Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers 2022: Top Wireless Outdoor Speakers – Rolling Stone

2022-10-08 19:34:43 By : Ms. Freda GUO

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If you spend a lot of time outdoors or are the designated host for a season’s worth of backyard cookouts, you need a waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

A good speaker provides background noise while you’re eating, entertainment while you’re working, and fills in gaps between conversations. The ones in this guide stand out because they’re all waterproof to some extent. Most can be totally submerged underwater for several minutes, and all of them can handle splashes, spills, or an unexpected rainstorm.

We’ve researched and chosen speakers to fit just about any situation, from a solo hangout to a small gathering, to a full-blown party. Warmer weather is coming (or already here), and a waterproof speaker can help you make the most of it.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best waterproof speaker for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.

Bluetooth: All of the speakers in this guide support Bluetooth, an open wireless standard that allows you to connect any phone, tablet, or computer to them regardless of who makes it.

Size: Our speaker picks are all totally wireless, which means you can take them anywhere. We’ve chosen speakers in a wide variety of sizes, so you can find the one that suits your particular situation.

Battery Life: Our minimum requirement for battery life was 12 hours, so you’ll be able to use these speakers for an entire day before having to plug them in.

Durability: An electronic’s resistance to dust and water is measured on the IP (Ingress Protection) scale. The speakers below have at least an IPX5 rating, which means they can be sprayed with water jets without being damaged. And while some of them can survive dunks underwater, we don’t recommend doing that too often, just in case.

Multi-Speaker Support: Every speaker we recommend can be paired with another to create a larger network of wireless speakers. Some can even be used as a stereo pair.

The MEGABOOM 3 is Ultimate Ears’ new midrange speaker, and it’s meant to pack a punch.

Ultimate Ears doesn’t mention the version of Bluetooth the MEGABOOM 3 supports, which is a little disappointing, but the rest of its specs are very good. At 8.75 inches tall and 2.9 pounds, it’s the second-largest speaker in our guide, and gets 20 hours of battery life per charge. It has an IP67 rating, which means the speaker is completely dust-proof, and waterproof enough to be held under 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

On the audio front, Ultimate Ears says the MEGABOOM 3 can deliver “powerful sound” and “thundering bass.” The company allows you to tweak the EQ in its BOOM & MEGABOOM app (iOS and Android).

Ultimate Ears says that the speaker uses a custom technology that adjusts how it sounds as you raise the volume, which will help you avoid clipping or distortion. You can connect the MEGABOOM 3 with up to 149 other BOOM and MEGABOOM speakers, but Ultimate Ears doesn’t say whether it can be used as a stereo pair.

If you want a mid-sized speaker with customizable audio and the ability to be part of a gigantic wireless audio system, this is our pick.

JBL’s newest speaker in the Flip line features an IP67 rating, meaning it’s both waterproof and dustproof. Take it with you to the pool or bring it with you on your next camping trip.

The brand also says it’s got a long, 12-hour battery life, enough to get you through the day. Similar to other speakers in the Flip line, the sound on the Flip 6 is clear, powerful and immersive. Listen to As it Was by Harry Styles on repeat on your new JBL speaker. 

Connectivity through Bluetooth is easy too and you’ll be set up and ready to go in no time. And, its durable fabric material means your speaker can survive light bumps and bruises when you bring it along on your outdoor activities — it weighs only about two pounds. You’ll even be able to choose between a bunch of different color options, including midnight blue or blush pink, depending on your tastes. 

If you’re looking to start a party, you can even connect your new JBL speaker to another JBL PartyBoost compatible speaker. Plus, tweak bass and other audio features through the JBL Portable app, for full control over your music. 

Soundcore’s latest addition to its Flare line of speakers delivers good-sounding audio and a fun visual experience.

The company neglects to mention which version of Bluetooth the speaker uses, but I’ve had an opportunity to test it out, and haven’t had any connectivity problems. Soundcore says the Flare 2 gets 12 hours of battery life (which has been true in my experience) and has earned an IPX 7 rating. This means the speaker is completely dust-proof and waterproof enough to be held under 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

On the audio front, the Flare 2 does a respectable job for a speaker that’s 6.3 inches tall and 1.3 pounds. It uses Anker’s custom “BassUp” technology to boost the low end, but you can turn this off, which I did. It’s not that the bass was overwhelming, but it sounds a little artificial. The good thing is that you can customize the speaker’s EQ (equalization) inside the Soundcore app (iOS and Android).

That same app lets you control the light pattern of the speaker’s top and bottom LEDs, which you can also turn on and off by pressing a button on the speaker itself. The ability to tweak the speaker’s audio is great, not because it sounds bad, but because you’re able to make it sound better for your ears. The lights are fun, too, but it’s nice that you don’t have to keep them on.

You can pair up to 100 Flare 2 speakers together to create a massive wireless speaker system, but I was disappointed Soundcore removed the ability to use two of them as a stereo pair. This feature was available on the previous Flare speaker, and it’s an odd omission here.

Still, if you want a fairly small speaker with a customizable EQ and pleasant extras, the Flare 2 is a great pick.

Tribit’s newest waterproof speaker was built for music lovers on the go, with one of the longest battery lives on a speaker its size. 

Listen to your favorite beats for up to 20 hours, even while you’re at the beach or lake, thanks to its IPX7 rating. Running low? Your new speaker will boost up to 40% with fast charging features, according to the brand. 

Sound is great too, with 30-watt titanium drivers designed to deliver clear mids and highs. Bass is where this waterproof speaker truly shines though, delivering powerful audio without distortion. You’ll even be able to switch between three EQ modes, including one designed for heavy bass, one for casual listening, and one designed especially for audiobooks. 

You’ll also like the LED light options, which sync to the rhythm of your favorite songs. Plus, since it comes with a handle strap you’ll be able to take it with you while you go camping or when you travel.

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