The best 10 portable speakers in comparison

Almost everybody gets disappointed with the built-in speakers on their smartphones, tablets, and pretty much any gadget they buy, and rightfully so. Manufacturers have to include minuscule speaker drivers on these devices because there's not enough space for a great sounding and bass-pounding driver. If carrying another device isn't too much of a hassle for you, then there's a simple solution to this problem: portable speakers.

A portable speaker connects to your device with a wire (AUX or USB) or wirelessly (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). It has a much better sound quality than a smartphone, thanks to its bigger and better sounding speaker drivers. Suddenly, watching movies or listening to your favorite songs on-the-go becomes a much more enticing idea.

With lots of portable speakers to choose from, as well as a wide array of features and differences in specifications, buying the right one isn't entirely straightforward. So before you decide, check out the most important specs and features to make sure you get the best portable speaker for your budget.

Connectivity

Even though most portable speakers use Bluetooth as the primary way to connect to your gadget, some manufacturers add more connectivity options to give you more flexibility. In contrast, others do away with Bluetooth entirely in favor of other connectivity options. The types of connectivity options available are:

Wireless

• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi (WLAN)

Wired

• AUX (3.5 mm jack)
• USB
• Ethernet

To make pairing easier, some models also support Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC makes it possible to pair the speaker with a gadget by simply hovering the device near the speaker.

Aside from pairing with a mobile device, some speakers can decode digital audio files from a storage drive, essentially acting as a standalone media player with respectable speaker drivers. Speakers of this type have either USB ports or micro-SD slots, although some speakers offer both storage options and even add the option of accessing cloud storage.

Portability: dimensions and weight

Considering that a portable speaker would just be thrown in your bag whenever you decide to take it with you, the smaller the size of the speaker, the easier it is carrying it around. But, of course, a voluminous speaker also has larger drivers, which means a louder sound and deeper bass. You should take into account the dimensions and weight, and make sure that you're satisfied with how good it sounds for its miniature size. There are also different form factors. Most speakers would come in the form of a cuboid, but some are cylindrical, semi-spherical, or round.

Audio power

There are three possible ways of powering a portable speaker. Some speakers rely on the device they are paired with, while others have their own power source.

Passive speaker systems

A passive speaker system uses the amplifier of the connected gadget. Such speakers connect to the device via the 3.5mm headphone jack, relying on the amplifying power of the source. Speakers of this kind are smaller and less powerful, and also shorten the battery life of the source. However, they are usually the most portable because of their reduced size and weight.

Active speaker systems

Active speakers have an integrated amplifier and get power from an electrical outlet. This, of course, is a huge drawback when it comes to portability. Still, there are many advantages: active speakers are usually very loud, offering potent sound.

Battery-equipped speakers

With battery-powered speakers, you don't have to worry about finding an outlet or making sure that the device you pair with your speaker has enough battery. Speakers with batteries don't use power from the source, which implies a longer battery life for your mobile device. On the other hand, battery-equipped speakers tend to be heavier and more voluminous because the cabinet has to accommodate the battery. Most battery-equipped speakers have rechargeable batteries.

Drivers

A driver is a cone-shaped transducer, usually at the front or sides of a speaker system, protected by a mesh. The driver is the part of the speaker that produces vibrations, converting the electrical energy sent by the source to sound energy. In a nutshell, the drivers determine how good the speaker will sound.

A driver consists of a diaphragm, voice coil, and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet could be a ferrite magnet or a neodymium magnet. The latter is superior in that it could be much lighter than the former while having the same amount of magnetic force.

A portable speaker system usually consists of one to four drivers, but there can be more. If the speaker consists of more than one driver, the drivers typically differ from each other. There are three different kinds of speaker drivers:

Tweeters

A tweeter produces sounds in the higher end of the audio frequency range. It is the smallest type of driver, as its diaphragm size determines the frequency: the diaphragm has to vibrate faster to create high-frequency sounds.

Mid-range drivers

Mid-range drivers produce sounds in the middle part of the audio frequency range.

Subwoofers

A subwoofer produces sounds in the lower end of the audio frequency range. Subwoofers have wide diaphragms and ample sizes.

Manufacturers combine these drivers in one speaker system to offer a wide frequency range. The lowest frequency, about which you can read more here, is the lowest (bass) sound a speaker driver can produce. The highest frequency, explained in detail here, is the highest sound (treble) the driver can attain.

An average human can hear sound vibrations from a minimum of 20 Hz to a maximum of 20,000 Hz. While they can't be heard, sounds at frequencies below 20 Hz can still be felt due to the vibrations produced. Speakers capable of producing sounds at more than 20,000 Hz excel in delivering audible high notes.

A stereo speaker system can have two or more types of speaker drivers. A stereo speaker uses two channels of audio, left and right, to create a multi-directional sound effect. This technique is particularly beneficial when watching movies or playing games.

Some speakers also have passive radiators in addition to the active drivers. A passive radiator looks a lot like a regular driver from the outside, but it doesn't have the necessary internal workings to produce sounds, such as the voice coil and the magnet. The purpose of a passive radiator is to increase the low-frequency response of a speaker while retaining the same driver.

Aside from the frequency range, it is also equally important to look at the audio output power of the drivers. The output power is calculated by adding up all the maximum output wattages of each driver. A speaker with a higher total power output can produce sounds at higher volume levels without too much distortion. Even though you don't usually listen to music at loud volumes, speakers with high power output could theoretically sound better in normal listening volume levels, thanks to their high resistance to distortions due to volume levels.

Other features

For added convenience, some speakers include additional features, such as a built-in control panel, a remote control, an app for your mobile device, or a combination of these. Bluetooth speakers may also have voice commands, a built-in radio, a microphone for taking calls, and other features. If you plan on using your portable speaker outside, it is crucial to check if it's water-resistant or even waterproof.