Ultimate Ears has performed well in many of our previous tests. For example, the UE Megaboom was test winner at last year’s test of more expensive travel speakers. We have also tested Wonderboom separately, but how does it perform compared to the competition? We like the rounded format and the string that fits on the …
Skullcandy has previously been known for their colourful headphones. Just over a year ago, they launched a speaker series called Barricade, where the XL naturally is the largest. It is also the largest and heaviest speaker in the test, so if you want a very portable speaker, you should perhaps go down a size. It …
We previously tested the Bose Soundlink Mini II, which is a fantastic travel speaker. However, the Micro is a better speaker for the beach, as it is both waterproof and has a better price. It also feels very sturdy and well-built. The rubber strap on the back also makes it easy to attach to a …
The American brand Braven recently launched the Active series. Besides Stryde, there is also an omnidirectional 360 and a big brother XL. Stryde is a relatively large and heavy speaker, which might better fit in your luggage than in your handbag. It feels extremely sturdy and can withstand both dust and water. Its battery is …
Two years ago we tested the Envaya Mini in a similar test of travel speakers, and we concluded that it was the best buy. Here comes the sequel, confusingly enough with the same name. So it is important to keep track of the product designation. One of the shortcomings of this was the water protection, …
We previously tested both Geneva Touring L and Touring S, where the letters indicate size. Now is their little brother’s turn, a speaker that falls into the travel category. Besides the size, the features are different. The larger models also have radio, while the XS must make do with only Bluetooth. The design hails back …
Scepticism towards wireless speakers is understandable. In our tests, we have learned that there are often compromises in sound quality and usability. So if someone is disappointed with wireless speakers, we get it. There are always exceptions. Dynaudio’s Xeo-Series and ELAC’s AIR loudspeakers are examples of successful speakers with regards to sound quality. Unfortunately, the …
After the classical Japanese brand Aiwa was engulfed by Sony in the 80’s, it eventually disappeared altogether. It has now been resurrected as an American company. Their debut product Exos-9 is a decent piece that could have been brought back from the 90’s. The aim has been to create a wireless speaker that is powerful …
In the 80’s, every teen movie and music video contained break-dancing and huge ghetto blasters that played hip hop. They quickly became popular due to their relatively portable size and impressive sound. The link to the hip hop culture was strong, and groups like The Beastie Boys were strongly associated with them. Then came the …
As the name suggests, Braven XXL is the largest of Braven’s outdoor speakers. It is splash proof, which means it can handle a little water hitting it. However, you cannot throw it in the pool. It not only looks like an armoured vehicle, it also feels really sturdy. This means it also weighs a lot. …
If Braven XXL is somewhat reminiscent of military hardware, the Superstar Monster Blaster looks like it was taken from a secret lab of an intelligence agency. With its metallic soft, yet sharp forms, it resembles something that could be used to neutralise escaped aliens in Men in Black. Its ease of use is just as …
When you unbox the Vooni Boombox, it is mildly amusing. It’s so big, you think it’s a joke. When you try to lift it out of the box, you end up hurting your back, and then you stop laughing. They can’t seriously believe that this is a portable music device? Party speakers in the same …
We have tested many of the JBL’s portable speakers, like the bass heavy JBL Flip 4 and the smart JBL Charge 3. With the JBL Boombox, they’ve taken everything they’ve learned from travel speakers and taken it to the extreme. The Pringles-size has increased to more than double in all aspects. Despite that, this is …
Devialet Silver Phantom blew us away when we tested it in 2015. Not because it was the most user-friendly high-end product we had ever seen – which it was! What captivated us was the fact that it breached the boundaries of what we thought was possible. A small wireless loudspeaker that can fit in a …
Last year Charge 2+ was a pleasant surprise, with good sound, long playing time and water resistance. The new Charge 3 takes this to new heights. It is now waterproof down to a depth of a metre and has an additional few hours of playtime. As a result, it is noticeably larger and heavier than …