Stats
Price range (NZD) | Weight (kg) | Volume capability (decibels) | Maximum battery life (hours) | Wireless range (metres) |
---|---|---|---|---|
From $30 to $1,000 | From 0.2kg to 6.5kg | From 85 dB to 110+ dB | From 5 to 26+ | From 9m to 30+m |
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Updated
Bluetooth speakers offer a portable and convenient solution for listening to music and other audio while travelling or spending time outdoors. If you’re an audiophile looking for a home stereo system, you may want to consider smart speakers or multiroom speakers instead.
Prices range from approximately $30 to thousands of dollars. You can categorise Bluetooth speakers as either ultra-portable, such as the UE Roll 2 and JBL Go or semi-portable, such as the Bose Soundlink Mini and RIVA Turbo X. Ultra-portable speakers weigh as little at 0.2kg, but often do not have the volume or battery capacity of larger models. Semi-portable speakers can weigh as much as 6.5kg and typically cost more than their more portable counterparts. Choosing the right Bluetooth speaker for you depends on your budget and where and how you want to use your speaker.
Read on to discover how to compare Bluetooth speakers.
Traditional speakers use a cable to connect them to an audio source such as a TV, computer or mobile phone. Bluetooth speakers use Bluetooth technology to link the speaker to the audio source without requiring a physical cable.
Bluetooth uses radio waves to transmit across short distances, up to around 10m. Bluetooth can connect a computer to a wireless device such as a keyboard, mouse, digital camera or mobile. You can send and receive signals over the Bluetooth connection, allowing you to download photos from your camera, connect your mobile to a hands-free headset or listen to music with Bluetooth speakers.
Bluetooth speakers are designed to be portable. You can connect your speaker almost instantly to any Bluetooth capable device such as a smartphone or computer, no matter where you are because you don’t require any cables. Some Bluetooth speakers are designed to be extra portable for outdoor activities.
Bluetooth speakers are a convenient way to listen to high-quality audio. You can use your speakers at the beach; while camping; when travelling overseas or at home. Bluetooth speakers have taken over the role of traditional portable stereos. Where stereos require a CD or cassette tape, you only need a Bluetooth capable device to connect to your speakers. Fortunately, just about any device that plays digital music is now Bluetooth capable.
The best speaker for you comes down to how you want to use it. If you want a speaker you can take to the beach this summer, look for something waterproof. If you wish to listen to music on vacation, look for something extra portable that you can fit easily in your carry-on. No matter what, you want to look for a speaker with long battery life and high-quality sound all within your budget.
Price range (NZD) | Weight (kg) | Volume capability (decibels) | Maximum battery life (hours) | Wireless range (metres) |
---|---|---|---|---|
From $30 to $1,000 | From 0.2kg to 6.5kg | From 85 dB to 110+ dB | From 5 to 26+ | From 9m to 30+m |
Additional features to look for:
While it may seem like there are an overwhelming number of wireless Bluetooth speakers on the market, choosing the best one for you is simple if you ask yourself the following questions:
Once you have considered what you want from your speaker, you are ready to compare options and make a decision. Get started today by browsing our list of available affordable and high-end Bluetooth speakers.
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