Recommend a great portable bluetooth speaker

Ideally with a great discount this weekend. Thank you!

I use Wirecutter for these types of recs - here are their pics http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bluetooth-speaker/

Bose. Done.

will such a device work to in crease sound for TV and a Boise CD/radio about 20 years old? Radio still sounds great if you are sitting next to it

Both share a space in adjacent rooms with loft high ceilings.

We have a Samsung TV and sound bar which came with a wifi speaker which seems to have given up the ghost recently.

Maybe these 12 ft ceilings and open plan makes better sound just not going to happen?

I haven't found one I like yet, but I've been too cheap. I got one for about $40, and the reviews said stuff like, "I can't believe how big the sound is for something so small." Sure, it's tiny, but I'd be OK with it being bigger and heavier, because the sound isn't good. I suspect it won't be any good unless it weighs at least three pounds, and it will probably cost $70 or more. I should look for one that is like a boombox.

Reviews of sound systems don't help me, because we may be aiming for different things. How loud do the reviewers want it to be, and how much space are they filling, and how exacting are their standards? Most of these things are reviewed favorably, and that doesn't help, either.

@mtierney, you're right that a space like that makes it hard. And no, you don't supplement a system with a bluetooth speaker. You can use it instead of your speakers. Since it uses radio, there is a delay between the sending and the receiving, plus a computer takes a small slice of time to process the signal. You would get an echo if you ran bluetooth at the same time as wired speakers, and it would sound terrible.

UE Roll is not bad.

We bought a JBL Charge 3 for $150 a while back. It sounds really good, not sure about any deals right now. There is an even bigger one, called the JBL XTreme http://a.co/6iBwR1z that has even better sound, but it's on the larger side. I've seen $199 deals for it, both at Amazon and BestBuy.

Thank you Tom, so no Bluetooth for me!

It is actually a relief to me not to have to purchase another thing oelectronic!

We now own three BOSE Soundlink Minis. LOVE them.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundLink-Bluetooth-Speaker-Carbon/dp/B00WK47VEW

@kmk and @earlster, those both look good. Any idea how much they weigh?

@Tom_Reingold, Amazon website ways 1.47lbs.

I have a this one and it is wonderful.

http://www.staples.com/Bose-SoundLink-Mini-Bluetooth-speaker-II-Carbon/product_1668665?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:1668665&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=1668665&KPID=1668665&cvosrc=PLA.google-CAT.Audio&cvo_crid=158920474517&cvo_campaign=71700000017481485&gclid=CjwKEAiAyO_BBRDOgM-K8MGWpmYSJACePQ9CULbOU6mSbpvXWZK8zM2o6NYqIVuNlrxVbMFJTRbsmxoCBgfw_wcB

I also have this one and it's ok.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-SoundCore-Bluetooth-Dual-Driver-Distortion/dp/B016XTADG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480343387&sr=8-1&keywords=anker+wireless+speaker

I have the bose soundlink 2 -about three years now. great sound, very portable and still really good battery life.

the current equivalent to what I own is now the soundlink III

@Tom_Reingold http://www.jbl.com/bluetooth-speakers/JBL+CHARGE+III.html says 800g

It's hefty, feels pretty solid. But it also doubles as a phone backup battery, which makes it an even better device.

Tom_Reingold said:

@kmk and @earlster, those both look good. Any idea how much they weigh?

I have one too. It's certainly not cheap (I got it as a gift). It's not something I'd put in my bag and carry around all day, but it's certainly light enough to carry around the house, or toss into a suitcase if you're traveling. But it sounds quite good.

I also have a Jambox mini (which I gave to my son) which also has its good points. It's very light, and the battery life is pretty amazing. The sound is good, but it doesn't put out much volume. If you value lightness over volume, the Jambox might work for you. And it's about half the cost of the Bose.

I have a Jambox Mini, too, which (ahem) somebody keeps "borrowing," so I think I'd like to stay with something light. It's a great little speaker unless, as you point out, you want volume.

And does an 800g speaker sounds as good as a living room stereo?

No. But I can't toss a living room stereo into my guitar case and bring it to a rehearsal. I could do that with the Jambox mini

Tom_Reingold said:

And does an 800g speaker sounds as good as a living room stereo?

Of course not, but I can carry it around the house, take it outside and bring it on trips. A few weeks ago our living room receiver broke and we used the JBL until we got a replacement, and I have to say it was still pleasant to listen to music, better than the TV speakers.

Tom_Reingold said:

And does an 800g speaker sounds as good as a living room stereo?

I used to have top of the line speakers, etc. Then I got old. I never listen to music as if I'm in a concert hall. I listen to music while I have guests in the house. I play Pandora or Spotify through my Bose Mini and the sound is plenty big and plenty good enough. I gave away my floor standing speakers and my receiver and took back all of that room. I haven't looked back.

earlster said:

Of course not, but I can carry it around the house, take it outside and bring it on trips. A few weeks ago our living room receiver broke and we used the JBL until we got a replacement, and I have to say it was still pleasant to listen to music, better than the TV speakers.

Tom_Reingold said:

And does an 800g speaker sounds as good as a living room stereo?

I think you are in good company jeffl.

Good point, @jeffl. I need to rethink about what I want and need. I've been using an Apple Airport Express connected to the living room stereo. This uses the Airplay protocol which is similar to bluetooth. I like the device, but maybe giving up the living room stereo is in order. Good enough is good enough. I'll give a listen to these things that cost $150 and more.

You can run them off house current, right?

The great thing about the Bose Mini is that yes, it runs off house current, but it also holds a charge forever. My son brings it with him in the car when he takes long drives and plays his phone through it. We listened to a bunch of stand up comedians to and from Nantucket last summer. Not sure what the mechanism was, but it was great. Podcasts? Youtube? Whatever. And then we listened to music. I guess you can do that without the Bose it you just connect your phone via Bluetooth, to you car sound system, but my car didn't have that feature without using a cord.

I also carried my Bose in a backpack on a couple neighborhood New Year's Eve crawls and played holiday music for all of the strollers. It made the long walks between houses a lot more fun.

Tom_Reingold said:

Good point, @jeffl. I need to rethink about what I want and need. I've been using an Apple Airport Express connected to the living room stereo. This uses the Airplay protocol which is similar to bluetooth. I like the device, but maybe giving up the living room stereo is in order. Good enough is good enough. I'll give a listen to these things that cost $150 and more.

You can run them off house current, right?

We have a Bose SoundLink II (not the Mini) which we got a few years ago and it sounds great, of course it's not cheap. (~$260 for the current model)

It's also worth thinking about the Amazon Echo, which can play music on its own and can be used via Bluetooth. While the Bose sounds better, we tend to listen to the Amazon Echo (which we now have 2 of) more because it's easier to deal with. (~$179 currently, I think it was cheaper a few days ago)

For portable sound I use the UE MegaBoom. Very happy with it. Sounds good (better in a corner). Can get really loud. Best of all 20 hour battery at mid-level, which is about all I ever use. The Boom 2 is pretty good too. Both models can 'pair' to become left/right or a 'party' sound. You can catch sales for under $200.

jeffl said:

Bose. Done.

+100

The sound is amazing and will fill the house. Rechargable, portable and relatively small.