Marshall plans to add seamless multi-room audio to its Bluetooth speakers via a newly announced music streaming hub called Heddon. The $300 hub makes it possible to connect and synchronize multiple older Marshall speakers together, not unlike Sonos’ audio devices.
Rather than use Wi-Fi to get multiple speakers playing the same audio, though, the Marshall Heddon uses Auracast. The hub connects to services like Spotify Connect or Tidal over Wi-Fi, or other devices through Google Cast and AirPlay, and then shares that audio over Auracast to the Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Wobrun III speakers. You can control playback over a connected Marshall app and the Heddon also has RCA ports to connect other speakers or a record player to the system.
Because the Heddon requires a Wi-Fi connection, Marshall says it could add features to the system over-time, but even in the short term, the hub should meaningfully extend the life of the company’s speakers. Rather than switch to newer models with built-in Wi-Fi, you can just grab a Heddon. Sonos offers similar functionality through its Sonos Port and Sonos Amp accessories, and third-party hubs from companies like WiiM can add even more options. The Marshall Heddon is more streamlined in comparison, but if you’re already invested in the company’s speakers, or planning to build out your audio system with them, the hub could be a helpful tool to have.
The Marshall Heddon is available to purchase now for $300. Marshall says that customers purchasing an Acton III, Stanmore III or Woburn III can get a Heddon at half price, and the hub is included for free when you buy two or more eligible Marshall home speakers.
At CES 2026, Ikea spent its first-ever time at the tech event showing off a number of new products, including a new Bluetooth speaker it calls the Kallsup. It’s a teeny tiny cube that is, in every way that matters, far more of a delight than its $10 price tag lets on. It will be available in April in red, white, and green colors.
The Kallsup is lightweight yet solid-feeling, a plastic box with speaker holes on one face, a USB-C port on the back for charging, and two buttons astride a small LED status light for power, playback, and pairing. It was immediately charming, and not just because it’s so dang adorable; every action you do on it prompts these whimsical human-made noises—like a boop or a whooshing sound. The speakers use Bluetooth 5.3 and up to 100 Kallsup speakers can be synchronized together by doing the proper sequence of long presses of the play button between them.
With a few paired together, the Kallsup cubes were able to quickly fill the room with better-than-you’d-expect sound—not tinny or muffled. They certainly didn’t push out much bass, and neither would I expect that at this size and price.
The only real criticisms I have, at first glance, spring from Ikea’s decision to only put two buttons on the box: a play button and one emblazoned with the Bluetooth logo. It’s not obvious to me that you’d long press the play button, rather than the Bluetooth one, for pairing speakers together, and neither is it clear how they’re turned off, or even if you can do that manually. If you wait long enough, though, the speakers time themselves out.
Gizmodo is on the ground in Las Vegas all week bringing you everything you need to know about the tech unveiled at CES 2026. You can follow our CES live blog here and find all our coverage here.
It’s not every day that a common Wi-Fi speaker manages to pique your interest, but Samsung is at least trying to spice things up with its new Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7.
Samsung’s new speakers, which will be showcased at CES 2026 in January, were made in collaboration with French designer Erwan Bouroullec, who is best known for contemporary and minimalist work in interior design. According to Samsung, the speakers both feature a “timeless dot concept… inspired by a universal symbol in music and art.” Whether it’s your thing is subjective, obviously, but I kind of dig it. Personally, I get more monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes than anything, though that’s probably less marketable than the “timeless dot concept.”
Samsung says the Music Studio 7 is its “most immersive model” in the product series and comes with 3.1.1-channel spatial audio that you can hear through the left, front, right, and top-firing speakers. It has up to 24-bit audio processing at 96 kHz, which should be enough for any hi-fi enthusiast, and can be paired with other Samsung Wi-Fi speakers.
The Music Studio 5, on the other hand, is “designed for homes where aesthetic harmony is as important as sound,” according to Samsung, which is its way of saying that the device is a little smaller and less obviously a speaker. This speaker comes with a 4-inch woofer, two tweeters, and also (like the Music Studio 7) has Samsung’s AI Dynamic Bass Control, which is meant to enhance low end and minimize distortion.
Both speakers will be able to cast via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and they also support voice control, which aren’t groundbreaking features by any means, but still good to know before you buy.
These speakers are really more about the look than anything, though, and if you’re into minimalism, these could be the Wi-Fi speakers for you. If nothing else, these are definitely going to be an alternative for any Sonos fans out there who want to make a switch for aesthetic or app-related reasons.
While the Music Studio speakers are all about the looks, you’ll have to be okay with black since that’s the only color they come in for now. There’s no word on pricing yet, but I wouldn’t expect either speaker to come cheap. I assume we’ll have the full details on pricing and a release date once CES rolls around next week, though.
Bass: some speakers have it, and some don’t. It’s like charisma or generational wealth, except probably less important in determining your future. I’ve never personally found bass to be the most important metric for whether a wireless Bluetooth speaker is worth the money, but I’m fully aware that not everyone shares the same taste in bass as me, and even so, when it’s there in force, I can still appreciate it.
The problem is, especially when it comes to Bluetooth speakers of the portable variety, bringing the bass is harder than it sounds. There’s a reason why, in your home theater, the low end is usually incumbent on a big-ass subwoofer, which is a dedicated box kept separate from everything else. Bass is hard to generate without a large enough speaker that can move high volumes of air and generate proper low-end frequencies. It’s just physics. And as you might imagine, given what I just laid out, devising a portable speaker that can do that is no easy task.
It’s not easy, but it can be done, apparently, and the $500 Brane X portable Bluetooth speaker is living proof.
Brane X
The Brane X speaker has a huge amount of bass, but lacks in the app department.
The Brane X, though you may have never heard of it, is making a lofty claim. Brane claims this is the “first portable speaker with a true subwoofer built in.” If you’re like me, your alarm bells are probably going off; if it were possible, why hasn’t anyone done it before? That’s what I thought too, until I heard the Brane X for myself, or more specifically, felt how it shook the table I put it on.
The Brane X delivers on its promise, and it’s using some nifty engineering to do so. Inside this speaker, Brane says it’s using a proprietary tech called Repel-Attract Drivers (RAD), which uses magnets (however they work) to “cancel internal air pressure forces that inhibit deep bass in other portable speakers.” The result is a portable speaker that moves enough air to deliver real, woofer-level low end.
I know, you’re probably rolling your eyes again, but trust me, whatever is happening inside this speaker really works. To test the Brane X out, I connected my phone via Bluetooth and played a few different genres of music. To be honest, the speaker performed well on all of them, even genres where I don’t necessarily look for bass, like folk rock. In genres where you may want to hear more low end, like jazz, the Brane X literally shook Gizmodo’s coffee table, where I unceremoniously test lots of speakers. Again, bass isn’t the most important part of a Bluetooth speaker, in my opinion, but if it’s something you look for in a speaker, you are not going to have to try very hard to find it.
And if you somehow are still yearning for more bass, there’s a dedicated bass button on top of the speaker that lets you cycle through low, medium, and high levels. I tried all three and landed on medium as a good default since it highlighted the subwoofer without shaking my actual brain like the high setting does. The low setting, on the other hand, reins it in just a little too much, and then I feel like I’m getting just a little under what I know the speaker can do.
The best news, outside of a heavy amount of bass, is that it sounds good across the frequency spectrum, too. The Brane X feels fairly free of distortion at higher volumes, pushing 50% and above, and the soundstage (partially because of the subwoofer) registers as big and beefy. Listening to a remaster of The Replacements’ “Swingin’ Party,” I was really pleased with the ratio of vocals to music, and Magdalena Bay’s “2 Wheel Drive” really popped out of this speaker in a way I’ve not heard before, with bass blending perfectly with synths and airy, reverb-filled vocals. Seriously, if you’re often listening to electronic music, you’re going to love this thing.
Also, you’ll be happy to know that the Brane X supports hi-res formats, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD, so you’re not always stuck streaming via regular Bluetooth, which compresses and degrades audio quality. It may seem wild to spend $500 on a portable Bluetooth speaker, and maybe it is, but in this case, at least the sound quality feels representative of the price.
How portable is it really?
You might be wondering how portable a speaker that crams a whole subwoofer inside could really be, and if you are wondering that, I don’t blame you. The answer? More portable than you might think, but also not nearly as portable as some others without a state-of-the-art woofer inside. Altogether, the Brane X weighs 7.7 pounds, which probably isn’t going to break any backs, but also ain’t nothin’ when it comes to the portable Bluetooth speaker label. For reference, the Bose SoundLink Plus, which at least makes an effort at tackling the Brane X in the bass department, weighs 3.37 pounds.
This isn’t a 1:1 comparison in a lot of ways since Bose’s SoundLink Plus isn’t using novel tech to cram a subwoofer inside, but it’s still worth noting given the fact that the SoundLink Plus does pack a pretty bassy punch. Let me just be clear here: if portability is a huge factor for you, this probably isn’t the speaker you’re looking for. If you’re okay with a bit of a hefty boy, then by all means, proceed. The good news, either way, is that Brane does a handle made from a flexible plastic that can be pushed down, out of sight, to wrap around the speaker when not in use.
On top of being heavy, the speaker is also a bit tall (about 6.1 inches high), but a fairly standard width at 9.3 inches. The design is round, kind of oval, and it looks like a little bread oven, which is neither offensive nor appealing to the eye for me. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t necessarily want to carry the Brane X around in a backpack or a tote, but if you really wanted to transport it to a party or a friend’s house, you definitely could. In that way, it meets the definition of portable, but this is by no means the speaker that you’re going to want to bring on vacation or cart around in a backpack all day. In fact, I did actually carry the Brane X to and from work in a backpack and can attest to the heft.
The brains inside the Brane X
For $500, the Brane X should come with some nice-to-have features, and it does… on paper. One thing that might catch your attention if you have a smart home or use voice assistants regularly is that the speaker comes with Amazon’s Alexa built in. To activate Alexa on the speaker, you’ll need to download the Brane app and then link your Amazon account, and then you can use the speaker as you would any other smart speaker.
The good news is that, after messing around with the Brane X app for quite a while to get the speaker connected to Wi-Fi, it does work (pro tip: hold down the Bluetooth button on top of the speaker for a few seconds to activate the Wi-Fi pairing process). The problem is, the Alexa built-in feature on the Brane X is technically no longer supported, since Amazon has actually stopped adding any new third-party devices into the Alexa Built-In program, according to Brane. A spokesperson from Brane told me that the Brane X is grandfathered in, which means that the feature still technically works, but it’s not exactly ideal if you’re looking for feature longevity.
Another somewhat deflating realization is that, while you can use Alexa on the Brane X, you cannot sync Spotify if that happens to be your streaming service of choice, nor can you sync Apple Music. Instead, if you want to launch music on the speaker using the Alexa voice assistant, you’re relegated to Amazon Music, which is limiting. To make matters worse, a “Streaming” option inside the Brane app seems to suggest that you’re able to connect your preferred streaming service, but this, I’m told, is not the case due to “technical issues.”
As long as we’re talking about the app, it’s also worth noting that, while there are some features that you may want to use in this speaker’s companion app, like a 5-band EQ or adjusting the LED brightness, it’s pretty barebones overall. As far as companion apps go in personal audio products, the Brane X app is not the most functional (you can tell just from how barebones the UI looks), which may not matter for lots of people, but is a little deflating considering, again, this speaker costs $500.
The rest of the speaker works just fine. There is an array of touch-sensitive buttons on top for volume, bass adjustment, Bluetooth, turning the speaker mic on/off, and activating Alexa. Battery life is advertised as being 12 hours for moderate volumes, which feels accurate based on my testing. That’s not going to win any medals in the Bluetooth speaker Olympics, but it’s not horrible considering this thing has a subwoofer inside. On the back, there’s a physical power button, a 3.5mm aux in, and an AC power port for the included power adapter. Nothing mind-blowing here, and it all works just fine.
Spending $500 on a portable Bluetooth speaker is a big ask, so you’re probably wondering if a speaker like this could possibly be worth the price. The answer is… maybe, but only for the right person. That person, in my opinion, is someone who is really keyed in on bass in particular. If you’re left feeling like other Bluetooth speakers just aren’t giving you enough in the low-end department, the Brane X may be your holy grail. This speaker delivers on its promise of shoving a whole woofer inside a relatively portable form factor, and the rest of the sound (frequencies in the midrange and high range) also pulls its weight. Sound-wise, this speaker isn’t phoning it in, which is the main thing you want in a speaker.
The downside is that, if bass isn’t your number one priority, there are other Bluetooth speakers that have great sound, cost less, and blow the Brane X out of the water in terms of companion apps, looks, and portability (Bose’s SoundLink Plus, for example). So, for the right person (bass heads), the Brane X may be the smart choice, huge price tag be damned, but for everyone else, there’s just too much competition to really make it make sense. Don’t get me wrong, actually managing to shove a subwoofer inside a portable Bluetooth speaker is cool, but at the end of the day, you might be just as happy (and less poor) with something less cutting-edge.
We’re always ready to argue that high-quality speakers are a worthwhile investment, adding new dimensions to music and dialogue that make any kind of entertainment more enjoyable. Though Prime Day is almost over, our resident audiophiles are still sifting through Amazon for bargains on the best smart speakers, soundbars and portable bluetooth speakers. This October Prime Day, our list of the best deals includes brands like Anker, Bose, JBL, Amazon Echo and more. So if you’re ready to hear when your favorite TV actors are scratching themselves, let’s get started.
Best Prime Day bluetooth speaker deals
JBL Xtreme 2 for $150 ($30 off): This deal is a great way to get ahold of the JBL Xtreme 2, an old favorite from 2018 we still love. An Xtreme 2 can get louder than you’d expect from a portable speaker, putting out 40 watts at maximum, and stays charged for around 15 hours.
JBL Flip 6 for $100 ($30 off): The JBL Flip 6 is a solid choice for an all-around bluetooth speaker, performing well in any room or on the go. It sounds good at almost any frequency and volume, runs for 12 hours on a single charge and is nearly impossible to damage with falls, dust or water.
JBL Go 3 for $35 (30 percent off): The JBL Go 3 is a decent and highly affordable carabiner speaker for all your outdoor adventures — as is its sister product, the Go 3 Eco, which is made from recycled materials. It’s obviously not the most powerful speaker at 4.2 watts, but it has a surprisingly good functional range. Plus, the design looks good on any belt or backpack.
Beats Pill for $119 (34 percent off): This Bluetooth speaker from Apple subsidiary Beats earned a score of 83 in our review and currently holds a spot in our buying guide. It’s not the best raw value on the market, and it can struggle at maximum volume, but it generally pumps out strong bass without sounding imbalanced. A stylish and water-resistant design, ample battery life and the ability to play lossless audio over a USB-C cable add to the appeal. This sizable discount matches the lowest price we’ve tracked.
Ultimate Ears Miniroll for $47 (41 percent off): Miniroll is the smallest speaker from Ultimate Ears, but it punches far above its weight, starting with UE’s trademark massive volume buttons. While small enough to fit in a jeans pocket, its combination of a driver and radiator manages about 85 decibels. A Miniroll can run for about 12 hours on a single charge.
Ultimate Ears Boom 4 for $95 (37 percent off): The UE Boom 4 is a balanced speaker that does well anywhere. Take it camping (it’s waterproof and a charge lasts for 15 hours), to a party (it puts out loud 360 degree sound) or make it part of a permanent home system by chaining it with other UE speakers — one of these plus two Minirolls or Wonderbooms would come pretty close to full surround sound.
Ultimate Ears Everboom for $231 ($39 off): The Everboom is the middle ground of the UE line, with more powerful output than the Wonderboom and more portability than the Hyperboom. Its 360 degree sound pairs with an Outdoor Boost feature to work better outside, though it isn’t quite as impressive in the middle ranges.
Bose SoundLink Flex for $99 (34 percent off): We’ve rarely seen the Bose SoundLink Flex this cheap, so now is the time to snap up this high-fidelity outdoor speaker. It’s small enough to carry in one hand and can be operated from up to 30 feet away via the Bose Connect app. We’ve also found it simple and fun to use for hands-free phone calls during breaks in the music.
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ for $179 (40 percent off): The SoundLink Revolve+ line, Bose’s original upright 360-degree speakers, continue to pack a punch. This current model features a 17-hour battery life, IP55 water resistance and the ability to connect to a smart speaker to extend your virtual assistant’s range.
Bose SoundLink Max for $299 ($100 off): The Bose SoundLink Max may put you in mind of a classic boombox, with its detachable handle and thudding base. But inside it’s all modern, with a 50-watt output, an effective range of 52.6Hz and a 20-hour rechargeable battery. It even comes with a 3.5mm AUX input to connect to a turntable, if you really want to embrace your inner 90s DJ.
Anker Soundcore 2 for $28 (38 percent off): This larger speaker doesn’t look like much, but it’s tough, water-resistant and versatile. It’s got a broad range of optimal pitch, effective across 70 Hz from bass to treble, and 12 watts of output. While it’s portable and sounds good outdoors, its wide design means it can also substitute for a soundbar in your home theater.
Soundcore Select 4 Go for $18 (20 percent off): The Soundcore Select 4 Go weighs only 9.3 ounces, which makes the rest of its specs even more impressive: 20 hours of battery life, IP67 waterproofing and sound that fills rooms. It even sounds pretty good in compact outdoor spaces, more than capable of serenading an outdoor desk or livening up a pool party.
Soundcore Motion 300 for $56 (30 percent off): The Soundcore Motion 300 is a full-frequency champ, with clean sound in the higher ranges and reasonably heavy bass. Its adaptive audio feature changes output depending on whether the speaker is currently lying down, standing on end or hanging from your belt loop. It’s also small and light enough to carry in your pocket or clip to your backpack.
Marshall Emberton II for $100 (44 percent off): Marshall, the old warhorse of the audio world, continues to crush it with the portable and bluetooth-ready Emberton II. Although it looks like an antique, it’s anything but, with 360-degree sound and over 30 hours of battery life from a single charge — all weighing a little more than a quarter of a pound.
Marshall Acton III for $200 ($100 off): Marshall recently re-engineered the Acton’s speaker setup by angling the tweeters outward. It paid off, especially in the Acton III, which now delivers a pleasingly wide soundscape. At 6.3 pounts, it’s not technically portable, but the design makes it easy to move around — and for the eco-conscious, it’s made of 70 percent recycled materials.
Best Prime Day smart speaker deals
Amazon Echo Pop for $25 (38 percent off): The Echo Pop is Amazon’s smallest and cheapest smart speaker, resembling an Echo Dot sliced in half. It’s a little quiet, and probably best for extending Alexa’s range rather than serving as the primary host for your virtual assistant. In a smaller room, though, this is as convenient and clear-sounding as any other Echo you’ll use.
Amazon Echo Spot for $45 (44 percent off): Other than perhaps the Pop, no Amazon Echo fits better on a bedside table than the Spot. Its user-friendly design incorporates both a speaker and a digital display — so it’s recognizable as a classic alarm clock, but with much more information on the screen and far better sound quality. This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen it sell for.
Sonos Era 100 for $180 ($20 off): The Sonos Era 100 is a fantastic smart speaker for an even better price. It’s not only loud — it also sounds good at any volume, no matter what platform you’re streaming audio from. It can connect via bluetooth or physical lines, and uses TruePlay to tune the sound to your current location using included mics.
Sonos Era 300 for $379 ($100 off): In our full review of the Sonos Era 300, we found that it’s easy to set up and sounds incredible. It includes the exciting spatial audio feature that makes music sound like it’s coming from everywhere — while it doesn’t always work, it’s exhilarating when it hits. The Era 300 can even automatically tune sound to your location, and you no longer need an iPhone for this feature to work.
Best Prime Day soundbar deals
JBL Bar 300 for $250 (38 percent off): The Bar 300, part of JBL’s 2023 soundbar explosion, is a mighty yet cheap soundbar with an integrated subwoofer. Despite being small, it manages to create a theatrical experience by working both Dolby Atmos and MultiBeam. Its voice sharpening algorithm is especially good at making dialogue clearer (for those of us who always have to put on the subtitles).
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus for $150 (40 percent off): One of the cheapest soundbars you’ll ever see, the Fire TV Soundbar Plus provides a noticeable boost to your TV’s audio quality, even if it doesn’t reach Dolby Atmos heights. It’s simple, but that makes it a breeze to set up — all you have to do is plug in one HDMI cable.
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for $498 ($202 off): The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 is part of Sony’s Dolby Atmos soundbar lineup. It stands out from that line as a great entry point, balancing theatrical sound with defined dialogue by adjusting outputs through machine learning. It’s capable of transforming normal stereo into surround sound through automatic up-mixing.
Roku Streambar for $69 (31 percent off): The Roku Streambar is already affordable, but this deal puts it within anyone’s reach. It’s also economical in terms of space — as we noted in our full review, it’s about the size of an egg carton, but still manages to give off near-surround sound.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-best-day-2-prime-day-speaker-deals-jbl-bose-ultimate-ears-and-more-083538729.html?src=rss
JBL designed the 9.1 soundbar for Dolby Atmos, and the results speak for themselves, with 820 watts of booming audio. The best thing about this soundbar is the pair of detachable wireless speakers you can place around your viewing room to make the sound even more surround.
There are a lot of ways to be loud and annoying. For example, there’s snoring—a timeless classic that is not only loud, but also deprives you and others of sleep, killing two very depressing birds with one stone. Then there are more vestigial and niche forms of being obnoxious, like yodeling, which, if done outside of the Swiss Alps, feels like more of a cry for attention than anything else.
But those are nothing when you enter Bluetooth speakers into the equation. In the year of our lord, 2025, thanks to Bluetooth connectivity and LTE, there are hundreds of ways to be loud and annoying, and a lot of them will cost you. You’ve got premium options like Bose’s SoundLink Plus, which bring style and finesse to the Bluetooth speaker game, and then there are more rugged options like the Soundcore Boom 3i that you can literally throw in a pool. But what if style, durability, or even sound aren’t your top priority? What if you’re looking for a small way to sound reallybig? Well, if that’s your jam, JBL’s $100 Grip might have just what you need.
JBL Grip
The JBL Grip is a portable Bluetooth speaker with more volume than you’d expect.
Very tiny
Still a big sound!
Customizable lights are fun
Slightly expensive for what you get
Sound is just okay
The tall boy of Bluetooth speakers
When I first saw JBL’s Grip, I dubbed it the “tall boy of Bluetooth speakers,” and now, having held the Grip in my hand and having laid eyes on it for myself… I stand by that claim. The Grip is all about the size, which in this case, is similar to a “can of seltzer” according to JBL, or if you’re a hoodlum like me, then a tall boy. For proof of its tall boy-ness, I put the Grip side-by-side with a can that equals one pint. Here’s the Grip next to a Narragansett for your viewing pleasure:
While the Grip resembles a tall boy in size, it actually weighs less—this speaker is only 385g, which makes it both lightweight and compact, which is good because portability is what JBL is going for here. That’s also why there’s a loop on the top of the speaker so you can strap the Grip to a belt, or a bag, or maybe clip it to your bike to blast tunes while you get some cardio in. I didn’t strap the Grip to anything for my testing, but I did carry it around Manhattan and can confirm that it’s not very burdensome.
Don’t let the size and portability fool you, though; the Grip is no slouch in the volume department. The first thing I noticed when I played the Grip out loud in my office was that it really cranks. There’s 16W of power in this tiny speaker, which doesn’t sound like a ton, but believe me when I say it holds its own. While using the Grip in the park, I was able to drown out music from some live jazz being played in the vicinity. To be honest, I didn’t even know there was live music happening near me until I decided to pause the Grip momentarily.
Sound-wise, you’re not going to get the same nuance as a bigger Bluetooth speaker from Bose or even a bigger portable speaker like JBL’s Charge 5 (which I also own), but that’s not really the point of a speaker this size. What you want out of a speaker like the Grip is portability with a sound that is good enough, and I’d say that’s exactly what the Grip brings to the table. It does a decent job with treble (vocals are clear), though you won’t catch much complexity in the midrange where guitars live. Bass isn’t particularly booming, obviously, but I played some Daft Punk while walking around outside, and it didn’t sound bereft of low end. Overall, I’d say this speaker did better in a rock genre (I played a few of my favorite tracks by Geese), but your mileage may vary.
Needless to say, this isn’t the speaker you want if you’re trying to fill a room with sound, but if you’re just trying to grab a speaker to bring on a hike, or a picnic, or to the beach/park for a casual hang, there’s no reason not to grab a Grip—especially if you’re low on space.
Tall boy, smaller battery
As is the case with any gadget that emphasizes portability, battery life is always in question. The JBL Grip is rated for 14 hours of battery, though that will depend on the volume. I wasn’t able to test the Grip battery life extensively, but in my usage, the Grip seems to hold up as advertised, if not better. I tested the Grip, using the speaker at about 50% volume for an hour. I started my test at 40% battery, and by the time I was done listening, I was only at about 37%. Obviously, 50% volume is a little lower than what most people will be listening to out in the wild, but it’s still a decent showing from a small speaker. If you’re blaring this thing, you can obviously expect less.
The Grip has some character outside of the portability, too. There’s (of course) a companion app that you can use to fine-adjust EQ (seven whole bands) and switch between EQ presets. You can also monitor battery life using the JBL Portable app and use your phone to choose the color of the LED on the back of the speaker. One nice touch is being able to set the LED component to have different lighting effects via the app. There’s nothing super practical about being able to do any of that, but I guess if you were worried about losing your speaker in the dark, it might actually come in handy. I would have loved to see that feature turned into a battery indicator so you can tell how much juice you have left in the Grip at a glance, but using it for a little extra personalization is fine. I like being able to toggle lighting effects in particular, to give it some extra flair.
Another nice-to-have feature is an IP68 water and dust rating, which means this speaker is basically as water-resistant as an actual can of beer. To test that out, I gave the Grip a nice little shower in the sink, running it under water for a couple of minutes. Luckily, the Grip survived my test and came out a little soggy, but fully functional and able to play music just as well as before. It doesn’t float or anything like Soundcore’s Boom 3i speaker, which I tested not long ago, but you definitely don’t have to worry about dropping the Grip in a pool or leaving it out in the rain by accident.
Nothing to write home about the button selection here. On the front, there’s a play/pause button and a volume up and down. On top, there’s a Bluetooth button for pairing, a power button, and a button for Auracast, which lets you pair multiple speakers together, if that’s something you’re interested in.
Should you get a Grip?
JBL’s Grip isn’t for everyone. If you’re an audiophile looking for the best possible sound, this is not your pick. Nor is this the best pick if you’re looking for the most of lots of things, including features, battery, or even use in water. That being said, it does strike a solid balance of all of those arenas that should be on the radar if you’re looking for a speaker that’s very portable.
I do wish the price was a little lower than $100, considering speakers like the Soundcore Boom 3i, which do a few things very well and only cost $30 more. Sure, maybe Soundcore’s floatable speaker isn’t quite as small, but it’s still pretty damn portable, a lot more durable, and comes with more features than you would ever expect in that price range. I’m left wondering after testing the JBL Grip if the difference in size is really all that special. If you’re carrying a backpack around with enough room, will you really need the space? If you’re hiking, and every gram counts, that’s a different story.
So, if you’re emphasizing size above all else and you want something that sounds decent and won’t be overpowered by environmental noise, then you might want to look JBL’s way and grab a nice tall glass of Bluetooth audio. And if size doesn’t matter to you, then there are tons of other options out there, though maybe none quite as beer-like.
Sometimes you need a Bluetooth speaker that’s going to knock people’s socks off, not necessarily in terms of audio quality (though that’s nice too), but in pure, unadulterated volume. For JBL fans, there’s one wireless speaker that delivers on that promise in a package that’s not a total pain in the ass to cart around, and that’s the Boombox, which just got its fourth version and some significant upgrades to boot at IFA 2025.
The highlight here, according to JBL, is that the Boombox 4 is giving you more for less, at least in the weight department. While JBL shaved two pounds off the Boombox 4 compared to the last generation, it also has 50% more output than its predecessor. Coupled with JBL’s AI Sound Boost, the company says the speaker should deliver more output while minimizing distortion, too.
You should know that this speaker is still 13 pounds, though, so it’s not something you’re going to want to carry around for long periods. JBL says the Boombox 4 has two additional woofers and three passive radiators this time around for a total of 210W of power. The Boombox 3, for reference, has 180W of total power when plugged in, but 136W when running on battery power.
Even with that boost in power, JBL says the Boombox 4 should deliver solid battery life, with 28 hours of juice regularly and 34 hours if JBL’s Playtime Boost feature is activated. One thing that I love here is that the battery is replaceable now, which is great for longevity. More replaceable batteries in gadgets, please! Two other nice touches include the ability to connect to an external device via USB-C for lossless audio (a big deal for the audiophiles among us) and a light-up JBL logo that lets you know when the speaker’s bass boost is activated. JBL’s Boombox 4 is available for preorder now and debuts at $549.95. The speaker is slated for a full release on Sept. 28.
If you’re looking for even more power, JBL is also introducing a new edition of its JBL PartyBox. The PartyBox 720—a big-boy party speaker that makes the Boombox 4 look cute—has a whole 800W of power. That’s the same wattage as the PartyBox 710 speaker, but the PartyBox 720 woofers are 9 inches compared to the 8-inch woofers on the 710. The biggest shift here is that the PartyBox can now run on a battery as opposed to having to be plugged in. Altogether, JBL says that its PartyBox 720 can last for up to 15 hours on its own. Oh, there are also wider wheels this time around, which should make lugging around a house-shaking Bluetooth speaker a lot easier. JBL’s PartyBox 720 is available for preorder now at a debut price of $1,099 and will be released broadly on Sept. 21.
Being in a band is hard. You’ve got to learn an instrument (time-consuming), organize your friends (a nightmare), and then harass everyone on Instagram to come out to your show on a Tuesday at 9:30 pm at least twice a month? Forget about it. That being said, looking like you’re in a band is still hella cool, and what better way to do that than carry around a huge party speaker that looks akin to a Marshall Stack?
If that sounds more like your speed, then you’ll be happy to know that Marshall is giving you just that. The Bromley 750 is Marshall’s biggest yet and has more than 40 hours of battery, according to the company, plus a mode that literally is just called “loud.” As with other Marshall-branded speakers in the past, the Bromley 750 has the characteristic look of its iconic amps and even has some of the same functionality as them, too. Marshall says the Bromley 750 comes with two combo jacks for a mic and an instrument, so if you’re not just cosplaying as a musician, you can plug in and play stuff or at least sing some karaoke. One detail that I love is that there’s a swappable battery in this thing that also doubles as a power bank for when you want to top up another device.
There are some other nice details that every party speaker should have, too, including some built-in lighting for festivity’s sake and handles and wheels for when you want to lug your big-ass speaker to the beach, or the skate park, or out of your apartment when you get evicted for playing music too loud. Speaking of loud music, in contrast to “loud” mode, there’s also a “dynamic” mode for when you don’t want to knock everyone’s socks off with a ton of volume. That’s great news for anyone who wants to use the Bromley 750 while not at parties. This isn’t the most water-resistant speaker on paper, with an IP54 water and dust rating, but it should be enough that you won’t have to pray if it gets a little wet.
Without testing the Bromley 750 myself, it seems like a solid party speaker, if maybe a little pricey. Marshall is starting this one at $1,299 and will start selling the Bromley 750 directly through Marshall on September 23, with “select retailers” to follow on September 30. That’s a hefty price for most, but no one ever said partying was easy or cheap.
Twice the battery life of other pill speakers in this range
Cons
Low-end could have been punchier
Not the most rugged and robust for being taken on the go
Beats finally realized it used to make speakers, too. The Apple-owned audio brand released its last speaker, Pill+, around a decade ago, and recently came out with its successor, Pill, in June.
The Pill is priced at $150 and I couldn’t help but compare it to the recently-released $130 Sony Ult Field 1 throughout my testing. It has the same pill shape design, a mono output system, and a mid-range price that targets non-audiophiles who want decent, room-filling sound for picnics, hiking, or solo listening.
Beats Pill Review: Design
Wouldn’t be my top choice for a hiking trip.
Design-wise, you can tell Beats attempted to maximize portability on the Pill. It features a generous amount of shock-resistant rubber along with silicon, and a long lanyard that can loop onto your backpack for a hiking trip. The Pill is also rated IP67, which is the highest level of dust resistance you can get and almost the highest water resistance (IP68 is the highest). It checks all the boxes and would even be sufficient for the average consumer who wants to carry some big audio with them in a small package to places like the beach or park.
But if you’re someone who likes to always take your speaker everywhere you go (me), you’d probably be more comfortable taking the Ult Field 1 on an adventure. It’s also rated IP67 but sports a considerably more rugged look and an overall sturdier-looking body. I like that its Type-C charging port is covered with a rubberized flap to prevent water from getting inside. The exposed USB-C port on the Beats Pill, in contrast, would slightly concern me if I’m at the beach or around the pool.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Both speakers feature the lanyard, but Sony does it much better. The lanyard on the Ult Field 1 is much thicker, looks more durable and robust, and also offers an additional loop along the body of the speaker that doubles as a handle when you’re taking it on the go. The Ult Field 1 is also noticeably lighter at 650g versus the Pill, which weighs 680g.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Beats Pill Review: Battery Life
Twice of what you’d get on a speaker this size.
Though design might be the only area where the Pill outshines the Ult Field 1. In terms of battery life, the Pill lasts a whopping 24 hours, while the Field 1 gives up after 12 hours. My usage of the Pill has been sporadic over a couple of weeks, and I still haven’t had to charge it yet. It also features a few bells and whistles that other speakers in this range—the Ult Field 1, and Sonos Roam 2— don’t offer. You get lossless audio over a USB-C connection so you can enjoy hi-res audio while the speaker is connected to your laptop or other compatible devices. I felt a slight upgrade in audio, but not enough for me to be tethered to a wire when I can go wireless.
I’m also happy about Beats finally targeting Android users and introducing the same native features for it as it does for iOS. The Pill offers the same one-touch connectivity with both systems as well as a Find My (for iOS) for Find My Device (for Android) option. Following the EU mandate, Beats has also moved from a lightning port on the Pill’s predecessor to a USB-C port on the Pill, which further eases compatibility with non-Apple devices.
Beats Pill Review: Sound
Better for high-end than bass.
Beats promises a new, revamped racetrack woofer that apparently pushes 90% more air for more powerful bass. After listening to some Fred Again on both speakers, I would still recommend the Ult Field 1 if you’re into the kind of overpowering bass that sometimes takes over other elements of your orchestra. Even with its bass boost button off, the Pill delivers rich and powerful low-end sound. Some bass-heavy tracks might come off a little thick or overbearing, but you can simply choose to turn it down in such cases.
The Pill performs better in the mids (or vocals) and treble. The vocals track that is layered onto “Marea” sounded much clearer on the Pill. The orchestra didn’t sound clustered and featured sufficient space for each of its elements to shine on its own. Beats claim its tweeter has been upgraded to offer crisp highs and rich mids and this is a claim I could attest to after jamming to a few treble-heavy songs.
Another fancy feature that the Pill is surprisingly generous enough to provide in its modest price tag is Amplify and Stereo Modes. You can pair two Pills for upgraded sound in Amplify Mode where it does exactly what the name of the mode suggests: provide louder sound. Or you can put them in Stereo Mode where the speakers act as left and right outputs. I tried the modes on the pair of Pills Beats sent to us, and they were extremely easy to set up. You bring the two speakers close to each other and long-press the multi-function button on the speaker to enable or cycle between them. I can imagine Amplify Mode coming in handy during a house party where you can place two speakers in two different rooms.
Photo: Artem Golub / Gizmodo
Beats Pill Review: Verdict
I believe the Pill is a modestly-priced speaker that offers so much more than you would expect from it. It also has seemingly no premium for being made by Apple, commonly referred to as the Apple Tax, which is surprising. At just $150, it features impressive high-end and mids, a bunch of portability-focused features, and some frills such as the Amplify and Stereo Modes or the lossless audio over USB-C. There are punchier low-end alternatives out there for the same price so I wouldn’t recommend the Pill for just the bass. The 24-hour battery life is more than double what you get on similar speakers in this range (10-15 hours) and the new Android compatibility features extend the target audience who want to carry around a small speaker that can produce some big audio.
