Bluetooth speakers top: The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers – Summer 2023: Reviews

The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers – Summer 2023: Reviews

Table of Contents
Intro

Best Speaker

Best Upper Mid-Range

Best Mid-Range

Best Budget

Best Cheap

Best Home

Best Party

Notable Mentions
Recent Updates
All Reviews
Discussions

Updated Jun 22, 2023 at 09:07 am

By Becca Fischer

If you like to wirelessly stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks from mobile devices, you’ll want a speaker that supports Bluetooth connectivity. Unlike speakers with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth-compatible speakers don’t rely on an Internet connection to stream audio. As a result, they tend to be more portable, and many also have an outdoor-oriented design with carrying straps or water-resistant bodies. However, finding the best speaker comes down to what matters most to you. With so many Bluetooth speakers on the market, you have many options for finding a device that meets your unique needs.

We’ve tested over 110 speakers, and below, you’ll find our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth speakers. If you want more options, check out our picks for the best Alexa speakers, the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers, and the loudest Bluetooth speakers.

Best Bluetooth Speaker

Sonos Move

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Music

7.0

Videos/Movies

6.5

Podcasts

8.1

Voice Assistant

8.6

Outdoors

7. 7

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

No

Voice Assistant

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

Yes

See all our test results

The best Bluetooth speaker that we’ve tested is the Sonos Move. Thanks to its portable design, this speaker is a great choice for listening to your favorite tunes while on the go, and it comes with lots of extra features to make the most of your listening experience. Connect your phone or other mobile devices to the speaker via Bluetooth, and you can stream everything from music, podcasts, and audiobooks to the device. Its built-in voice assistants offer hands-free control, so you can check the weather, adjust the volume, and more from the comfort of your couch. Plus, if you own other Sonos products, you can integrate this speaker into your ecosystem to amplify audio across the room or to spread sound throughout multiple rooms in your house.

This speaker’s sleek design makes it suitable for indoor and outdoor use. At your next backyard party, use the built-in handle to carry it outside, and its IP56 rating for dust and water resistance means that it’s protected against some exposure to the elements. This speaker gets loud, so it can easily fill your backyard with sound. There’s even a room calibration tool built into the speaker to improve its audio reproduction based on the unique acoustics of your listening space. If you prefer to adjust the sound manually, you’ll find bass and treble adjustments in the Sonos S2 app, too. Thanks to its built-in smart features and stellar sound, this Bluetooth speaker is a great fit for lots of different listeners.

See our review
Best Upper Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

Sony SRS-XG300

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Music

6. 9

Videos/Movies

6.3

Podcasts

7.5

Voice Assistant

4.7

Outdoors

7.8

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

Yes

Voice Assistant

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

No

See all our test results

Looking for a more affordable Bluetooth speaker? Check out the Sony SRS-XG300, the best speaker in the upper mid-range we’ve tested. This stylish speaker offers a standout performance in a boombox-like design, and it’s available in both Black and Light Gray color variants, so you can pick whichever best suits your style. Streaming your music collection from your phone to the speaker is easy via Bluetooth, so you can take it wherever you go. With a built-in handle, it’s easy to carry and even boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance to protect it against the elements.

What about the sound? Well, this speaker is great for listening to various music genres. Right out of the box, voices and lead instruments are reproduced with great clarity and fidelity. Plus, thanks to the Sony Music Center app, which offers a full graphic EQ for manual sound adjustments, you have many customization tools on hand. There are even some preset modes, which is handy if you want a quick way to switch up the sound. Compared to the Sonos Move, you won’t find any built-in voice assistants, though, and there’s no automatic room calibration tool. Still, you can use the voice assistant from your paired smartphone, which is a nice touch. For a more affordable price, this Bluetooth speaker still does a great job.

See our review
Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Speaker

Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3

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Music

7. 0

Videos/Movies

6.2

Podcasts

7.6

Voice Assistant

3.2

Outdoors

7.9

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

No

Voice Assistant

No

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

No

See all our test results

The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is an even more wallet-friendly Bluetooth speaker with great performance. This mid-range pick has a cylindrical design and is available in many different color variants to meet your unique style needs. Each comes with a built-in hook, too, so you can easily clip the speaker to your bag or backpack while on the go. It’s portable by design and lightweight enough to carry in your hand. There’s also an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance in case you want to bring it to the pool or use it near the kitchen sink. With an impressive sound quality, this device is a great pick for those who love to listen to music while out and about.

Since it’s Bluetooth-compatible, it’s easy to stream your favorite tunes from your devices to play on the speaker. Its default sound adds some extra boom in the bass, bringing genres like EDM and hip-hop to life. Voices and lead instruments remain clear in the mix, too, which is great if you prefer other genres like pop and rock. Like the Sony SRS-XG300, this speaker has a companion app with a graphic EQ to customize its sound. There’s no voice assistant support, though, not even through a paired smartphone. If you want a voice assistant, you’ll want to pay a little more for one of the top speakers on our list, but if you don’t need it, you may find that the Ultimate Ears is the better value overall.

See our review
Best Budget Bluetooth Speaker

Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3

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Music

6.8

Videos/Movies

6.2

Podcasts

7.9

Voice Assistant

3.2

Outdoors

7.9

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

No

Voice Assistant

No

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

No

See all our test results

The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best budget Bluetooth speaker we’ve tested. It’s a great choice for listening to music on the go, and it boasts a sturdy design that holds up against the elements. It’s rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and floats in water, too. As a result, it’s great for listening to tunes at your next pool party or while tanning beachside. This portable device made of recycled plastic is available in several colors and has a built-in hook for easy transport.

For its price, this speaker offers a really solid sound quality. Regardless of what you’re listening to, voices and lead instruments remain clear and detailed. Plus, the Outdoor preset provides a more clear and crisp sound when you’re outside in more open-air spaces. With 22 hours of battery life, you can also rock out all night. You won’t find a companion app like the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, so you’re limited at customizing its sound, but you may not need it in the first place, given its clear sound. Ultimately, this speaker’s a great option if you’re on a tighter budget.

See our review
Best Cheap Bluetooth Speaker

Anker Soundcore 2

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Music

5. 4

Videos/Movies

5.1

Podcasts

6.6

Voice Assistant

3.3

Outdoors

6.6

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

Yes

Voice Assistant

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

No

See all our test results

The Anker Soundcore 2 is the best wireless speaker we’ve tested if you want a cheaper pick. It offers a versatile performance for the price, making it a great choice for listening to music at home and on the go. Its small and lightweight design makes it easy to carry with you, and since it lasts for over 15 hours off a single charge, you can keep listening to your favorite tunes all day. Plus, it’s rated IPX7 for water resistance, protecting it from light exposure to water. Available in a few different colors, too, you can easily pick a style that meets your aesthetic.

This speaker’s sound quality makes it suitable for listening to many types of audio content, from music to podcasts to audiobooks. Voices and lead instruments are clearly reproduced in the mix. However, compared to the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3, this speaker reproduces less rumble in the bass, which is especially noticeable with bass-centric genres like EDM and hip-hop. You won’t find any customization tools, either. For a little extra, you can splurge on the Anker Soundcore 3, which has a similar design but includes a graphic EQ and presets to switch up its sound. The Soundcore 2 is a solid bet if you prefer a cheaper option.

See our review
Best Home Bluetooth Speaker

Sonos Era 300

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Music

7. 7

Videos/Movies

7.0

Podcasts

6.8

Voice Assistant

8.8

Outdoors

5.5

Battery Powered

No

Speakerphone

No

Voice Assistant

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

Yes

See all our test results

Many of our top picks include portable Bluetooth speakers designed to bring with you on the go. However, if you only plan to use your speaker within the confines of your home, you may prefer our best wireless speaker for home use—the Sonos Era 300. This 2023 release boasts a sleek, stylish design that fits your home decor. With built-in smart features like Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy hands-free control right from the comfort of your couch. It supports many of the same features available with the Sonos Move, including a room correction feature to optimize its sound based on your living space. And with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, it’s easy to pair up with other devices to play your favorite tunes.

Like other Sonos speakers, this device is designed to integrate into your existing Sonos ecosystem. You can use it alone or as a surround speaker when paired with a compatible soundbar. Since it supports Dolby Atmos, you can make the most of more immersive content like Dolby Atmos Music, found on music streamers like Apple Music. Given its premium performance, it’s not the most affordable speaker on the market. If you don’t listen to much Atmos content, you can always check out the smaller, more affordable Sonos Era 100. It doesn’t support Atmos but is still a premium option for home use with Bluetooth support.

See our review
Best Bluetooth Party Speaker

JBL PartyBox 310

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Music

7.8

Videos/Movies

6.8

Podcasts

7.2

Voice Assistant

2.9

Outdoors

7.8

Battery Powered

Yes

Speakerphone

No

Voice Assistant

No

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

No

See all our test results

Party speakers make a great addition to your next big event, with many extra features and functions to make the most of the experience. The JBL PartyBox 310 is one of the best party speakers we’ve tested with Bluetooth, and its large and striking design ensures it’ll stand out from the crowd. You can customize the RGB lights beneath its grilles to set the mood at your next big party, and mic and guitar inputs give extra flexibility for musicians and karaoke lovers. This speaker has no trouble getting loud, so your whole space fills with a thunderous sound.

Any good party speaker can bring boom in the bass, and the JBL is no exception. Blast bass-heavy tunes like EDM and hip-hop, and you’ll shake the dance floor. Voices and lead instruments remain clear in the mix, meaning you can enjoy other vocal-centric genres easily. Plus, the sound customization tools in the speaker’s companion app let you customize its sound, so you can get the output you desire. You won’t find voice assistant support like with the Sonos Move, and its large design isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great option for party lovers.

See our review

Notable Mentions

JBL Boombox 3:
The JBL Boombox 3 is better built than the Sonos Move, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and it even floats in water. It produces a more extended low-bass and has a longer-lasting battery life of almost 30 hours. That said, it isn’t as portable as the Sonos and doesn’t support voice assistants.
See our review
Sonos Roam/Roam SL:
The Sonos Roam is a portable Bluetooth speaker smaller than the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 and comes with built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. Its battery lasted only five hours in our tests, significantly shorter than the MEGABOOM 3’s almost 18 hours of playtime. It also doesn’t get quite as loud, and there’s a lot more compression at max volume, so your audio doesn’t sound as clear.
See our review
Sony SRS-XB13:
The Sony SRS-XB13 is a small portable speaker with a carrying strap. It’s well-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and has incredible directivity, resulting in a wide and natural-sounding soundstage. Unfortunately, it doesn’t float in water like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3.
See our review
JBL PartyBox 710:
The JBL PartyBox 710 is a much larger speaker than the JBL PartyBox 310 that can produce a more extended low bass. You can feel the deep thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music, and it can also get incredibly loud. However, unlike the 310, it isn’t battery-powered or very portable, so you can’t easily transport it.
See our review
Denon Home 350:
The Denon Home 350 is another premium speaker with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. It has a better low-frequency extension than the Sonos Era 300, so you enjoy more rumble. However, its soundstage isn’t as impressive, and the speaker lacks Dolby Atmos support.
See our review

Recent Updates

Jun 22, 2023:
Minor text updates for clarity. No changes in product picks.
May 29, 2023:
Product picks remain the same, with some minor text updates for clarity.
May 02, 2023:
Replaced the Denon Home 350 with the Sonos Era 300 as the ‘Best Home Speaker’.
Apr 06, 2023:
The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 was our best budget pick, but its price has risen above that of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. The Ultimate Ears is the better speaker, so it’s our new ‘Best Budget’ pick.
Mar 08, 2023:
Confirmed picks are relevant; minor text updates for clarity.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wireless Bluetooth speakers for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price (cheaper speakers win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakers that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here’s a list of all our reviews for the best Bluetooth speakers. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect speakers. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

Denon Home 350 Review – RTINGS.com

Tested using
Methodology v0.8

Reviewed Mar 24, 2021 at 08:25 am

Latest change: Writing modified Apr 04, 2023 at 11:08 am

By John Panoryios, Vanessa McCuaig, and John Peroramas

6.7

Videos/Movies

6.2

Podcasts

8. 7

Voice Assistant

5.4

Outdoors

overview
test results
deals
discussions

Battery Powered

Speakerphone

Voice Assistant

Yes

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

Yes

The Denon Home 350 is a wired speaker designed for home use. You can add it to your Denon DHT-S716H soundbar and Denon DSW-h2 subwoofer if you want to create a 5.1 home theater setup. If you want to use it as a standalone speaker, it has a slightly boomy sound profile that you can tweak using its companion app’s bass and treble sliders. It also gets pretty loud and offers fantastic voice assistant support with Alexa built-in. That said, it has extremely high Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android, which makes streaming videos a frustrating experience.

Our Verdict

7.6

Music

The Denon Home 350 is good for music. It has a slightly boomy sound profile that’s well-suited for most audio genres. If you prefer a different sound, there are bass and treble sliders available in the companion app. However, while it can play stereo content, its soundstage isn’t very wide, so it won’t sound very immersive. It can also get pretty loud, but there are some compression artifacts at max volume.

Cons

Narrow directivity.

6.7

Videos/Movies

The Denon Home 350 is okay for videos and movies. It has a slightly boomy sound profile which can help bring out the intensity of sound effects in action-packed scenes. You can also hook it up to your compatible Denon soundbar if you want to create a more immersive home theater setup. However, while the bar can get loud, there are some compression artifacts at max volume. Its soundstage isn’t very wide, either, so your audio may not sound as immersive.

6.2

Podcasts

The Denon Home 350 is fair for podcasts. Its slightly boomy sound profile has a neutral mid-range, so vocal-centric content like podcasts or audiobooks sounds detailed and accurate. However, it has sub-par directivity, so your audio won’t sound as clear from all directions. It also doesn’t support multi-device pairing, so can’t connect it to your phone and computer at the same time. On the upside, it supports multi-room, so you can link several units together to play different content across your home.

Pros

Can get very loud.

Cons

Narrow directivity.

8.7

Voice Assistant

The Denon Home 350 offers excellent voice assistant support with Alexa built-in. You can activate the assistant using your voice, and it can hear you from far away and in noisy environments. You can even mute the speaker’s mic when you no longer want it to listen to you. Unfortunately, its directivity is disappointing, so you can’t hear your assistant as clearly from all angles. Also, while you can control the speaker’s audio via Google Assistant, this requires a third-party Google Assistant-enabled device.

Pros

Can get very loud.
Mic mute button.

Cons

Narrow directivity.

5.4

Outdoors

The Denon Home 350 is a wired speaker and can’t be used outdoors.

7.6

Music
6. 7

Videos/Movies
6.2

Podcasts
8.7

Voice Assistant
5.4

Outdoors

+ Create your own

Updated Apr 04, 2023:
Added market comparison for the Marshall Woburn III in the Wired box.
Updated Aug 10, 2022:
Added a comparison with the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021 in the ‘Dynamics’ box.
Updated Mar 09, 2022:
Firmware update adds Alexa support.
Updated Mar 24, 2021:
Review published.
Updated Mar 19, 2021:
Early access published.

Check Price

Black

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White

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Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Denon Home 350 comes in two color variants: ‘Black’ and ‘White’. We tested the Black variant, and you can see its label here. However, we expect both color variants to perform similarly to our model.

If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions and we’ll update our review.

Compared To Other Speakers

The Denon Home 350 is a wired home speaker. In the same vein as the Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Sonos Five, it can be added to a pre-existing compatible Denon soundbar setup if you’re looking for a more immersive audio experience. That said, on its own, it offers a slightly boomy sound profile that fans of EDM and action movies can enjoy. It also gets pretty loud and comes with Alexa built-in. It even has a USB port if you want to listen to audio from a flash drive. However, its extremely high Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android devices causes syncing issues between the audio you hear and the visuals you see when watching videos and movies.

Check out our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.

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The Denon Home 350 is a slightly better speaker than the Sonos Five overall, though they perform similarly. The Denon can get louder with fewer compression artifacts, and it supports Bluetooth, although it has high iOS and Android latency. It also offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa built-in. However, the Sonos has a slightly better-balanced sound profile and it has a more immersive soundstage.

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The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a better speaker for most uses than the Denon Home 350. The Bose has better controls, a more immersive soundstage and it has outstanding built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support. It also has lower iOS and Android latency via Bluetooth. However, the Denon can get louder and you can connect two units to create a stereo pair. It can also reproduce more low-bass, which some users may prefer.

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The Denon Home 350 and the Sonos Era 300 are both premium home speakers with unique strengths. Each support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, with built-in Alexa support for hands-free control. The Sonos has a better soundstage performance, with a wider and more immersive feel to its sound. It supports Dolby Atmos, too, so you can listen to Dolby Atmos Music or Dolby Atmos content with a paired soundbar. However, it doesn’t reproduce quite as much low-bass as the Denon.

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The Denon Home 350 is a better speaker than the Sonos One Gen 2 overall. The Denon offers outstanding support via Alexa. It has a better-balanced sound profile, has a more immersive soundstage, and can get louder with fewer compression artifacts. It also supports Bluetooth, although it has high latency on iOS and Android. That said, the Sonos comes with both Google Assistant and Alexa built-in, though it isn’t as good as the Denon at registering your commands in noisier settings. It also has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage, though it has to downmix stereo content to mono in order to play it, which isn’t as immersive.

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The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021 is slightly better than the Denon Home 350, though they’re similar speakers with different strengths. Both are smart home speakers that offer fantastic voice assistant support with Alexa built-in. However, the Denon can produce a more extended low-bass that can produce the deep thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music. You can connect it to a compatible Denon soundbar too. That said, the Bowers & Wilkins offers a wider-sounding soundstage and has less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio quality at louder volume levels. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices, making it better suited for watching videos and movies.

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The Denon Home 350 and the Marshall Woburn III are both high-end home speakers with wired-only designs. The Marshall boasts the company’s signature guitar amp design, which some users may prefer. However, only the Denon supports Wi-Fi connectivity and built-in voice assistants.

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The Denon Home 350 is better for home use than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge. Both are stylish wired-only speakers with sleek designs, though the Bowers & Wilkins will stand out more in your home decor. That said, it can’t reproduce as much low-bass as the Denon and lacks built-in voice assistant support. Overall, the Denon is the more versatile choice.

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The Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 and the Denon Home 350 have different strengths and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. The Harman/Kardon is a battery-powered speaker that you can take with you outdoors. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don’t currently test for this, its Bluetooth performance is better, and it can be paired with up to two devices at once. However, the Denon is a home speaker that can only be used wired. It has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, a better soundstage and dynamics performance, and it supports Wi-Fi. It also has a companion app with bass and treble sliders so you can tweak its sound to your liking.

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The Denon Home 350 is a better speaker than the Yamaha MusicCast 50 overall, though they have different strengths. With its default settings, it has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce much deeper bass than the Yamaha. It can also get a bit louder than it. The Yamaha has less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner sound at louder volume levels. It also features a graphic EQ and presets you can use to customize its sound to your liking.

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The Denon Home 350 is a better speaker than the Klipsch The One II. The Denon’s sound profile is a bit better balanced and can produce a more extended low-bass than the Klipsch. It also features bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound to your liking, and it’s Wi-Fi compatible. That said, the Klipsch can get a bit louder than the Denon and has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, though some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary.

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The Denon Home 350 is a more versatile speaker than the Apple HomePod (1st generation) and is easier to find in new condition since the Apple’s been discontinued. The Denon has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, and it can get louder, although with a bit more compression. It also has bass and treble sliders to adjust its sound, it supports Bluetooth, and comes with Alexa built-in. It also has lower Apple AirPlay latency. However, the Apple has Siri built-in and a wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design.

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Test Results

Sort Category───────────RATINGSMusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoors

Category AllDesignSoundActive FeaturesConnectivity

Design

RGB Lights

The Denon Home 350 is a rectangular speaker that’s meant to sit horizontally on its base. It has a glass top with tactile buttons, and there’s a small status light on the front bottom of the speaker, underneath the Denon logo. It also comes in white.

Volume

939 in³ (15,390 cm³)

Weight

15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)

Power Source

AC Only

One-Hand Carry

The Denon Home 350 isn’t very portable. It’s somewhat large and can only be used when plugged into a wall outlet.

Material Quality

Great

Water Resistance

Dust Resistance

Impact Resistance

Unspecified

Floats In Water

The Denon Home 350 has an alright build quality. It feels solid and sturdy, with a tight fabric wrap across its front and back sides, which doesn’t feel like it could easily tear. The speaker also sits on two low-profile rubber corners and has a glass top for its tactile controls. However, it lacks an IP rating for dust and water resistance, so you should use caution if you want to use it around water.

Ease Of Use

Great

Feedback

Good

Music Play/Pause

Yes (Tactile)

Call Answer/End

Volume Up/Down

Yes (Tactile)

Track Next/Previous

Yes (Tactile)

Microphone On/Off

Additional Controls

Yes

This speaker has alright controls. The top side has glass with a sensor. When you bring your hands near it, the tactile buttons light up then fade automatically. You can adjust this timing via its companion app. There are volume buttons, as well as a play/pause button that you can double-tap to skip to the next track. You can also triple-tap this button if you want to return to the previous track. There are six programmable preset buttons so you can add your favorite radio stations. On the front side, there’s an indicator light that blinks blue when adjusting the volume, and is solid blue when connected to your network. It turns red if there’s a hardware or setup issue, and is solid amber when you’re setting up the companion app. However, there are no prompts for min/max volume or track skipping.

Denon Home 350 speaker
Power cable
User Manual
Screw for wall mounting

Sound

Slope

-0.07

Std. Err.

3.42 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

28.7 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

13.9 kHz

The Denon Home 350 has great frequency response accuracy. With its default settings, it has a slightly boomy sound profile that can please fans of EDM and hip-hop. The mid-range is still balanced, so vocals and lead instruments are clear, detailed, and accurate.

Note: Even though this speaker doesn’t have room correction, the HEOS app has a feature that asks about the speaker’s placement to ensure the best bass response possible. You can select one of three placement choices to optimize its bass response: having the speaker in an open space away from walls, next to a wall or on a shelf, or in a corner between two walls. We tested this speaker after confirming within the HEOS app that we were placing it in an open space.

Binaural Recording @ 1m

Binaural Recording @ 2m

Directivity Index

6.13 dB

Stereo

Yes

The Denon Home 350 has an okay soundstage. While it can play stereo content, its directivity is sub-par. As a result, its soundstage is perceived as shallow and narrow, which may not sound very immersive.

SPL @ Max Volume

97.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume

3.33 dB

The Denon Home 350 has a decent dynamics performance. While it can get quite loud, there are some pumping and compression artifacts at max volume, especially in the bass range. For a similar home speaker with less compression at max volume, consider the Yamaha MusicCast 50 or the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin 2021.

Active Features

Battery Life

N/A

Charge Time

N/A

Power Saving

Charging Port

No Battery

Battery Powered

Alexa

Built-in (Wi-Fi Only)

Google Assistant

Speakerphone

Siri

Voice Assistant

Yes

Voice Activation

Yes

Microphone Mute

Yes

Far-Field Performance

Excellent

Ambient Noise Performance

Excellent

Update 03/09/2022: After updating the HEOS app to the latest firmware, this speaker supports Amazon Alexa voice assistant.

The Denon Home 350 offers fantastic voice assistant support via Amazon Alexa. You can activate Alexa using your voice, and it does an excellent job of understanding your commands from far away and in noisy rooms. You can even mute the speaker’s mic when you no longer want your assistant to listen to you. That said, while it doesn’t come with Google Assistant built-in, the manufacturer says you can control the speaker’s audio via Google Assistant when connected to a Google Assistant-enabled third-party device.

App Name

Heos

iOS

Yes

Android

Yes

Bass/Treble

Stereo Pair Mode

Yes

Party Mode

Yes

Multi-Room

Yes

The HEOS app is fantastic. It has bass and treble sliders so that you can adjust its sound to your liking. You can also pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair, link multiple speakers to cover a large room, or connect them to play audio in multiple rooms of your home.

Connectivity

Aux Input

Yes

USB Audio

Other Ports

Yes

The Denon Home 350 can only be used wired. It has a 3.5mm AUX input, an ethernet port, and a USB port so you can play audio files from a flash drive. If you want a speaker with an HDMI ARC input, check out the Marshall Woburn III.

Bluetooth

Yes

Bluetooth Version

Unspecified

Bluetooth iOS Latency

575 ms

Bluetooth Android Latency

499 ms

Bluetooth Range

328.1 ft (100. 0 m)

Multi-Device Pairing

The Denon Home 350 has disappointing Bluetooth connectivity. It has very high audio latency, which can be a pain if you’re streaming video. Even after we tested its performance three times and restarted the speaker and our mobile phone, audio from the speaker was still very out of sync. For a speaker with better Bluetooth latency performances, check out the Klipsch The One II.

Wi-Fi Version

Wi-Fi 5

Wi-Fi Frequency Band

2.4GHz & 5GHz

Wi-Fi

Yes

Apple AirPlay

Yes

AirPlay Latency

2 ms

Google Chromecast

Chromecast Latency

N/A

The Denon Home 350 has great Wi-Fi compatibility. You can stream your favorite tunes to the speaker using Apple AirPlay. It also has very low latency using this connection, so your audio stays in sync with your video. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support Chromecast.

Sound Energy: JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker Review

The summer turned out to be eventful and a variety of devices for summer pastime visited our editorial office. A large part of them were wireless speakers. According to distributors, the competition in the Ukrainian market for this segment is fierce. And even in the segment of top devices with a high price tag. Therefore, it is all the more interesting to see what else is offered to our users. Next, let’s get acquainted with the JBL Charge 3, which, by the way, one way or another has to be compared with Ultimate Ears, in particular, the one-class Megaboom.

The UE Megaboom and JBL Charge 3 speakers are very comparable in terms of features and capabilities. There are two subwoofer cones on the sides, while the mid-range and high-frequency speakers are distributed along the body.

It has a rubber platform for stability and good contact. In the same place, below, there are diodes indicating the state of the battery. Red indicates the charge is depleted, and a set of white indicates the degree of charge.

There is a cover behind the rubber platform that hides the 3.5mm audio port, Micro USB and USB Type-A. The latter serves to charge other devices. That is, the column can simultaneously act as a power bank. Note that the cap is non-removable, which is good, as there will be less chance of losing it during active pastime.

Almost the entire area of the case has a mesh of fabric and metal. Therefore, dirt and dust are easily washed off from it. Moreover, the case is protected according to the IPX7 standard, that is, you can swim with it at a depth of one meter for up to half an hour.

Control buttons located on top. A separate key is responsible for activating Bluetooth, two for volume control and one for pause / start playback. In the middle, the power button and the pairing button with other speakers from JBL are highlighted in white. Therefore, a proprietary application does not need to be installed. It is used for a JBL Pulse column similar in format, where animation and backlight colors are configured.

The battery life of Charge 3 was on par with the competitive Megaboom – 20 hours. JBL does not hide this data and says that a 6000 mAh battery is installed. It takes 4.5 hours to charge the speaker.

The most interesting point for comparison was the sound. On the one hand, the predominance of bass is clearly audible in JBL, which, moreover, is not “locked” at maximum volume. Some of the bass compositions on the Megaboom were still beyond its technical reproducibility.

On the other hand, the JBL has slightly underdeveloped mids. Of course, the vocal part is heard well, but the depth is not enough. A number of popular songs on it are not heard as well as on Megaboom. So there is some compromise here. It is clear that such a wireless speaker should not be designed for a crystal clear audio stage and symphony orchestra conductors. You can’t fool physics though.

In the end, JBL Charge 3 liked the richer bass and the battery that allows you to charge other devices. Of course, water resistance has become a cool feature, which is now a trend not only for smartphones, but also for portable acoustics. Last but not least, the price was an important factor. It is significantly lower than for Megaboom, and the lack of expressiveness of the middle range can definitely be forgiven for this difference.

JBL Charge 3
Maximum sound level:	80 dB
Frequency range:	65 – 20,000 Hz
Speakers:	2 x 50 mm (10 W) + 2 x 4” passive radiator
Connection:	Bluetooth 4. 1 (A2DP)
Connectors:	Micro USB, 3.5 mm Mini Jack, USB Type-A
Protection:	IPX7
Dimensions:	213 x 87 x 88.5 mm
Price:	4749 UAH

Rating:

+ body protection

+ price

+ powerful low frequencies

– disadvantage medium

Home » Instructions » Bluetooth

0002

01/17/2023 Eugene

In this topic, we will talk about the standard application for Android Bluetooth speaker, which is preinstalled in most modern smartphones and allows you to play music on both smartphones at the same time.

Contents

When it can be useful

What devices can it be implemented on

How to set it up

Connecting to Bluetooth speakers

How to play music synchronously on several Android devices via Bluetooth: Video 9 0168

In what cases it can come in handy

You can use Android as a Bluetooth speaker while relaxing in nature, when your friend has a very loud phone with high-quality sound, and you have great music, and so that you do not transfer your media files to your friend, you can immediately play them on his smartphone.

On what devices it can be implemented

In order to use a friend’s Android device as a Bluetooth speaker, it is desirable that both devices are from the same manufacturer and on an OS version of at least 4.0. For example, LG has a standard feature called SmartShare Beam, which we will consider in our example.

The devices must also have a Bluetooth module.

How to set up

Once you have verified that these devices support SmartShare, follow these steps.

On both devices:

Go to Settings.

Open the “Bluetooth” item.

Switch the rocker, which is located on the top right, to the active position to enable wireless communication.

Make sure the checkbox next to the device name is checked. This is necessary so that both devices can detect each other.

On the device that will act as a player:

In the device list window, click on the “Search” button to scan available devices.

Select the name of the smartphone that will act as a speaker to connect.

If a confirmation window appears, agree by clicking on “Connection” on both devices.

Exit to the main menu and start the standard player, in most cases its icon is called “Music”.

After launching the player, for example, on LG, you need to click on the icon in the form of a communicator with an arrow coming from it, it is located in the upper right part of the display.

The next window will display the available streaming devices. If you did not immediately see the name of the device you need, click on the “Add” touch button.

Select the Bluetooth tab.

Select the name of the desired device, then pairing is performed.

Now you can play your tracks, and the sound will be played on a nearby device.

Connecting to Bluetooth speakers

Related topic – How to connect Android to Bluetooth speakers. This can be done both with and without the SmartShare function, on any devices that have a Bluetooth module.

What is needed for this

For this we need:

Any device with Bluetooth.

Wireless speaker, also called Bluetooth speaker for Android.

Pairing instructions

First, we’ll show you how to pair using SmartShare.

Activate device discovery mode on your speaker according to its instructions.

Perform all other actions on your phone in the same way as steps 1 to 9, as we showed when we connected two phones.

The second way, which should work for most machines. Since Bluetooth speakers for Android are connected in the same way as a wireless stereo headset, we will perform the following operations:

Turn on the detection mode on the dispenser.

On your smartphone, go to Bluetooth settings.

Perform a search.

Connect to a wireless speaker.

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Notable Mentions

Recent Updates

All Reviews

Denon Home 350 Review – RTINGS.com

Our Verdict

Check Price

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

Compared To Other Speakers

Test Results

Sound Energy: JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth Speaker Review

In what cases it can come in handy

On what devices it can be implemented

How to set up

Connecting to Bluetooth speakers

What is needed for this

Pairing instructions