Retro Design To Crisp Sound: 11 Best Bluetooth Speakers In 2023, From $65
Whether you're looking for an entry-level smart speaker, or one with top-notch sound
By Jyn Teo -
I am no audiophile or music junkie. I am just a budget homeowner who appreciates having calming tunes playing in the background on a mundane afternoon doing boring house chores.
What I love about my smart and affordable speakers is that I can play baby lullabies in the middle of the night to coax my baby back to sleep, all while lying down with my eyes closed.
The kind of Bluetooth speakers that I used to get as a broke student were bought purely for their “cute aesthetics”, but did nothing for sound quality.
However, you can easily get decent sound quality from some of the most innovative Bluetooth speakers camouflaged as a lamp, a picture frame, and even a tiny computer.
11 Best Bluetooth Speakers
Be amazed at the list of 11 best Bluetooth speakers that are multi-functional, smart, and stylish to amplify the tunes in your home.
| Bluetooth Speakers | Price | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Smart Speaker (IR Control) | $65 | In-built IR transmitter module |
| Lumos Mood Lighting Projector | $99 | Tri-colour mood lighting projection |
| Muzen OTR Portable Bluetooth Speaker | $129 | Award-winning speaker |
| Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) | $139 | Screen display that plays videos |
| Divoom Ditoo-Mic Bluetooth Speaker with Karaoke | $139 | Karaoke mic included |
| Apple HomePod Mini | $139 | Extension of Siri with intercom function |
| JBL Horizon 2 | $179 | Alarm clock |
| Marshall Willen | $179 | Water and dust resistant |
| IKEA SYMFONISK Picture Frame with WiFi Speaker | $211.60 | Slim interchangeable picture frame design |
| IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker Lamp with WiFi | $228.60 | Speaker and lamp in one |
| Sonos Era 100 | $449 | Entry-level smart speaker |
Aside from the smart voice assistant, this smart speaker by Xiaomi also works as a bedside alarm clock with an LED clock display and the function of waking up to your favourite melody.
No need for a separate infrared (IR) remote control device, this Xiaomi smart speaker is equipped with an IR transmitter module that allows you to control non-smart devices like a ceiling fan or an aircon that comes with remote control.
You are also able to pair multiple Xiaomi smart speakers in the same model to achieve the stereo effect. The additional Chromecast built-in also enables you to wirelessly cast audio easily.
Xiaomi smart speaker (IR control) is available at $65 from Shopee, Lazada and Reebelo.
Bring the aurora lights home and pair the extra vibey mood lighting projector with some melodic lo-fi beats. On top of its function to project immersive and vibrant tri-colour lighting with fully customisable mood to any room up to 300-inch coverage, you also get to play your favourite Spotify tunes via the in-built Bluetooth speaker feature.
Here are some ideas that you can use for the mood lighting projector and speaker duo, aside from creating the atmosphere in your home, you can also use it as a photo backdrop, and it will be a hit in children’s rooms too.
Lumos Mood lighting projector is retailing at $99 from Lumos.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars by our editor, the Muzen portable speaker is compact and packed with lots of goodies from the oldies such as its classic retro design, vintage dial knobs, and my favourite FM radio function.
You will be able to find the speaker in up to 5 vibrant and funky colours available in the market – walnut wood, jet black, mint green, flamingo pink, and crimson red.
Despite its petite size, Muzen OTR Metalis won the CES Innovation Award for its loud and crisp sound with strong and deep bass, thanks to its high-performance driver and specially enhanced bass. With 1,000mAh of rechargeable battery, you will be getting up to 10 hours of playtime on a full charge in about 3 hours.
Muzen OTR portable bluetooth speaker is available at $129 from Amazon, Lazada and Metapod.
If you have a Google Nest Mini like myself, you may want to complete it with a Google Nest Hub, available in chalk and charcoal too. The new version comes with 50% more bass compared to the Bluetooth speaker function in the previous generation.
Additionally, the screen displays useful information on the weather, casts and plays videos, while providing you with sleep report data from its latest Sleep Sensing function.
The extra screen will be helpful if you want to play your favourite shows from your bedroom without any TV or projector installed.
Since the Google Nest Hub does not allow you to download apps, you will be limited by the smart voice assistant function in the shows that it is able to play for you. You can overcome this limitation by casting videos from your smartphone instead.
Google Nest hub (2nd Gen) is available at $139 from Google, Lazada and Shopee.
Retro lovers rejoice as we take a look at this cute little PC Bluetooth speaker from Divoom, full of good old-school nostalgic vibes that comes in adorable green, blue, and pink colours.
First, let us talk about the 6 tactile mechanical keys and a chrome lever that you are able to use to navigate around the fun world of pixel art on the PC screen.
You can use this as a standalone portable speaker with up to 8 hours of playtime, or connect it to your actual PC for the speaker function, or you can even sing your heart out with the karaoke mic paired in this Divoom set.
Additionally, you can also place it next to your bed for time display, with smart alarm purposes that notifies you of a reminder that you set on your social media app, for example “Send mom a Whatsapp message”.
Divoom Ditoo-Mic bluetooth speaker with karaoke retails at $139 from Lazada and Shopee.
Well known for its high-quality audio equipment, JBL has a wide range of portable speaker options available from a huge party box to a clip-on speaker.
Meet the JBL Horizon 2, your perfect bedside companion with its built-in FM radio, alarm clock, ambient night light, and even 2 handy charging ports all in a compact portable speaker set up.
What is great is the large LCD display that tells the time and date clearly, extending its usefulness beyond just a regular portable speaker.
Furthermore, the 2 handy charging ports are also a dream to have in today’s world of smart devices. You can get it in black or grey to amp up your bedroom.
JBL Horizon 2 retails at $135 from JBL and Amazon.
When you own a Marshall speaker, you add a touch of the rock ‘n’ roll history into your home. The classic and timeless vintage-inspired aesthetic with the iconic gold-plated logo can be found in all Marshall speakers, including Marshall Willen, available in both black and cream colours.
A tiny and mighty portable outdoor speaker that is big on portability and durability, Marshall Willen is equipped with IP67 dust and water resistance qualities that ensures the longevity of use.
With the flexible back-mounted strap, you can take it and fix it anywhere you wish. If your bestie owns the same Marshall Willen, you are able to stack and amplify the sound quality. Party all day and night with 15-hour playtime on a single 3-hour charge.
Marshall Willenis available at $150.06 $179.00 16% off from Amazon.
Now you can enjoy both art and sound in the Symfonisk picture frame by the Ikea and Sonos collaboration. On the front, you get a minimal geometric line art in either white or black frame, where you can easily switch out the panel to any artwork of your choice.
Mount the Symfonisk picture frame on the wall and hide the power cable to keep your guests guessing where the music is playing from.
With the Sonos quality speakers, you can do the usual music streaming from Spotify or over AirPlay, all you have to do is to set it up on the Sonos app and you are good to go. You can also create the surround sound home theatre experience by pairing it with another identical speaker.
IKEA SYMFONISK picture frame with WiFi speaker is retailing at $211.60 from IKEA.
How would you be able to fit a lamp and a good quality speaker, on top of your night routine essentials from a mug to a book all on a tiny bedside table?
Just get a multipurpose lamp with speaker, like the Ikea Symfonisk speaker lamp to solve your issue with the lack of space. You are able to mix and match across the different lamp shades from textile, glass, and rattan, with either the black or white base that enables you to keep things fresh in your bedroom.
With the Ikea and Sonos collaboration in the Ikea Symfonisk collection, you can find the perfect mix of style and sound in a single piece of homeware, like the picture frame speaker to add to your contemporary and smart home.
IKEA SYMFONISK speaker lamp with wifi is available at $228.60 from IKEA.
Say hi to Sonos’ new entry-level speaker. Sonos has done very well designing small speakers that produce room-filling sound, and the Era 100 is no exception.
Regardless of the genre of music you prefer, the Era 100 performs satisfyingly well. It sounds projects a fairly wide soundstage and it sounds remarkably crisp and detailed, and with surprisingly deep bass from a speaker this small.
Throw in a second Era 100 into the mix, or a Sonos Sub or Sub Mini, and you can instantly get a more immersive sound with even deeper and more palpable bass.
Sonos Era 100 is retailing at $449.00 from Amazon.
Part of this article was first published in Hardware Zone.
Text: Jyn Teo/Home & Decor