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Cut the Cord(s) With These Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Systems
A good set of Bluetooth-enabled speakers lets you connect to different devices wirelessly without skimping on sound
Joshua Kanter
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July 8, 2020
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As you’ve no doubt noticed, many of our formerly wired devices have made (or are making) the shift to wireless these days, from keyboards and headphones, to even cordless vacuums. Using WiFi and Bluetooth makes it easy to connect two or more devices together, and removes the tangled mess of cables at the same time.
Home speaker systems are ditching the wires too, and the best Bluetooth speaker sets are a game changer when it comes to your entertainment setup. The aesthetic is clean and modern, connection can be instant, and it’s infinitely easier for friends to link up to it when they’re over.
Since you’ll most likely be using them for hours at a time — either for gaming, or watching movies, or listening to music — what’s inside the speakers are most important, and there are a few key points to know before you go all-in on a new wireless setup.
What Are the Best Wireless Speaker Systems?
The best wireless Bluetooth speaker systems work as well on a bookshelf as they do on a desk, amplifying the sound from your computer, phone, record player or TV through powerful, portable units. They’re better than using the built-in speakers on your existing device, and because they’re easily movable, they can be positioned around the room for a more enveloping audio experience you can’t create with just your laptop speakers or TV speakers alone.
What to Look For When Buying a Wireless Speaker System
Speakers with cheaply-made parts can sound tinny when listening for long periods of time, and begin to distort when cranked up to high volumes. After a while, this can really be grating and unpleasant on your ears, so it’s important to take a look at what’s driving it.
The tweeter is the driver inside that’s responsible for producing the higher-end frequencies of the sound scale, like treble. A good tweeter can bring out details that you never noticed in sound mixes and songs, letting you hear it the way the artist or director meant for it to be heard. They’re vitally important to delivering crisp audio, but can’t produce bass – and that’s where the woofer kicks in.
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A woofer is what picks up where the treble leaves off, and offers mid-range to lower-end sounds, like booming bass. For that extra boost and deep vibration, many speaker sets come with an external woofer unit, as opposed to one that’s built-in to the actual speaker. This powerful standalone sub helps physically move the air, giving you that thumping bass you can really feel.
Size and appearance matter too though. You’ll want something that’s going to fit on your desk if using these with a computer, so they won’t take up too much valuable space. These are great for bookshelf setups too, or can be combined with your TV as part of your gaming or home theater setup.
1. Logitech Bluetooth Wireless 2.1 Speaker System
This Logitech set not only sounds great, but allows for multiple Bluetooth devices to be connected at once, so you can switch your audio source without an annoying lag.
The speakers have a nice light weight while delivering a solid and shimmering high-end. But the bass is strong on this set too. The decently-sized and excellent sounding subwoofer thumps out deep lows that’ll blow your hair back when turned up.
Everything can be controlled by the little remote device with just a simple switch. And for the non-Bluetooth crowd, they haven’t forgotten about you either. There’s still a good ol’ 3.5mm headphone jack to plug into as well.
Buy Logitech Bluetooth Wireless 2.1 Speaker…
2. Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers
This sleek-looking, wood-grain paneled set sounds great, and its compact size fits perfectly on a bookshelf or desk.
The woofer puts out a nice rounded bass, which is good for movies and gaming, but especially music – both digital and analog. The rich, detailed sound makes even old tunes sound new again. The bass ports are in the front, rather than the back like some other brands, which forces the sound directly outward toward the listener for a fuller effect.
Setup is incredibly easy, and connecting to Bluetooth is fast and simple. You can even control things like volume with your phone, adjust the EQ with built-in side knobs, or use the included remote for even more features. If Bluetooth isn’t your preferred method of connection, there are still plenty of ports here to fit whatever your preference is (but only one source at a time).
Buy Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth… $153.94
3. Fluance Ai41 Powered 2-Way 2.0 Stereo Bookshelf Speakers
These powerful and stylish shelf-sized speakers bring rich, warm sound to your gaming setup, laptop, or digital turntable. The possibilities are endless really – as long as it has Bluetooth 5.0, it’s easy to connect these up (plus there’s still RCA and Optical inputs too). The Fluance Ai41 have a 90W amplifier, delivering a noticeably clean audio via its neodymium tweeters and 5-inch woven woofers, and linking up devices is quick, with a satisfying drum thump to know it’s ready to go.
Buy Fluance Ai41 Powered 2-Way 2.0 Stereo… $299.99
4. Victrola Music Edition 2 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker
Victrola is one of the oldest audio companies out there, and are still in the game making modern gear that sounds great.
This speaker is still small enough to be portable, but powerful enough to pump out heavy low-end thanks to its passive bass radiators. The metal construction around the body makes it durable to light damage, and perfect for parties on the patio or poolside since it’s also IP67-rated waterproof. Plus on a single charge this’ll last up to 20 hours, and lets you charge up other devices on its built-in wireless charging pad.
Buy Victrola Music Edition 2 Tabletop… $99.99
5. Cyber Acoustics Bluetooth Speakers
The cool, green, alien-type glow of this set is no doubt what you’ll notice first. But look (and definitely listen) closer to find features that’ll fill your room with sights and sounds.
There are seven different LED colors to choose from, as well as the option to just have them continuously cycle to keep the party going. And while the lights are a neat novelty, the sound is what really matters here. Angled speakers with dual, two-inch drivers, pump out an impressive range of highs and mids, while the standalone woofer pumps out the bass and keeps the beat going. Connecting a Bluetooth device is quick and will get your playlist going in seconds.
The controls are located on the back of the sub, including the Bluetooth pairing and LED light switches. RCA inputs also let you instantly hook up to your other home theater equipment, and there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack for those late-night gaming sessions too.
Buy Cyber Acoustics Bluetooth Speakers
6. iLive Bluetooth Speaker System
iLive’s 2.1 speaker system is lit, literally. The circular LED lights on each speaker add a scintillating aesthetic to your setup, giving it a modern and serene glow.
Streaming through Bluetooth is fast, stable, static-free, and works from up to 33 feet away. Wireless pairing with other devices, like an Amazon Echo, is possible too, and RCA inputs allow connections with TVs, DVD players, and gaming consoles.
Things like bass and treble can be manually adjusted as well, so you can find your perfect and preferred sound to go with any media. It’s all housed in a slick and glossy black unit that will instantly add some polish to your decor.
Buy iLive Bluetooth Speaker System $48.28
7. Monster Blaster Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, 120W
The aptly named Monster Blaster is an absolute beast of a boombox. This 18-pounder tested well when we tried it, keeping a strong and untethered Bluetooth connection that you can easily carry around anywhere.
The 60W subwoofer inside packs a powerfully studio-quality bass. Its rechargeable battery lasts about 12 hours when full, pretty impressive for such a hefty speaker unit, and it can even charge up your phone or tablet too.
It’s also IPX5 water-resistant, so you won’t need to take the party inside when the weather gets wet.
Buy Monster Blaster Portable Wireless…
8. iLive Bluetooth Home Music System
This budget-friendly alternative from iLive still brings Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity to spaces way out of range from the main media systems in your house, like basements, garages, and offices. Everything is built-in to this sleekly designed device, including two stereo speakers, a 3.5mm auxiliary, USB, SD card slot, CD player, and FM radio.
A remote keeps you in control across the room, and a clear LED display reflects what’s being played at all times. It’s also lightweight, at under three pounds, and is way easier to move from room to room than a multi-speaker system would be.
Buy iLive Bluetooth Home Music System $79.99
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