8 mobile Bluetooth speakers tested

The technology of mobile Bluetooth speakers is convincing: Only once the smartphone with the loudspeaker couple, then the wireless music genius nothing stands in the way. The phone sends the music stored on it to the loudspeaker and thus becomes a comfortable remote control. Calls can be carried over the speaker as a hands-free system, and microphones are included in such equipped loudspeaker models.


Mobile Bluetooth speakers tested


This time tested price class from 55 to 100 euros has batteries, which allows mobile listening. As a radio technology, Bluetooth is used in this box price class, while the airplay used for radio loudspeakers can also be found in network-controlled loudspeakers of medium and upper class.


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In the loudspeaker test, the Bayan Audio with the Soundbook GO is for 100 euros. The SP-ABT1 from JVC beats at around 80 euros, as well as the models Street from the English company Jam and the BT3500 from Philips. TDK joins the A12 for 60 euros, which must also be applied to the Terratec BT NEO. The Sony SRS-X2 is available for 80 euros and last, not least we have the model Briq Studio from Sound2go in the test, which is priced at 55 euros the price limit. So let's take a look at the test field and the specifics of the candidates.


The TDK's A12 contains only one speaker chassis and therefore operates in mono. This is particularly small and compact. In addition, it can be wirelessly coupled to a second copy and thus extend the stereo operation with very good stereo effect. The other models are stereo, but the resulting stereo effect is relatively small because of the very small distance between the loudspeaker chassis.


Conclusion


Jam and TDK have equipped their speakers with snap hooks and protection against splashing water, so that an outdoor use is nothing in the way. In the case of the Bluetooth speakers Jam, Sony and Sound2go, the housings are rubberized and thus particularly resistant to scratches and falls. Bayan Audio offers a very clever solution - also from its design - because the model GO has a magnetic flap which is used for transport protection, but can also be used as a pedestal.


With the exception of the test candidates from Jam and Terratec, they all have NFC, which stands for near-field communication and allows a particularly simple coupling of the radio players. With Bluetooth version 4.0, the Philips BT3500 and the Bayan Audio model work, which can be an advantage in terms of battery life. If the smartphone also works with BT 4.0, then its power consumption is also reduced.


Lesetipp: Notebook fit for the summer make


For the encoding of the music transmission all tested Bluetooth speakers use the standard procedure SBC, only the JVC-Speaker can additionally communicate over the sound better AAC. But: With these radio loudspeakers of the beginner class, SBC is completely sufficient, since the overall sound is decisively determined by the loudspeaker technology used. And this sets limits for these prices.


All candidates allow the music supply not only via Bluetooth, but also via 3.5 mm jack sockets ("headphone jack"), which almost every mobile phone to the headphone connection contains. For the Boxes of Sound2go and Terratec there are additional slots for microSDHC-TECHNIK memory cards, which hold up to 32 GB of memory about 500 CDs in HiFi quality with MP3 at 128 kbit / s.

Although all test candidates have USB connections, the music transmission is not possible. Rather, the micro-USB jacks are only for charging the batteries, and the cables are included.


Sound can not be expected from loudspeakers with very small housings too much. This is particularly true for bass reproduction, which is comparatively weak for all candidates. However, there are differences that lie in the balance of the sound image, such as in a non-exaggerated or too weak treble reproduction. We preferred the speakers of Bayan Audio, JVC, and TDK, with the Bayan reproducing the bass better because of its subwoofer.


Overall, Briq Studio earned the Spartipp from Sound2go. The test go goes to the soundbook GO from Bayan Audio, because of the good sound, the processing and the clever design.


Admittedly, the small and portable Bluetooth speakers are not a sound miracle. No one expects that seriously. Many a model - such as Bayan Audio's Soundbook Go - is surprising with a good bass feel. For the domestic living room the speakers are not synonymous. They should enrich the family trip to a bathing lake and they do it all. But some are better than others. Especially when you look at the details. If you like to end the bathing pleasure with a night-time barbecue party, for example, it is better to consult with a model that has a long battery life.