Bluetooth speakers top ‘smart’ choices

Relaxnews

According to new research from Technavio, as the Internet of Things begins to grow in popularity, no smart home will be complete without at least one set of wireless Bluetooth speakers.
Portable speakers that sync with tablets, smartphones, PCs and TVs are already a huge hit among consumers and every Consumer Technology Association (formally the Consumer Electronics Association) study highlights that they’re high up on the average shopper’s tech wishlist.
The Technavio report highlights this simplicity as one of the reasons for their surging popularity but also points out that as homes get smarter and as devices start to blur lines in terms of use — for example smart light bulbs that double as Bluetooth speakers are already finding an audience — wireless speakers will become a central component of the connected home and expects sales to increase by 33% between now and 2020 meaning they will be a device category worth roughly $10 billion annually.
“Bluetooth speakers offer a multitude of benefits making them popular among consumers. These devices need no wiring, consume less space when compared to home theaters, and run on batteries, thus making them suitable for outdoor purposes. They promise durability, hassle-free maintenance, and faster functionalities. All these factors are propelling the demand for Bluetooth speakers, which in turn, is likely to contribute towards market growth,” says Ujjwal Doshi, a lead analyst at Technavio for consumer electronics research.
So with that in mind, who makes the best Bluetooth speaker systems at the moment?

BEATS
The company has refined and simplified its Bluetooth speaker range to one system, the Beats Pill+. For $299.95 it promises stereo sound (with woofers and tweeters), an integrated speaker phone and a 12-hour battery life.

BOSE
The premium audio marque that popularized active noise cancelling headphones currently offers a choice of speakers ranging from $129.95 to $299.95. For $299.95, the SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker III offers a clean, timeless design and a 14-hour battery life.

HARMON
As well as being a premium brand in its own right, Harmon also owns a host of other audio companies including JBL and AKG. And it’s through JBL that it’s producing a host of interesting and affordable devices such as the JBL Go. Small enough to carry in a pocket, it has an integrated speaker phone and can play music for 5 hours between charges; it retails for $39.95.

SONY
Its cheapest portable Bluetooth speaker, the cube-shaped SRS-X11 retails for $49.99. However, for $239.99 you can get a wireless Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a smart lightbulb. Simply screw it into any existing screw-fit light fitting and control the brightness of the light and the music volume remotely.

SAMSUNG
The Level Box mini is the Korean company’s most affordable offering in the wireless speaker space. Subtly styled and available in a choice of four colors, the device promises up to 25 hours of use on a single charge, and will work with the S-Voice function on Samsung smartphone handsets and all for just $79.