BEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS OF 2016
Bluetooth speakers have improved in leaps and bounds in the past few years, transforming from tinny-sounding boxes that were only slightly better than your phone’s built-in speaker to something people actually enjoy listening to. While it might seem that the dust has settled and the clear winners have emerged, there are so many good options out there that picking the best Bluetooth speaker can be frustrating. Luckily, we’re here to help.
While the picks here are among our favorites, it’s worth keeping in mind that everyone’s ears are different, and the best way to pick the best speaker for you is to actually listen to a few and see what you like best.
You might also like: Best bluetooth speakers under $50 | under $100
This year, we’ve decided to offer one pick for a specific use case, so why not start with a speaker that does a little bit of everything?
Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2
by Creative – ($168.98) Amazon.com
The original Creative Sound Blaster Roar came out of nowhere, offering 10 times the features we’d seen on any other speaker at a surprisingly low price. As a bonus, it also happened to sound really good, especially for the price. Thus, we weren’t all that surprised when the company announced a sequel.
While it actually dropped a few features from the original (who really used the alarm button anyway?), as a whole, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 is even better than its predecessor. In general it looks better, is smaller and lighter, and sounds even better than the older model.
Looking at features, the Roar 2 has NFC and all the other standard Bluetooth speaker features, plus it can charge your mobile devices and can be charged either by USB or AC power for faster charging. In terms of more unique features, it can act as an external sound card for your computer, play music off of an SD card, and even has a built-in voice recorder.
Not everybody needs a Bluetooth speaker with so many features, but considering it can be found for less than $200 online, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 is also one of the more affordable products on our list. For the full story, see our review.
Bose SoundLink Mini 2
by BOSE – ($199.00) Amazon.com
What if you’re looking for something more minimalist in style, but don’t want to sacrifice sound quality? Enter the SoundLink Mini 2. Yes, it’s another sequel (and it isn’t the last you’ll see on this list), but again, it’s better than the original in nearly every way.
The first time you see the SoundLink Mini 2, you may think you’re simply looking at the original, but this isn’t the only Bose product that has done that. On the other hand, this is actually available in two different colors, unlike the single option found in the original.
While the build is the same and the sound is more polished than completely overhauled, the guts have evolved. Battery life has been improved — up to 10 hours from 7 in the original — and the speaker can now be charged via micro USB in addition to the included charging cable.
We wish that Bose has added stereo pairing, but otherwise, this is a fine update of a speaker that was already very good. If you’re looking for a speaker that just works and is portable to boot, this is one of your better options. See our full review for more details.
JBL Flip 3
by JBL – ($99.50) Amazon.com
![JBL Flip 3[4]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_utR7WbTDgHbe5odAhH8yMif7_mmRGIKtwOaUgzjqIbymoNxPleru5GhHUhwiy0ezvjEpBOTe5WVfvNMIJXfsAGhUtKv9gzyAV8i9hTG149ZaV7v0fjXT7f29339DUWZ6l4V4Bj4mkRlYL8Lmxv2mg=s0-d)
If the SoundLink Mini 2 sounds good but you’re not sure you want to spend that much, the JBL Flip 3 might be up your alley. At half the price, it may not sound quite as big as the SoundLink Mini 2, but hey, at least you can fit it in your pocket.
The Flip 3 is the third sequel in a row on this list, and like the others, it takes an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach. We were big fans of the older Flip 2, and the Flip 3 improves on it in every way.
![JBL Flip 3[5]](http://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JBL-Flip-35.jpg)
![JBL Flip 3[2]](http://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JBL-Flip-32.jpg)
![JBL Flip 3[1]](http://www.soundguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/JBL-Flip-31.jpg)
Battery life has been increased to 10 hours, nearly double the just over 5 hours we got in the Flip 2. Bass is better than it has any right to be in a speaker this size, mids are slightly forward but don’t go nuts, and while the highs can get harsh when you push the volume all the way up, they’re fine through most of the volume range.
During our testing we got almost 50 feet of range, and now that the Flip 3 is splashproof, that makes it a good companion for the beach or a picnic. For a more in-depth look, see our review.
CB3 Ultra Slim
by CB3 Audio – ($49.99) Amazon.com
While the speakers on this list have been on the less expensive side, we still haven’t featured any for less than $50.
Unless you’ve already seen it our post on the best Bluetooth speakers for under $50, you’ve probably never heard of this one. There’s a reason for that: not only is it a brand new speaker, but it’s from a brand new company.
As the name implies, the Ultra Slim is, well, it’s pretty slim. Measuring 8.5 x 4 x 1.8 inches, the speaker is meant to be able to pick up and go any time, anywhere. It’s also meant to survive that trip, with an aluminum unibody design and sturdy buttons. You can’t expect a speaker this size to pump out a massive amount of bass, but the dual drivers do as good a job as we’ve been able to find in this size and price range.
The CB3 Ultra Slim is designed to fit nicely along side the MacBook or ultrabook of your choice, but it doesn’t weigh anywhere near as much on your wallet at $49. Available in 3 crisp colors: Silver, Gunmetal Gray and Champagne Gold.
Full disclosure: CB3 Audio is a partner of Sound Guys.
Fugoo Sport XL
by Fugoo – ($278.99) Amazon.com
The speakers we’ve looked at might be fine if you’re looking for something to set a safe distance from the pool, but what if you’re looking for something to bring in the pool with you? Fugoo’s speakers are a great choice, but since the company released a new bigger sibling to the original this year, that’s what we’re focusing on for this list.
Last year we reviewed the original Fugoo speaker (the Style model, to be specific) and loved it. While most “rugged” speakers sacrifice sound quality for durability, Fugoo’s speakers break this rule, offering great sound in a seriously tough package.
The Fugoo Sport XL (the model we reviewed) is IP67 weatherproof, and can withstand being submerged in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. For more realistic uses, it floats, so don’t worry if it gets kicked into the pool. If you’re planning a long day at the beach, the XL model features 35 hours of play time, while the original Fugoo boasts up to 40.
There is plenty of competition here among speakers released recently. The JBL Extreme is another great entry from that company, and the UE MEGABOOM is also tough, though we prefer the sound of the Fugoo XL. Not sure which is for you? Check out our reviews.
While we haven’t covered every possible price range or use case here, these picks represent what we feel are some of the best all-around options. If you’re looking for something that we haven’t covered here, whether it’s more expensive, more rugged, or just plain different, we’ve reviewed a lot of products, so you’ll probably find what you’re looking for.
What do you think of our picks? What do you think is the best Bluetooth speaker out there?
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Best, Bluetooth Speakers, Speakers
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