You might have invested heavily in a surround sound system or a hi-fi setup, but you’d still need a speaker that can travel with you. Portable Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen, and there are plenty of reasons why you should get one. First, beach parties should always be accompanied with a playlist pumping out good vibes. Next, not all hotels have great speakers, and you can easily slip one of the newer models into your carry-on suitcase. And if you’re camping under the stars, it’s always nice to have some ethereal tunes to round up the experience.
If you’re looking for a portable speaker, below is a curation of the most beautiful devices out there that you would want to put on display.
(Featured and hero images: Bang & Olufsen)
Jump To / Table of Contents
1 /5
Premium products are the signature of Bang & Olufsen and the design of the Beoplay P6 is the embodiment of that. Its pearl blasted aluminium shell gives it a well-polished look and is a throwback to the iconic Beomaster 6000 sound system. During our review, it consistently pumped out room-filling sounds and that wasn’t even at its maximum volume. For the current Autumn/Winter season, there are two new colourways for the P6 – a rich dark plum and a lighter, more effervescent limestone shade.
2 /5
Omnidirectional speakers are dominating our soundscapes, and Bose’s Soundlink Revolve+ is one of the best in its class. This speaker packs a punch in its lantern-shaped frame, and it even has a handle that lets you carry it around. If you want to play some tunes at your pool party, the Soundlink Revolve+ is water resistant so you don’t need to worry about the stray cannonball. While it might only have a 16-hour battery life, it’s sound is much louder and more room-filling.
3 /5
You’re in for a sweet treat with the Bowers & Wilkins T7 Wireless speaker. It’s designed to resemble a honeycomb, but this isn’t just an aesthetic feature. The hexagonal shapes are engineered to brace the thumping of the twin 50mm thumping bass drivers. What results is clear and crisp sound, not the rattling of the speaker. A powerful battery lets it play your favourite tunes for up to 18 hours, which is more than an average person would need.
4 /5
If you’re a frequent flier looking for a compact speaker, then Harman/Kardon’s pocket-sized Traveler is just for you. The name alone says all it’s intended for – the jaded traveller that wants to unwind to his or her favourite chill playlist. It’s design reflects this no-nonsense idea with a compact unibody aluminium exterior and a faux leather top with all its buttons.
We’re usually a little wary when it comes to smaller speakers, but the Traveler outputs a robust sound when in a medium-sized room. It can also act as a portable charger, just in case your device runs out of juice halfway through your soak in the bath.
5 /5
Those pining for a hint of nostalgia will find it in the Revo SuperConnect, a Red Dot Product Design Award winner. The speaker looks like a vintage radio but is anything but analogue. Its display is an OLED screen, and you control it with a joystick. But at its core, the SuperConnect is a digital radio that can tune to over 30,000 global radio stations and stream the entirety of Spotify’s catalogue. It’s also a Bluetooth speaker, so those with other music streaming services aren’t losing out.
Josiah Neo
Writer
Josiah Neo is a tech writer who contributes occasionally to the fashion, travel, and culture beats. When he’s not busy keeping up with the keynotes, he’s probably stuffing his face with the best Melbournian donuts (at Shortstop, BTW) or watching his favourite esports team, the Los Angeles Valiant, pummel their opponents into oblivion.
