The best portable speakers with IPX7 rating and above

The portable speaker has a good price-quality ratio: it is an inexpensive model that can be used at home or outdoors, or taken with you to training or on a hike. It is made in a minimalist design, weighs about 800 g and easily fits in a backpack - you can even just carry it in your hand. The case has a mount for a strap (included) or a carabiner (sold separately). The body is covered with fabric material, there are rubberized inserts at the bottom for stability, and a control panel at the top. But the most important thing is that the device has IPX7 protection, that is, it is not afraid of rain, moisture and splashes of water in the event of a party by the pool or pond.

Inside there are two speakers with a total power of 16 W and a passive radiator for low frequencies. There is no equalizer or other sound settings, but there is an additional Deep Bass mode that enhances the bass. In general, the speaker's capabilities fully correspond to its price: it produces quite decent sound, is suitable for playing music of almost any genre and has a good volume reserve. Bluetooth 5.0 technology is provided for wireless connection to the source; there is also an AUX (3.5 mm audio input) for wired connection to a smartphone, computer, laptop and other devices. If you have two identical speakers, they can be paired for richer and more spacious stereo sound. And the microphone allows you to make phone calls as a speakerphone.

Also an interesting feature is the voice informant - a mechanical female voice that voices most actions in English: turning on, connecting, turning off, etc. By pressing several special buttons, she can even tell the battery charge level. However, it is worth recognizing that this “lady” is very “sociable” and quite loud, so over time her presence becomes annoying.

A 2600 mAh battery is installed inside the case, which ensures autonomous operation. According to the manufacturer, one charge lasts up to 13 hours, but at 50% volume. The type of connection also affects autonomy - Bluetooth requires more energy. Therefore, if you turn the volume to maximum and use a wireless connection, the speaker will have to be charged often. It takes about 4 hours to fully restore the charge.

At its price, Tronsmart's speaker borders on the budget segment, but is a worthy competitor to more expensive models in terms of functions and sound quality. Since people are always greeted by their clothes, the manufacturer paid attention to appearance. This is a stylish portable speaker, available in several colors, the highlight of which is RGB lighting - an LED ring at the top of the body with four lighting effects. It can shimmer in different colors or even “pulsate” to the beat of music, complementing the atmosphere of a home party. Another good solution is the rotary control above the backlight - it makes it easy to decrease or increase the volume without having to constantly press the buttons.

The gadget has a cylindrical shape, weighs about 900 g and fits comfortably in the hand. The design is shaped and sized like a water bottle, so you can carry the device in your hands, hang it on your wrist using a strap, put it in the side compartment of your backpack, or even install it in a bottle holder on your bike. The model can withstand active use, primarily thanks to IPX7 protection. It means that the speaker is not afraid of rain, snow, splashes and accidentally spilled water, so you can safely take it with you outdoors, on hikes, to get-togethers with friends by the lake or pool.

The audio system provides 360-degree surround sound thanks to two high-frequency speakers and one low-frequency speaker with a total power of 30 W. Of course, there are no professional settings here, but several preset modes are available, including SoundPulse with deeper bass, and manual frequency adjustment in the proprietary mobile application. Bluetooth 5.3 is responsible for the wireless connection, which ensures delay-free sound transmission over a distance of up to 18 meters. There is no standard audio jack, but the speaker allows you to connect a microSD memory card via a card reader and stream tracks from there. Additional features include TWS for synchronizing two devices into a stereo pair and a microphone for speakerphone during phone calls.

The 2000 mAh battery guarantees a fairly long battery life - up to 12 hours. This is based on using 50% volume, which is quite enough for most cases. The battery charges via the USB C port and takes about 3 hours to fully charge. The speaker can work simultaneously with charging, but it is better to be careful with water at this time, since a special plug protecting the connectors is open.

Sony says the speaker was inspired by professional concert audio systems. More precisely, to create a new linear diffuser. Typically, speakers use round diffusers, but here Sony has implemented a non-standard shape - something between an oval and a triangle. This is designed to increase sound pressure, deliver richer bass, reduce speaker vibration, and distribute sound equally in all directions. In addition, there are dual passive radiators for bass reproduction. The manufacturer does not indicate the total power of the speaker. In practice, it produces a clear and rich, but slightly muffled sound, and for large rooms (25 - 30 square meters or more) the volume will have to be increased to the maximum, since the standard 50 - 60% may not be enough for comfortable listening.

Connection to the sound source is only wireless using Bluetooth 5.2 technology. The device can be used for hands-free calls during phone calls, and includes echo cancellation for clear voice transmission. For control, there are buttons on the body and a proprietary mobile application. There's even a dedicated button on the control panel to mute the microphone, for when you're in a group of people or just concerned about privacy. Stereo Pair allows you to combine two devices into a stereo pair, and if you have more speakers, Party Connect allows you to synchronize up to 100 audio systems.

As with power, Sony doesn't specify the capacity of the built-in battery. But one charge should be enough for up to 16 hours of battery life (at a volume level of about 30%). Of course, the higher the volume, the lower this figure will be, but, in general, you won’t have to think about charging until the evening. And even if you have to, a quick charge in just 10 minutes provides 70 minutes of full-time operation of the speaker. The battery is charged via the USB C port, the cable is included in the package.

If we talk about appearance, the model looks expensive and stylish. The body is made of matte plastic, which quickly collects fingerprints but is easy to clean. And only some parts of it are covered with fabric. Thanks to its pentagonal shape, the device can be stood upright or laid on its side. The speaker is not too large, weighs 800 g and is equipped with a strap, so you can take it with you on walks, trips and outdoor recreation. At the same time, she is ready for almost any test. The IP67 rating indicates complete protection against dust, so beaches and any surfaces in the garden or park are not dangerous. And the water resistance allows you to use the speaker in the rain, near bodies of water (the manufacturer indicates resistance to salt water) and even wash the case. In addition, Sony assures that the model has been thoroughly tested for durability, withstands shocks and bumps and is resistant to scratches that may occur during everyday use.

Sony X-Series SRS-XE200 is available in several colors to suit every taste - in subdued colors and more vibrant ones.

JBL needs no introduction, as it has built a reputation for quality speaker systems. And its model JBL Flip 6, as the name suggests, is already the sixth generation of the Flip series and, traditionally for this product line, combines good sound and compact size. This is a two-way audio system with a total power of 30 W with a full-range speaker for bass and mid frequencies, a separate tweeter and two optimized passive radiators for bass frequencies. In general, the manufacturer has squeezed out everything possible from the device given its size: you get pleasant, balanced mono sound when listening to music of any genre and a volume level sufficient for small rooms and the street. If you really need stereo sound or an entire home audio system, the PartyBoost function allows you to connect a couple or more compatible devices.

There is only one wireless method for connection via Bluetooth 5.1, but the speaker can be simultaneously synchronized with several gadgets to quickly switch between them. For control, there are several buttons on the body and a mobile application - it certainly provides more options for settings. And autonomy is provided by a 4800 mAh battery, which provides up to 12 hours of continuous operation and is fully charged in 2.5 hours.

The second principle the Flip line focuses on is portability. The dimensions of the model are 178x72x68 mm, and the weight is only 550 g. Simply put, it can be compared to a 0.5-liter bottle. It fits easily in a bag or backpack, fits comfortably in your hand and can accompany you anywhere: to a workout, a walk, meeting with friends, a trip, etc. And IP67 water and dust protection facilitates active use outdoors in any weather. A big plus is that the model is available in a variety of colors, so everyone can choose a color to their liking.

Thus, JBL does not rely on multifunctionality: for example, many competitors offer the function of charging third-party gadgets or at least speakerphone, which the JBL Flip 6 does not have. This is “just” a Bluetooth speaker, but with good sound from a well-known manufacturer - for those users who are not chasing a list of features in three volumes. By the way, the company’s product range includes other lines of devices: Charge with the Powerbank function, Go with even smaller dimensions, and Xtreme - large-sized and more powerful stereo acoustics.

If there was a beauty contest among portable speakers, this model would definitely be on the list of contenders for victory. Perhaps only other Marshall models can compete with it, because the company’s refined taste is something to be envied. True, the speaker has a fairly high price tag, but its appearance and high quality make you forget about the numbers. The manufacturer calls its signature design a reflection of the heritage of rock and roll: a pleasant-to-touch leather-like coating, metal mesh on the sides, a golden company logo and controls made in retro style - the Marshall Emberton II will become not just a device for playing music, but also a real interior decoration.

In addition, the speaker is easy to use: it is compact and weighs 700 g, so it easily fits in your hand or backpack. The case is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP67 standard. This means that the “baby” is not afraid of rain, splashes and even withstands short-term immersions under water - to a depth of 1 meter for a maximum of 30 minutes. So you can safely take it with you on trips, outdoor recreation, hikes and parties with friends on the beach.

But design is far from the only trump card of the model. As with the styling, Marshall has that signature high-quality sound. In this case, it is responsible for two 2-inch speakers with a power of 10 W, two passive radiators and True Stereophonic technology, which guarantees 360-degree omnidirectional sound. In practice, the speaker produces powerful, balanced, clear sound with rich bass, and the volume reserve is more than enough for everyday use. If desired, two or more audio systems can be connected to each other for synchronous playback.

The device connects to a smartphone, tablet or other source using Bluetooth 5.1 and is compatible with a mobile app available on iOS and Android. There you'll find equalizer settings and access additional controls and over-the-air updates.

The autonomy also deserves praise, as the Marshall Emberton II made a huge leap forward compared to its predecessor and increased the operating time on a single charge by 10 hours. And this despite the fact that the first generation Emberton already had fairly high performance - 20 hours. As a result, the speaker provides more than 30 hours of battery life, and fast charging provides 4 hours of music listening in just 20 minutes at a power outlet. A useful addition will be an indicator on the case, which indicates the battery charge level.