ANYONE CAN CARRYATUNE

From the cheap and cheerful to premium devices for serious listening, there's a portable Bluetooth speaker for everyone

The human race might have made a mess of all sorts of things on this planet, but it has also come up with the wheel, the printing press and the telephone. Music lovers (ie anyone in their right mind) might justifiably add the Bluetooth speaker to the list of great inventions; it has certainly revolutionised the way we listen to music, adding convenience and affordability.

The great thing about modern Bluetooth speakers is the variety of hardware on offer. One glance at the image above, which illustrates the nine models we are looking at in this round-up, is enough to make the point. These things really do come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the truly diminutive – the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 is so small you can easily slip it into your pocket – to the more substantial; the Sonos Move 2, for example, applies a more nuanced definition of the word ‘portable’.

Sound quality is always of paramount importance, of course, but the key thing to consider when buying a Bluetooth speaker is how you are going to use it. Do you want something you can easily pop in a bag to provide background music at the beach, or is sound quality more important than easy portability? Then there’s battery life; what will do fine for a few hours in the garden might not be practical for a weekend camping trip.

Whatever your wireless listening priorities, we feel sure there will be something in the following pages to suit your needs and budget. So, do carry on.

TRIBIT STORMBOX MICRO 2

A tiny budget speaker that makes a big impact