TOP-5 wireless portable acoustics

JBL Charge 2 Plus

JBL Charge 2 Plus is an updated version of the hit 2014 model Charge. The advantages of the first version are complemented by the protection of the case from moisture and splashes. Also, the Charge 2 Plus has noticeably improved the sound of low frequencies.

JBL has been producing Hi-Fi speakers and studio monitors for more than 60 years. And portable speakers with Bluetooth appeared in its range a few years ago. Charge 2 Plus and other models have received good ratings in the press and customer reviews for their excellent functionality and sound. The speaker plays loudly and at the same time qualitatively — for its size and price category. And especially it surprises with the elaboration of sound in the low-frequency register on trance, heavy music, etc.

The Charge 2 Plus has a more powerful battery than many competitors — with a capacity of 6000 mAh. The speaker can work up to 12 hours without recharging, that is 2 hours more than the competitor Denon Envaya Mini. At the same time, two speakers with a diameter of 45 mm give out power up to 15 watts.

JBL can also work as a power Bank for gadgets and a hands-free system for mobile phones. And the feature of this model is the Multipoint mode for connecting three Bluetooth devices to the speaker at the same time.

The "chip" of Charge 2 Plus is the protection of the case from splashes and dirt. This model is able to work not only with drizzling rain, but also with a solid downpour. But it is worth remembering that more extreme conditions, such as immersion under water, acoustics will not stand.

Charge 2 Plus owners consider the speaker a good option for listening to music while traveling and outdoors. Buyers make claims that there are no plugs at the openings, and there is no carrying case in the kit. Interestingly, some of them place the device even on a bicycle — in a holder for a flask of water.

JBL Charge 2 Plus is a speaker with bright colours (orange, red, etc.), which is protected from moisture and equipped with a powerful battery. Moreover, it can be used not only on picnics, but also in everyday life, for example, next to a computer.

Beats Pill 2.0

Pill is popular among buyers not only because of the well-known brand and interesting design, stylized as a pill, but also has other advantages.

The Beats speaker is lighter and more compact than many competitors. Its weight is 310 g (about the same as 8—inch tablets), and its dimensions are 45x190x45 mm. At the same time, it works without recharging for about 7-8 hours and "gives out" power up to 12 watts. Despite the modest size of the speakers (1 inch), the acoustics sound clean and produce quite a bass sound. Pill is most suitable for electronic music, and rock does not sound so convincing. Anyway, you should not listen to the speaker at maximum volume — distortions will be heard.

The Beats Pill has a line input supplemented with a similar output (mini-jack). Additional active acoustics can be connected to it. In this case, the Tablet will connect mobile gadgets and wired speakers via Bluetooth. In addition, Pill has an NFC for quick pairing with the corresponding mobile devices.

Beats Pill buyers will receive a carrying case and a "carabiner" type mount for carrying the speaker on a backpack or clothes. Just keep in mind that the gadget has no protection from dirt and moisture, so it is not recommended to use it in the rain.

Denon Envaya Mini DSB-100

Denon's assortment includes not only a lot of Hi-Fi components for stereos and home theaters, but also various musical gadgets. Denon mobile acoustics in 2015 is represented by two models — Envaya and its more compact version Envaya Mini.

Envaya Mini has a bright design with two colours (black and white), compact dimensions (54x210x51 mm) and light weight (0.5 kg). The battery life of 10 hours is a good indicator for models of this class.

An important point in Envaya Mini is protection from moisture and dust. The speaker is certified according to the IPX4 standard, so it is not afraid of splashing on the beach and falling into the rain. Its body is covered with soft-touch plastic, and the ports (microUSB and line input) are closed with a plug. However, the device cannot be submerged under water. If you plan to use Envaya Mini in the field, then you will also appreciate the availability of a storage and carrying case in the delivery package.

The built-in processor allows you to saturate the recording with a more voluminous sound, and to significantly increase the quality of the high frequencies. And for good reproduction of low frequencies, a passive radiator is provided, working together with two broadband speakers with a diameter of 40 mm. Another advantage of the model is support for aptX and NFC. The first technology improves the quality of music playback via Bluetooth, and the second is useful for quickly pairing the speaker with gadgets. She has a large volume reserve, good "basses". Although, the competitor in the form of JBL Charge 2 Plus is more bass. And some even put Denon on the same level with more expensive models, for example, Bose SoundLink Mini, and believe that for the price of Envaya Mini ($130) you can't find anything better in sound.

Denon Envaya Mini stands out among competitors with good sound, water protection and support for aptX and NFC.

Harman Kardon Esquire 2

Harman Kardon, whose products are distinguished by design solutions, has released several models of Bluetooth speakers with an elegant design. The most attractive speaker of 2015 is Esquire 2.

The manufacturer took into account the shortcomings of the first version of Esquire and eliminated them in the 2015 model. First, Esquire was criticized for being "overweight." Her second version — "lost weight" by half a kilogram and weighs 599 g. Secondly, the sound quality of Esquire, judging by reviews and reviews, was inferior to competitors. The 2015 model has a better sound than its predecessor, and low frequencies are amplified. You can't confuse a bass guitar with an acoustic double bass and you can even distinguish bass synthesizers by timbre (for example, Moog from Roland TB-303).

However, Esquire 2 is not without its drawbacks — it has a short battery life (8 hours). For example, the JBL Charge 2 Plus works up to 12 hours without recharging, and the B&W T7 — up to 18 hours. However, the low battery charge (3200 mAh) did not deprive the device of such an important function as Power Bank.

The Esquire 2 design is borrowed from the Esquire mini model (2014). The slim body of the novelty (34 mm) is made of metal and trimmed with leather. And three colour options (black, silver and gold) give it a really luxurious (Luxury) look. Elegant design, high—quality housing — all this can be attributed to the advantages of Esquire 2. If desired, the speaker can be installed vertically using the built-in folding stand.

The speaker is equipped with a built-in four-channel microphone with a circular orientation, as well as an echo cancellation and noise reduction system. The manufacturer paid special attention to the quality of speech transmission. Therefore, it is convenient to use it as a speakerphone for conferences with the participation of several people. As observers note, at the same time, the interlocutors hear each other better than when using a hands-free smartphone, and even in a noisy environment.

Harman Kardon Esquire 2 will be a suitable attribute for business people who appreciate style, high quality and are constantly at work (telephone conversations, conferences).

B&W T7

The T7 is the first Bluetooth speaker with a battery released by Bowers & Wilkins (B&W). The English manufacturer Hi-Fi acoustics positions its model as "mobile Hi-Fi".

The B&W speaker has small dimensions — 114x230x54 mm. At the same time, two 50-millimetre speakers and two passive radiators of comparable size are installed in its case. Compared to other portable Bluetooth speakers, the T7 has more power (24 watts) and a wider frequency range (58 Hz — 19 kHz).

There is an opinion among the reviewers of many publications that the B&W mobile speaker has the best sound quality in its class. The device's detail, balance and musicality of sound surprised even experts testing Hi-Fi technology. Moreover, when working at high volume, the T7 does not lose control of low frequencies, as it usually happens with compact acoustics. And the optimal result is achieved together with gadgets that support Bluetooth aptX.

B&W T7 works without recharging up to 18 hours. If we take into account that many competitors work about 10 hours and the high power of the T7, this is an excellent result. On the other hand, the speaker is relatively heavy — its weight is 940 g, not 500-600.

The B&W speaker has mains power, which is rare for portable models. Therefore, the T7 is convenient to use not only on the road, but also at home. But charging from the USB port is not implemented in this model.

The main disadvantage of B&W T7 is the high price, which is inherent in the company's products. But behind the high price there is a much more important advantage — the highest sound quality. The speaker will be in demand not only on the road, but will also be a wonderful decoration for your living room or office. Moreover, it will decorate the room both visually and acoustically.