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The loudest bluetooth speaker for every budget

How can you get the most robust sound without sacrificing your dollar?

Get the party started with the loudest bluetooth speakers on the market

South_agency via Getty

With summertime right around the corner, now is the perfect time to gearing up for those sunny summer afternoon gatherings, such as pool parties, graduation celebrations or simple picnics with your friends. Regardless of your preferred activity — be it indoors or outdoors, with friends or alone — the ability to jam out is sure to improve it.

Bluetooth speakers give you the ability to take, and share, your tunes anywhere. However, the market is filled with speakers that promise booming sound — when in reality they’re barely louder than an iPhone speaker. Thankfully, there are good quality speakers that produce good volume in relation to their price at every price point. 

How we selected the loudest bluetooth speakers 

We conducted thorough research into a range of bluetooth speakers, which began with manufacturer reported specifications and grew to include everything from consumer reviews on Amazon to in-depth third party sound tests and ratings. Whether it’s a budget speaker that packs a serious punch or a high-end option from a name brand that will elevate your away-from-home listening experience, each speaker on this list is the result of research, testing and verified customer reviews. When selecting the loudest speakers at each price point we paid special attention to the following criteria: 

  • Volume and Sound Quality: First and foremost, we took the decibel rating into consideration. However, decibels don’t account for sound quality, just pure volume, so we made sure to select speakers that are known for maintaining balance at their max volume, which meant factoring in the power supply and peak delivery, which is measured in watts. 

  • Battery Life: Each speaker on this list is entirely portable, and the last thing you want is to invest in a speaker, schlepp it to your destination and then have it turn off after a few hours. Good battery life is essential, and each speaker on this list reflects that. 

  • Value: Speakers, especially those from well-known brands such as Bose, tend to be expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great value, at both low and high price points. We made sure to include speakers that had a high quality to cost ratio in our judgment. 

  • Technology: Last but certainly least, we considered the technology that each speaker is equipped with. For example, speakers with Bluetooth 5.0 deliver superior sound quality in comparison to previous generations of Bluetooth technology, but that doesn’t mean that Bluetooth 4.0 on a budget speaker is a bad choice. The technological aspect of each speaker was factored into its value and sound quality as well. 

Loudest budget bluetooth speakers

Anker Soundcore 3 ($50.99)

Quick Take: For $50 you can't beat the Soundcore 3’s build quality, battery life and volume. 

What you’ll love: The Soundcore 3 is truly portable thanks to the fact that it’s less than 1.5 inches in both height and width; you can easily toss it into your backpack or tote for a quick day trip. You won’t have to worry about the battery because it has 24 hours of continuous playtime, which is pretty incredible considering its size. Lastly, the Soundcore 3 utilized true titanium drivers, which are much more rigid than the traditional plastic drivers you’ll find in similarly priced speakers, and therefore provide crisper highs and deeper lows at high volumes. 

What you should consider: While this speaker is loud for it’s size, it cannot compete with significant background noise. 

Houl Zallee IPX7 Waterproof Speaker ($79.99)

Houl Zallee
amazon.com
$79.99

Quick Take: While there’s no big brand behind this speaker, it puts out a big sound and the fact that it’s waterproof makes it ideal for days on the beach, by the lake or on the banks of a river. 

What you’ll love: This speaker has 32 hours of playtime on a single charge, and 40 watts of power, which means you can use it for outdoor gatherings without an issue. Plus, although this speaker only costs $61, it is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 and can even be paired with a second one to create a dynamic soundstage that nicely envelopes a given space. 

What you should consider: This speaker is quite large, although not too heavy, and has a function-forward look that some may not like. 

Loudest mid-level bluetooth speakers 

Anker Soundcore Motion Boom ($109.99)

Quick Take: The Motion Boom was designed for the outdoors and is equipped with technology that compensates for the lack of walls from which the soundwaves can continuously reverberate. 

What you’ll love: If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in technology but don’t want to break the bank, look no further. For a fair price of $110 you get Bluetooth 5.0, true titanium drivers and a companion app that allows you to customize the equalization to match the music that you’re listening to. The shock resistant exterior, integrated carry handle and waterproofing are all an added bonus and make this speaker both versatile and capable. To top it all off, this speaker is equipped with Anker’s patented Bass Up technology, which automatically analyzes incoming frequencies in real time to ensure that your sound doesn’t distort. 

What you should consider: There is only one color to choose from. 

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 ($169.99)

Quick Take: As the name suggests, the Megaboom is beloved by bass heads around the world, who appreciate the ability to take thundering sound wherever they go. 

What you’ll love: In addition to the roaring sound, you can choose from a variety of colorways and pair with other Ultimate Ears’ speakers in the area, allowing you to bring the party wherever you want. Unlike the Anker Motion Boom, the Megaboom 3 utilizes a 360° design that maximizes volume both indoors and outdoors. The Megaboom 3 also comes with a companion app that lets you do more than just toggle the equalizer. In the app you can do everything from remotely control your speaker to set musical alarms for your morning routine. 

What you should consider: The bass can be overwhelming, and make certain genres of music sound slightly different, such as rock and roll. 

Marshall Acton II ($225.99)

Quick Take: Marshall has earned a reputation for producing some of the loudest, best designed speakers on the market, and the Acton II is evidence that the companies’ rock n’ roll roots are still alive. 

What you’ll love: The Acton II has an independent Class D driver for each of the two tweeters and the subwoofer, ensuring that every aspect of your music is being pumped out in the highest possible quality. The Acton II also features Marshall's fan-favorite amplifier-inspired design, making it the perfect complement to any instagrams photos that may follow the festivities. 

What you should consider: With a price tag of $225, this speaker is at the high end of mid-range, and you're partially paying a premium for the brand name. 

Loudest high-end bluetooth speakers 

JBL Boombox 2 ($499.99)

Quick Take: The Boombox 2 is ideal for anyone that doesn’t want to compromise on volume or sound quality at all when it comes to their portable speaker. 

What you’ll love: With more than 80 watts of peak power, and the ability to achieve volumes as high as 97 decibels, this speaker is powerful enough for large outdoor gatherings. Also, unlike many other extra-large portable speakers, the Boombox 2 has 24 hours of playtime, which equals or bests most of its mid-sized competitors. To top it all off, you can get a bundle that comes with a sleek carbon fiber patterned carrying case for the same price as the speaker by itself. 

What you should consider: This speaker weighs more than 20 lbs, which reduces its portability, especially for longer excursions. 

Bose S1 Pro ($549.00)

Quick Take: Few brands are as synonymous with sound quality and prestige as Bose is, and the S1 delivers exactly what you would expect from a portable PA system - huge volume. 

What you’ll love: This speaker more than makes up for its bland looks by pumping out clear audio at high volumes for a fairly reasonable price, considering it’s Bose. While other speakers struggle to compete with the background noise, the S1 can be clearly heard from quite a distance, even there’s a number of auditory obstacles. Also can you be rest assured that this speaker won’t distort thanks to the fact that Bose has been perfecting their balancing for decades. 

What you should consider: The S1 is quite large and difficult to transport. It’s meant to be taken from one place to another and then placed for a while, not to be carried everywhere.