Tips Before Buying A Bluetooth Speaker

JAKARTA - Currently, Bluetooth speakers are the best choice because they can be used anywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

Because on average, this Bluetooth speaker can be taken anywhere because the body is quite light and doesn't need to be connected to electricity, only when you want to charge it.

But until now many also don't know what kind of Bluetooth speakers are worth buying and are an option. For that, the following VOI describes some things that must be considered before choosing a Bluetooth speaker for you, quoted from various sources, Monday, December 21.

1. Portable Bluetooth speaker

For easy portability when traveling, such as family gatherings or camping, it is recommended that you purchase a portable Bluetooth speaker. Compact and lightweight to carry.

However, for a Bluetooth speaker to be portable, it must have an internal battery. Battery life for portable speakers tends to last around 6 to 10 hours, but some last up to 24 hours.

One of the most durable portable speakers is the JBL Flip 5, which has 12 hours of resistance per charge.

For ultimate portability, a device like the JBL Charge 4 is also an option, as it can double as a charging station for phones and tablets. Of course this is useful when camping.

2. Identify the Bluetooth version

Currently, most Bluetooth speakers are using version 4 or version 5.0, there are no major changes to either version, but that can change the attractiveness of the speaker drastically.

It should be noted, Bluetooth version 5.0's wireless range is maximal at 120 meters while version 4.2 is maximal at around 30 meters.

Obviously, version 5 is faster than version 4. Bluetooth 5 has a speed of 2Mbps and is compatible with many smart home devices, while version 4.1 hits the red line at 1Mbps.

Most of today's smartphones also use Bluetooth 5.0. Both are compatible with older versions of Bluetooth, but with Bluetooth 5.0, you can pair multiple devices to one speaker.

3. Is it Waterproof?

If you are planning to travel to the beach or the ocean, you should choose a Bluetooth speaker that is water resistant, but does not fail to pay attention to the rating on its IP.

Typically, Bluetooth speakers with an IPX4 rating are splash and spill-resistant. Meanwhile, speakers with an IPX7 rating, such as the JBL Xtreme 2, will withstand heavy rain.

This applies to speakers rated IP67 too, the only difference is that they are dustproof. However, a speaker with an IP68 rating, in theory, guarantees that it can stay 1.5m deep for 30 minutes.

4. Choose a Smart Speaker

Most Bluetooth speakers are capable of more than just streaming music. We have found many smart speakers that provide access to virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

However, some big companies like Amazon also have smart speakers like Alexa available in the Echo line of speakers, Google has the Home series, and Apple offers the excellent HomePod.

You'll also find many third-party Bluetooth speakers that have microphones for hands-free calling and voice-activated virtual assistant support.

5. Support aptX HD

If you care about sound quality or high-resolution audio, it's a good idea to buy a Bluetooth speaker that supports aptX HD, an audio codec that supports 24-bit audio streaming via Bluetooth and reduces distortion.

The majority of Bluetooth speakers today support aptX, which transmits music at a 16-bit / 44.1kHz 'CD-like'.

This is to transmit high-resolution audio streaming and is equipped with Bluetooth two-way, so you can stream music while listening to music from the speaker also using Bluetooth headphones. On the other hand, you should also need a smartphone capable of streaming aptX HD audio.