Weight: 960g | Size: 223mm x 97mm x 94mm | Battery life: 20 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IP67) | Total power: 40W | Aux-in No Bluetooth is like a short-range, low-powered, low-bandwidth version of wi-fi used to connect compatible devices together rather than to the internet. Bluetooth uses radio waves like wi-fi does but at a different scale. Weight: 900g | Size: 184mm x 105mm x 105mm | Battery life: 17 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IPX4) | Aux-in: Yes

CREATIVE Pebble V2 - Minimalistic 2.0 USB-C Powered Desktop

The term bookshelf speaker generally describes any speaker that can comfortably fit on a bookshelf and is part of a stereo pair or other multiple-speaker setup. However, especially among audiophiles, it has a much more important implication: Bookshelf speakers are small, unpowered stereo speakers. That unpowered part is a big detail that should please anyone who knows how to set up a high-end home sound system and might frustrate everyone else. What is actually the best sounding speaker though? You don't actually seem to compare them to each other? Such as the Dali Katch to say the UE Megablast, Audio Pro C3 etc. Ignoring hardwired speakers and price. The Award-winning JBL Charge 5 is even more durable and hardwearing than the four Charges that came before it. Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof. Speakers with Bluetooth aptX technology avoid most of the sound-quality compromises that can mar the audio quality of lesser Bluetooth speakers. However, some high-end speakers also offer Wi-Fi connectivity, which uses your Wi-Fi network to deliver improved wireless sound quality. This often goes hand in hand with the option of linking multiple speakers together as part of a multiroom speaker system. Join meetings at a touch of a button and enjoy high-quality audio, plus easy setup and management. Teams Certification requires the included USB dongle to connect.Connection options aren’t the most extensive, but Bluetooth provides a welcome wireless option if you’re not hooking the bar up to your PC using the included USB-C to USB-A cable or simply want to use the Leviathan V2 to stream music from your phone. Speaking of your phone, the Razer Audio mobile app allows you to select from Music, Game, Movie and Flat EQs, or create your own using a ten-band graphic equaliser. You can also customise the Chroma lighting effect on the bottom of the bar, and similar options can also be found in the Razer Synapse software for PC.

speakers for gaming, streaming and music The best PC speakers for gaming, streaming and music

If you want to enjoy an engaging, immersive audio experience at your desk, you’re going to need to add a pair of the best PC speakers to your desktop setup. Weight: 585g | Size: 16 x 8.9 x 8.9cm | Battery life: 12 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IPX7) | Total power: 20W | Aux-in: No Whether you’re looking for a compact, cheap way of enhancing your tinny laptop’s sonic output or seeking an audiophile experience to do your custom-built gaming rig justice, there are plenty of great PC speakers to choose from. Weight: 999g | Size: 260mm x 143mm x 66mm | Battery life: 10 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IPX5) | Total power: 20W | Aux-in: Yes Pros: One of the most stylish Bluetooth speakers around; good at high volumes; dual-speaker pairing; great battery life

How to choose the best Bluetooth speaker for you

It works a treat, too, delivering a pleasingly comfortable yet authoritative performance that you'd be happy listening to all day. Throw in its classy, well-made design, easy-to-use operation and the bonus of Alexa, and you're looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait. That’s handy if space is at a premium but the Katana SE has more going for it than just its compact all-in-one nature. Its audio is clear and balanced and can be customised extensively using the Creative app, while the bar makes a decent fist of virtual surround sound. Its attractive LED display can be personalised, while connection options are wide-ranging and enable you to use the bar with your TV as well as your PC. If you are using an active set of headphones or adapter, the audio signal being sent through the USB port is still in its digital form. That means the DAC and amplifier are inside of the headphones or the dongle, and the conversion is done there instead of the phone. At 700g, there’s a little more heft to it than you might expect, but it’s more reassuring than cumbersome. It’s made out of quality materials after all, with a metal-fronted grille and tough rubber body.

Microsoft Modern USB-C Speaker

Weight: 210g | Size: 88mm x 75mm x 41mm | Battery life: 5 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IP67) | Total power: 4.5W | Aux-in: No Building on the success of the original Stormbox Micro and featuring an all but identical woven finish design, the Micro's sequel trumps its predecessor when it comes to delivering enjoyable audio and massively improved battery life. We easily coaxed 12 hours of listening out of a single charge, while an IP67 rating let one of our reviewers use it in the bathroom/shower without any issue or damage. Again, the Stormbox Micro 2's diminutive size and durable design make it well-suited for travelling far beyond the confines of a bathroom or kitchen. Further complicating matters is support for Audio Accessory Mode. Audio Adapter Accessory Mode is a feature of the USB-C spec that tells the phone whether or not a connected audio cable is passive and requires an analog signal to be sent. Many smartphones do not support Audio Accessory Mode. As such, passive headphones are not supported and cannot be used. In terms of improvements, this model ups the ante with Bluetooth 5.1 for improved connectivity, USB-C charging and JBL PartyBoost for teaming up with other JBL speakers. The Charge 4 was already our favourite waterproof Bluetooth speaker but the Charge 5 adds handy dust proofing too with its IP67 rating.Want a speaker roughly the dimensions of a bottle of wine that'll charge your phone and sound great? Enter the Charge 5. It will cost you extra, but you can also buy a Bose charging cradle that does away with all the tedious unplugging of a micro-usb. If you really want to just grab that speaker and go (and never have to hunt for a space charging cable), it’s a sensible upgrade. Weight: 700g | Size: 6.6 x 16 x 7.6cm | Battery life: 20 hours | Waterproof: Yes (IPX7) | Total power: 80W | Aux-in No Adam Audio is known for delivering high-end studio monitors at a similarly high-end price, but the T5V prove that you can have your affordable cake and eat it. They’re not the lightest or most stylish speakers around, but they deliver superb sound for the price. At first glance, you might not spot the differences between this model and the previous generation. After all, it’s still a brushed aluminium circular design, with a soft-touch polymer base and waterproof leather carry strap. So far, so similar. But look a little closer and you’ll see some careful tweaks that make this second iteration a real level up. On top, B&O has just introduced a cool and refined Nordic Ice colour option for the Gen 2 – it oozes finesse and luxury.

Logi Dock - All-In-One Docking Station, Speakerphone - Logitech Logi Dock - All-In-One Docking Station, Speakerphone - Logitech

Featuring easy-to-use buttons, including mute control with status light to easily see whether you can be heard. Besides the sound quality of a Bluetooth speaker, which we test with every genre of music from classical to pop, we also scrutinise other aspects of its design, including battery life, the robustness of its Bluetooth connection, how easy it is to use and set up, and finally how well built it is. Our review philosophy doesn't change whether we're evaluating a basic, budget Bluetooth speaker or a more premium model.The speaker itself is well designed, featuring a mesh covered fabric around the outside, complete with a rubberized bottom and small control panel with buttons on the top. The rubberized bottom has a lip that houses a USB-C cable that unwinds when you need to plug the speaker into a computer. When the cable isn't in use, it's hidden from view. Pretty great! USB-C devices, including headphones and dongles, can also send information about themselves through the USB-C port. Lastly, the USB-C port can be used to simultaneously charge a device and send audio data (provided the correct adapter is used). These added features are welcome additions. Wrapping up Earlier this year, Microsoft released a handful of new Teams peripherals that include a couple of headsets, a webcam, and the most interesting, a USB-C speaker. While headsets and webcams are common devices these days, a personal speakerphone for Teams is a bit more unique. Yes, but also no. The actual sound isn't better just because the port has changed. As mentioned above, you still need to use the same components and manufacturers are free to choose from high-end gear or budget gear. USB-C doesn't make anything better here, it just changes the connection.