Speaker deals

Buying advice

The first thing that matters is where the speaker will stand. Larger rooms need more cone area or a combination of speaker and subwoofer; small mono boxes quickly sound thin there. Pay attention to the cabinet: sealed designs are less sensitive to being placed near a wall, while bass reflex ports need space behind them, otherwise the low end booms. The second point is connectivity. Passive speakers require an amplifier, active ones have it built in. Check whether HDMI with ARC, an optical input, a headphone jack or RCA sockets are present, because this determines whether a TV, turntable or computer can be connected without extra devices. Third, software counts: with networked models, the length of update support and the range of streaming services decide how long the device stays usable.

For a portable Bluetooth speaker, around 50 to 120 euros is usually enough; solid models with an ingress protection rating and longer runtime often cost 120 to 250 euros. Networked bookshelf speakers or decent stereo pairs generally start at about 300 euros, with no clear upper limit.

You can spot a good deal by looking at the price history of the past months, not at the manufacturer's crossed-out recommendation. Previous-year models from well-known brands such as Sonos, JBL or Teufel drop noticeably once a successor is announced, and often differ only slightly in technical terms. Price movement typically occurs in late autumn, around the turn of the year and during the spring model change. Factor in follow-up costs: wall mounts, stands, cables and possibly subscription services. Also check whether the battery can be replaced, otherwise its lifespan determines that of the device.

What to look for

• Bluetooth is fine on the go; Wi-Fi speakers play streams directly, run more reliably and can be linked into multi-room systems.
• Check the protection rating: IP67 survives dust and brief immersion, IPX4 only splashes.
• Battery life usually applies at medium volume; at party volume it's often significantly shorter.

In depth in our guide: JBL Portable Speakers Compared: Go, Clip, Flip, Charge, Xtreme or Boombox?