Bluetooth Speakers

• Your music with you at all times: Bluetooth speakers on sale on HiFi-Tower
• What to look for when choosing the ideal Bluetooth speaker?
• Portable Bluetooth speakers: which sound inputs are available?
• Bluetooth codecs: which standard should you choose for your wireless speaker?
• Versatility and design for your portable Bluetooth speakers
• Battery and charging times in wireless speakers

Your music with you at all times: Bluetooth speakers on sale on HiFi-Tower

Years ago, music listening was essentially limited to your living room. Hi-fi systems used to be the only device in the house for music reproduction, and despite the high sound quality they provided, it was impossible to bring the music into the other rooms. Since then, things have changed a lot, and nowadays you can listen to the music you want anywhere from your smartphone, although it's fair to say that today's mobile phone audio and speakers leave a lot to be desired. This is where Bluetooth speakers come in.

Wireless speakers are your smartphone's best music companion. They are compact, portable speakers that improve the sound quality and power of your mobile phone infinitely. But the overwhelming number of options available can make it a little challenging to choose the right portable speaker for you. Don't worry! On HiFi-Tower you can find various models of portable Bluetooth speakers: before selecting the one to buy, read on to learn more about this technology that has revolutionised we all listen to music in everyday life, and don’t miss our tips and recommendations to find the best portable speaker for you.

What to look for when choosing the ideal Bluetooth speaker?

If you are planning to get a new wireless Bluetooth speaker, there are several features and specifications you should know about. Let’s have a quick look at them:

• Sound specifications. The first thing we expect from a Bluetooth speaker is that it sounds good. The speaker's technical specifications can help us to get an idea of the quality of the speaker, in terms of signal-noise ratio and harmonic distortion


• Power. This is measured in watts (W) and indicates how loud our equipment can be heard. If you find it, look at the nominal power or RMS of the speaker, as sometimes the manufacturer includes the peak power value that is not very close to reality and cannot be used as a reference for the real performance of your portable speaker


• Frequency range. This value gives you an idea of how well your wireless speaker can reproduce very low or very high sounds. The closer you get to 20 Hz at the bottom and 20 kHz at the top, the better the sound quality.


• Drivers. The drivers are each of the speakers that make up your Bluetooth speaker. The most common standard for compact stereo wireless speaker is 2.0 systems (which do not include a subwoofer) and 2.1 systems (which include a subwoofer).

Portable Bluetooth speakers: which sound inputs are available?

Depending on the use you are going to make of your wireless Bluetooth speakers, this aspect can turn out to be crucial. The standard audio inputs are mini-jacks and the USB port. A mini-jack input is very useful if you want to connect equipment that does not have a Bluetooth connection, like first-generation iPods and MP3 players, for example. On the other hand, a USB port allows you to plug and stream music from your pen drive. Some models are also equipped with an SD card slot which, like a USB pen drive, can be used to store your music in digital format. If, on the other hand, you plan to connect your equipment exclusively via Bluetooth, you should be aware that not all technologies are the same.

Bluetooth codecs: which standard should you choose for your wireless speaker?

When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, the audio codecs used for sound transmission can have a great impact on sound quality and overall performance. If you want to use the audio codec to be used at its best, it is essential that both devices - the one transmitting the audio, like a smartphone, and the receiver, like the Bluetooth speaker or headset - use the same codec. Generally, both smartphone and headset are compatible with different audio codecs, so if one is absent, the codec available on both will be used. Nowadays it’s possible to find Bluetooth speakers with five different versions.

• Bluetooth 1.0. As it is considered obsolete, this codec is slowly disappearing. This first version of bluetooth presented several communication problems, which were solved in later versions.


• Bluetooth 2.X. Although they are more than 10 years old, Bluetooth 2 codecs are still completely valid for compressed audio formats, such as MP3, MP4, WMA. They have a transmission rate of about 3 Mbit/s, which means that they are still used in some wireless speakers.


• Bluetooth 3.X and 4. They are two very similar versions, although Bluetooth 4.0 is more energy efficient: an aspect you should carefully consider in a portable speaker for outdoor use. With a transmission speed of 24 Mbits/s, it is capable of reproducing high-quality audio formats such as WAV. It is the most widely used connection for Hi-Fi equipment, although the loss of quality compared to Bluetooth 2 is not relevant.


• Bluetooth 5.0, It is the latest version of the Bluetooth wireless communication standard, commonly used for wireless headphones and other audio equipment, as well as wireless keyboards, mouses and controllers, including smart home and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Bluetooth 5.0 enables a fantastic new feature allowing you to play audio on two connected devices simultaneously. In other words, you could have two pairs of wireless devices connected to your phone, or stream your audio content on two different speakers in different rooms. The main advantages of Bluetooth 5.0 are increased speed and range. In other words, it is faster and can operate over longer distances than previous versions of Bluetooth.

Versatility and design for your portable Bluetooth speakers

When talking about wireless Bluetooth speakers, audio quality is important, but it’s not everything. Sometimes, you simply want a portable speaker that is small and easy to carry or that you can take with you to the poolside without fear of breaking it. That's why it's essential to look at features such as weight and size. An important factor for those with a more adventurous profile is the device's IPXX protection certificates, ensuring that the Bluetooth speaker can withstand certain water and dust conditions. For example, an IP67 certified loudspeaker can withstand immersion in water for about 30 minutes. In these last years, technology became a further addition contributing to the decoration of our homes.

Audio purists may disagree, but aesthetics is fundamental when buying a Bluetooth speaker. On HiFi-Tower you can find Bluetooth speakers that can satisfy every need and taste, in terms of shape, colour and design. With a wide range of models, some of which are designed to ensure maximum portability thanks to practical handles and shoulder straps, you have the chance to find a device that is pleasing not only for your ears but also for your eyes. A wireless speaker that you like will translate into many more hours of use and a longer life before you get tired of it.

Battery and charging times in wireless speakers

Bluetooth speakers rely on an internal battery, which allows to take them with you wherever we want and ensures operation without plugging them to a power outlet. If this is, per se, a breakthrough innovation, you should also consider how many hours your portable speaker is capable of delivering music without needing to be recharged. The autonomy range in wireless speakers quite very varied, so it’s important to check these specs carefully before buying one.

Roughly speaking, autonomy depends mainly on the volume at which you make the speaker work. For example, about 12 hours of work at 50% of its maximum power is a remarkable performance, allowing you to use your equipment for a full day without any problems. If you're a very impatient person, perhaps you should also consider how long it takes to charge the battery fully. Some equipment takes longer than others to charge, which is a problem, especially for those impromptu trips where you need to take your equipment with you, and it’s completely out of charge.