5 of the best sub-£200 Bluetooth speakers
Which one will be your new cool thing?
5 of the best sub-£200 Bluetooth speakers
On the lookout for a new portable speaker to keep you company this summer? Well look no further, because we’ve found five of the best you can buy, all for under £200.
1. Fender Newport (£190)
Made to look and act like a mini guitar amp, every second of using this tiny slice of rock ‘n’ roll is delightful. Flick the switch to turn it on and you’re met with the rich roar of an electric guitar; put it into Bluetooth pairing mode and a different riff plays. It even has witch-hat knobs on top for volume bass and treble. The Newport’s sound is impressively dynamic, though it can slip into distortion when pushed hard. With 12-hour battery life and aptX Bluetooth for CD-quality streaming, it’ll find a place in any wannabe rockstar’s home. Stuff says: ★★★★
2. Vifa Reykjavik (£179)
Want a bit of Icelandic style with your sound? Look no further than the Vita Reykjavik. Inspired by the fissured, flowy, foggy landscapes of the island state, this pebble-shaped speaker sounds as good as it looks, no matter where you sit around it. Although it only has a comparatively short battery life of six hours, its sparkling sound more than makes up for that: it can be delicate but isn’t afraid to belt it out when met with a mosh-worthy drum solo. Stuff says: ★★★★
3. Audio Pro Addon T3 (£149)
Music purists, listen up: the Audio Pro Addon T3 is one of the best-sounding portable speakers out there. It might look a little koala-like, and its bulk won’t suit everyone (it’s about the size of a hefty lunchbox), but we can’t fault it for dynamism, drive and sheer potency. The speaker will reach down into the depths of a song’s lower frequencies and bring you earthy, taut basslines with enough punch to turn heads… while vocals hit you with a great sense of space. This is clearly the audiophile’s choice. Stuff says: ★★★★★
4. Denon 50BT Envaya Pocket (£78)
Just because it’s under £100, don’t go thinking that the Envaya Pocket has all the sonic impact of a fly crashing into your bathroom window. With support for aptX Bluetooth, Denon’s ultraportable speaker can carry a tune in style – and speaking of bathrooms, it’ll also survive a splash or five. An IP67 rating means this speaker is dust-resistant and waterproof – able to spend up to 30 minutes in shallow water without fear of drowning its innards. Oh, and if you pair it with an iPhone it’ll talk to Siri. Stuff says: ★★★★
5. Ultimate Ears Roll 2 (£59)
A titchy little flying saucer of a speaker with a clipped-back cable and enough funky colourways to suit any fashion sense, the UE Roll 2 is all the sonic support you need. Its sturdiness means it’ll survive any bumps and bruises too. You’ll never be caught out with lacklustre sound again. And we don’t say that lightly – this thing sounds great, with a good bash of rumbling bass, sparkling vocals and a fistful of dynamic punch – all of which lasts around nine hours. Stuff says: ★★★★★
