The tall cylinder shape of the Megaboom 3 is a bit more traditional than the squat globule of the Wonderboom 2. The Megaboom 3 is still a bit too large to
fit into a cup holder or into the bottle pocket of most backpacks, but we’ve found it’s pretty easy to stuff into any main compartment or tote. And just like the Wonderboom 2, the Megaboom 3 is completely enclosed and waterproof. The most fun feature of the Megaboom 3 though, is "PartyUp," which allows you to sync your speaker with anyone else’s Megaboom or Boom speakers and play the same thing through all of them at once. The only downside of this feature is that it was not, in fact, developed in collaboration with DMX.
JBL Charge 4: A Big Speaker for Solo Listening
If you want something with the power of the Megaboom 3, but don’t really entertain much, the JBL Charge 4 might be a speaker to your liking. It has a slightly bigger bass response, but we found its overall sound to be a little underwhelming. And, where the Megaboom projects sound in every direction, you only hear the Charge 4 at its most clear when you’re right in front of it. If you’re just planning to bump your tunes from the comfort of your couch, that’s fine—but this is not a party speaker, by any means.
We liked the JBL Charge 4’s bass response, which is a bit more full than that on the Megaboom. We also didn’t hear any sibilance in the high end that would make listening to the speaker over a long period of time unpleasant. But we found that anything in the mid-range, like male vocals and most instruments, sounded just a little dull—especially when compared to the same ones played from the Megaboom.
If you do choose the Charge 4, you’ll get a lot of the same functionality as the Megaboom. It's also certified to be waterproof even if fully immersed. JBL also supports JBL Connect+, which allows you to pair the speakers with other JBL speakers you or your friends bring to a party. And, as you might have guessed from the name, the speaker has a USB output that allows it to charge your smartphone, which can come in handy in a pinch.
Beoplay P6: The Best Speaker for Aesthetes
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay P6 Bluetooth Speaker
This sleek speaker is available in black, chestnut, and natural (pictured).
Most Bluetooth speakers have little to offer aesthetically. You’re basically stuck with a bunch of differently colored tubes or boxes. Speakers from Bang and Olufesen are still more or less boxes, but they feature a lot of lovely design touches that make them look as much like art as any wonderful track you’re playing sounds. The Beoplay P6 is a perfect example of it. A quick sketch of it would reveal nothing more than a slightly wonky rectangle, but the beauty is in the details. The aluminum finish sparkles slightly when hit by light. The handle is a loop of soft-leather. The edges are curved off avoiding any aggressive angles. Thankfully, it also offers powerful sound.
While you’re not buying the Beoplay P6 for its audio quality, you can rest assured that it’s still really good. Anything in the lower end sounds full, without being echo-y or muddy. And anything in the middle and treble range sounds clean and crisp, without being too bright. That’ll ensure the thumping, slightly distorted pulse of EDM playlists sound just as good in your bedroom as they would from the crowd at Coachella. Honestly, better.
The Beoplay does come with some caveats. It’s a bit less powerful than you might expect for a Bluetooth speaker at its price. It’s certainly loud enough to underscore a dinner party with a few friends, but I wouldn’t expect it to rise over the din of a house party. It’s also not water- or dust-proof at all, which makes it fairly impractical for a lot of day-to-day use. But you don’t get a Ferrari for its gas mileage, do you?
Urbanears Rålis: A Good-Looking Alternative
Urbanears Rålis Bluetooth Speaker
The Rålis is available in red, slate blue, and black.
If you want something that’s a bit more practical than the Beoplay P6, but still has its refined look, consider the Urbanears Rålis. Like the P6, the Rålis sounds excellent across the frequency spectrum. Regardless of whether your listening consists of bass-heavy hip hop and pop, or more delicate classical and folk, it’ll sound great coming out of the grill of the Rålis. Plus, it’s cubic design and bright colorways make it look stolen off a shelf in the Bauhaus.
Sonos Move: The Best Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Multiroom Wireless Capabilities
Sonos Move Bluetooth Speaker
This indoor/outdoor speaker is available in black or white.
Our favorite portable Bluetooth speaker with multi-room speakers is the Sonos Move. It’s a great-sounding speaker indoors and outdoors, thanks to Sonos’ Auto Trueplay feature, which optimizes sound for the listener’s environment. You’ll notice this immediately when you bring the speaker into an echo-y room. After 30 seconds, you’ll be able to hear the sound profile of the Move actually change in real-time. Regardless of where you are, the sound is lively and has a really resonant bass.