Advantages of Bluetooth speakers under $100
There are plenty of benefits of Bluetooth speakers. To begin with, the wireless nature of these compact devices makes them highly portable, which makes it easier and more accessible to play music in social gatherings. Next, their water protection makes them ideal for outdoor usage. Another advantage is their amazing sound quality with bass and clarity. Bluetooth speakers also have very low power consumption but long battery life. The battery can easily be recharged with standard USB cables if it isn’t enough. They let you play your audio files and music with a click of a button and don’t require cables to pair with devices. The best thing about these devices is perhaps their impressive price point. Even though there are more expensive options, you can still find very high-quality and reliable Bluetooth speakers for just under $100!
How to pick the best Bluetooth speaker under $100?
To pick the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, you must determine two basic things what you need the speakers for, meaning how and where you plan on using them. Next, you must determine a budget. This part requires market research in order to establish a rough estimate of how much Bluetooth speakers generally cost. You then move on to check the models available under $100 and their key parameters, such as the power output, battery playtime, waterproofing, weight, dimensions, and some other features like shape and customization.
Power output
The power output of a Bluetooth speaker means how loud it can be. It also determines the sound quality of your Bluetooth speakers under $100. This shows the amount of power your speaker can deal with in the long term without being damaged, as well as peak power, meaning how much short bursts of power your speaker can handle without getting damaged.
Power output is an important consideration with respect to how and where you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker because putting more load than it can bear may damage your speaker.
So, you first determine how much load you want your Bluetooth speaker to be able to cope with before you select a model of your liking. While 10W is loud enough for some, the sound quality may be better in speakers with greater power output, such as seen with the Bugani M90 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, which offers 30W.
Frequency range
The frequency range of Bluetooth speakers is measured in Hertz, and it determines how accurately your speaker will convert the input signal and how clean it will sound. With a wider frequency range, your speaker will be able to produce more tones that cheaper models can’t offer. For example, our premium Anker Soundcore Motion+ comes with 50 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range and a customizable EQ to allow you to find the settings you like.
Active vs. passive crossover
For those who may be absolutely lost here, a crossover is an electrical system hidden inside that takes a single input signal and creates 2 or more output signals consisting of varying frequency ranges of high, mids, and lows. These varying frequency ranges feed into different components of a speaker. Passive crossovers have the ability to filter the desired outputs without any power, while active crossovers require power and ground connections to filter the desired outputs. The advantages of active crossovers are that they provide more flexibility, produce a more fine-tuned sound, and give you better control of the output. In an active crossover device, each driver in your speaker will have a channel of amplification of its own. The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a fantastic option that boasts active crossover.
Battery life
This is a very important feature to consider if you plan on using your Bluetooth speakers frequently and for long periods of time. This is because you don’t want to recharge your speaker every few hours after use. Even though most small speakers have smaller batteries that don’t last too long, each item on our list has an impressive capacity, and some offer up to 20 hours of continuous use, such as seen with the OontZ Angle 3 Ultra.
A trick to make the battery last longer is to turn the speaker off when not using or play your music at a medium volume.
Playing your files at the maximum volume can make the charge run out in half the time because it consumes more power.
Waterproof rating
The portable nature of these Bluetooth speakers makes them convenient, but there is always a risk of damaging your device when you take it out. A higher waterproof rating helps to make your speaker more durable because even if you place your Bluetooth speaker near water or use it in the rain, there won’t be any issues due to occasional spills. Therefore, it is crucial to check the waterproof rating of Bluetooth speakers before you purchase them. Generally, an IPX7 rating is considered ideal for these devices, and the JBL FLIP 4 is a great example here, with excellent water protection.
Design
There are many styles of wireless speakers to choose from, from ultra-lightweight to heavier ones. The size matters a lot when it comes to devices that are meant to be portable. Almost all speakers on our list are small enough to be carried in a bag or even in hand. Conical and cylindrical shapes prove to be convenient because they can fit most cup holders, just like the Braven STRYDE 360, and take up less space in your luggage. The good thing about these Bluetooth speakers on our list is that their small size doesn’t affect the sound quality or battery life, with some models even offering 360-degree sound and booming bass.
Connectivity
Bluetooth speakers are wireless devices that have high portability and require no other connection to pair with your devices, other than Bluetooth pairing. You can easily access files on your devices, such as smartphones, laptops, iPods, and tablets by simply connecting your speaker. Some older devices, such as the iPod Classic don’t have Bluetooth, but you can still use an aux cable. Generally, most wireless Bluetooth speakers under $100 have a 3.5mm jack input, such as seen with the OontZ Angle 3 Ultra, making it possible to connect your wired-only devices via a suitable cable. This should be checked before purchasing a device to make sure your Bluetooth speaker has a cable option as well.
Stereo pairing
Some Bluetooth speakers under $100 have a feature that lets you connect the wireless speaker to another speaker for stereo sound. Most models may not have this option because people looking for wireless and portable speakers require only the basic features. But if you are interested in connecting your Bluetooth speaker to a stereo for a certain kind of music, this is a feature worth investigating. For example, you can go for the JAM Hang Around Bluetooth Speaker HX-P505BK, which is extremely reliable and easy to use.
What else can be important?
Multiple features make these devices more customized and can be exclusive to certain models and brands.
Some speakers let you adjust your EQ through a mobile app, which is an accessible way of tuning your speaker to your desire. Another amazing extra feature is lightning, which changes with changing music and can be especially useful at night time. The lights also add to the aesthetics of these devices.
You can also come across products that offer free aux, audio, and USB cables, like the Bugani M90 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. Other models offer several color options to choose from, which gives buyers more choices.
360-degree sound is an exciting feature that lets you have an all-around music experience with just a small device.