Whether you are listening to music or watching movies, speakers help you to get that great sound and feel like you are in the music. Better still, Bluetooth speakers are easy to connect to your device, may it be your phone, tablet or laptop without using cables or headphones.
Buying Bluetooth speakers can be a bit tricky considering the many options on the market that vary in performance, design, and quality. Therefore, when buying, determine your budget, the specifications you require and where you intend to use it.
Here are a few pointers you should consider.
- Quality of audio
The main reason you need speakers is so that you can have the best sound. The easiest way to know the quality of sound is to listen. While this may not always be possible, you can look at specifications. Frequencies are what differentiates the sound of one speaker from the other.
Frequency figures range between 100 Hz and 20 kHz. The lower the frequency the better since it indicates the level of bass expected.
If you’re interested in the more technical side of it, frequency response is a great topic to study, as there are frequency response measurements for speakers available that can clearly show you just how good speakers can be.
- Audio power
Audio power is indicated in watts. The more watts, the more the audio power. Ten watts is considered loud. Therefore, if you need a Bluetooth speaker to use in a large room, you will need more audio power.
- Bluetooth version
A Bluetooth speaker uses Bluetooth to transmit sound from the playing device to the speaker. Look for speakers with Bluetooth version 2.1 or higher. Later versions are Bluetooth 4.0 and 5.
- Ability to Connect Multiple Speakers
Assume that you are holding a beach party and you want more and louder sound or that you have a big room. Wouldn’t it be better if you had many speakers playing at the same time?
Some types of Bluetooth speakers such as the JBL Charge 4 allow for pairing such that you can pair up to 100 of them. You may not need 100 but you can pair 2 speakers in stereo mode to get a better audio experience. To know more about it, check the JBL Charge 4 review.
- Speakerphone
A Bluetooth speaker with speakerphone capabilities allows you to take calls when you are using your phone as the source of music. Although it is not a must-have feature, you should consider it depending on your needs.
- Battery Life
Most Bluetooth speakers have chargeable inbuilt batteries. A good Bluetooth speaker should have a powerful battery that lasts. Some can go up to 24 hours although smaller speakers may have smaller batteries that may not last that long. When buying, check the average battery life to see if it meets your needs.
- Weatherproof
Do you want to go with your Bluetooth speaker near water or camping? Then you should get a weatherproof speaker. Some speakers are water-resistant and you can place them near the beach or pool.
If you are an outdoors person, you will need a speaker that can withstand dust, water, and fall so make sure you check for shock, water, and dust resistance.
- Built-In USB Port
Did you know you can recharge your smart device using a Bluetooth speaker that has a built-in USB port? This is an essential feature if you are going outdoors for long durations such as camping or long flights.
