Wireless speakers have been a fixture at garden parties and campouts for years. But taking audio outside no longer means tolerating tinny treble and wrestling with pig-headed pairing procedures.
Not only have companies been upping the quality from standard Bluetooth alone – switching to the aptX codec and offering Wi-Fi connectivity – but many are making use of the brains embedded in your home’s smart speakers to offer you voice control over your audio on the go, via Alexa or Google Assistant.
We’ve brought together a selection of the best, whether you’re looking for a voice-ready speaker that’s accident-proof or one that has sumptuous sound with smarts to match.
PRO TONES ON THE GO
Thanks to its IPX4 water resistance and relatively trim 1.06kg frame, it’s clear Bose is intending this to spend far more time outdoors than the Move. And yet it makes very few compromises in terms of sound: it’s warm and smooth, offering resonant bass tones and producing very organic mids and trebles. It doesn’t quite have the guts or the brains of its rival: the low end is slightly less well-rounded, while the lack of space-sensing smarts means it’s only as good as its placement. It was also occasionally let down by its Alexa integration; the smart assistant responds to some commands with HAL-like obstinacy. But for the best combo of flexibility and fidelity, this is the one to go for.
This story is from the April 2020 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2020 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CASE STUDY - Sennheiser Accentum Plus
The Accentum Plus rounds out Sennheiser's over-ear offering nicely by filling a gap in the audio-maker's line-up
FALSE HEIGHT - Samsung HW-Q600C
This bar-and-sub combo delivers big and bassy sound, but it's not the best when delivering height for Dolby Atmos
A BIG DELL - Dell XPS 16
Dell's latest 16-inch XPS is a sensational Windows laptop - if you're willing to sacrifice some portability for that extra size
NOTHING COMPARES - Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing's mid-range handset, the Phone (2a), is here to bring Android fans a dose of affordable cheer
M3 CHEERS - MacBook Air M3 13-inch
With its added M3 power, the latest 13-inch MacBook Air is an ideal portable laptop
Smart rings
Smaller and subtler than smartwatches, these nifty innovations can offer fulsome health advice - here we slip on three leading models
FIVE THINGS THAT MADE MY BUSINESS SOAR
Bobby Thandi shares his tips for building a thriving tech business
THE FUTURE OF MOBILE TECH
The highlights of Mobile World Congress, the year's biggest mobile tech show
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TECH
From in-flight entertainment to sailboat speakers, these are the best travel gadgets for planes, trains, automobiles and more
THE NEW FRONTIER OF EARBUDS
Think wireless earbuds are all the same? Think again. Spatial sound, lossless audio and multiple connections can all be part of the deal now - sometimes you don't even have to put them in your ears to listen...