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Looking for an inexpensive Bluetooth wireless speaker to stream sound from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Here are CNET's top picks.
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, small is hot. We have Jawbone and all the marketing it put behind its Jambox partially to thank for that. With its rechargeable battery and impressive sound for its size, the Jambox showed how you could take a tiny portable speaker and pair it with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to create a mini wireless stereo system just about anywhere you were.
But some folks don't want to drop $150 to $175 on a portable speaker, which is why I've put together this list of less expensive alternatives. We'll be reviewing more inexpensive portable Bluetooth speakers as the year goes along and we'll continue to update this list as we listen to new products and earlier models we might have missed.
iHome iDM11 rechargeable Bluetooth speaker One of iHome's better-designed products, the iDM11 delivers decent sound and has speakerphone capabilities. It has the same features as the Jambox and delivers more bang for your buck. Read the full review of the iHome iDM11.
iHome iDM8 rechargeable Bluetooth speaker Not into cubes? iHome's step-down iDM8 is closer to spherical and costs $10 less ($60). The two speakers sound very similar but the iDM11 has speakerphone capabilities while the iDM8 does not. Read the full review of the iHome iDM8.
Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100 We gave Monster's mini Bluetooth speaker a bit of a hard time in our original review for being a little pricey at $120. But now that it's come down to around $75, it's more attractive. It has good sound quality for its size and, like the Jambox, includes a microphone for speakerphone capabilities. Read the full review of the iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100.
Logitech Mini Boombox The Logitech Mini Boombox offers 10 hours of battery life, and its sound is slightly warmer and more open than the sound from Monster's iClarityHD. It also has a built-in microphone and speakerphone capabilities. Read the full review of the Logitech Mini Boombox.
Creative D100 If you can live with its bigger size, the D100 is arguably the best bargain in Bluetooth speakers today, coming in right around $50. Read the full review of the Creative D100.
Logitech Z515 Wireless Speaker Editor Justin Yu says, "With its durable outer shell, multiple connectivity options, and wide range of sound, the Logitech Wireless Speaker Z515 makes a great sidekick for your next backyard barbecue or picnic party." Read the full review of the Logitech Z515 Wireless Speaker.
The Soundfreaq Sound Kick Soundfeaq's first portable Bluetooth speaker has a clean look, good sound, and a USB charging port. It just gets into the roundup with a $99.99 price point. Read the full review of the Soundfreaq Sound Kick.