Extra Bluetooth Speaker Features
- Water resistance - the listed IP/IPX rating tells you how water-resistant the particular speaker is. You can find the definition of individual IP/IPX standards in our Glossary.
- Power bank - the built-in battery of the Bluetooth speaker not only powers the speaker itself, but it can also charge any mobile phone or tablet you connect to it via USB.
- Dual pairing (Party, Share, etc. functions) - the speaker can be paired with two audio sources simultaneously and you can switch between them instantly (the speaker will only play from one source at a time, however).
- Pairing memory (device) - the speaker remembers the last few devices you paired it with it, which makes subsequent pairing considerably faster.
- Microphone - for hands-free and conference calls.
- Radio - listen to your favourite radio stations directly without having to connect a mobile phone or tablet.
- Standalone subwoofer - can squeeze out strong bass even from the relatively compact BT speaker body.
- Equalizer/bass boost - allows you to adjust audio reproduction to match the music genre or boost bass reproduction when needed.
- Lighting - multicoloured lighting effects can in some cases even pulse to the beat.
Some manufacturers include a durable speaker case or sell them separately.
Bluetooth Speaker Performance
For Bluetooth speakers, the number of Watts specifies only the power of the built-in amplifier (the maximum volume is listed in decibels (dB)). In addition, many manufacturers measure amplifier performance under different conditions, so 20W RMS can often be better than 200W PMPO. Instead of just comparing the biggest performance numbers, it is advisable to also look at the size of the speaker, the driver membranes, and how much the speaker even weighs. The grouping below should therefore be used as a reference only.
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Up to 10W - extra compact Bluetooth speakers; due to their small size, you shouldn’t expect them to amaze you with deep bass.
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11 to 40W - BT speakers starting with about 20W RMS offer rich audio with a wide frequency range. If you are not an outright audiophile, you should find them wholly satisfactory.
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Over 40W - can provide music for a whole party and boast strong and deep bass.
BT Speaker Connectivity
- Bluetooth - Bluetooth ensures a hassle-free connection from a distance of up to 10m.
- NFC - if your phone/tablet and BT speaker have NFC support, you can pair them by simply bringing the phone/tablet near the NFC tag on the speaker.
- Line input/AUX (3.5mm jack) - allows you to connect wired headphones or another speaker if you want to daisy-chain them for extra volume (must be supported by the speaker).
- USB - almost all Bluetooth speakers use it to charge the built-in battery. Some speakers can also charge a connected phone or tablet via USB (power bank function).
- Headphone output (3.5mm jack) - allows you to connect wired headphones or another speaker if you want to daisy-chain them for extra volume (must be supported by the speaker).
- Card slot (SD/microSD) - play music from a Secure Digital memory card, usually in MP3 or WMA format.
