So, you’re here because you want something a little more raucous and playful than the puny speakers you’re used to? Well, when it comes to choosing from the wide range of the loudest Bluetooth speakers out there, there’s plenty of competition – with brands including Marshall, Amazon, SoundBoks, JBL, Sony and Bose all vying for your attention (and your hard-earned).
It can be a minefield choosing the right bit of kit that’ll deliver exactly what you want: which is something to REALLY blast out your favourite music. After all, rock and metal are created to be played loud and proud – anything less than that is simply not on, right?
With that in mind, we’ve scoured the online universe to find a selection of killer Bluetooth speakers that’ll shake your foundations, get your blood pumping and deliver blistering sound.
Our guide should help you decide which of the loudest Bluetooth speakers is the right fit for your musical leanings – and is capable of hitting the right volume – for you and your music collection.
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Loudest Bluetooth speaker: The Louder Choice
While we go into some depth about our favourite loudest Bluetooth speakers in our full list below, you may have cash burning a hole in your pocket and simply want to know our top recommendations? Well, we have a couple we’d gladly highlight. We love the awesome firepower of the New SoundBoks. These speakers boast the biggest subwoofers in the list and can crank out an astonishing 126 dB of noise. That’s enough to feel like you're stood at the barrier during a Manowar gig. Be warned: earplugs are not included!
The Amazon Echo Studio offers superb spacious sound, pumping bass and can throw out a thoroughly decent 90 dB – the kind of volume that's guaranteed to wake up a sleepy household or keep a party going into the small hours. An added bonus is that it's a smart speaker, so along with playing your favourite music, you'll be able to do much, much more with it, using just your voice.
Loudest Bluetooth speakers: Product guide
At 65% of the market share, it feels like everyone and your mum has an Amazon Echo. But when it comes to smart speakers, “loud” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind? In this case, delivering up to 90dB of sound – as loud as a revved-up lawn mower – the Echo Studio does a very good job of shaking that notion.
It’s unlike other conventional Bluetooth speakers due to the positioning of its five speakers: there's a midrange speaker directed upwards, a midrange speaker facing to the right and another to the left, a tweeter directed forward, and a woofer directed downwards towards the hollowed-out space which Apple calls the bass aperture. These placements are meant to give listeners an immersive experience – as if you are surrounded by sound.
As a smart home device, users get the perks of software updates, plus the ability to connect to a whole host of other smart home devices. It’s worth noting that this speaker is designed for use within a home setting, not for outdoor use.
All in all, the Amazon Echo Studio may not be the choice for someone looking for a pro-level speaker, however it is a great speaker for someone who wants an all-in-one device with great audio.
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It has “new” in the title for a reason. As the latest device after the release of SoundBoks 1 and 2, this hefty monster delivers 126dB – giving you the feel of being front row at a concert by delivering 4dB more than its predecessor. Don’t be fooled by the small number as 4dB is a significant increase in its own right.
It’s 40-hour battery life is no joke, either. Couple that with two 10-inch subwoofers with bass enhancers built-in, you’re free to enjoy all the ungodly riffs for as long as you can handle.
If you’re wondering if this speaker is too pro for you, don’t fret. One of the great things about SoundBoks is how accessible this speaker is from the casual listener to the hardened musician. Stream music via Bluetooth or plug in your electric guitar. Either way is good for this behemoth.
If your goal is to throw a party once everything gets back to normal, it’s worth noting the speaker's ability to daisy chain connect with up to four other New SoundBoks speakers. On one hand, that could be enough to start your own makeshift rock festival. On the other hand, the cost of one speaker alone is a lot to ask for from a single person.
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At about 5kg this speaker is light, but delivers plenty of power.
The Boombox itself contains two subwoofers and delivers an output of 30 Watts, both key to delivering its deep bass range and “monstrous” sound, as JBL puts it, at a very loud volume. How loud? Well considering 30W generally is enough to power 100dB – about the volume you’d get at your local cinema – that’s plenty loud.
Despite its sleek design, it’s actually more rugged than it looks. For one, It’s IPX7-rated, meaning it’s completely waterproof, snowproof and beer-proof. That's a major plus if you find yourself wanting to bring music to the outdoors space.
Some other bonus perks include a 24-hour charge and chain-tethering capabilities with other JBL speakers. At this price point, you could invest in two Boomboxes to tether together for the price of one New SoundBoks. But let’s be real, one is powerful enough for the average person.
With a name like “Rave”, it’s clear that this speaker was built to be so loud you feel it. Two 5 ¼-inch woofers deliver rumbling bass boosted by a bass port. Soundcore has taken this a step further by using BassUp technology, a digital signal processor that gives listeners a richer and clearer low-end. In other words, its bass drops lower than your average speaker.
The Rave boasts Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which for music-playing purposes means reliable connectivity and the ability to continue playing music up to 240m away from the speaker itself.
The Rave sits at a moderately low price point and holds all the power and perks expected from a speaker that prides itself on being the loudest thing in the room. At 17 kg, however, it’s not the most portable thing. If that doesn't put you off then this speaker is an absolute winner.
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Historic brand Marshall has been loyal to loud for decades. Five decades to be exact. Fortunately, this old-timer seems quick to adapt to the modern times when you consider the Woburn II’s Bluetooth connectivity. Other additions include a Marshall app which gives you the ability to turn the speaker on and off, as well as manually control the volume, bass and treble.
The speaker offers great overall sound and was built to sustain clear, low frequencies thanks to its two subwoofers duelled with a bass reflex system and external port.
Although this Marshall Bluetooth speaker is low fuss, it is high maintenance considering it's not waterproof, dirt-proof, beer-proof… so keep this baby inside and away from spillage.
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Considering it’s mega output power of 160W and a peak volume of 109 dB, the S1 Pro System is meant to project sound far and wide. This combo of power and volume makes it perfect for outdoor parties or spacious indoor venues. Its Bluetooth connectivity and app come in handy for easy streaming and tethering with other Bose Bluetooth speakers.
This speaker may be better suited to musicians due to its auto EQ technology, built-in three-channel mixer, multiple inputs and outputs for connecting with other speakers and electric instruments. Unfortunately, it’s not waterproof or resistant, and the 9 metre wireless range is kind of short.
As a pro-level speaker, it fits the needs of any musician just fine. For the average listener it won’t disappoint with its rumbling bass. Whatever your reason for purchasing, just don’t get it caught in the rain.
Sony has always been a brand you can trust in the audio field, and the Sony SRS-XB33 continues this heritage with a portable, dust-proof, waterproof speaker that delivers a superb sound thanks to its unique internal speaker layout.
We liked the quirky fact that you can chain up to 100 of these together, not that we can see a situation where that would ever happen but it’s a nice idea which conjures images of an all-out sonic attack.
Despite its relative size, however, we were impressed with the depth and thud that came from bass and low-end sounds, and can vouch for its volume levels which retain clarity even when you push it to its limit. We could take or leave the flashing disco lights though!
Times have changed for Sonos with this, their first portable Bluetooth speaker, dubbed ‘Move’.
The difference between this and older models is it’s portability and built-in intelligence. Integration with Google Home and Amazon Echo gives users the ability to use it like any other smart speaker. Plus, all that portability comes complete with resistance to the elements, meaning you can take this speaker outside with confidence.
Although it is plenty loud 85 db – somewhere between a really loud blender and a lawn mower – there is a downside. The Sonos Move includes everything but a subwoofer, a loudspeaker that’s key to bringing out the lowest bass tones in a song.
It’s definitely loud and great for the average listener, but missing the deep low-end may be a deal breaker for some.
While not a dedicated Bluetooth speaker, we’ve included the excellent Denon Home 250 because, unlike Sonos’ range of multi-room speakers, the Denon does offer Bluetooth as a connectivity option. This means you can make use of the rock-solid Wi-Fi connectivity but, if guests are round, they can quickly and simply connect up to share their playlists.
The design is nice and unobtrusive and would fit nicely into a front room without dominating things, but it packs a real punch on the sound quality front. Denon is hugely respected in audiophile circles, and it’s easy to see (or rather, hear) why with the Home 250.
Loudest Bluetooth speakers: Buying advice
How to determine the loudest Bluetooth speaker
We've all missed the thrill of live music recently, and while pumping your favourite tunes out of one of the most powerful Bluetooth speakers isn't quite the same, it can get pretty damn close... at least when it comes to clarity and volume. But how do you know that the speaker you choose is the loudest?
First, let's look at decibels (dB), or the scaled measurement of the intensity of sound. Not unlike an earthquake, the higher up on a scale, the more exponentially powerful the sound is.
Every 10 dB represents a 10-fold increase - or doubling - in volume. For example, 20dB is 10 times louder than 10 dB, while 30 dB is 100x louder than 10 dB and - with that logic in mind - 1,000x more powerful than 0 dB. For reference, the average concert has an intensity of about 100 dB.
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Now let’s talk about Wattage (W) – because all that sound needs to be backed by power. But how many watts do you really need? Every speaker is set at its own wattage, telling us exactly the strength of its perceived amplification. However, a 100W speaker isn’t twice as loud as a 50W speaker, but rather 3dB louder.
Now that you know what you’re looking for in terms of loudness, you're ready to peruse our guide to the victors of volume, the number ones of noise... the loudest Bluetooth speakers around. Our price comparison widgets have found the best prices online right now for you, too. Just hit the 'product guide' button to check out our list.
We wouldn’t be a responsible rock site if we didn’t include a word on long-term exposure to excessive volume. While we’re big supporters of playing things loud, it’s possible to cause permanent damage to your ears if you’re always cranking it (don’t believe us, Metal Hammer Dep Ed Eleanor Goodman recently told us what it’s like living with Tinnitus). So, maybe give your ears a rest from time to time, yeah?
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