Bluetooth speakers

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Bluetooth speakers:

Score up to 40% off Ultimate Ear’s killer portable speakers

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The UE Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 color names -- Sunset, Lagoon and Night -- could be more straightforward but whatever.
The colorful names -- Sunset, Lagoon and Night -- could be more straightforward but whatever.
Photo: Ultimate Ears

Here’s a genuine killer deal on some killer products. Save up to 40% on Ultimate Ears portable speakers, many offered at $50 off the regular prices. The company said these are the best prices of the year. We’ve reviewed a lot of these speakers and rank them among the best you can get.

Just use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout.

Bring primo sound wherever you go with new Soundcore Motion 300 [Review] ★★★★

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If space is at a premium, bring this little guy for big sound.★★★★
If space is at a premium, bring this little guy for big sound.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Summer outdoor activities are no more, but if you’ve got a fall hike or hay ride coming up, bring Soundcore’s compact new Motion 300 portable speaker. It’s one of the best of its kind.

It’s small, it’s tough, it looks good, it sounds great and it goes on sale today for $80. Soundcore got it right with the Motion 300, a 30-watt speaker with Wireless Hi-Res Certification and 13 hours of playtime.

Soundcore’s new pint-size Bluetooth speakers pack a hi-res punch

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The new Soundcore Motion 300 is small enough to strap to a backpack for a hike.
The new Soundcore Motion 300 is small enough to strap to a backpack for a hike.
Photo: Soundcore

Summer’s ending, but the new Soundcore Motion 300 and Motion 100 portable high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers can still give you stereo sound for outdoor activities this fall and winter, the company said Wednesday.

The $80 Motion 300, available October 9, is a 30-watt speaker with Wireless Hi-Res Certification and 13 hours of playtime. The similar $60 Motion 100, which lacks the 300’s SmartTune EQ, will ship in November, Soundcore said.

Sonos Move 2 speaker brings stereo sound, double the battery life

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In addition to the black or white options to match other Sonos speakers, you can get Move 2 in a new olive color.
In addition to the black or white options to match other Sonos speakers, you can get Move 2 in a new olive color.
Photo: Sonos

The revamped Sonos Move 2 portable speaker sports stereo sound, up to 24 hours of battery life — twice that of its predecessor — and a slew of design changes since the water-resistant speaker’s initial release four years ago, the company said Wednesday.

Sonos Move 2 becomes available September 20 for $449.

Play Bluetooth devices and turntables alike over Klipsch’s new powered speakers

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Klipsch's new R-40PM and R-50PM (pictured) have connectivity built in for turntables and almost any other sound source.
Klipsch's new R-40PM and R-50PM (pictured) have connectivity built in for turntables and almost any other sound source.
Photo: Klipsch

Klipsch unveiled two new powered Bluetooth bookshelf speakers in its Reference series recently. The R-40PM and R-50PM speakers replace older “41” and “51” models, upgrading design, pumping up bass response and broadening connectivity with a phone preamp so you can easily connect a turntable, in addition to most other sound sources via USB and other line-in connections.

What you don’t need with these speakers is an amplifier, because they’re powered already.

Say what? New ‘dialogue speaker’ clarifies voices.

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BenQ's new dialogue speaker can play music, but it's meant to make human voices especially clear.
BenQ's new dialogue speaker can play music, but it's meant to make human voices especially clear.
Photo: BenQ

BenQ, known for desktop monitors and accessories, unveiled its new treVolo U Desktop Dialogue Speaker Tuesday. Say what? A “dialogue speaker?”

Yes, and it uses special technology “designed to reinvent your digital life, offering exceptional audio for online learning, remote working, podcast and audiobook listening,” the company said.

Soundcore’s gorgeous new Bluetooth speaker brings spatial audio [Review] ★★★★★

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With good looks, excellent sound and waterproofing, the Soundcore X600 is a great portable Bluetooth speaker.★★★★★
With good looks, excellent sound and waterproofing, the Soundcore X600 is a great portable Bluetooth speaker.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Soundcore’s new Motion X600 Hi-Res Bluetooth Speaker is a keeper if you’re after a fantastic-looking portable speaker with convincing-enough spatial audio.

It starts shipping May 9, and if you pay just $1 for an early-bird coupon Monday — before the preorder promotion ends early Tuesday morning — you get the X600 for $149 instead of $199 at launch. That’s a fantastic value for anyone unsure they want to pony up twice as much for a second-gen HomePod.

Edifier QD35 Bluetooth speaker: Bright lights, big sound [Review] ★★★★

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The Edifier QD35 is not an average-looking speaker.★★★★
The Edifier QD35 is not an average-looking speaker.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Whether it’s an RGB-plagued mouse or a stereo system that’s trying too hard, I tend to scoff at devices that light up in all the colors of the damned rainbow. But if they light up and also sound as good as Edifier’s QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker, I guess I’m sold. Let’s party.

Edifier recently sent me a unit to check out. You can read my thoughts below. In brief, the QD35 may not be everyone’s main stereo system, but it could be an ideal one-room speaker — whether that’s a kitchen, bedroom, rec room or man-cave/she-shack.

Slick new Soundcore hi-fi speaker sports spatial audio

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The new speaker has a stainless steel grille and an aluminum handle.
The new speaker has a stainless steel grille and an aluminum handle.
Photo: Soundcore

Soundcore unveiled its elegant new Motion X600 Portable High Fidelity Speaker Monday. The compact speaker offers hi-res, spatial audio in a handsome package with a metal grille and a choice of gray, green or blue colors.

When it becomes available in early May, it’ll go for $200. But you can get an early-bird discount. See below.

This high-res Bluetooth speaker puts on a light show and charges devices

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The new speaker sets the mood with lighting framed in a white or black cabinet.
The new speaker sets the mood with lighting framed in a white or black cabinet.
Photo: Edifier

Edifier’s new QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker boasts an unusual combination of features: high-resolution audio playback, pulsating lights and a digital clock.

Oh, and it also offers full-time gallium nitride-powered charging for other devices. So it appears to be a curious but useful — not to mention cool-looking — beast.

These tiny robots are actually a charger and a Bluetooth speaker

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Power your devices with GravaStar Alpha65
This mecha is really a 65W three-port charger for your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Photo: GravaStar

There’s no reason your USB-C charger has to be dull. Rather than being the usual white or black box, GravaStar’s Alpha65 looks like a miniature robot. But it really is a 65W charger with multiple USB ports.

And the company’s Supernova is both a Bluetooth speaker and a portable lantern even though it looks like a mini mecha.

Rock on with Marshall’s rugged new flagship Bluetooth speaker

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The new Middleton carries some heft, but it's still portable.
The new Middleton carries some heft, but it's still portable.
Photo: Marshall

Legendary in rock’n’roll history for its Marshall stacks of amplifiers, the English company recently added a rugged Bluetooth speaker to the top of its growing lineup — the Middleton.

Like Marshall’s other portable wireless speakers — which all have proper English names, by the way — it looks like a guitar amp.

And this top-of-the-line number not only “goes to 11,” but it’s weatherproof and features multidirectional sound, too.

HomePod head-to-head: How Apple’s new smart speaker compares to original

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Is the new HomePod really that different from the 2018 HomePod? Yes and no.
Is the new HomePod really that different from the 2018 HomePod? Yes and no.
Photo: Apple

Now that the full-size HomePod is finally back, just how different is it from Apple’s original smart speaker? At a glance, you might not think the $299 speaker Apple unveiled Wednesday is that different at all, because the exterior design looks so similar. But compare the new HomePod’s features to the old model, and you’ll find significant changes.

It seems potentially much-improved as a smart home device, but whether it’s a better speaker is questionable.

Enjoy great audio on the go with this rugged, portable Bluetooth speaker [Review] ★★★★☆

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Victrola Music Edition 1 review★★★★☆
This portable Bluetooth speaker from Victrola provides big sound is small package.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Victrola Music Edition 1 is ready to go into a backpack to liven up a study session or even a small get together. Or just use it in your home for better quality music or podcasts than an iPhone alone can provide. And it’s ready to be used indoors or out.

I tested the portable Bluetooth speaker in my house and at a gathering of friends. Here’s why I like it.

This stylish new wireless speaker is just right for your next party [Review] ★★★★☆

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This stylish new wireless speaker is just right for your next party★★★★☆
The Victrola Music Edition 2 looks good and sounds good.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Victrola probably isn’t the first name that leaps to mind when you’re shopping for speakers – it’s a company that built its reputation on the phonograph. But great-grandpa would be amazed because the company is keeping up with the times and recently launched the Victrola Music Edition 2, a great-looking Bluetooth speaker suited for small parties or outdoor gatherings. Plus it has some nice extras, like a wireless charger.

I tested the speaker with my iPhone 13 Plus – here’s why I’m quite pleased with it.

Edifier AirPlay 2 smart speaker looks good and sounds better [Review] ★★★★☆

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This handsome speaker offers high-quality sound at an attractive price.★★★★☆
This handsome speaker offers high-quality sound at an attractive price.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you’re looking for quality audio at an affordable price, you can certainly do much worse than Edifier products. The Chinese company consistently comes across with great value, and that’s the case with the Edifier MS50A powered wireless smart speaker.

The company sent me one of the handsome, wood-paneled speakers to test out. Though it’s not the smartest smart speaker on the block, it looks and sounds great for the price. I’ll get into more detail below.

Victrola’s stylish new wireless speakers are for indoors or on the go

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Victrola's stylish new wireless speakers are for indoors or on the go
Victrola Music Edition 2 Bluetooth speaker is ready for parties, and includes an iPhone wireless charger.
Photo: Victrola

Victrola, a company that built its reputation on the phonograph, is keeping up with the times by launching a pair of stylish, portable Bluetooth speakers on Tuesday.

The Victrola’s Music Edition speakers are designed to look good indoors but can also stand up to the elements when used in the yard or by the pool.

Miniature MagSafe speaker amps up iPhone audio [Review] ★★★★★

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Scoshe BoomCan MS review★★★★★
The Scoshe BoomCan MS pumps out outstanding sound for the size and price.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Scoshe BoomCan MS sticks to the back of a ‌MagSafe‌ ‌iPhone and ups the sound quality considerably. The palm-size Bluetooth speaker magnetically attaches to recent Apple handsets where it also act as a kickstand or a handle. And it’s waterproof and dustproof.

I’ve been using the BoomCan MS for a few weeks… and I love it.

Soundcore Motion Boom Plus speaker sports sound as big as all outdoors [Review] ★★★★☆

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Those bits on the end press in and out, as if moved by waves of bass. But they only seemed to move when actually pushed.★★★★☆
Those bits on the end press in and out, as if moved by waves of bass. But they only seemed to move when actually pushed.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is a powerful, portable outdoor speaker you might want to nab before summer’s over. The boombox-style Bluetooth speaker brings the brawn — 80 watts of power — along with a bit more heft than some competitors.

When you factor in the excellent sound quality, some sporty features and the relatively low price of $179.99, it’s a worthy choice for outdoor use. Some folks might even use it indoors, but many never would because of its black plastic design. It might look at home in a college dorm, but probably not in most living rooms.

Beats Pill+ portable speaker won’t stay dead

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A second special edition since Apple discontinued the Beats Pill+ speaker looks to be imminent.
A second special edition since Apple discontinued the Beats Pill+ speaker looks to be imminent.
Photo: Apple/Beats

Apple killed the Beats Pill+ portable speaker in January, and yet it lives on. In March it saw a special-edition release through a partnernship with Stüssy. And now it rises from the dead once again.

This time, a collaboration with Devin Book and Book Projects will result in a customized Beats Pill+ exterior design that takes its cues from the Sonoran Desert.

Ikea’s new outdoor lamp is first Bluetooth speaker with Spotify Tap

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The new Ikea Vappeby is an LED lantern and a Bluetooth speaker with Spotify Tap.
The new Ikea Vappeby is an LED lantern and a Bluetooth speaker with Spotify Tap.
Photo: Ikea

Cue the lights, strike up the music and let the garden party begin. Ikea’s got a new outdoor lantern coming. What’s interesting is that it doubles as the first Bluetooth speaker on the market with Spotify Tap built in.

The one-touch Spotify functionality isn’t the only music streaming service you can use with the lamp, called the Ikea Vappeby. But it’s handy.

New Sonos Roam SL saves you some money, but at what cost?

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The Sonos Roam SL is almost the same as its predecessor, the Roam, but it drops the mics.
The Sonos Roam SL is almost the same as its predecessor, the Roam, but it drops the mics.
Photo: Sonos

If you want a great-sounding portable speaker but don’t care about voice-activated control, Sonos just came out with the Sonos Roam SL. It’s like the highly regarded Sonos Roam smart speaker released last year, but it leaves out the far-field microphone and costs $20 less.

Going mic-less means you don’t get to use voice-activated assistants with the speaker. And you lose a couple of other mic-related functions, too.

Beats Pill+ speaker drops out of Apple’s lineup with no replacement

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Beats Pill+
See ya!
Image: Apple

Apple has discontinued the Beats Pill+ wireless speaker — one of the first brand-new products it launched after acquiring Beats in 2014. It was the only speaker available under the Beats brand, and there is no replacement.

You can still buy a Pill+ from third-party retailers while stocks last. However, you won’t find one in the Apple Store.

7 great travel gadgets at better prices than on Amazon right now

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These portable products are travel friendly
These awesome products make traveling a breeze.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Having the perfect portable gadgets by your side makes traveling simpler, more efficient and more fun. From Bluetooth accessories that take your smartphone to the next level, to super-cool gift ideas and the best wireless headphones for any trip, we found all these products on sale for a limited time — at prices that are even better than Amazon!