Whether docked at an RV campground or camping at the music festival fairgrounds, for many of us, tunes are essential. Some RVers use the camper’s stereo; car campers often turn up the vehicle’s sound. We’ve used the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio for several years, getting such good sound that neighboring campers often enjoy our output. But for those who want more full, rich, and dynamic sound in a portable speaker – all off your smartphone – today’s smaller Bluetooth speakers can fill the campsite or trail with audio bliss.
You probably already have a Bluetooth speaker. But speakers are too important to not review at regular intervals. We are starting to see more speakers with enhanced Bluetooth features and the ability to link to a second speaker. They’re just too cool and feature-rich to overlook.
Some of the new guys on the block that we really like: We just tested the Bose Revolve/Revolve+ speakers. These are very nice, as we would expect from Bose. We still love the Bose Mini Soundlink II that has been out for more than three years and it’s priced significantly less than the Revolve series. Granted, the Revolve is much more weather resistant and can link up with other units if that feature is needed.
Then there’s the JBL Flip / Charge. These are well rounded weather resistant speakers that we’ve used for years. While we don’t own the UE Boom 2 / 3 speaker, these always rank among the top spots in comparison tests. The best of the little guys is the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay 2. Priced around a C note, this diminutive speaker has up to 10 hours of play time, making it easily the best of its size – and perfect for carrying around in a pocket to and from your campsite or on a hike. An honorable mention goes to Oontz, which makes good portable and inexpensive BT speakers. We’ve been a fan of Cambridge Soundworks, the parent company, for decades.
The RV campground and music festival fairgrounds both beg good tunes. Bluetooth speakers deliver full, rich, and dynamic sound in a small size that delivers a handful of audio bliss.