5 portable Bluetooth speakers to consider

With warmer weather upon us, it’s time to take the music outside, and there’s no better way than with a portable Bluetooth speaker.

There’s a lot to choose from — searching on Amazon showed me more than 4,000 results — and a lot to consider, like cost, size, battery life and durability, in addition to sound quality. Make sure to check a speaker’s IP rating, which conveys its hardiness in wet, dirty or dusty environments.

Here are five Bluetooth speakers to consider.

Beyerdynamic Space

$180, north-america.beyerdynamic.com

The Beyerdynamic Space wireless Bluetooth speakerphone is an all-in-one solution.

Inside the rounded body (available in three colors) is a full-range speaker with two passive radiators for the full-range sound for music or calls.

Four Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems microphones are spaced evenly around for up to six participants. The incoming sound will be detected as a voice or unwanted background noise elevated by the microphones. The microphones automatically adjust the volume of the participants’ voices for equal levels.

For music, the Space is distortion-free at all volume levels. True to its name, it’s a space-saving desktop device, perfect for switching between music and calls.

The battery is rated to last for up to 20 hours, and the battery percentage is broadcast at the startup. Two Spaces can be paired for stereo sound. The Beyerdynamic Space is certified for Zoom and compatible with Microsoft Teams.

Monster Blaster 3.0

$350, monsterforever.com

This beast of a portable speaker has a built-in matte silicone ergonomic handle, likening this speaker to a modern-day boombox, and 120 watts (one 60-watt subwoofer and four 15-watt full-range drivers).

The sound from the triangular-shaped speaker is room-filling, easily the life of the party or poolside, and it’s rated IPX5 to withstand splashes. A 5,200 mAh battery keeps it playing for up to 12 hours. There’s also a USB-A port for charging devices, a 3.5mm auxiliary input and a 3.5mm mic input. Control the speaker via the side push-button controls.

The Blaster 3.0 has exterior steel mesh and industrial-grade rustproof paint that comes in black, white or red.

Tronsmart Bang

$110, tronsmart.com

This Bluetooth speaker has 60 watts of power spread between dual tweeters and woofers, on a 10,800 mAh battery, suitable for 15 hours of playtime.

With Tronsmart’s patented SoundPulse technology, powerful and loud sound is produced with clear quality at all volumes. It has an IPX6 rating, meaning it will survive being hit with high-pressure water jets, so getting caught in a downpour will be OK.

The Bang is party-ready with built-in LEDs that pulse with the beat of a song. With more than one Bang speaker, you can easily sync them for the ultimate sound experience.

The speaker has a built-in power bank under a waterproof flap. Controls include access to voice assistants.

Marshall Emberton

$170, marshallheadphones.com

There’s so much to like about the handheld, retro-styled Marshall Emberton Bluetooth speaker. It packs a punch with 360-degree sound, great looks and waterproof features.

Inside the mesh-grilled handheld speaker (available in four colors) is a pair of 2-inch, 10-watt drivers, driven by a class-D amplifier to produce Marshall’s True Stereophonic Sound.

The Emberton has an IPX7 water-resistance rating of up to 3 feet deep.

A multidirectional control knob is on top, and the battery indicator shows how much power is left. It’s rated to play for about 20 hours. Consider it perfect for daily music use or for travel.

Monoprice Harmony Capsule 200

$70, monoprice.com

This reasonably priced Bluetooth speaker pumps out 30 watts of total amplifier power-driven from a pair of 52 mm speaker drivers and one 66 mm speaker driver. Passive radiators on both ends push out a nice amount of bass.

The internal 2200 mAh rechargeable Lithium‑ion battery will last for up to 10 hours of playback. With Qualcomm TWS inside, you can purchase and pair it with another Capsule 200 for stereo sound.

In between the black grills are the controls, charging port and battery indicator. An aux-in port and microSD memory card slot are covered by a waterproof flap. The built-in microphone allows for hands-free calls and access to voice assistants.

The IPX7-rated capsule speaker plays sideways or standing upright, with feet to keep it stable.