10 best Bluetooth speakers across price bands

The jury might still be out on the smartwatch but the Bluetooth speaker has gone from ‘good to have’ to being a bare necessity over the past couple of years. We pick ten Bluetooth speakers across price bands from the scores of speakers on offer. So whether it’s an impromptu house party or mild music for your cabin at office, you’re covered: 

Under Rs 5,000

LG NP 1540 (Rs 3,000)
This sound box can generate more than acceptable sound. Use it as a single speaker or pair two of them for stereo-type sound. It is ultra-light and has a battery life that borders five hours. Voice-enabled prompts let you know when the speaker syncs up or disconnects with your phone or tablet.

Logitech X300 (Rs 4000)
The bold colour palette is not the only thing this speaker gets right, we also like the sturdy form factor – this device is ready to be tossed around and can handle more than the occasional fall. The drivers are angled to give the speaker (with a 10W RMS output) a more expansive sound spectrum, while a recent (slight) price correction makes it an even more compelling proposition. 

 

Rs 5,000 – 10,000

JBL Flip II (Rs 6,000)
True to its name, this speaker can be propped up vertically or horizontally and is kitted with a hard carrying case – perfect to squeeze the Flip II into your backpack. The Flip II offers NFC connectivity and like most Bluetooth speakers can double up as a speakerphone.

Sony SRS-X2 (Rs 6500)
Sony’s strong contender in the mid-size segment is finished with a metal front grille that conceals the drivers. Aside from the clean, industrial design, the speaker punches well above its size with a 2X10W sound output (10 watts from each of its 45 mm speaker) and 500 gm weight. The matte texture around the sides is a nice touch.

 

Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000

Mini Jambox by Jawbone (Rs 10,200)
The Mini is almost half the size of the first Jambox but packs a serious punch. It’s crafted from a single piece of extruded aluminium and comes in a choice of nine colours and five designs.  

Logitech UE Boom (Rs 14,995)
Defined by its distinctive cylindrical design that also brings a cool 360-degree sound experience. The device syncs up with up to 8 devices and also offers longer range (up to 50 feet) connectivity than most similarly priced Bluetooth speakers. The 12-hour battery life is reassuring but it’s the water-proof and dust-proof capabilities that are the UE Boom’s calling card.  

 

Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000

Samsung DA-F61 (Rs 17,000)
Not one for vibrant coloured speakers? Then Samsung’s all-metal speaker finished with silver tones might just work for you. It won’t stick out on your work desk or in your living room and each of the Neodymium speakers gets a leg up from the Passive Bass Radiator. 

Harmon and Kardon Go + Play (Rs 19,500)
Harmon Kardon knows more than a little about design. The Go + Play has been around a while but is still very relevant given its edgy design and refined audio output (that include two Atlas woofers and two Ridge tweeters). It’s also one of the only speakers in this price band with a dedicated remote control unit.

 

Rs 20,000 – 25,000

BeoPlay A2 by Bang and Olufsen (Rs 22,990)
Design is a given with B&O, the A2 is crafted by iconic industrial designer Cecilie Manz. A flat speaker with outstanding omni-directional sound and its now famous 24-hour battery life claim that is almost unrivalled in this category. 

Bose Soundlink III (Rs 22,300)
Just like the BeoPlay A2, this device does not support a standard-USB charger (you will need to use the bundled USB adapter) but it’s a small inconvenience for the stellar battery life (14 hours). Four drivers, two passive radiators add to a high quality aural experience that we have come to expect from Bose.