Best Budget Bluetooth Speakers – Top 10 List
Unlike cell phones and TVs, the Bluetooth speaker-test is much more subjective. The answer to the question of what to buy is best given by a comparative test, such as this. I have selected the ten best and most affordable Bluetooth speakers in different price categories.
Individual tests are not the best solution here. Only when you listen to them simultaneously, with the same content in the same room and outdoors, you can judge the quality of each Bluetooth speaker.
Bluetooth speakers are cool gadgets. The sound quality coming out of these boxes is amazing, and although at first, I was very dubious after the Bluetooth speaker test, I did afford the B&W T7.
What can you expect from a modern Bluetooth speaker other than a good sound? They are even waterproof to immersion (up to 1 meter, up to half an hour), Bluetooth aptX support (better models) that offers CD audio quality, pairing two or more speakers to a stereo system, a DSP sound enhancer, some can also serve as a cell phone charger or stream Tidal via a WiFi chip.
But here I am concentrating on what matters. So I put together a list of the best cheap Bluetooth speakers. I took them to the cottage and checked the most important thing – what is their sound quality?
1. JBL GO 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review
It’s a tricky thing, that physics. And she says: a small speaker can’t have much bass and big sound in general. JBL GO 2 can’t go against it, but it does push expectations.
Look at it: The JBL GO 2 is so small that it fits in every pocket, even the shorts, and is unique in this test.
JBL GO 2 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, A2DP V1.2, AVRCP V1.5 HFP V1.5, HSP V1.2
- Speaker: 1 x 40 mm
- Output Power: 3 W
- Charging time: 2.5 hours
- Play time: Up to 5 hours
- Other: IP67 waterproof (up to 1-meter dive, up to half an hour), speakerphone, available in 12 colors
- Dimensions: 71.2 x 86.0 x 31.6 mm
- Weight: 184 g
- Price: ~ 40 $
But the amount of bass it delivers, as well as the solid volume, no one expects from a box like this, which is also waterproof to immersion up to 1 meter. You need to obey him; if you are moderate in volume you will be rewarded with a full, comfortable sound that fills the smaller room nicely.
- Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
- 5 hours of playtime
- IPX7 waterproof
- Speakerphone
- Audio Cable Input
If you want more you will fight with physics: then distortions occur and the sound loses harmony. Overall, the JBL GO 2 impressed me both in sound and at a very good price.
2. Denon Envaya DSB-50BT Review
The smallest Denon Envaya speaker comes with a lot of equipment: it’s waterproof, has aptX Low Latency for superb audio transmission, you can pair the two pieces in a true stereo setup, and there’s a button to use SIRI/Google Assistant, depending on which cell phone you have.
Denon Envaya Pocket DSB-50BT Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, aptX
- Speaker: 2 x 40 mm full range + 1x 40 x 83 mm passive bass radiator
- Output Power: 13W
- Charging time: 3 hours
- Play time: Up to 11 hours
- Other: IP7X waterproof (up to 1-meter dive, up to half an hour), speakerphone, multi-device pairing, AAC, SBC, Siri / Google Voice control
- Dimensions: 163 x 56 x 58 mm
- Weight: 390 g
- Price: ~ 100 $
The price has been lowered and now it’s fairly fair in terms of what you get. Still, this Denon has a mediocre sound quality – it’s good, has a finely balanced sound if you don’t overdo it with the volume, but there’s no bass like some competitors. He is more comfortable with the finer music, but we would still prefer a more expensive/better model for that.
- A COMPACT, PORTABLE SPEAKER THAT TRULY DELIVERS – Whether you are...
- ALL-WEATHER SPEAKERS MADE FOR LONG-TERM USE – Protected by caps and...
- BUILT-IN BLUETOOTH WITH SEAMLESS DEVICE PAIRING – The Envaya series come...
- PREMIUM SOUND EXPERIENCE – Equipped with (2) 1-9/16" full-range drivers,...
- SMART DESIGN WITH MINIMALISTIC TOUCH SENSITIVE BUTTONS – On the side are...
Sound quality will be dramatically better if you use two Denon Envaya Pocket speakers in a stereo configuration, which is not a bad choice considering the price.
3. JBL Charge 3 Review
Best buy in mid-range price class in this test. It may lack some of the Denon gear, but overall the JBL Charge 3 sounds better to me. And the good sound is ultimately the reason for buying a quality Bluetooth speaker, right?
JBL Charge 3 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2
- Speaker: 2 x 50 mm full range + passive bass radiator
- Output power: 20 W
- Charging time: 4.5 hours
- Play time: up to 20 hours (6000 mAh battery)
- Other: IPX7 waterproof (up to 1-meter dive, up to half an hour), speakerphone, multi-device pairing
- Dimensions: 213 x 87 x 88.5 mm
- Weight: 800 g
- Price: ~ 100 $
- Bluetooth - Wirelessly connect up to 3 smartphones or tablets to the...
- Battery type : Lithium-ion Polymer (22.2Wh)2) 20 hours of playtime(varies...
- IPX7 Waterproof
- Take crystal clear calls from your speaker with the touch of a button...
- Build your own ecosystem by connecting multiple JBL Connect enabled...
OK, the differences are not big. The JBL isn’t louder, but I prefer its sound quality, which also has an emphasis on bass. There is no sound range balance problem – that is not characteristic of smaller speakers. Smaller speakers sound fine if there are not many different sounds to play at the same time, and then they can get a little lost, but this is not the case with the JBL Charge 3 speaker.
4.Denon Envaya Mini DSB-150BT Review
An old acquaintance, I tested the Denon Envaya Mini three years ago. Today it looks the same and sounds similar, but it has made progress in terms of options. Thus, water resistance has been improved from IPX4 (spray resistance) to IPX7 (immersion resistance up to 1 meter, up to half an hour), and the ability to control smart assistants on a mobile phone via a separate key has been added.
Denon Envaya Mini DSB-150 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, A2DP / AVRCP / HFP / HSP, aptX Low Latency
- Speaker: 2 x 40 mm full range +40 x 83 mm passive bass radiator
- Output Power: 13W
- Charging time: 3 hours
- Play time: Up to 11 hours
- Other: IP7X waterproof (up to 1-meter dive, up to half an hour), speakerphone, multi-device pairing, AAC, SBC, Siri / Google Voice control
- Dimensions: 187 x 63 x 65 mm
- Weight: 541 g
- Price: ~ 150 $
Waterproofing is achieved with extra meshes and seals, so I was worried about the sound? It is still very good, with surprisingly good bass. Only sometimes the treble will be a little sharp, but it depends on what kind of music you listen to. The reproduction of the vocals is OK.
- A COMPACT, PORTABLE SPEAKER THAT TRULY DELIVERS – Whether you are...
- ALL-WEATHER SPEAKERS MADE FOR LONG-TERM USE – Protected by caps and...
- BUILT-IN BLUETOOTH WITH SEAMLESS DEVICE PAIRING – The Envaya series come...
- SMART DESIGN WITH MINIMALISTIC TOUCH SENSITIVE BUTTONS – On the side are...
- ENVAYA LINK FOR PAIRING AS A STEREO SET – For a stereo sound effect, use...
For summer parties at the cottage, with the pop/dance music Denon Envaya Mini is a very good choice in the class of around 150 $, with excellent equipment and very good sound quality.
5. JLB Extreme Review
Big, expensive and – good, very good. Obviously, I like the sound of a JBL speaker because Extreme is my best buy in high class. Why? Do you see the neighbor’s house in the photo above, to the right of the speakers? JBL Extreme is heard all the way to this house …
JBL Extreme Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2
- Speaker: 2x 35 mm + 2x 63 mm
- Output power: 20 W + 20 W
- Charging time: 4.5 hours
- Play time: up to 15 hours (10000 mAh battery)
- Other: splash resistance, speakerphone, multi-device pairing
- Dimensions: 283 x 126 x 122 mm
- Weight: 2112 g
- Price: ~ 180 $
Who else needs a mini line, which, after all, has less bass than this? JBL Extreme is a really great speaker. It’s very loud, has a lot of basses, and can drive a real outdoor party.
- Hear the bass, feel the bass, see the bass. Dual external passive radiators...
- Splashproof means no more worrying about rain or spills; you can even clean...
- Take Crystal clear calls from your speaker with the touch of a button...
- Built-in rechargeable li-ion battery supports up to 15 hours of playtime...
- Wirelessly connect up to 3 Smartphones or Tablets to the speaker and take...
This is already a class where you have to be considerate of your neighbors, even if you are in a cottage. Short and clear: If JBL Extreme existed at the time I purchased my B&W T7, I’d prefer JBL. It has more bass and is louder, while the B&W T7 is slightly better with vocals.
6. Vmoda Remix Review
High Italian fashion in Bluetooth speakers has a unique feature: a built-in headphone amplifier, capacitive enough to drive even the more demanding HiFi headphones. On the other hand, the price of a Vmoda Remix speaker is moderate. Does that feel on the sound?
Vmoda Remix Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: V4.1, A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2
- Speaker: 2x 38 mm + passive woofer
- Output Power: 9 W x 2
- Charging time: 3 hours
- Play time: up to 10 hours (3400 mAh battery)
- Other: 83 mW x 2 headphone amplifier, 12.8 Ohm impedance
- Dimensions: 205 x 65 x 68 mm
- Weight: 710 g
- Price: ~ 200 $
- 40+ Editors’ Choice Award-Winning V-MODA Sound delivered by Glass Fiber...
- Bluetooth range of 33 feet (10 meters), up to 10+ Hours of Continuous...
- Built-In VAMP Headphone Amplifier to Drive your Headphones and Built-In Mic...
- Audio Cable Included for Analog Mode and Daisy Chain Feature; Compatible...
- Speaker sensitivity - 79 dB ± @ 3dB @1kHz. Microphone sensitivity...
The sound is good, but it has less bass than the competition while still offering a better mid to high range. It may go out loud, but again, there are better ones in this price range.
8. Dynaudio Music 1 Review
This is more of a multiroom speaker than a small portable Bluetooth, but it covers the high end well. And yes, this is a full-fledged Bluetooth speaker, with a built-in battery that doesn’t cost as much as with some other multiroom speakers. There is also WiFi and the ability to stream music from Tidal. But it won’t fit in your pocket…
Dynaudio Music 1 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: v4.1 + WiFi
- Speaker: 2.54 cm tweeter + 10 cm woofer
- Output power: not declared
- Charging time: 3 hours
- Play time: Up to 8 hours
- Other: DSP processor, Tidal streaming
- Dimensions: 220 x 229 x 142 mm
- Weight: 1620 g
- Price: ~ 350 $
As expected, the sound is very good and can be very loud, both at the same time. There’s enough bass here, but it’s not as prevalent as with JBL, for example, so the choice comes down to your taste and the type of music you’re listening to.
- The compact portable intelligent wireless music system that automatically...
- Music 1 contains a 1in soft-dome tweeter and a 4in woofer plus a built-in...
- The system uses cutting-edge digital processing to sense where it's been...
- 8 hour battery life
- The Music Now feature knows what you love and plays it at the touch of a...
Although Dynaudio is more balanced, especially when playing vocals, I prefer JBL’s sound. If you are buying a speaker in this class, you should listen to it yourself.
9. Bowers & Wilkins T7 Review
Old acquaintance – I’ve been listening to Bowers & Wilkins T7 for three years, and I’m very pleased. This speaker tends to HiFi sound, without the bass being emphasized. It’s best for watching movies thanks to the brilliantly played vocals.
B&W T7 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: v4.1 sptX, AAC, SBC
- Speaker: 2x 50 mm + 2x passive woofer
- Output Power: 26W
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Playing time: Up to 18 hours
- Other: DSP processor, Class D amplifier
- Dimensions: 210 x 114 x 54 mm
- Weight: 940 g
- Price: ~ 450 $
If you’re looking for a HiFi speaker, this model should be on your list for under 500 $. It can go quite loud without distortion and with enough bass, where it is still outpaced by JBL.
- PORTABLE HI-FI AUDIO - T7 is a hifi speaker you can pick up and play...
- HI-RES BLUETOOTH TRANSFER - With T7, you can stream audio directly from any...
- TWIN BASS RADIATORS - Designed for the optimum balance of movement and...
- Power supply voltage: 100-240Vac, 50/60Hz,1.0 Amps(power supply),output:...
- 2 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY - Bowers & Wilkins' T7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker...
But the Bowers & Wilkins T7 has a finer sound overall. Choosing music will decide which speaker is better for you …
10. Dynaudio Music 3 Review
Look at this monster – this is already king size. Fun fact, Dynaudio also has larger models of the Music series :-). But like the smaller Music 1, Music 3 is, among other things, a true straight-line Bluetooth speaker, with a built-in battery.
Dynaudio Music 3 Specifications and Price
- Bluetooth version: v4.1 + WiFi
- Speaker: 2x 2.54 cm tweeter + 12.7 cm woofer
- Output Power: 3x 40W
- Charging time: 4 hours
- Play time: Up to 8 hours
- Other: DSP processor, Tidal streaming
- Dimensions: 220 x 405 x 174 mm
- Weight: 3700 g
- Price: ~ 500 $
Large by dimensions, Dynaudio Music 3 lets you stream music from any service, and the Music Now button/technology plays music to your liking at the touch of a button. To me, this is really cool, just like optimizing sound in relation to space and environmental noise.
- Dynaudio Music 3 Intelligent Wireless Music System has two 1in soft-dome...
- The intelligent portable wireless music system that automatically adapts to...
- Music 3 has two 1in soft-dome tweeters and a 5in woofer. Like the Music 1...
- Cutting edge digital processing senses where the speaker is placed to...
- Connect it to your phone your CD player your TV… listen however you want
Quite expectedly, Dynaudio Music 3 has the best sound of all devices tested. This is a very good solution if you want a quality multiroom setup in the home and portable for a cottage or barbecue outdoors. Price is in line with capabilities, pedigree, and quality – high…
