The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (2024)

The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (1)

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Whether you want to host a pool party, listen to your favorite tunes in your backyard, or spice up your next hike at the local park, an outdoor speaker is a great way to bring audio with you on the go. Many portable Bluetooth speakers on the market are battery-operated, so you can use them outside without worrying about plugging them into an outlet. Plus, their sturdy and solid designs help withstand the bumps and falls that come with an active lifestyle, and they even boastIP ratingsfor dust and water resistance to help them withstand the elements. We've also tested a few speakers that blend into your landscaping, which is a neat touch. However, the scope of our testing hasn't expanded to speakers designed to live outdoors permanently, so you'll want to remember to bring them inside at the end of the day unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.

We've tested over 130 speakers, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best wireless outdoor speakers.If you want more options, check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the bestsmall Bluetooth speakers.


  1. Best Outdoor Speaker

    JBL Boombox 3 11

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (7)

    Outdoors

    8.1

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    No

    Voice Assistant

    No

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    No

    See all our test results

    The JBL Boombox 3 is the best outdoor speaker we've tested. This speaker is great for listening to music wherever you go, whether you're soaking up the sun in the backyard or relaxing at a campsite over a long weekend. It's also designed to hold up against the elements— it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance and even floats in water. Its solid and sturdy build gives it a great feel, and with a built-in handle, you can carry it around in one hand. Since it lasts for over 29 hours off a single charge, you don't have to worry about getting it back to a power outlet for a recharge all that often.

    Granted, this Bluetooth speaker is larger than some of the other picks on our list, but it pays off in terms of sound quality. That's especially true in the bass range, as the speaker'sdeep thump and rumble really bring genres like EDM and hip-hop to life. There's even a graphic EQ on hand to customize its sound. If you want something a little lighter for longer treks outdoors, you can check out some of the more budget-friendly options on our list, but if you want the best of the best, this speaker is worth a look.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Outdoor Speaker

    Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM 10

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (13)

    Outdoors

    7.7

    The Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM is another premium speaker that's great for listening to your favorite tunes outdoors. It's a little more affordable than the JBL Boombox 3, but it still comes with lots of premium features to make the most of your listening experience. Notably, it's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and it comes with a built-in handle to help you carry it around. Again, it'sa little larger than the more budget-friendly picks on our list, but you may find it's worth the trade-off. Thanks to its bigger size, it can bring more thump and rumble in the low bass than smaller speakers.

    This speaker also comes with many premium sound enhancement features, like an Adaptive EQ room correction tool that automatically optimizes its sound based on the acoustics of your listening space. As a result, it can bring the best possible sound to larger and more open spaces like your backyard and smaller rooms like your bedroom. There's a graphic EQ on hand to manually customize it, too. That said, it only lasts around 7.8 hours off a single charge, which can be limiting, especially compared to the more premium JBL. If you like to keep your time outside on the shorter side, you may still find it worth the value.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Outdoor Speaker

    Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 4

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (19)

    Outdoors

    7.9

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    No

    Voice Assistant

    No

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    No

    See all our test results

    Looking for an even more affordable speaker to bring outside? Check out the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3. This versatile device is great for indoor and outdoor use and is available at a wallet-friendly price. Take it to the park for an afternoon with your friends, then bring it back home to relax to music in your living room. Its small and lightweight design makes it easy to bring wherever you go, especially compared to our top picks, and you can even clip it to your bag with its built-in hook. Plus, it's sturdy enough to endure some exposure to the elements while you're outside, thanks to its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

    This speaker is available in many colors to suit your style, and its sound makes it suitable for listening to different music genres. Voices and lead instruments are reproduced with clarity right out of the box. Granted, it doesn't have a room correction tool like the Ultimate Ears EPICBOOM, so it sounds slightly different depending on your space. It doesn't bring as much low bass as our top picks, either. Still, you can customize its sound a bit thanks to its graphic EQ, which is a nice touch.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Outdoor Speaker

    Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 6

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (25)

    Outdoors

    7.9

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    No

    Voice Assistant

    No

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    No

    See all our test results

    The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3 is the best Bluetooth outdoor speaker in the budget range we've tested. For an affordable price, this small but mighty speaker lets you bring your music wherever you go. Thanks to its lightweight and compact design, you can carry it around in one hand or clip it to your bag using the included strap.It's an especially great option for the pool since it can float in water, and it's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance.

    While its sound quality isn't as impressive as our top picks, it still performs well compared to similarly-priced models. Since it's smaller than the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, it's not a surprise that it can't reproduce as deep of a low bass, so you notice a little less rumble in tracks like EDM and hip-hop. Still, voices and instruments are reproduced with clarity. The speaker's Outdoor modeis even designed to bring a little extra crispness to the mix when you're out in a larger, more open-air space, which is a cool touch. Overall, it's a standout pick if you're on a tighter budget.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Outdoor Speaker

    Anker Soundcore 3 2

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (31)

    Outdoors

    6.9

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    Yes

    Voice Assistant

    Yes

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    No

    See all our test results

    If you're looking for a simple speaker that won't break the bank, the Anker Soundcore 3 is worth a look. The next generation of the Anker Soundcore 2 comes in the same small and lightweight frame, so it's easy to carry this speaker around. Take it to the backyard or on a hike, and its IPX7 rating for water resistance keeps it safe from some light exposure to the elements. Its 13-hour battery life isn't quite as impressive as what you get with the more premium Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 3, but it's still more than enough for most days outdoors.

    Despite its wallet-friendly pricing, this speaker has some cool features to help it stand out. It's one of the few speakers we've tested in this price range to offer a graphic EQ for sound customization, which is a nice touch. You can pair it with other compatible speakers to spread sound throughout your backyard. Overall, its sound quality is solid for the price, so it's a suitable choice for listening to lots of different types of music outside.

    See our review

  6. Best Speaker For Outdoor Decor

    Pohopa EF-B210G 0

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (37)

    Outdoors

    6.6

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    No

    Voice Assistant

    No

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    No

    See all our test results

    The Pohopa EF-B210G is one of the only speakers on our list designed to live outside 24/7. The speaker comes in sets of two, each with built-in LED lights that actually function to light up your space at night, giving them some additional functionality. Simply connect your phone to the speakers via Bluetooth to stream music from your phone or laptop. With an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, these speakers are more than capable of withstanding the elements. Plus, their stylish design makes them a discreet addition to your outdoor living spaces, like your patio, porch, or pool deck.

    However, like most outdoor decor speakers we've tested, these devices prioritize design over sound quality. They're more than suitable for most casual listening sessions. However, if you're an astute audiophile, you'll notice a muddier and more cluttered sound than more premium speakers like the JBL Boombox 3. Plus, without any customization tools, you don't have any way to switch up their performance. If you aren't worried about the fidelity of audio reproduction, they're still a great choice, and you won't have any trouble hearing your music or podcasts through the speaker.

    See our review

  7. Best Outdoor Smart Speaker

    Sonos Move 2 7

    The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (43)

    Outdoors

    7.6

    Battery Powered

    Yes

    Speakerphone

    No

    Voice Assistant

    Yes

    Bluetooth

    Yes

    Wi-Fi

    Yes

    See all our test results

    Check out the Sonos Move 2 for indoor-outdoor voice assistant support. This speaker is the next generation of the original Sonos Move, and while it retains a similar design, it adds an additional tweeter for an improved sound with stereo content. Available in several colors, this speaker is sleek enough to fit into your home decor and sturdy enough to take outdoors. It's rated IP56 for dust and water resistance and can withstand some drops and falls. Since it's battery-powered, you don't have to worry about finding an outlet to plug it into when you listen to your favorite tunes.

    Built-in Alexa makes it easy to control this speaker using your voice. It can pick up on your commands from far away and if you're at a noisy park or camping site. The microphone mute button is on hand for more private moments, too. This speaker is also a great choice for connecting with other smart products. It pairs with other Sonos speakers to spread audio throughout your backyard or simultaneously play music in different spaces. If you want a smaller smart speaker for outdoor use, you can also check out the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. However, it doesn't get as loud as the Move 2, and its sound quality isn't quite as impressive, so it may or may not be worth the trade-off in size, depending on how you plan to use it.

    See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 04, 2024: We haven't changed any picks in this article, but we've updated some of the text for clarity.

  2. Feb 09, 2024: We've checked to ensure all our picks remain in stock and consistent in price.

  3. Jan 09, 2024: Our picks remain the same after confirming their accuracy and availability.

  4. Dec 08, 2023: Verified product picks. Made a few text edits for clarity.

  5. Nov 17, 2023: Replaced the Sonos Move with the next-generation Sonos Move 2.

All Reviews

Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best Bluetooth outdoor speakers for most people to buy, according to their needs. We factor in the price (cheaper speakers win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no speakers that are difficult to findor almostout of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose foryourself, here's the list of all our reviews for speakers, sorted by their outdoor performance. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. There are no perfect speakers. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews (2024)

FAQs

The 7 Best Outdoor Speakers - Winter 2024: Reviews? ›

Most outdoor speakers are designed to be left out all year round. They most commonly have IP ratings, plastic enclosures and aluminium grilles to prevent rust. So yes, you can leave them out all year round, but... we'd advise that you don't in some cases.

Can outdoor speakers stay out in winter? ›

Most outdoor speakers are designed to be left out all year round. They most commonly have IP ratings, plastic enclosures and aluminium grilles to prevent rust. So yes, you can leave them out all year round, but... we'd advise that you don't in some cases.

Which sound system is best for outdoor? ›

The best outdoor speakers available to buy right now
  1. Polk Atrium 4. The best outdoor speaker overall. ...
  2. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3. An impressive outdoor speaker for under $100. ...
  3. Sonos Move 2. ...
  4. Lodge Solar Powered Speaker 4. ...
  5. Klipsch AW-650. ...
  6. Yamaha NS-AW150W. ...
  7. JBL Boombox 3. ...
  8. UE Hyperboom.
Jan 29, 2024

Does cold weather mess up speakers? ›

Even the most well-built electronics have a difficult time surviving sub-zero temperatures. If it gets that cold outside, you should remove the speakers and bring them inside. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold could weaken or damage the speakers.

Do outdoor speakers need to be covered? ›

Not necessarily, however, if you live in an area prone to extreme weather such as sub-zero temperatures, you may want to cover the speakers with a plastic bag or bring them inside to help prevent components from absolute freezing during the long winter months.

What is the number one speaker brand in the world? ›

1. JBL Speaker Brand. JBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International.

What company makes the best quality speakers? ›

The best speaker brands
  • RCF. ...
  • Sonos. ...
  • Behringer. ...
  • LD Systems. ...
  • Yamaha. ...
  • Electro-Voice. ...
  • QSC. ...
  • JBL. JBL are an American manufacturer known for their commitment to high-quality sound and innovative design.
Dec 14, 2023

What is the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker? ›

All Reviews
ProductMusicBuild Quality Water Resistance
Bose SoundLink Flex6.3Submersible (IPx7)
Sonos Roam/Roam SL6.3Submersible (IPx7)
Anker Soundcore 36.1Submersible (IPx7)
Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 36.8Submersible (IPx7)
11 more rows
Apr 10, 2024

How to choose outdoor speakers? ›

Look for speakers that offer a balanced sound with clear highs, detailed midrange, and robust bass. Keep in mind that outdoor spaces can be challenging acoustically, so it's important to choose speakers that can deliver ample volume and dispersion to fill your outdoor area with quality sound.

How powerful should outdoor speakers be? ›

Wattage will depend on the power output of your receiver/amplifier; however, outdoor speaker wattage range from 60 watts to 300 watts. The advantage of bigger wattage is not only the potential volume increase but also better sound quality and coverage at lower volumes.

What is a good wattage for outdoor speakers? ›

Basically, a speaker with either 50 or 100 watts of power is suitable for large or outdoor events. But this level of power would not be suitable for home usage. More wattage is required for anyone who hosts parties and events.

Which is better, JBL or Bose? ›

The Bose sounds slightly better balanced for songs with female lyrics, and all around listening. Electronic music sounds amazing on the JBL. The JBL is splash proof and can charge your phone, so if you are outdoorsy type of a person you will appreciate this.

Who is Bose's biggest competitor? ›

Top 10 Bose competitors
  • Marshall Group.
  • Silentium.
  • Sonos.
  • Vinci.
  • Harman International Industries.
  • Vigo.
  • Dolby Laboratories.
  • Logitech.

Is Marshall better than Bose? ›

Another thing to consider is that Marshall speakers are known for having outsized bass that benefits genres like rock and hip-hop, while Bose takes more of a balanced approach, which results in a generalist high-fidelity sound profile.

Does cold weather affect Bluetooth speakers? ›

Cold and heat, on the other hand, don't affect Bluetooth signals unless the device itself is damaged from long-term exposure to extreme levels of either. Bluetooth takes energy to work well, and the lower the charge on your device, the weaker the connection and ability to transmit power.

Can I leave speaker in cold car? ›

Temperature by itself is rarely an issue. What can cause damage is the SPEED of a temp drop or rise. If it's gradual it should be no problem. My speakers are stored in down covers, my other electronics simply covered with blankets.

Can speakers withstand heat? ›

Speakers do not like heat. It changes the DCR and voice coil operating conditions and can lead to blown coils and damaged suspensions. Sufficient heat can also damage the magnets themselves.

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