Back in the day, boomboxes were the must-have device. I mean, a machine that allows you to take your music with you....AND you had the ability to play it loud.
All you had to do was pop in your favorite cassette, (I know, right) press play, turn up the volume and just strut yourself down the street.
The next generation of boombox included a CD slot so you can play those compact discs.
All boombox models had the ability to switch to a radio tuner, so you can listen to your favorite radio station.
Life was good......and simple.
Now, there are several ways to consume your music. Between CD's, mp3 files, WAV files, streaming services, Internet radio and also terrestrial radio.
With all of these listening options, you will need a device that will be able to take care of your specific needs. In this post, we will look at three different boomboxes, and we will break down their strengths and weaknesses. We will also cover different price points, with a high end option, a mid-range price, and a selection from the budget aisle.
Best Bluetooth Boombox
JBL Boombox Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker
For me, JBL has the best sounding speakers. It makes no difference whether they are pro audio or consumer audio. They just SOUND better. As far as clarity and bass is concerned, they deliver the best product on the market.
The JBL Portable Waterproof Boombox is a 40 watt device that weighs 11.5 lbs. It is 10in high and 19.4in long. The device has two 4in woofers with two small tweeters coming in at .78in.
First and foremost, the device is IPX7 waterproof. This is important as you may need to take this to the beach or to your next pool party. This device will also float, as you can sit it front side up in the water. You can enjoy your music while you AND your JBL boombox are in the pool!
In addition to being waterproof, the device supports up to 24-hour play time. This is important for those EXTRA LONG parties.
You know what I am talking about, right?
Let's check out some of the specs:
- Bluetooth (Two devices)
- 3.5mm jack
- 2 usb connectors
- JBL Connect +
- Indoor/Outdoor sound mode
- Hard hitting bass
JBL Connect + is a really cool feature that allows you to connect wirelessly to 100 JBL Connect + enabled speakers. This means that is you have say, four of these devices, you can place them in different spots and get some serious stereo sound for those hot tracks you want to play.
That's whats up!
Let's see....the device is waterproof, has a thumpin' bass, AND you can link a few together to get some big sound? You cannot beat that!
Because the device is made from a pro-grade manufacturer, the device will set you back around four bills. But hey, you get what you pay for.
Pyle Bluetooth Boombox Street Blaster Stereo Speaker
Pyle is another brand that cranks out a really good product. They have been in business for decades, and they continue to offer great consumer products.
This is a 300 watt boombox that packs two 2.5" speakers and a 6.5" subwoofer in a sturdy enclosure. Coming in at 12 lbs, it has a height of 10 inches, a length of 23.6 inches and a width of 10.8 inches.
The Bluetooth function works with all of the latest devices, and it has a wireless range of up to 32 feet.
Here are some of the features:
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- FM radio with digital LED display
- 2 -1/4inch input jacks
- USB Slot
- Line in 3.5mm input
- Battery operated remote control
One cool feature is that the device has built-in LED lights, so you can create a little light show as you are jamming to your music. The 1/4inch jacks are nice if you want to plug in a microphone or a small instrument. In addition to listening to your favorite music, you can also use it as an amplifier for your keyboard or guitar.
Go ahead and become a street player and make that money!
Because the device has a digital LED display screen, you can plug in a USB stick and play directly from the flash drive.
The Pyle Street Blaster Stereo Speaker is not waterproof, and unlike the JBL where you can link two bluetooth devices at one time, the Pyle only allows you to connect one external device via bluetooth.
The device comes with a one-year warranty, and right now it is running at about $100
Aomais GO Bluetooth Portable Bass Speaker
The most budget conscious of the three boomboxes is the Aomais GO Bluetooth speaker. This is a 30 watt bass speaker with a TWS pairing function. This means that you can pair it with an additional GO speaker to get bigger sound at a 60 watt clip.
The Aomais is also an IPX7 Waterproof device, so it can withstand full immersion up to 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes. As far as the size is concerned, it is 13.5in long, 7.5in high and 3.8in deep.
This means that you can take it with you to your pool party, your next hiking excursion or to the beach.
Here are some of the specs.
- Emergency supply power bank
- 30 hours of playback
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 32 ft bluetooth range
- Micro USB port
- Aux port
Do you have an Echo Dot device? You can easily pair that with the Aomais Go. It is a great looking device and it is also durable, so if you are looking for a Bluetooth speaker at a reasonable price, this may be the one for you.
The Aomais GO comes in at about $70 and it comes with three color options: Black, red and blue. It comes with a one-year warranty.
Best Portable Boombox
Here we have the three of the best portable boombox options. If you want the loudest boombox with the top features, I would go with the JBL. You can expand your sound by adding more than one, and it has the best bass in its class.
Do you want a nice boombox, but you don't care about the waterproof option? The Pyle will suit your needs. It is powerful at 300 watts and it also had some LED lights to illuminate your evening.
If you are on a budget and you want a nice waterproof speaker for under $100, the Aomais GO will be your best bet. You can actually get two of them and get full, stereo sound and you will not break the bank.
