How to Choose a Bluetooth Speaker

How to Choose a Bluetooth Speaker

Consumers in the modern age don't sacrifice convenience when shopping for gadgets. They want the best of everything. That's why inventors and designers work tirelessly to develop lighter and more portable devices without compromising performance, like Bluetooth speakers. Some years ago, the idea of carrying your music to outdoor spaces without electricity was inconceivable. Today, you can enjoy your favourite tunes at the remotest place on earth, thanks to Bluetooth loudspeakers. Who goes camping without some decent music and blames electricity? In this guide, we will lead you through the process of finding the wireless speaker that suits your needs.

Pricing: New or Refurbished Bluetooth Speaker?

There's a unique gratification in purchasing a brand new item. The crisp, fresh, and clean scent of new electronics electrifies you whenever you come close to your brand new appliance. Isn't that the smell of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in many consumer goods that disappears after a few weeks?

Don't get us wrong. There's nothing wrong with buying brand new equipment, and Back Market isn't here to ridicule your choices. Our interest is to inform you how purchasing refurbished electronics is not only good for you but also for planet earth.

If you're looking for quality and value for money, consider buying a refurbished Bluetooth speaker, and thank us later. But how to choose the right one?

1. Battery Life

Without a doubt, you will throw your wireless speaker away if you have to recharge it every hour. You want a loudspeaker that doesn't give up the ghost in the middle of your two-hour presentation. Typically, battery sizes and retention varies with speaker sizes.

The average Bluetooth speaker like the Bose Portable Smart Speaker can run nonstop for 12 hours per charge. If you go for a SEVIZ Retro Wireless Speaker, expect no more than four hours of playback.

Battery life is also subject to:

  • Audio decibels: The louder the audio volume, the faster the battery dies

  • Battery age: As the battery ages, it's charge capacity and retention falls

Charging habits: Fully discharging Lithium-ion batteries can damage them

2. Sound Quality

Maybe you're wondering why you should buy a Bluetooth loudspeaker when you can play your audio files anywhere on your smartphone or tablet. While these devices are wireless and portable, their sound quality is wanting.

The average Bluetooth wireless speaker can achieve the output power and clarity required for indoor and outdoor applications. Do you want more bass, treble, or clarity? Here's what to consider:

  • Output Power (Watts)

Output power is the power the loudspeaker emits, which relates to its volume in decibels (dB). Typically, about 20 Watts can generate about 80 dB, an adequate volume for the outdoor environment. To prevent sound distortion, the speaker should operate at a volume not exceeding 80 per cent.

  • Frequency Range

The range of frequencies a speaker can emit also determines sound quality. The human ear can perceive approximately between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, but a Bluetooth speaker cannot generate the entire range. Compare different products and pick the one with the most expansive frequency range.

  • Harmonic Distortion

Most loudspeaker manufacturers indicate the harmonic distortion of their products. Aim for below one per cent.

Let's use Bose SoundLink Mini II and the JBL Party Box 1000 for your comparison. The compact-size Bose SoundLink has an output power of 50 watts RMS. It produces crisp audio that enables you to get the finest details.

If you want a loudspeaker that brings the disco mood outdoors, consider something like the JBL Partybox 1000. With 1000-watt output power, the speaker delivers high volume and deep bass performance without distortion.

3. Portability

Most wireless speakers come in small to moderate sizes and have rechargeable inbuilt batteries. Therefore, you can move them around conveniently.

We have refurbished Bluetooth speakers of various shapes and sizes to suit your taste and different applications. If you want a product that you'll easily carry around, explore our cylindrical wireless speakers. They are great for packing with luggage. You get better audio quality and longer battery life as the speaker size increases.

Think Insiq when you want the smallest wireless speakers. It has a diameter of 1.2 inches and weighs about 60 grams (2.1 oz), but it can deliver more than 90 dB. It's easier to carry the Insiq than the JBL Partybox, weighing 34.7 kg (76.5 lb).

4. Bluetooth Version

Avoid frustrations by choosing a modern product that supports the older Bluetooth versions. Wireless speakers today come with Bluetooth 4.2 or above, though many support earlier Bluetooth versions. Insist on Bluetooth 4.0 or better since its low-energy profile saves the battery.

The UDISON UX6 Pro Wireless Stereo Speakers support Bluetooth 5.0, with a 30-metre (100 feet) connectivity range.

5. Connectivity Options

What do you want to connect with your refurbished Bluetooth speaker? If you have mobile devices that support NFC, consider a Bluetooth loudspeaker with similar connectivity. NFC makes pairing a breeze. Two devices with NFC systems connect automatically by bringing them close to one another.

Examples of NFC-enabled wireless speakers include the Astrum ST150, Sony SRSX3, and Panasonic SC-NT 10-D, among others.

For older music players with no wireless connectivity options, you can link them with the speaker via audio jack ports and a cable. Most wireless speakers have the standard 3.5 mm audio input port.

Is refurbished as good?

Did you know that the quality of genuinely refurbished electronics is as good as that of new ones? The 1,000 refurbishing experts on Back Market are certified professionals. Product reconditioning begins with testing to identify faulty parts before repairing or replacing them.

The experts test the products again to ascertain their performance before releasing them to the market for resale. We supervise all the refurbishing operations to ensure high-reliability levels as defined in our quality charter.

Cost Saving:

Don't break the bank when you can buy a refurbished Bluetooth speaker for about half the price of a new one. Our reconditioned items are 30 to 70 percent cheaper than brand new ones.

Eco-Friendly Business:

Many electronics have valuable metals as well as hazardous elements. Unfortunately, many of them end up in landfills after their service life or when the owners want to upgrade. Buy our high-end refurbished Bluetooth loudspeakers at discounted prices and help conserve the environment.

Figures show that we have saved the environment 1,700 tons of electronic waste by reconditioning used devices. Our customers have saved the earth a similar quantity of resources that would have been the raw materials for manufacturing what they bought from us.

Join our platform to buy superior products from leading manufacturers affordably.

Back Market

Written by Brian,  Marketing Manager Back Market UK & Ireland

When not talking about the latest eco-friendly tech and reducing our carbon footprint, Brian enjoys the odd game of football, a classic horror (book or film) or just to kick back with a beer or a proper Scottish whisky. Slàinte Mhath!

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