The 10 Best Outdoor Bluetooth Speakers

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 is a relatively small waterproof speaker that fits between the Sonos Roam and the Sony SRS-XE300 in size. It weighs two pounds and is easily portable. At under nine inches long, it can be carried with a single hand.

As with most Ultimate Ears products, the build quality is refined, and the speaker is impressively durable. This is further backed up by the impact resistance offered by this speaker. It features IP67 weatherproofing, protecting it from water and dust. Despite the fairly rugged construction, the speaker still looks clean in its design.

Sound Quality

Regarding the audio performance of the Megaboom 3, the sound profile is similar to the Sony XE300, with some bass boost in the upper low range and a fairly balanced midrange response. The Sony has a bit more brightness in the treble. Ultimate Ears has a very good mobile app for graphic and preset EQ so that you can control the sound of your speaker.

The 360-degree design of the Megaboom 3 is a standout trait that brings a lot of width to the soundstage. This broad sound dispersion is ideal for group gatherings where the speaker is placed in the center, such as at the center of a table or picnic blanket.

Input and Controls

The controls of the Megaboom 3 are one of its weaker points, without providing the ability to skip tracks back. The Megaboom 3 follows a fairly barebones approach and doesn’t include voice assistant support. Still, the overall build quality and performance of this speaker are impressive.

Conclusion

The Megaboom 3 is an extremely popular Bluetooth speaker that has enough durability to withstand an outdoor lifestyle while also staying true to Ultimate Ears’ philosophy around audio quality. The 360-degree sound design ensures plenty of coverage for a group of people.

Turtlebox 2

Loud, yet not very large – the Turtlebox 2 has become an in-house favorite due to its rugged nature and massive volume capabilities. Unlike the Charge 5, you cannot toss the Turtlebox in your backpack, but you can still easily carry it around the garden, or if you’re the adventurous type, strap it to the back of your boat, truck, or jeep.

Sound Quality

This speaker is versatile and easy to use. It utilizes a 6×9″ primary driver, which, along with a 1″ titanium tweeter, can put out a massive 120dB of volume, making it one of the loudest outdoor Bluetooth speakers. Check out our list of the loudest Bluetooth speakers to see how Turtlebox stacks up against similar speakers. It features a frequency response range of between 40Hz and 20kHz and, while not particularly wide, has a strong punchy bass. It has a relatively good soundstage, though not to the degree of the Megaboom 3, which is more precise and detailed.

Inputs and Controls

The Turtlebox 2 is somewhat basic in its inputs, but the microphone input and 3.5mm aux are helpful. The microphone input is an especially exciting addition as it allows for both MCing and karaoke.

It comes with Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring efficient codecs that improve the range and stability of your connection. The controls are located at the top of the speaker and are fairly large. This makes them easy to press, even for those wearing gloves.

Additional Features

While this speaker isn’t the most accessory-filled option, there are a few small quality-of-life features that make the Turtlebox 2 satisfying to use. The first includes an LED battery indicator bar, showing the battery life at 20% intervals. It also has controls for volume, track skipping, and pairing.

The Turtlebox 2 can be used as an indoor or outdoor speaker, but the outdoors is where this speaker is in its element. The Turtlebox boasts an IP67 rating, protecting it from limited submergence in water and dust. These weather-resistant capabilities mean there’s almost nowhere that the Turtlebox can’t be used.

To get a party going, you can pair the Turtlebox with another of the same speakers to create stereo sound.

Battery

Despite its huge volume output, the Turtlebox can easily play for 6 hours at maximum volume or up to 25 hours at more moderate volumes. It will take between 3 and 4 hours to fully charge the 85w/h built-in Lithium-Ion battery. One downside of the Turtlebox 2 is the non-replaceable battery, meaning if your battery fails, you’ll need to contact Turtlebox support.

Conclusion

Weighing just 10 pounds, the Turtlebox weighs much less than competitors like Soundboks Go. The low weight and carry handle make this speaker extremely portable, considering the amount of power it has. You can regularly move the Turtlebox 2 between your home and garden without feeling like a chore.

We included the Turtlebox 2 in our list for its impressive volume capabilities while remaining portable. You’ll not get a smaller, lighter portable Bluetooth speaker than the Turtlebox 2. 

JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Charge 5 is available in various sizes and colors. It has a long-lasting battery life, power bank feature, characteristic JBL tone, loud output volume, and water resistance. For many customers, the JBL series represents a safe and reliable choice of speaker.

Sound Quality

JBL speakers almost all possess a distinctive sound that enhances the tonal characteristics of the music you play. They fatten the low end a little, darken the midrange, and add sparkle to the highs to create an immersive and punchy sound. The deep lows are not very powerful, and the speaker leans closer toward a balanced, neutral sound.

The Charge 5 can fill a room with its volume: its optimized long-excursion driver, side-mounted bass radiators, and dedicated tweeters deliver crisp sound that resonates throughout any environment you put it in. Even when using the Charge 5 outdoors, it appears JBL has managed to imitate room resonances to maintain a fat sound and doesn’t allow the energy to dissipate into thin air.

It is a great portable speaker for music, sports, radio/spoken word, or film, indoors and outdoors. When comparing it to its earlier version, the Charge 4, the Charge 5 is not only able to blast music at a slightly louder volume, but the 20mm dome tweeter responsible for the 5’s improved clarity and ‘air,’ is not included in the Charge 4. 

Input and Controls

The JBL Charge 5 runs on Bluetooth version 5.1 to provide a reliable, uninterrupted, long-range signal in any environment. You can pair up to 2 smart devices at any time, and the JBL PartyBoost function allows for two Charge 5s to form a stereo pair or multiple JBL devices to join forces and create a truly memorable loud party.

It features a series of buttons on top of the speaker that do the following: Power On/Power Off, Bluetooth Search/Pair, Volume Up/Volume Down, Play/Pause, Skip Track, PartyBoost Mode.

The Charge 5 can also charge USB-appropriate devices, such as your smartphone, through its USB-C connection. A downside to the Charge 5 is the lack of aux-in that the Charge 4 had.

Battery Life

JBL’s Charge 5 can provide 20 hours of non-stop playtime – more than enough for an all-night party or multiple uses between charges. The battery life did not improve from the previous model, Charge 4, and caused the Charge 5 to fall behind some competitors. The Charge 5 battery takes about 2 hours to charge fully, and the relevant cable is provided in the box. 

Additional Features

Aside from being a lightweight, portable, easy-to-use, and all-around great Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Charge 5’s onboard power bank is a winner. Its IP67 water-resistance rating means it is safe to use in sandy, dusty, wet, hot, or cold environments.

Conclusion 

The JBL Charge 5 is, without a doubt, my favorite portable Bluetooth speaker on this list. Its ability to produce loud, warm, room-filling sounds for a reasonably long time while charging a mobile device and performing safely in practically any weather or environmental condition makes this a great choice of outdoor speaker for any application.

While the Charge 5 sounds better than the Charge 4, sound quality and volume have improved, its functionality has remained the same.

Soundcore Motion Boom Plus

The Motion Boom Plus from Anker Soundcore is a moderate-sized boombox-style speaker that excels in indoor and outdoor use. Despite its high-quality sound, volume, and durable build, it remains an affordable option.

Sound Quality

The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus has two 30W woofers with dual 10W tweeters for a maximum output of 80W. The two woofers are located in the speaker’s center, while the tweeters are located on each side, increasing the dispersion of high frequencies and providing better imaging. Still, the tuning of the Motion Boom Plus isn’t what I’d call bright, and the upper frequencies are instead recessed. The dynamic performance is good, but pushing it too loud can result in compression artifacts becoming noticeable.

It has a sound pressure level close to 95dB, more than enough volume for most uses, and vastly improved over the original Motion Boom.

Anker didn’t publish official numbers on the low end of the response range, but independent third-party testers show this speaker having a low-end cutoff of around 50Hz. Anker claims this response range spans through to 40kHz.

Despite its name, the Motion Boom Plus is limited in its low end. The Soundcore mobile app allows you to dial in the EQ on this speaker to change its stock presets to one that works best for your purposes.

Inputs and Controls

The Motion Boom Plus features app supports both graphic and preset EQ options. There is a bass boost function called the BassUp, which elevates the low-end presence. It features an aux input, which wasn’t present in the original Motion Boom release. It has modern Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for improved range and connection reliability.

The controls are located on the speaker’s top and are easy to access. You can quickly access the BassUp function while also having full pairing control. Pressing the play button twice will skip to the next track, and pressing it a third time will revert to the previous track.

Battery Life

Soundcore has reliably produced great battery performance across its products. The Motion Boom Plus has seen the same treatment with its built-in battery lasting over 20 hours of playtime at lower volume levels with bass boost disabled. The BassUp feature has a noticeable impact on battery life, reducing it by a large margin. It is also extremely fast charging and can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in under five hours.

Conclusion

The Motion Boom Plus is a loud, versatile, and durable speaker that costs less than $200. It can be used indoors or outdoors. The carry handle and strap make it easy to carry, while the IP67 water-resistance rating protects it from limited submergence in water and from dust.

OontZ Angle 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

They say dynamite comes in small packages, and that’s certainly the case with the OontZ Angle 3. The Angle 3 is just 5.3” wide, stands 2.6” high, and weighs 9 oz. This is an affordable outdoor speaker option that can be purchased for well under $50.

Sound Quality

The Angle 3 features dual full-range speaker drivers with a bass radiator delivering a punchy 10W of sound. You’ll first notice that the Angle 3 is surprisingly loud for its size. It’s hard to believe something so small has such a big bark. Of course, as this is a compact speaker, there isn’t much bass to speak of. The Angle 3 delivers decent clarity across the upper frequencies, but don’t expect audiophile quality. The Angle 3 is a fun speaker to listen to and is perfect as an ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker.

Inputs and Controls

The Angle 3 allows for both Bluetooth and ⅛-inch AUX audio inputs. Even with its compact size, OontZ has allowed for a small control panel on the side of the Angle 3. Buttons include play/pause, volume control, and a multi-function button for Bluetooth/call management. The Angle 3 features a built-in microphone for hands-free calling, so you can still take calls while paired with the Bluetooth speaker. Call quality is good enough for answering a quick incoming call, but you might battle holding a business call as your voice can sound somewhat distant to the other caller.

Waterproof

Not only is the Angle 3 powerful but it’s also built tough. The rubberized sides are designed to take a few drops here and there with an IPX5 waterproof rating to fend off any water or moisture. IPX5 only protects against splashes of water, so you don’t want to submerge the Angle 3 in any way.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an outdoor Bluetooth speaker to throw in a backpack and take anywhere, the OontZ Angle 3 is a great option. The speaker is even small enough to fit in your pocket. While the Angle 3 is loud, it’s not powerful enough to disturb neighbors or those around you. Great for dorm rooms, small apartments, or even listening to music in a public park. At a little over $60, the Angle 3 delivers excellent value for the money.

Polk Audio Atrium 6

The Atrium series from Polk Audio is an affordable range of outdoor Bluetooth speakers. Polk’s Atrium 6 is the third model in the 5-speaker range. The Atrium 4 and 5 are smaller and more compact, while the 7 and 8 are larger and significantly more powerful for filling larger outdoor spaces. In addition, the Polk Atrium 6 is an all-weather outdoor speaker built to withstand salt air, rain, and extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Sound Quality

The Atrium 6 features a 5¼-inch low-frequency driver with a 1” tweeter capable of producing up to 100W of power. Depending on the amplifier, you choose to power the speakers. The Atrium 6 has a nice punchy low end with good clarity in the mids and highs. This outdoor speaker system is perfectly suited for medium to large outdoor areas. They have a frequency response range of 50Hz to 27kHz. The soundstage is fairly wide, and the imaging is rich in detail.

Power Handling

They have a power rating of 10-100W (continuous) at 8 Ohms, with a sensitivity of 90dB. The efficiency allows for impressive volume from fairly moderate power input. These speakers are passive, and you’ll need to pair them with an appropriate amplifier that matches their power rating.

Mounting Considerations

Each Atrium 6 speaker comes with a bracket that can be mounted on the wall or from the ceiling. While the Atrium 6 is weatherproofed, it’s not recommended to mount the speakers where they will be directly exposed to rain or sunlight. Rather, mount the Atrium 6 speakers under the eves of your roof or on a covered patio.

Customization

The Atrium 6 comes in white and black. If you plan to paint your Atrium 6 speakers, it’s best to go for the white option. Both the cabinet and speaker grille are paintable. Full instructions for painting your speakers can be found in the Atrium 6 user manual.

Conclusion

The Atrium 6 is a versatile outdoor Bluetooth speaker for several applications. It’s big enough to put out lots of volume but small enough that you won’t bother the neighbors. In addition, the speakers are designed to withstand most outdoor environments, including extreme hot, cold, and even salt air. At around $300 for a pair, the Atrium 6 delivers awesome sound at an affordable price.

If you like the Atrium 6 but want more, consider the Atrium 8 SDI, which carries all the same positive qualities as the Atrium 6 but with deeper bass and more volume.

Yamaha NS-AW350

The Yamaha NS-AW350 is a top-rated outdoor Bluetooth speaker. The speakers are designed for indoor and outdoor applications and are sold in 2, 4, or 6 speaker bundles. There aren’t many quality name-brand speakers at under $150 that can compete with the NS-AW350.

Sound Quality

The NS-AW350 features a 6½-inch low-frequency driver with a 1-inch tweeter capable of up to 130W peak power output. The speaker has a good, chunky bass response and performs well in the mid-range and high frequencies. They have good soundstage and imaging performance, with substantial depth for a 6.5″ driver, further shown by the fairly broad 55 Hz-40 kHz frequency response range. The tweeters deliver a precise and detailed sound. The NS-AW350 is also really powerful, with a single pair of speakers easily filling most outdoor patio areas.

Power Handling

They have a power handling rating of 130W peak power (40W nominal) at 6 Ohms with a sensitivity of 87dB. You’ll need to pair these speakers with a Bluetooth amplifier or Bluetooth receiver to get wireless connectivity out of them, but they are easy to drive and supported by a number of popular amps.

Mounting Considerations

For installation, the NS-AW350 comes with a mounting bracket and safety cable. The NS-AW350 is weatherproofed. However, it is recommended you install these under a covered patio or under the eaves of your roof to protect against the elements.

The NS-AW350 is available in black or white.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an affordable outdoor speaker system, then the Yamaha NS-AW350 is definitely one to check out. These outdoor Bluetooth speakers perform exceptionally well for the price, and you can rest assured you’re getting premium parts from a brand like Yamaha. You can pick up the NS-AW350 for under $100 for a pair or a little over $200 for 4 with a speaker cable. Excellent value, great sound.

Klipsch KHO-7

Klipsch is known for striking the balance between affordability and quality. The KHO-7 takes this classic Klipsch philosophy to the outdoors. These versatile outdoor speakers are passive but provide outstanding value when paired with a Bluetooth receiver.

Sound Quality

The KHO-7 features a 5.25″ woofer and 1″ tweeter on each speaker, using Klipsch’s Tractrix Horn design. It has a frequency response range of 35Hz to 20kHz, and while the driver size limits the deep bass, it still offers a relatively wide sound with a solid thump in the low end. This speaker has a sensitivity of 90dB (1w@1m) with a 150W peak, providing sufficient volume for small and moderate outdoor spaces.

The Tractrix Horn design of the tweeter offers precise imaging and dispersion. The high-quality, detailed imaging and immersive soundstage make this speaker a popular choice for outdoor entertainment. It features a warm sound that is bright and detailed.

Power Handling

The KHO-7 has a power handling of 75W continuous/150W peak at 8 Ohms impedance with a sensitivity of 90dB. The maximum power output is rated at 600W. They aren’t particularly demanding in power and can be paired with many amplifiers. As these are passive speakers, you’ll want to pair them with either a Bluetooth amplifier or a Bluetooth receiver to add wireless connectivity.

Mounting Considerations

These speakers can be mounted vertically and horizontally, which is useful if you’ve got limited clearance on your eaves and need to fit them in a tight spot. Because the KHO-7 is a passive speaker, consider where you will run your wires and place your receiver. The installation itself is relatively simple, with built-in mounting brackets. These brackets offer a 180-degree tilt for better direction and improved accuracy.

Conclusion

The KHO-7 holds the classic Klipsch ethos, delivering an affordable speaker with detailed, high-quality sound. The 5.25″ driver size does limit the bass and width to a degree, so if you’re looking for a deep, powerful bass, you can consider either opting for a larger speaker, perhaps the Polk Atrium 8 – or pair these speakers with an outdoor subwoofer.

Pyle PDWR62BTBK 6.5”

If you’re looking for something on the budget end, you can always rely on Pyle to deliver. The Pyle 6.5” (PDWR62BTBK) is an affordable pair of outdoor Bluetooth speakers that are actively powered. There is no need to run these speakers to an amplifier, as they have their own built-in amp along with Bluetooth connectivity.

Sound Quality

They feature a 6.5” low-frequency driver with a 1” tweeter. For their size, the PDWR62BTBK produces a significant amount of volume. Enough to fill most patio areas but won’t cover an entire garden. These work best in patio areas where you must cover a specific zone. The soundstage is somewhat narrow, and imaging performance falls behind the Atrium 6. They are best suited for casual listening.

Power Handling

Because these speakers are actively powered, you don’t need to worry about power handling figures, as you won’t need an amplifier to drive them. However, for comparison’s sake, these speakers are rated at 60W (30W per channel) and operate at an impedance of 8 Ohms.

Mounting Considerations

The PDWR62BTBK only carries an IP44 weatherproof rating, so you don’t want to mount these speakers where they are directly exposed to the elements. However, under a covered patio or the eaves of a roof, you shouldn’t need to worry. Also, consider where you’ll be running the wire, as even though these speakers are active, they still need a power source.

Additional Features

The Bluetooth and ⅛-inch AUX inputs are located on the primary speaker. The PDWR62BTBK features Bluetooth 3.0, which is outdated at this point. It will do the job but don’t expect the same low latency and range found in newer Bluetooth models. The Bluetooth range is about 30-foot which is pretty standard and perfectly suited for use on a patio. The ⅛-inch AUX cable is located at the bottom of the primary speaker, so it’s easy to access.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for cheap outdoor Bluetooth speakers for your patio or outdoor entertainment area, the PDWR62BTBK is a reliable option. A built-in amplifier means you don’t need an external receiver or amplifier to drive these speakers. Remember that the PDWR62BTBK is not a very loud outdoor speaker system, so if you need something with some power, consider one of the passive outdoor speaker options in this article. Additionally, the older Bluetooth technology is also a sacrifice one makes when opting for this speaker.

For more information on this speaker, you can also read our review of the Pyle PDWR62BTBK.

Dual Electronics LU43P

If you’re looking for an ultra-compact, cheap pair of outdoor Bluetooth speakers, then the Dual Electronics LU43P is just what you’re after. At around $50 for a pair, there isn’t much competition for the LU43P. These are simply the best outdoor speakers for this price.

Sound Quality

The LU43P is a 3-way speaker with a low-frequency driver (4”), a mid-range driver (1½”), and a tweeter (¾”). Each speaker delivers 50W RMS power output with a 100W peak. It is ideal for small indoor and outdoor areas. The LU43P doesn’t have much bass, but the sound quality is crisp and clear.

They have a frequency response range of 100Hz-20kHz, which shows the lack of depth. While they lack the width we look for in a high-quality speaker, they offer the best value when used for background music. If you need something a little louder with a better bass response, the Dual Electronics LU53P is a 5½” speaker delivering a 100W Peak. The imaging and soundstage of the LU43P fall behind the Klipsch and Yamaha but are relatively good, given the price of these speakers. The soundstage suffers from being a bit narrow- lacking immersion.

Power Handling

The LU43PB has a power handling rating of 50W (100W peak) at 4 Ohms with a sensitivity of 85.5dB. This is a low-sensitivity speaker, which is noticeable in the overall volume, with the speaker unable to reach high volumes. The trade-off is a speaker that is very easy to drive and can subsequently be used with a broad range of amplifiers.

Mounting Considerations

The LU43P comes with brackets and can be mounted vertically or horizontally. It can even be rotated so the name faces the right way up. The LU43P can’t be painted, but they are available in black or white to choose the best color for your space. The LU43P does have some weatherproofing, but they are not designed to be installed and exposed to the elements. Under the eaves of your roof or covered patio is fine, but consider the direction of the wind during rain storms in your area. There is no mention of protection against salt air from the manufacturer. I wouldn’t recommend the LU43P for installation for sea-facing properties.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a decent pair of cheap outdoor speakers, the Dual Electronics LU43P is a great option. They have sound quality that exceeds their budget price point. The LU43P isn’t very loud and lacks bass, but for under $50, you can’t expect the same qualities found in more expensive alternatives.