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Performance: Performance does not end at sound quality, rather it starts with it and ends at other minute details, but sound quality is one trait that trumps all. Other than sound quality you also need to check the portability features, battery life, design and range of connectivity options. All of these features need to perform at their best to make sure you are able to enjoy listening to our favorite music every time you turn the button on.
Portability: Almost all of the mini/small speakers run on a rechargeable battery which allows them to be extremely portable. Another great feature that makes them extremely portable is their size. Once fully charged you can take them anywhere you want and enjoy blistering sound for countless hours.
Connectivity: The third and most important factor to look for while purchasing smaller sized speakers is their ability to connect easily with a number of sound sources. Depending on your choice, you can go with a wired one or buy a wireless speaker equipped with the latest Bluetooth technology so you are able to pair it with any of your smart devices.
Audio Quality: Sound quality is of paramount importance, as the smaller size of these speakers allows for limited hardware to be placed inside them. Big bass, clear lows and highs are often linked with the bigger sized speakers, but if you look hard you may be able to enjoy the same or better in smaller sized speakers.
Durability: Because of the portability factor, you need to make sure that the smaller sized speaker you put your hand on is durable enough to be carried out any where you like without the fear of breakage. It should also be durable enough to withstand minor shocks, drops, splashes and light weather conditions and keep on running.
Price: Since these speakers are smaller in size, most of us tend to think they will be cheaper, but you need to be mentally prepared if you see a heavy price tag on them. The higher-end models come with a lot of features and are more technologically advanced; therefore they are able to produce much better sound quality and are highly priced.
1. Ultimate Ears BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Review
Besides the stylish and sleek look and a compact design, the Ultimate Ears BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speakers also offer a solid sound performance; all these features make them the best speakers in the small speaker category. You won’t find too many cylindrical shaped speakers in the market which can offer so many features at a reasonable price.
Its unique cylindrical design makes it possible to be placed both vertically and horizontally. If you run out of space you can place it vertically but if you want to give more exposure you can place it horizontally, either way it performs equally well. The Ultimate Ears BOOM wireless Bluetooth speakers come in assorted colors to match your interiors and your personal preferences.
You can buy a Black colored Boom or a red, blue, pink, white and moss green to match your interiors. The external glossy skin can be kept looking like new by washing it with a damp cloth. The Boom is water-resistant, so you can easily take it with you while you take a shower and place it by the pool while you enjoy swimming. You can charge the Boom by using a USB cable supplied in the box, and once fully charged it will keep on rocking the party for the whole night as it offers 15 hours of backup time, which is quite exceptional from a portable Bluetooth speaker of this size. Hidden behind the fancy fabric covering are two 1.5” full-range drivers and two 2” radiators that offer blistering sound at all volume levels.
The Boom also offers a 50 ft Bluetooth wireless range, so you can connect it easily with any of your smart devices like your smart phone, iPod, MP3 or MP4 player or even your computer. This Bluetooth wireless technology also gives you the freedom to use your Boom for receiving calls from where you are standing, sitting or dancing. The Boom is also equipped with the UE Boom App, which allows you to connect two Booms at one time to enjoy very good sound quality. This application can also be used to convert your Boom into an alarm clock.
2. Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker Review
If you are looking for the best small speakers that can offer you the right bass, vibrant highs and lows, you simply cannot neglect the Bose speakers. The particular Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speakers offer you a full-bodied sound crammed into a small form-factor.
Four things summarize a Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker, which are booming sound, affordability, fun and curvy design and awesome battery life. Compared to the other mini speakers in its class, the Bose Mini are a bit larger in size and this is the reason they are heavier in sound and bass. The back of the Mini is similar to the front in physical appearance as it also features a grille but it is of much smaller size. On the right end corner at the back, you will be able to find an auxiliary port to hook them up with a sound source through the wire; you will also be able to find a micro USB port for charging the Mini.
All the control buttons are located on the top of the Mini in a rubberized panel. A power button to turn it ON/OFF, a LED battery indicator, a Bluetooth pairing button, and a switch for auxiliary mode. The Play, Pause, Rewind and Forward buttons are also located on the top of the Mini. In a net shell, we can say that the colorful Mini makes for a sleek, playful addition to any entertainment center or any other surroundings you put it. As far as the performance and sound quality is concerned, the Mini offers a pounding bass and the mids and highs also get the desired exposure.
If you are looking for a mix of sound performance and excellent batter backup timing, the Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker is by far the best choice. If you are fan of listening to great music pumping through some beautiful pipes and NFC, charging over USB and conference calling are not your priorities, this is the best small speaker that can serve your purpose.
3. JBL Charge Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Review
The JBL Charge Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker is a modified and enhance version of the JBL Flip. Just like Flip the Charge can easily fill any room with its concise and detailed sound signature quality. When you go for the Charge, you go for the better battery life, more durable plastic shell and better sound quality than the Flip.
The vivid colors and rugged plastic coating gives the Charge a sporty look. You will be able to find the Charge in green, black as well as in neon-blue color schemes; all of these colors are extremely pleasing to the eyes and give the Charge a nice sporty aesthetic. The JBL Charge Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker comes with dual strip rubber padding at the base which helps to keep it steady when placed vertically. The flatter rims in design allow the Charge to be place horizontally, which allows for a more convenient and flatter sound. On the right flank of the Charge, you can easily locate a metal speaker screen, which clearly reveals the bass port.
While on the opposite direction, you will be able to find a flap covering the USB port. You can use this USB port to charge your mobile phone or any other smart devices. As far as the top side of the Charge capsule is concerned, you will be able to locate all the functions keys, such as the ON/OFF button, the pairing button, and the Volume toggle button. Hidden behind the front speaker screen, you will be able to find 1.5” drivers, these drivers are of the same exact size and design that were used in the Flip.
These 1.5” drivers are powered by two 5 watt amplifiers and which are capable of delivering a frequency range of 150 Hz – 20 kHz. These drivers are quite capable of delivering excellent audio performance. At full volumes, the Charge can blast out the room and can easily cut through outdoor ambiance. You will be able to enjoy potent details and fluid clarity across a vast majority of musical genres.
4. Creative Sound Blaster Roar: Portable NFC Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Review
The name says it all, if you want to experience a roaring sound from your speaker, the Creative Sound Blaster Roar: Portable NFC Bluetooth Wireless Speakers are for you. Although not very flashy in design, the Roar can offer you bass heavy and refined sound quality. The Roar can be an ideal portable entertainment platform for you, as it is designed to offer well-balance audio that is full of heavy bass and clear highs and lows.
The presence of bi-amplified five driver system and subwoofers promises to deliver a dynamic sound like no other speaker in its class. You can use your Roar to charge your smart phone or other smart devices by using its USB port. The Roar can also pair through NFC, if you have a compatible Android phone. Another great feature about the Creative Sound Blaster Roar: Portable NFC Bluetooth Wireless Speaker is that it can be connected directly with your PC with the USB port and can work as a digital to analog converter. This is the features which is not very common with most of the other smaller speakers. The Roar also comes equipped with a microSD card slot, which allows you to play WMA, WAV, and MP3 files.
This is a nice way to use your Roar mini speaker. Another great way you can use the microSD card is by recording sound, this is what makes a Roar different from the rest in its class. Your Roar Mini can also be used as a microSD card reader when connected with your computer or laptop, which is completely unexpected for a mini speaker within this price range. The Roar comes with a separate Loud Sound Mode button that plays the music at a preset louder setting, so you do not have to adjust the settings every time you want to listen to your favorite music at high volume.
5. Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker Review
If music is what keeps you moving, the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speakers are designed to do so. It will help you keep moving on the beats of your favorite music tracks by paring with any of your Bluetooth devices, like your smart phone, your iPod, your MP3 player, your MP4 player, or your laptop. It is sleek, simple yet very sophisticate and comes in an array of colors to match almost any style.
You will be surprised to hear a full life-like sound coming out from a light weight and compactly designed speaker. With its Voice prompt feature, pairing with your other Bluetooth devices is easier than ever before. The Li-ion battery can play the music for up to 8 hours without needing to be recharged again. The built-in memory makes SoundLink remembers the last eight devices that you paired with it and you will be able to connect two devices at a given time, which is more than any other speaker of such a small size can offer you.
The body of the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker is constructed with an extremely durable material and the round edged compact shape makes it fit easily into your pocket or in your bag or backpack. As with any other Bose products, the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker uses proprietary technologies and comes with a sleek and unique design to produce well balanced and dynamic sound across all genre of music.
6. SHARKK Bluetooth 4.0 BoomBox Review
Your search for the best portable and smaller sized technologically advanced speakers is not complete without the SHARKK Bluetooth 4.0 BoomBox speaker in your list. The first thing you will notice about this small speaker as you take it out of the box is its weight. You will notice that it is a bit heavier than its size. In the box you will also find a USB power adapter, an AUX cable, a micro USB cable and a travel pouch.
A 2500 mAh rechargeable battery is hidden inside the speaker body, which when fully charged can provide a backup of more than 10 hours. The SHARKK is also equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC technology, and because of the presence of an integrated microphone, you can use it to receive calls. The SHARKK comes with 2.3×7.4×2.7 speakers that are quite capable of filling any room with the right sound even at an incredible volume. Although very simple in design, the SHARKK is the best in its class when it comes to sound quality.