Soundcore by Anker Select 4 Go: The Soundcore by Anker Select 4 Go doesn’t have quite the build quality as JBL’s Go 4 micro Bluetooth speaker (it has a budget feel to it), but it offers comparable sound quality and costs half the price. Like the JBL Go 4, the similarly named Select 4 Go sounds decent for its tiny size and is able to output just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny. Also, it’s fully waterproof and even floats. Battery life is rated for an impressive 20 hours at moderate volumes, and you can pair two of these speakers together for stereo sound. It’s definitely a good value.
Marshall Willen 2: Marshall’s little mono Willen 2 speaker (around $90) is similar to Bose’s SoundLink Micro 2 and other micro speakers like the Tribit StormBox Micro 3, but doesn’t sound quite as good. Like those speakers, it has an integrated strap on its base so you can clip it onto a backpack or even to your bike’s handlebars. Its 2-inch full range driver and two passive radiators put out more sound than you’d think it would for its tiny size, and it offers decent clarity as well just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny.
Tribit Stormbox Micro 2: Now that Tribit has released the StormBox Micro 3, a budget version of Bose’s excellent SoundLink Micro 2 speaker, the second-gen StormBox Micro 2 is on sale for less than $50. The new Micro 3 offers improved acoustics and double the battery life, but the Micro 2 remains a good palm-sized wireless speaker that you can strap to the handlebars of your bike. Read our full review.
JBL Go 4: While JBL has released the newer Go 5 with boosted battery life (10 hours vs. 7 hours) and a lighting element, the fourth-generation of JBL’s smallest Bluetooth speaker remains a good tiny speaker option, especially when it’s discounted. Despite its size, it does sound better than anticipated, though don’t get your hopes up — keep in mind that this speaker is truly pocket-size, so it can only deliver so much sound. However, it does manage to output just enough bass to avoid sounding tinny. This tiny speaker is also durable and has an IP67 water-resistance rating, which means it can survive being fully submerged in water and is dust-proof. The Go 4 is available in multiple color options.
Sony LinkBuds Bluetooth speaker: Sony made some mistakes with its LinkBuds Bluetooth speaker. First, it launched it in its LinkBuds line with a couple of new LinkBuds, so it kind of got lost in the shuffle. Second, it’s a little too expensive at its list price. But ignoring all that, I was surprised how good it sounded for its tiny size. It’s easily among the best-sounding micro Bluetooth speakers out there and is equipped with a two-way speaker system featuring a dedicated tweeter and Sony’s X-Balanced Speaker unit (woofer), giving it much fuller sound than you’d expect, with punchy bass and good clarity. It’s still a mono speaker, though you can pair two of them together for stereo sound.
Sonos Roam 2: Sonos’s original Roam speaker sounded very good for its compact size, but many users complained that it was tricky to go from Wi-Fi mode at home and Bluetooth mode on the go. With the release of the new Roam 2, which comes in five color options, those connectivity issues go away. The reality is the Roam 2 ($180) isn’t much of an upgrade. It has the same acoustic architecture (and the same impressive sound for its size), but now it has two buttons — one for power and the other for Bluetooth — instead of a single power button. That Bluetooth button lets you pair the speaker with any Bluetooth-enabled audio device right out of the box. Previously, the setup was more convoluted and required you to connect to your Sonos home Wi-Fi network first.
Anker Soundcore Boom 3i: In some ways, Anker’s new Soundcore Boom 3i is the spiritual successor of the company’s popular Soundcore Motion Plus speaker that was released in 2020. It’s similarly shaped but has more of an outdoor adventure slant with Anker calling it “built for the wild” and billing it as the first Bluetooth speaker with playback in water, as it floats and “auto-corrects” to keep the speaker drivers facing upward just above the surface. As you’d expect from a speaker that promotional photos show strapped onto a kayak (it does have a detachable carrying strap), the Soundcore Boom 3i is fully waterproof and dust-resistant, with an IP68 rating. Anker takes things a step further, touting the Boom 3i as “5X” saltwater-resistant. Read our full review.
Anker Soundcore Motion 300: Bose makes its excellent SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker that sells for about $150 and sometimes goes on sale for less. The Soundcore Motion 300 is Anker’s answer to that Bose speaker. Around the same size as the Bose, it doesn’t sound quite as good but it sounds impressive for its compact size and lists for only $80. Like the SoundLink Flex, it can be laid down flat with its speaker firing up toward the ceiling or propped up as shown in the photo above. It’s IPX7 waterproof and delivers up to 13 hours of audio at moderate volume levels. There’s also support for Sony’s LDAC audio codec for Android and other devices that support Bluetooth wireless streaming with LDAC.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
