Speakers

Speakers

Speaker choice comes down to where the sound needs to travel. A pocket-sized Bluetooth speaker is built for portability first, trading some bass and volume for a size that fits a bag or bike mount. A party speaker steps up power and battery capacity for outdoor gatherings, often with light shows and microphone inputs for karaoke. Home audio, from hi-fi systems to turntables and smart speakers, is built to stay in one room and prioritises sound quality and room-filling volume over battery life or portability. Waterproof ratings on portable models matter for poolside or garden use, while a party speaker's wheels or shoulder strap point to how it is meant to be moved.

JBL and Marshall lead the portable and Bluetooth end, from the compact JBL Go and Clip to the rugged Charge and Xtreme, and Marshall's Emberton, Acton and Stanmore ranges. Soundcore covers party and karaoke speakers like the Rave and Boom series, alongside Majority, AIWA and NGS PA and karaoke systems. For the home, DAB radios, hi-fi systems and turntables come from Roberts, Panasonic, Sharp, Philips and Audio-Technica.