Finest outside audio system 2024: Audio system for any climate

The Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen is a sensational-sounding speaker and, for a Bluetooth speaker, it helps smarts within the type of Alexa voice help.

It achieves Alexa management by a smartphone, so the Alexa app must be downloaded on the cellular system because the A1 2nd Gen doesn’t natively help it. Throughout our time with the speaker, we discovered summoning Alexa work slightly nicely in an area park, proving to be responsive at dealing with queries. Alexa wasn’t as fast to chime in when our smartphone was performing one other process, so we’d counsel you retain makes an attempt at multi-tasking low if you would like a quick response.

In comparison with the Beoplay A1, battery life has additionally had a improve, with the Beosound A1 in a position to final for 18 hours, the place the unique mannequin might solely attain 4 hours. The B&O companion app gives some first rate performance with EQ presets and quantity management, although there are fewer options than what you’d get with a Wi-Fi enabled speaker.

As a B&O product, the Beosound A1 appears the half with a trendy leather-based base and aluminium high floor that helps the speaker obtain an IP67 water resistance, which is similar because the Wonderboom 3. It’s lighter than its predecessor at 558g, which helps to make it simpler to hold round, and its leather-based strap has been tweaked to permit for extra hanging choices. The tweaks to the design make it a bit extra handy to hold with you.

The audio efficiency is one which we discovered to be very spectacular, the sound high quality was impressively clear, with bass higher emphasised that the Sonos Roam. Vocal readability is superb with voices granted loads of house to exist, the tonal stability all through the frequency vary is nice, and it’s a really dynamic and thrilling. This is likely one of the finest outside audio system we’ve come throughout.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Evaluation: B&O Beosound A1 2nd Gen

The Sonos Roam is what we envisaged the Sonos Transfer can be. Each function as a Sonos-like speaker within the house, however out of the 2, the Roam is definitely the extra moveable wi-fi speaker.

The Roam is the speaker out of the 2 we’d really feel you’d be taking over longer journeys. It’s small, light-weight and takes on a form that’s paying homage to a Toblerone bar. With an IP67 ranking, it may be submerged in water of 1m depth for half-hour, so if it occurs to fall in a small physique water (or maybe a paddling pool), it ought to be capable to survive unscathed.

We’ve discovered few wi-fi audio system mix Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as effortlessly because the Roam. Within the house it will probably perform like a wise speaker, connecting to the Wi-Fi and supporting the likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice help. The Sonos S2 app options vast help for music streaming providers, so you may log in and take heed to your favorite songs from throughout the app. None of those options can be found when streaming over Bluetooth, however an replace introduced Sonos’ Auto Trueplay characteristic that optimises its audio supply to permit it on each Wi-Fi and Bluetooth playback

A battery lifetime of 11 hours isn’t as progressive as we’ve seen across the £150 value level, lower than the JBL Cost 5, Marshall Emberton II and Final Ears Wonderboom 3. There’s a battery saver possibility within the app to assist protect the battery if it’s discovered to be draining too quick.

In our opinion, the Roam stays a terrific pay attention years after its launch. It produces a pure, detailed and clear efficiency, although we discovered it a bit mild on bass, however that’s not stunning given its small measurement. If you’d like extra thump the place low frequencies are involved, Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A1 2nd Gen offers it.  

For current Sonos house owners it makes loads of sense because it extends the Sonos sound into the outside. For everybody else it’s one the most cost effective methods into the world of Sonos.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Evaluation: Sonos Roam

The Final Ears Wonderboom 3 continues on from the place the Wonderboom 2 left off, and whereas on the floor the modifications made don’t seem an enormous step up, in our opinion it produces a significantly better sound for a similar value.

It produces a simpler and rounded bass efficiency, in addition to placing a tone that’s clearer, detailed and higher balanced than its energetic predecessor. Whereas treble notes don’t register as crisply, there’s loads of element on the high finish of the frequency vary and there’s extra room throughout the midrange for vocals to be projected above devices and beats. By way of loudness, the Wonderboom 2 hits a better quantity however it isn’t as nuanced because the threequel.

Different new options embody Google Quick Pair for Android units and a slight improve to 14 hours of battery life (higher than the dearer Sonos Roam). Some will really feel that the continuation with micro-USB charging isn’t a forward-looking choice as many units have moved to the faster USB-C charging technique. The remainder of the options stick with it from earlier than with Outside Increase making the speaker sound extra expansive and bringing readability to the midrange and treble frequencies, whereas Double Up provides the performance of utilizing two Wonderboom 3 audio system in a stereo pair. You can’t use the Wonderboom from completely different generations as a stereo pair, nonetheless.

The design has been barely tweaked, the two-tone colors tackle a extra contrasting look. In any other case there’s the scratch-proof cloth materials (guarding towards feral home pets), and with a IP67 ranking the speaker can repel mud and water, as nicely dunked below water for half-hour (although it’s more likely to bob on floor).

The modifications aren’t as massive as many may need anticipated, however in our opinion this can be a better-sounding speaker for a similar unbeatably low value.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Evaluation: Final Ears Wonderboom 3

We very a lot favored the unique Stormbox Micro however felt it may very well be improved in just a few areas. The Micro 2 appears to have taken on that suggestions and it’s an enchancment in just about each manner.

The design has been tweaked with buttons colored white to distinction towards the black cloth protecting and the speaker’s dimensions are larger, holding extra battery life (12 hours) and in a position for use as an influence financial institution to cost cellular units. The helpful tear-resistant strap stays, providing loads of versatility in how the speaker can be utilized or transported whether or not it’s connected to the handlebar of a motorcycle or linked to a rucksack.

Like lots of the audio system on this checklist, the Stormbox Micro 2 hits an IP67 ranking, insulating it towards mud and water in addition to being immersed inside a physique of water 1m deep for thirty minutes.

As we talked about, battery life is as much as 12 hours, which places it among the many likes of the Sonos Roam (11) and Final Ears Wonderboom 3 (14) besides the Tribit is less expensive than both. Additionally new is help for an app the place the speaker’s sound could be adjusted.

By way of its audio efficiency, the Micro 2 can hit greater volumes than the unique, produces a much bigger sound and tasks audio additional manner from the speaker’s physique. Add in to the combination higher ranges of readability and element, and music on this speaker sounds improved over the unique, with bass higher described, treble frequencies sharper and clearer and the midrange is extra detailed and clearer.

Whereas bass is healthier than earlier than, audio system such because the Tronsmart T7 can produce extra, however that speaker is available in a distinct type issue and isn’t as compact (or as versatile in its design) because the Tribit.

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Evaluation: Tribit Stormbox Micro 2

4 years after the unique launched, Sonos introduced the sequel to the Transfer within the Transfer 2, that includes a lot of design tweaks and a redesigned audio system, although this does come at a value, with a better value of £449 / $449.

Nothing has actually modified within the measurement of the speaker, we really feel this stays extra an out of doors speaker for the backyard or to take with you in a automobile. It nonetheless weighs 3kg, so this isn’t actually a speaker to slide in your bag and head out of the home with. The buttons have been tweaked in order that they’re simpler to grasp and use. Black, white, and a fetching inexperienced finishes are the colors the speaker is available in.

An IP56 ranking means this speaker is protected towards mud, water, and dirt, though it’s not rated towards is submersion in water. You possibly can really feel assured in leaving this speaker outdoors, and never having to fret about it being ruined within the morning. The battery could be changed too, good for the longevity of the product in addition to being higher for the setting.

With Sonos’ Auto Trueplay characteristic, the speaker is ready to robotically optimise audio output based mostly on the place it’s positioned placement for one of the best sound high quality when the microphone is enabled. The most important increase is to battery life which is now 24 hours (13 hours higher than the unique). Throughout an eight hour session, we discovered that battery life fell to 54%, which we really feel is greater than adequate for any event.

However outside use isn’t the one purpose to get the Transfer 2, as with its Wi-Fi help (Spotify Join, AirPlay 2), this speaker works like some other Sonos speaker when used indoors. There’s hands-free entry Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Management, however there’s no Google Assistant on this mannequin.

The audio high quality is one other space that’s gained enhancements. The speaker now helps stereo playback, producing a wider presence than authentic’s mono speaker was able to. Buy two of those audio system, and you may get full-on stereo playback. We discovered there was extra subtlety that this speaker was able to, higher at retrieving the element in a tune, and when it must, it will probably summon loads of punch and weight to the midrange and low frequencies.

That is an enchancment on the unique mannequin, the value improve is a minimum of justified by the higher audio high quality, stereo sound and improved batter life. The outdated Transfer continues to be a positive effort, on sale for lower than £400 / $400 if you happen to discover this new speaker a bit steep by way of pricing.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full assessment: Sonos Transfer 2

The XG300 is a part of Sony’s X-series of wi-fi occasion audio system, and in case you are trying to occasion with a bunch of mates both inside or on the park (or seaside), the XG300 is excessive on the checklist of audio system we’d say it is best to contemplate.

It’s like mini-Boombox in its profile, taking over a svelte form that provides it an hourglass look. The retractable deal with is helpful for carry contemplating this speaker weighs round 3kg, and with its IP67 ranking it’s good towards resisting liquids and particles akin to sand and mud.

It has extra bodily connections than some other speaker on this checklist, with a USB-C for charging one other system, and a stereo mini-jack (cable additionally included) for plugging in an exterior supply (akin to a conveyable music participant). There’s additionally the Mild characteristic – or Ambient Illumination as Sony calls it – that emits a halo of sunshine at both finish of the speaker that pulses in sync with the beat, though we discovered at its default setting it wasn’t significantly noticeable.

Different occasion options embody help for Fiestable app, which gives management over DJ results, mild results and Movement Management, the place playback and quantity could be managed by transferring a smartphone, though this can be a characteristic that may be hit or miss. Battery life is 25 hours, the longest of any on this checklist; Google Quick Pair is supplied for immediate connection to an Android system and there’s LDAC Bluetooth for those who wish to play tracks at a better bitrate.

By way of its sound, the SRS-XG300 delivers a heat, wealthy efficiency with an emphasis on bass. These after a extra impartial and balanced efficiency ought to contemplate the Sonos Transfer in its place, however if you happen to like your bass assertively described, and music given loads of drive and power then the XG300 is a particular occasion starter (although B&O’s Beolit 20 can summon even stronger ranges of bass if that’s your fancy).

Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full assessment: Sony SRS-XG300