Five new portable speakers to rock out at the beach or the pool
These speakers are rugged, loud and small enough to be taken anywhere. They can also be linked to more speakers for some serious party sounds
Summer’s here and its time to hit the pool or head over to the beach for some respite from the heat. Here are five newly released portable speakers that are designed to pump up the fun factor.
The Wonderboom is the latest in the Ultimate Ears (UE) line-up that is rated at IPX7 for up to 30 minutes of immersion in one metre of water. The size of a large coffee mug, the rugged speaker is fronted by the same tough mesh-like material as the others in the family, and a soft rubber finish along its top and bottom that renders it pretty much indestructible. Indeed, UE says it is drop-proof from up to 1.5 metres.
Though some may complain about a less than stellar mid-range, there is no question that the speaker was loud enough. Unlike the smaller UE Roll speaker, the Wonderboom doesn’t come with an inflatable float. It is naturally buoyant if you prefer your music to follow you around the pool, while an integrated fabric hook lets you hang it from a pool chair as you work on your tan.
On the downside, there is no 3.5mm input on the Wonderboom, Bluetooth wireless is the only means for music playback. You can pair two Wonderboom speakers together to augment the sound, though it won’t pair with other products in the family. UE claims the battery will last up to 10 hours at 75 per cent volume.