Marshall has announced a limited-edition range of hardware to mark the 60th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix plugging into a Marshall amp for the very first time.

The products are all designed with a purple “cosmic oil on water aesthetic” and features a new Acton III Bluetooth speaker, alongside a JMH Half Stack amp and Fuzz Face distortion pedal.

The iconic music brand say: “Marshall built the amps, Hendrix made them scream. From the moment Hendrix plugged into a Marshall guitar amplifier in 1966, they became an unstoppable creative force. Now, both paths are aligning once again, this time to celebrate the 60 year anniversary and lasting impact of Marshall and Hendrix.”

The Acton III Bluetooth speaker is said to be influenced by Hendrix’s love of velvet, silver jewellery and science fiction and is coated in crushed velvet with a silver control panel with purple controls and matching lights.

The 1959 JMH Half Stack cabinet has been hand-crafted in the Bletchley Marshall factory in the UK and is presented with a black and purple cosmic swirl effect and features a purple LED indicator and silver detailing. It’s said to deliver “tight low-end frequencies, a mid-range punch and stunning highs” thanks to the 1960 AJMH 4x12 handwired angled cabinet which combines with a 1959 handwired head.

The Dunlop Fuzz Face distortion pedal, meanwhile, is available exclusively with the stack and features the same oil on water design seen on the speaker and cab.

Marshall Group’s senior industrial designer Emma Rydahl says: “From his fashion to his lyrics and of course, his music, there are so many differen stories we could tell when it comes to Hendrix.

“We started with materials and pattern exploration, looking at different fabrics and running test prints with a psychedelic track in mind. We spent a lot of time adjusting the final design to get it just right across the whole collection.”

Marshall Amplification co-founder Terry Marshall concludes: “Jimi was a formidable musician, a real force of nature. He took everything to a new level and carried everybody with him.

“When he played, it was an emotional time for everybody because everyone was thinking: ‘If he can do it, I could maybe do it.’ And: ‘He's using Marshall, therefore we want Marshall.’ It was a really special time for us all and there’s no doubt that we grew with him and his fame, it was a natural tie-up. The rest is history, as they say.”

The Marshall Acton III x Hendrix 60th anniversary edition is available to order through the official Marshall website for $299.99/£259.99, while the Half Stack and Fuzz Face combo is priced at $4999.99/£3799.99. The speaker is available right now, while the cab and pedal will begin shipping from June 1.

Soundboks' range of heavy-hitting speakers just got a little more noisy thanks to the brand new Soundbok Mix - a Bluetooth party speaker that can crank out thunderous audio of up to 121dB.

The Danish firm are known for their rock-solid speakers, with the Soundboks 4 featuring in our guide to the loudest Bluetooth speakers.

The new Soundboks Mix features the recognisable Soundboks design, but this unit is light enough to transport between locations and has a battery life of up to 40 hours from a full charge. It also carries an IP65 rating, meaning it’s water-resistant and dust-proof.

Then Soundboks app lets you tweak the EQ settings and sound profiles on the fly - and you can also change-up the customisable front grille to make it stand out from the crowd.

Best of all, you can also (if your ears can take it) hook the Mix up to five devices including the Soundboks 4 and the Soundboks Go for massive, marquee-filling sound.

Soundboks CEO Jesper Theil Thomsen says: “Amongst the inconsistent, one constant remains: everyday life requires a speaker to sound great, whatever the situation. Soundboks Mix is perfectly placed to do just that, balancing audio quality, power, battery life, durability, and portability.”

Thomsen adds: “The party speaker market is one-dimensional, forcing a choice between power and portability. With Soundboks Mix, we’ve eliminated the need to choose between the two. This speaker strikes a perfect balance without compromise, offering a level of versatility unlike any other.

“We didn’t just make this for hosting and partying - Soundboks Mix was designed to fill your everyday life with better sounding music.”

The SoundBoks Mix will hit retail on March 26 priced at $799/£599 and will be available from the official SoundBoks website.

While the last big sales day of the year is coming to an end, there are still some spellbinding Cyber Monday music deals out there, and I think I’ve just found the biggest percentage discount of the day - a whopping 88% off a this portable Bluetooth speaker by Cascho at Walmart - down from $189.99 to just £22.99!

The Bluetooth speaker market is highly competitive and I didn’t think I see a price lower than the JBL GO 4 over Cyber Monday - but here we are.

This speaker has 30W of power, has a battery life of 24 hours from a full charge and caries an IPX7 waterproof rating. It also has flashing disco lights for parties on the patio (for when the weather warms up a bit) making this the price point very hard to beat.

If you fancy getting one, then you’ll have to move fast because Cyber Monday is into the home straight - and I don’t know if this Bluetooth speaker will still be on sale after midnight. Go!

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I’ve put it off for too long: it’s time for a new portable speaker, and right now I’m planning on diving into Curry’s enticing Sonos Black Friday sale, which is packing savings of up to £200 on Sonos gear.

My beloved UE Boom, which I bought back in 2018 and is becoming cracklier than a smashed bag of crisps, just doesn’t cut it anymore, so I’m going to bite the bullet and invest in a nice upgrade for Black Friday. While I was originally just going to pick up the latest version of the UE Boom, I had a read of this positive review my colleague Paul gave of the original Sonos Move portable speaker while browsing other options.

Lo and behold: Currys have the newer version of the Move, complete with Amazon Alexa, on sale for £359, down from £449 – that’s a saving of £91. To be honest, that’s still a little out of my price range, but given the decent reviews for Sonos products generally, I’m thinking about jumping in on the Sonos Roam 2 portable speaker instead, priced at £139 for Black Friday, down from £179, a saving of £40.

Both the Move and Roam speakers are available in classy black or white editions. It’s always nice to have a choice, right?!

If you’re generally in the market for new speakers and have more cash to splash than I, you can always go big and go home with the Sonos Arc Ultra Sound Bar, on sale at £799, down from £999, a cool saving of £200. I can’t lie: it looks gorgeous and would be the ideal centrepiece to a home theatre setup, but it’s just way out of my price range for now. One day…anyway, you can also get the Arc in black or white, though surely you’ll go black - who has a white TV?!

Whether it’s speakers, headphones or turntables you’re looking for to boost your music listening experience, or if you’re after deals on tech, vinyl, collectables, merch or booze, don’t forget to check out Louder’s extensive Black Friday music deals hub, curated lovingly by us to give you the savings you need.

The Flip 7 is the latest in JBL’s long-running line of Bluetooth portables. Building on what’s gone before, this newbie introduces advanced connectivity, some AI-embellishment, and refined portability - all while retaining the rugged charm that’s made the Flip a global best-seller.

With Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, and new Auracast multi-speaker pairing, this JBL is clearly the most forward-looking Flip to date. So if you haven’t signed up yet, is now finally the time to join Flip fandom?

JBL Flip 7: Design

Build quality is reassuringly robust. Every Flip feels dense and solid, and numero 7 is no different. It’s clearly engineered to survive a few knocks.

At first glance, the Flip 7 doesn’t stray too far from the familiar JBL formula - it’s a compact cylinder (measuring 18.3 x 7.0 x 7.2cm) wrapped in tough woven fabric, bookended by rubberised bass radiators. It weighs 0.826kg.

Those with X-Ray vision will note that the woofer measures 45 x 80 mm, while the tweeter is 16mm.

Yet, closer inspection reveals thoughtful refinements. There’s now a push-lock handle mount, offering the choice between a finger loop or a sturdy carabiner clip, while an uprated IP68 certification confirms full protection from dust and submersion in water. You can use the Flip 7 poolside, on the beach, or even in a muddy festival campsite, without worry.

The Flip 7 is also an expanded palette of finishes available: black, blue, white, red, camo, pink, and purple

JBL Flip 7: Features

JBL’s new AI SoundBoost system is arguably the Flip 7’s biggest upgrade. This analyses incoming audio signals in real time, subtly adjusting dynamics and EQ to minimise distortion and enhance clarity, particularly at higher volumes.

Then there’s Auracast, an emerging Bluetooth standard that allows you to share sound seamlessly between multiple compatible devices. You can pair two Flip 7s for stereo playback, or link multiple JBL Auracast-enabled speakers for a synchronised whole-home or outdoor party setup, all without lag.

Battery life is quoted at 16 hours, with Playtime Boost mode offering a couple of extra hours if you’re willing to trade a little volume.

The control layout remains intuitive: physical buttons for play, and volume control, plus backlit buttons for Power, Bluetooth, and Auracast pairing.

Connectivity has also had an update. Bluetooth 5.4 promises more stable connections and improved energy efficiency, while USB-C wired playback supports hi-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz. There’s no USB-C cable in the box, which feels a touch stingy, but the new flexibility is welcome.

JBL Flip 7: Sound

The Flip 7 has a higher power output than its predecessor. It now delivers 25W for the woofer, and 10W for the tweeter.

This extra grunt is welcome, not just that you can bump it up to 11, but because there’s a little more headroom available, which means it rarely crosses into harshness.

Bass is rewardingly deep and lively, allowing it to rock with conviction.

The Flip 7 does a wonderful job manifesting the inherent energy of I Believe In A Thing Called Love by The Darkness. Justin Hawkins’ gyrating falsetto hits acrobatic highs, while Dan Hawkins anthemic riffs come across as clean and melodic.

While this little bruiser exhibits plenty of low-end heft, it does have its limits. Chris Wolstenholme’s aggressive, distorted bass on Muse's Hysteria pushes the Flip 7 about as far as it can go. But we all have our limits.

The soundstage is monophonic, but that’s to be expected. What’s important is that it exhibits balance, with vocals clear and centred, heat to the midrange, and high frequencies smooth rather than sharp - no doubt helped by a new dome tweeter, which adds some spatial air.

With this new edition, JBL’s Flip has matured from dependable portable workhorse into something more refined.

The alternatives

Marshall Emberton III
If Marshall’s backline style is more your jam, then this third iteration of the Emberton portable speaker is well worth an audition. It delivers rich, balanced audio with enhanced stereo separation thanks to True Stereophonic technology, for crisp highs and punchy bass. It’s also IP67 certified waterproof and dustproof and delivers up to 30 hours of playtime on a single charge. Bluetooth is version 5.1, and it supports Stack Mode to link multiple Emberton III units together.
Read our full Marshall Emberton III review

Bose SoundLink Flex 2^nd Gen
Rugged but with a soft-touch finish, this IP67-rated portable can be considered outstanding value. Audio performance is aided by Bose’s PositionIQ tech which is able to optimise sound based on orientation, and the speaker comes with a built-in utility loop for easy carrying or hanging. Battery life is limited to just 12 hours, but it does support two device stereo and multipoint pairing.

Real music demands real audio gear – and it doesn’t come much more real or authentic than Marshall products. So, when you get a chance to buy some of the company’s iconic speakers and headphones on the cheap, you should seize it with both hands.

So while the last-minute Prime Day music deals continue to roll in, Marshall have muscled in on the action and are holding their Loud For Less sale in the US - and that includes money off the awesome Acton III compact Bluetooth speaker, which is down in price from $299.99 to just $199.99. And that's just one of the products on sale right now.

While the sale isn't currently available in the UK, you can still get a 31% discount on the Acton III on Amazon. It’s down from £259.99 to £179.55 making this a great time pick up this top-performing speaker.

Another speaker going for $100 less than the usual price is the Stanmore III. Delivering superb home-filling audio and a re-engineered stereo soundstage, this Bluetooth bad boy is now a snip at $299.99.

The daddy of the Marshall range, the Woburn III, is another speaker that’s been reduced in this sale. If thundering, immersive sound is your thing, then this beefcake won’t let you down. The discount is slightly less here, with the price dropping from $599.99 to $549.99, but it’s still good!

Prefer something smaller? The portable Emberton II may be diminutive but it still comes at a hefty discount, its usual $179.99 price tag having been slashed to just $99.99. Considering it offers powerful 360-degree sound and more than 30 hours of playtime, that’s a pretty tasty deal.

On to the headphones, and the fabulous Marshall Minor IV in-ears have come down from $159.99 to $99. These were named ‘Best budget buds’ in our Best Marshall headphones guide, offering plenty of bang for your buck. Even more so now!

The highly rated Monitor III A.N.C. over-ear headphones have been reduced from $379.99 to $349.99, which may not seem like a lot, but any discount for these cracking noise-cancelling cans is a bonus – especially as they offer up to 100 hours of playtime.

And last but not least, there’s the Major IV on-ear headphones. Solid as they come, these reliable headphones come with a new ergonomic design and a lovely balanced soundstage – not to mention a price reduction of $40 (down from $139.99 to $99.99).

Looking for more last-minute discounts? then don't forget to check out all the best Prime Day music deals, Prime Day vinyl deals and Prime Day turntable deals.

The Marshall Kilburn III is the third iteration of the brand’s hero Bluetooth speaker. Louder, clearer, and tougher than its predecessors, it combines the iconic amp-inspired design Marshall is known for with a number of welcome refinements, including improved battery life and a wider soundstage.

It may be portable, but this is no festival trinket. At 2.8kg, the Kilburn III isn’t something you’ll throw casually in a backpack - but if your idea of portable means taking music from the garden to the garage, this could be exactly what your tour manager ordered.

Marshall Kilburn II: Design

Instantly recognisable as a member of the Marshall family, the Kilburn III looks exactly as it should. From the textured black leatherette casing to the brassy control plate and crimson-lined carry strap, this is a speaker that exudes rock‘n’roll swagger. The knurled volume knobs are tactile and purposeful, while flipping the toggle switch for power adds a touch of theatre to what’s usually a boring button press.

On the rear you’ll find a bass port and a USB-C in/out socket for charging, plus a 3.5mm aux input, for those who don’t want to commit wholly to Bluetooth. There’s no Wi-Fi support, though. This isn’t a smart speaker, so don’t ask it to double as an egg timer.

It does however have an IP54 rating, meaning it can withstand dust and the odd splash of rain (or beer).

Marshall Kilburn II: Features

Battery life is the headline attraction here. Boasting more than 50 hours of playback on a single charge, more than double that of its predecessor, that’s enough for a weekend long party before the well runs dry.

Control is shared between those beautifully tactile knobs and the Marshall Bluetooth app which unlocks EQ presets and offers a few fine-grained tweaks; the app also lets you specify placement (near-wall or free-standing), helping optimise the tuning.

Helpfully, the Kilburn III even doubles as a charging bank. Plug your phone into the USB-C port and you can juice up while you jam out.

Highly efficient Bluetooth 5.3 goes some way to explaining the speaker’s excellent battery life, as well as ushering in Auracast compatibility

Marshall Kilburn III: Sound

This portable Bluetooth speaker sounds big and imposing, which is kind of the point.

Marshall describes the driver configuration as 360° True Stereophonic Sound, and while it doesn’t really offer full surround sound, it does deliver impressively wide imaging, especially in medium-sized rooms.

The soundstage may not be omnidirectional, but it’s more immersive than the front-firing mono setups of many rivals. It doesn’t ‘hollow out’ as you move around the speaker, doing your business.

Under the hood are three Class D amps, totalling 50W: one 30W amp driving a forward-facing 4-inch woofer, while two more 10W amps power a pair of angled tweeters, placed left and right.

Bass is tight and plentiful, thanks to a frequency response that dips as low as 45Hz. That’s not subwoofer territory, but it still slams. On tracks like Royal Blood’s Out Of The Black, the low end hits hard without wobbling the rhythm, the sound is precise and punchy.

Marshall quotes a drop to 45Hz, and it certainly feels that deep. On Yungblud’s Lowlife, the Kilburn III opens with convincing sub-bass. Airbourne’s Gutsy similarly flexes with drive and punch, handling fast kick drums with easy confidence.

Midrange, though, is where this speaker really earns its stripes. Vocals sit forward and textured. As Alice Cooper snarls Up All Night, the snare hits are tight and guitars feel authentically greasy. That’s a Marshall hallmark: the grit and swagger of stage sound, downsized for easy digestion.

Even semi-acoustic material fares well. Robert Plant’s Everybody’s Song gleams with upper-register detail, while crowd ambience on Yungblud’s Changes (Live At Villa Park) spreads wide, with vocals remaining front and emotionally present.

But Tool's prog-metal masterwork Jambi is a challenge for any Bluetooth speaker, but the Kilburn III is undaunted by its rhythmic complexity. Vocals are forward and full of life, with just enough grit to complement guitars in the mix.

This is especially noticeable on high-octane punk and hard rock - this speaker is tailor made for The Clash’s Safe European Home or The Bronx’s Heart Attack American.

While the Kilburn III can play loud, it also impressed me at low volumes, retraining its characteristic richness and separation even at modest levels.

The alternatives

JBL Flip 7
If portability is a prime reason to buy, then the JBL Flip 7 could well be a better wireless bet. Less than half the size of the Kilburn III, this feisty fashion icon sounds great (for its size) and has an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating. Battery life is rated up to 16 hours. It comes with Bluetooth 5.4 and Auracast compatibility, and sells for a tempting £129.99.

LG Xboom Stage
Tuned by Will.I.Am, the stereo Bluetooth Xboom stage is styled after a stage monitor and features a potent 120W power output, delivered via a 6.5-inch woofer and 2.5-inch midrange. Battery life is rated at 12 hour battery life. The speaker also has Dual-bar AI lighting, able to sync with your tunes. Well worth consideration

Marshall have added to their range of portable speakers by unveiling the new Middleton II - an upgrade to the 2023 original which features in Louder's guide to the best Marshall speakers.

The new Bluetooth speaker is said to have a more refined performance when played at max volume, while also generating “even deeper bass.”

The Middleton II has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, while the battery has been upped from 20 hours on the original to more than 30 hours from a full charge. In addition, the Middleton II has 360° True Stereophonic sound for room-filling sound.

In addition, the Middleton II also doubles as a power bank, so you can connect your phone for an extra blast of charge when it's running low. It also has a bulit-in mic and support for LE Audio.

Product manager of Marshall speakers Ebba Gouverneur Regnström explains: “Extending portable playtime is something we put a lot of work into at Marshall, and Middleton II is no exception with its 30+ hours.

“Combine that with improved features such as a built-in microphone for seamless speaker phone calls, and a refreshed design that not only looks better but also enhances usability with improved user experience.

“With support for LE Audio, listeners can also enjoy a more efficient and enhanced listening experience."

The Marshall Middleton II is available to pre-order now directly from Marshall, with the speaker expected to begin shipping from July 15 priced at $329.99/£259.99 in both Black & Brass and Cream colour variations.

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Marshall are known around the world for their famous stage amps and, in more recent years, their wide range of headphones and speakers. Now, Marshall have turned their attention to the TV audio market and have released their first-ever soundbar: the Heston 120.

The design is what you’d expect from Marshall, with the sleek branded soundbar featuring leather-wrapped trims and brushed metal panels - and under the hood the Heston 120 looks to be equally impressive. It features Dolby Atmos and DTS-X and has 11 drivers facing in various directions for a wide and rich soundstage.

The Heston 120 is Bluetooth enabled and integrates with your TV with HDMI eARC or via external devices through the HDMI Pass-through. It also features LE-audio technology including Auracast - and an RCA input allows external music players to connect.

Anders Olsson, senior product manager at Marshall Group says: “We know that soundbar owners use their soundbar to listen to music, yet most soundbars are not built for both music and TV.

“This gave us a reason to exist and an opportunity to really shine with our legacy in music and audio.”

Ed Camphor, audio technology and tuning lead at Marshall Group adds: “We spent hundreds of hours fine tuning Heston 120. It was important to us that we spent equal time and effort on both TV and music, not one over the other.

“Everything inside is tailored and engineered to have very specific roles to give you an optimal audio experience, no matter what you’re watching or listening to.”

Marshall report that the Heston 120 is the first entry in their TV sound range, with further products to be announced in the near future.

The Heston 120 is available to pre-order now directly from the Marshall website, with the soundbar set to ship on June 3.

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In years gone by, the name Marshall conjured images of a huge number of speakers stacked high on a stage. These days, though, you’re just as likely to see the British brand’s logo emblazoned across portable Bluetooth speakers as you are a massive guitar amp.

There are several of these diminutive boomboxes in the growing Marshall range, giving music fans the chance to carry that iconic look and sound with them wherever they go.

Launched in August 2024, the Marshall Emberton III is the latest of these portable Bluetooth speakers, and the follow-up to the successful Emberton II that was released in May 2022. That was a pretty solid speaker, so why should you consider its successor?

In this review, I’ll give you the lowdown on the Emberton III’s design, features, sound quality and competitors, to help you decide if it’s worthy of your money.

Design

The first thing that struck me when the Emberton III arrived in the post was how small the outer packaging was. It’s about the size of a brick – which makes it ideal for fitting into a Christmas stocking, but did make me wonder whether the speaker inside would provide the power I need. I’ll let you know about that later in the review.

Kudos to Marshall for the way they’ve packaged the Emberton III. It’s all very neat and tidy, with the unit itself clothed in soft polystyrene, and the cable and instructions contained in separate compartments.

As for the speaker itself – I've reviewed the Sage version (the Emberton III also comes in Black & Brass and Cream), and it looks absolutely lovely. Although not particularly rock'n’roll, the colour scheme is modern and stylish and provides a nice contrast to the trademark Marshall grille and gold/brass logo. The rubbery casing has an aesthetically pleasing, snakeskin-look effect too.

Speaking of the casing, it has a solid feel to it, which you might expect from a firm that’s renowned for making robust studio and stage equipment. This undoubtedly contributes to the speaker’s heavy feel (it’s 0.67kg) – don’t worry, though, as the Emberton III is still easy to carry around, even without a handle.

Marshall report 27% of the Emberton III is made from plastic (79% of which is recycled plastic). This is interesting because the speaker doesn’t feel at all plasticky. Holding it in my hand, it felt like one tough cookie – and this is backed up by its IP67 dust and waterproof rating, which means you can submerge it in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes... if you really want to!

In terms of controls, at the top of the unit there’s a gold/brass rocker switch (up or down for volume; left or right for skip tracks), on/off and Bluetooth pairing buttons, plus a bright, red battery status bar.

While I don’t have a major aversion to the rocker switch, I would prefer a proper knob for adjusting volume – but that’s just personal preference. You can also control the speaker using the Marshall Bluetooth app – I’ll talk more about that in the next section.

Last but not least, there’s a USB-C socket on the side of the device for when you want to charge the battery or power it via the mains.

Features

As previously mentioned, the Emberton III can be controlled using the Marshall Bluetooth app. This allows you to play/skip tracks and adjust the volume, which is useful for when you’re not standing close to the speaker.

Elsewhere, there are three equaliser presets to choose from – which I’ll talk about more in the ‘Sound’ section below – and a Battery Preservation feature, which enables you to do things like limit the maximum charging speed in order to prolong the battery’s lifespan.

Speaking of the battery, the amount of play time you’ll get from a two-hour full charge is one of the Emberton III’s key selling points. You can expect 32+ hours, which is roughly two hours more than the Emberton II, and more than twice the longevity of the original Emberton speaker.

What’s more, if the speaker’s completely out of juice and you don’t have time to charge it fully before going out, you can plug it in for just 20 minutes and expect to get six hours of playtime – which should be enough to soundtrack your whole day.

Helping the Emberton III to preserve battery is its support for the power-efficient Bluetooth 5.3 LE (low energy) standard, which is an upgrade on the Emberton II’s Bluetooth 5.1. This latest speaker also supports Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means you can connect more than one device (phone, tablet, etc) at the same time.

Another way in which the Emberton III trumps its predecessors is in the microphone department – put simply, this speaker has one while the others didn’t. This means you can now use the speaker for hands-free calls, and also communicate with the voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc) on your phone.

As for what’s inside this speaker, the Emberton III packs two 2” 10W drivers, two passive radiators and two 38W Class D amplifiers. To find out how well these components perform together, carry on reading.

Sound

When I turned the Emberton III on, it cranked into life by playing a short electric guitar riff. It’s a nice touch and lets you know that the speaker is ready to rock and roll.

To test its sound quality, I started off with an HD version of Oasis track Cigarettes And Alcohol. As those iconic first chords began to chug through the front and back grilles, I was immediately struck by how loud this portable speaker could go. The bass is also really impressive for a unit of this size – tinny it most certainly ain’t. For me, the most satisfactory equaliser preset was the standard ‘Marshall’ one, as it offered the most balanced output. I felt that ‘Push’ was a little too heavy on the bass, while ‘Voice’ accentuated the mid ranges too much.

On to Walk This Way by Run DMC and Aerosmith. Again, nice weighty bass. However, listening to this track backed up a feeling I’d got while listening to the Oasis song – that the output, and especially the bottom end, isn’t quite as spacious or as clear as I like it to be. Indeed, if I’m being honest, when I subsequently played Walk This Way on my 2^nd Generation Amazon Echo, I preferred how it sounded. OK, so it lacked the ballsy bass of Marshall’s speaker, but for me the music was given much more room to breathe.

I’m not dismissing the Emberton III – far from it. It’s a lovely-looking speaker that offers terrific power, hefty bass and outstanding battery life. I just can’t shake off the feeling that the sound could be a tad clearer.

The alternatives

That thing I mentioned about the Emberton III not sounding as good as my Amazon Echo? Well, that speaker is pretty old now, so you might want to try Amazon’s We Hear 2 instead. Made in tandem with German brand Loewe, it’s a similar size to the Echo but can be used out and about. It offers 17 hours of battery life and packs a whopping 60W of power.

If you’re happy to spend more money, then the Bose Soundlink Max must be considered. This portable powerhouse provides superb stereo sound and more than enough oomph to fill a room – even if the 20-hour battery life is down on what the Emberton III offers.

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Christmas is a time for giving – and Marshall has a very special gift for music fans in the US and UK this festive season. The iconic manufacturer has launched its holiday sale, and there are huge savings to be made on Bluetooth speakers, headphones and earphones. Whether you’re looking to treat someone you love, or snap up some great new audio gear for yourself, this Marshall sale will enable you to save a small fortune.

There's a lot going on in the Marshall holiday sale, so I've picked out a handful of my personal favourites, kicking off with the portable powerhouse that is the Marshall Emberton II speaker in its Black & Brass colour variation. Marshall have slashed the price from $169.99/£149.99 to just $99/£99. That’s pretty impressive saving for an excellent Bluetooth speaker that features 360° sound and offers more than 30 hours of battery life from a full charge.

My next pick goes to the top-end Woburn III speaker - a unit that impressed us in our five-star Marshall Woburn III review. It's down from $579/$519.99 to $499.99/419. Our reviewer praised its performance, saying it combined "beautifully sharp, detailed and balanced audio with room-filling sound."

If it's a new pair of headphones you're after, then let me point you in the direction of the Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. The price has dropped from $319.99/£269.99 to $199.99/£129. These are a neat pair of headphones if you travel a lot as they fold down for easy storage and provide up to 30 hours of music with Active Noise Cancelling and Bluetooth enabled. Not only that, but a quick 15-minute charge will give you up to 5 hours of playback.

For a more in-depth look at what Marshall offer, take a look at out guides to the best Marshall speakers and best Marshall headphones.

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If you've been paying attention for the past few years, you'll know Marshall always drum up a pretty decent Black Friday sale. This year is no exception, with up to 40% off select Marshall speakers and headphones. They're keen to point out on their site that the prices are limited time only and once they're gone, they're gone, so you might want to snag yours ASAP.

I've actually bought myself two pairs of Marshall headphones in recent years, both in Black Friday sales – the Major III and Major IV. (If you're wondering why I bought two, well, it's actually because I got so reliant on them I wanted a pair for my office and a pair for going out with – not because one conked out.) The Major III aren't for sale anymore, but the updated version, Major IV, are currently on sale for $69.99, down from $129.99 – a saving of $60.

I rate my Majors. They've been sturdy and reliable, not had any of the crackly connection issues I've had with other wireless headphones, the sound is decent (not the absolute best out there, but possibly among the best at this price point) and even though they're not noise cancelling, they do a fine job of keeping the outside world shut out. On that note, when my phone was stolen, they stayed connected for an impressively long range as my device disappeared up the road. Swings and roundabouts!

For those in the market for noise cancelling and a more premium set of cans (with a higher price point), the Monitor II A.N.C. headphones are down to $199.99 from $319.99 – a saving of $120. They deliver everything the Majors do, but with improved Marshall signature sound, active noise cancelling and 30 hours of play time.

Marshall are also known for their Bluetooth speakers, and my eye has been turned this year by the Kilburn II in black and brass, but full disclosure: that is completely just because of the very inviting-looking velvet strap. Mmm, fuzzy. Marshall also describe it as a "stout-hearted hero", which is very much how I see myself, so it feels like the cosmos wants us to be together. Down to $179.99 from $299.99, now is very much my time to buy.

Browse the full range of Marshall Black Friday speaker and headphones deals here.

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It’s always a big deal when a major manufacturer announces a big sale at this time of year, so when I noticed that Marshall had officially launched their Black Friday sale in the UK, I was itching to see what would be on offer – and I wasn't disappointed – as there's savings of up to £160 on their range of speakers and headphones.

The first thing to catch my eye was £50 off the popular Emberton II portable Bluetooth speaker – down from £149.99 to £99, while the Marshall Major IV headphones have dropped from £109.99 to £64.99.

It’s always great getting your hands on a new bit of audio kit, but it’s especially sweet when that come at a sizeable discount. And there are lots of discounts to be had in the Marshall Black Friday sale.

I've mentioned the Emberton II above, but there are also other great discounts on speakers in the sale. For example, the powerful Stanmore III is down from £349.99 to £249 in both its black and brown colour variations.

In March this year, we gave the Marshall Woburn III a five-star review, saying it combined "beautifully sharp, detailed and balanced audio with room-filling sound". It’s also on sale for £419 - that’s down from its usual price of £519.99.

Prefer private listening? Then along with the Marshall Major IV, the Monitor II A.N.C. are have been discounted from £269.99 to £159 and the in-ear Motif II A.N.C. are down from £179.99 to just £119.

If you're after even more bargains, check out our guide to the Black Friday Marshall speaker and headphones deals which is being updated with our pick of the best Marshall discounts around on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Here’s an announcement that deserves plenty of volume: Positive Grid has just launched its Black November sale, and is offering discounts of up to 50% on its range of smart amps, effects software, audio interfaces and more.

There are a stack of products on sale, including the the Spark Amp & App, which is down from £279 to £205. This 40W amp is an awesome all-in-one solution for practice, learning and home recording and it also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, making it a great pick-up for music fans.

Elsewhere on the site, the compact 10W Spark MINI has a £40 saving, with the price down from £229 to £189, while there's also room for the teeny-tiny Spark GO to have a £20 discount. This 5W, ultra-portable smart amp is down from £129 to £109 making it an ideal to take the plunge if you haven't already.

Since Positive Grid burst on to the scene, the US company has made quite a name for itself as a manufacturer of high-quality musical equipment. A quick browse of its website offers all the proof you need, with every product earning a high rating from happy customers.

How exciting, then, that all of said products are now being offered at a discount as part of the firm’s Black November sale. There’s lots to like here, such as the Spark range of guitar amps/Bluetooth speakers. Whether you opt for the 40W Spark, the 10W Spark MINI or the 5W Spark GO, you’ll get a bit of kit that complements your guitar playing beautifully, marrying clear, room-filling sound with a striking, modern aesthetic.

Each of these amps also integrates with the excellent Spark App, which unlocks a range of smart features including Smart Jam Live, Auto Chords and more than 50,000 tones to experiment with.

And it’s not just amps that feature in this Black Friday sale. Whether you fancy adding the Spark Control X wireless foot switch, the Riff audio interface or one of Positive Grid’s award-winning software packages to your set-up, you can save money on your purchase. What’s not to like?

The team here are Louder will be posting more awesome bargains in our Black Friday music deals page - so if you're after some deep discounts, keep the volume up on Louder.

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The Rolling Stones and audio firm Speaqua have joined forces to release a new range of portable waterproof speakers.

Kicking things off is the pocket-sized Cruiser H2.0 - a tiny speaker that also, and rather brilliantly, doubles as a bottle opener thanks to a fitting on the back of the unit. As well as being waterproof, it’s also shockproof and can remain submerged 3ft underwater for an hour.

It has a five-hour battery life, a dual speaker pairing system and a cord that allows you to tie it around your belt, backpack or festival tent.

The Cruiser, meanwhile, comes in three design choices: red, white and checkered, and each has the famous lips and tongue Stones logo. 

The Barnacle Pro 2.0 and the bigger Barnacle Vibe 3.0 both feature a GoPro mount, a suction cup for a secure surface fit – and they can float in the pool while you're splashing about listening to Hackney Diamonds. It can also hold up to 2000 songs and has an 8-hour battery life.

The Cruiser H2.0 is priced at £35, while the Barnacle Pro 2.0 is £60 and the Barnacle Vibe 3.0 is £90 - all are available directly through the Stones RS No.9 online store.

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Marshall have announced an update to two of their most popular portable Bluetooth speakers: The Emberton and Willen.

The launch of the Emberton III comes two years after the audio manufacturer introduced the third generation of their home-use Bluetooth speakers: The Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III, and just over two years since the Emberton II hit the market.

The new Emberton III has an increased battery life of more than 32 hours and also features a IP67 waterproof and dust rating, meaning it can be submerged in 3ft of water for up to 30 minutes. It has a rubber casing for protection outdoors and true stereophonic 360° audio. A speaker strap lets you attach the Bluetooth speaker to your festival tent or backpack, while Bluetooth has been upgraded from 5.1 to Bluetooth LE Audio. 

Next up is the Willen II - an upgraded version of the 2022 original. Like the new Emberton III, the Willen II’s battery life has also been increased  - this time from 15 hours to 17 hours - while it also carries an a IP67 rating. The Willen II has Bluetooth LE audio and Marshall call it their “most conveniently designed speaker to date”.

Marshall add: “With the iconic Marshall styling encasing sonic performance unlike anything that came before them, the Emberton III and Willen II land to redefine cool when it comes to high performance small portable speakers. 

“With built-in mics and speakerphone capabilities, the sibling speakers have landed to make music, partying and adventure more convenient than ever."

Marshall's product manager Hanna Wallner says it's "been a pleasure to see this generational update come to life," and adds: "As always, with our iconic design and Marshall sound in focus, we’ve created something unique in the portable speaker category. 

"On the outside of the speaker, the focus has been on improved material choices and usability, but the biggest update is on the inside. Both these products come ready for the next Bluetooth technology LE Audio, enabling Auracast™. They also continue to deliver surprisingly heavy sound for the size, especially Willen II."

To celebrate their new generation of portable Bluetooth speakers, Marshall teamed up with artists Suki, Bohan Phoenix and Kelvin Krash. Each of them has shared the stories of their journeys in the music industry on the Marshall website.

The Emberton III is priced $169.99/£149.99 and comes in Black & Brass and Cream colour variations, while the Willen II costs $119.99/£99.99, also in Black & Brass and Cream. Both are available from today directly through the official Marshall website.

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It’s no secret that the Louder team are big fans of Marshall products, and we’ve been impressed over recent years with their awesome portable Bluetooth speakers - and with Amazon Prime Day in full swing, there’s big discounts on some of our favourite in both the US and UK.

That includes the Marshall Emberton II which is down from $169.99 to $119.99 in the US, and from £149.99 to £104 in the UK.

For more Prime Day discounts, don’t forget to check out our Prime Day music deals, Prime Day turntable deals and Prime Day vinyl deals pages for even more savings.

US Marshall portable speaker deals

UK Marshall portable speaker deals

Fender and German audio firm Teufel have combined their efforts to launch a new range of Bluetooth speakers.

The guitar giant and speaker manufacturer have released a trio of Bluetooth devices named Rockster Go 2, Rockster Cross and Rockster Air 2.

The Rockster Go 2 is a portable speaker that offers up to 28 hours of music from a full charge. It carries an IP67 rating meaning it’s waterproof and dustproof, while it has two aluminium full-range drivers, a single passive bass radiator and Dynamic Bass to pump out the audio.

It’s also possible to pair this the speaker with another Rockster Go 2 for stereo sound, but can also hook up with dozens of others for “extreme power”. 

The Rockster Cross, meanwhile, is described as “straddling the border between maximum portability and powerful true stereo sound” and carries a water resistance rating of IPX5 and comes with a Fender strap for portability. 

Audio is powered by two tweeters, a woofer and a pair of passive radiators for “loud, yet precise hi-fi sound”, while you’ll get 16 hours of playback from a single charge.

Finally, the Rockster Air 2 is a premium party speaker which comes with Bluetooth and AAC and features microphone and instrument inputs. It includes a 10-inch woofer for “raw power in high resolution” and can be connected using XLR cables to link 10 Rockster Air 2 speakers for the ultimate wall of sound. Battery power from a full charge comes in at a whopping 58-hours.

Executive Vice President of Fender products Justin Norvell says: “Fender and Teufel is a fantastic cooperation because both companies are in love with great sound. When we’re going to put the Fender brand on something, we really need to believe in it and make sure that it sounds great, and we partnered with Teufel because the audio is amazing and the products are top notch.”

Teufel managing director Sascha Mallah adds: “The Fender x Teufel Rockster series is designed for audio lovers, and we know the fans and customers will truly hear the difference in sound quality. 

“Paired with Fender's innovation and design input, the Rockster series really stands apart on the market.”

All three speakers are currently available in the US, with European prices and dates still to be announced.

The Rockster Go 2 is $129.99, Rockster Cross is $249.99 and the Rockster Air 2 is priced at $599.99.

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In my recent House Of Marley Get Together Solo review, I awarded the bamboo-finished speaker 4.5 stars, praising its design, sound quality and sustainable credentials.

Now there’s double the reason to get excited, because there’s 33% off the price of the House Of Marley Get Together Duo package, with the online giant shredding the price of this Amazon exclusive from £179.99 to £119.99 - a sweet-sounding £60 saving.

Twice as good as the excellent House Of Marley Get Together Solo, this double Bluetooth speaker set is a great choice if you're in the market for a pair of desktop Bluetooth speakers that not only look awesome, but perform really well no matter what genre of music you're into.

Even though they're feature-light, they maintain the audio firm's warm sound and can really belt out a tune, while the no-fuss controls makes the speakers easy to operate.

Battery life is very good at 25 hours from a full charge and Bluetooth means they'll pair nicely with other devices, including House Of Marley's Stir It Up turntable.

Another category where the House Of Marley Get Together Duo speakers shine is when it comes to the audio firm's green credentials. They're made from a blend of 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET Fabric, which House Of Marley call REWIND Fabric - and they're instantly recognisable thanks to their eye-catching bamboo finish.

To top if off, the speakers come with a two-year guarantee, making this deal a real head-turner.

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Sonos have unveiled their new Roam 2 portable speaker, which the US audio firm say has been “built to perform outdoors”.

The compact unit comes in a variety of colours and features an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, with the company reporting it’s been manufactured and tested to withstand extreme temperatures on both sides of the thermometer. It can even be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. 

The Roam 2 has a 10-hour battery life and like the Sonos Move, Move 2 and original Roam, the Roam 2 features the company’s Automatic Trueplay which “fine-tunes the sound for your environment.”

Sonos say: "Astonishingly lightweight, durable, and powerful, Roam 2 makes it easy to enjoy Sonos sound everywhere life takes you. Just pair and play right out of the box by pressing the new Bluetooth button on the back of the speaker. 

“Enjoy up to 10 hours of size-defying clarity and bass. Press the redesigned power button once to save battery life, or press and hold to completely power down. When it’s time to get back to full charge, use the USB-C cable and any compatible power adapter.”

Sonos add: “Fully IP67 waterproof and dustproof, Roam 2 is ready for the outdoors. Plus, it doubles as a smart speaker at home, with WiFi, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa.”

The Roam 2 is powered by two Class-H digital amps, has one tweeter and a mid woofer which deliver “exceptional clarity and bass that packs a punch”.

As for the differences between the original Roam and the Roam 2, Sonos report: “Sonos Roam 2 features separate power and Bluetooth buttons for easier control, and updated monotone finish - and now includes USB-C to USB-C cable for more efficient charging. You can also power Bluetooth out of the box.”

The Roam 2 is now available and for more, check out the video below.

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House of Marley have been steadily making a name for themselves on the music scene over recent years thanks to their products’ ability to drive warm-sounding audio into the lugholes of listeners around the world.

The company was founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan and they have sustainability at the heart of everything they do, with the Get Together Solo speaker made from sustainable materials including bamboo and recycled materials. But does it deliver when it comes to audio? 

I tested the House Of Marley Get Together Solo speaker using Apple Music through my iPhone - listening to tracks in both lossless and hi-res lossless formats.

Read on to find out what I thought of this wireless desktop speaker.

Design

House Of Marley create all their products with sustainability in mind, and the Get Together Solo is no different and has been made using bamboo and Rewind fabric - a blend of 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled PET.

The woven material surrounding the speaker is tactile and textured enough that you won't easily drop it, while the eye-catching bamboo face looks fantastic. There's a small House Of Marley embossed logo under the drum and I particularly like the no-frills, clean look of the speaker. 

The top of the unit is as simple and uncluttered, featuring raised buttons for volume, Bluetooth and power, with two lights for power on and Bluetooth connectivity.

Weighing in at 1.68 kg, it's also easy to pick up with one hand and with compact dimensions measuring 24 x 15 x 19 cm, it's a great size for desktops or shelves - and it really does look fantastic when placed on a wooden surface.

Features

When it comes to features for the House Of Marley Get Together Solo speaker, there's not a great deal to get stuck into - but I think that's also why I like it so much. Getting it up and running straight out of the box was a breeze, and I had no issues with pairing the device with my iPhone: Just press the volume down and Bluetooth buttons simultaneously and you're away.

With their green credentials mentioned above, House Of Marley go another step by using Bluetooth 5.0/with BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) which lowers power consumption. 

Battery life is a decent 25 hours and the speaker can also be paired with another Get Together speaker or House Of Marley's popular Stir It Up turntable.

To pump out its rich and warm sound, the Get Together Solo utilises 3.5 and 0.75 inch drivers which allows you to "fully immerse yourself in the sound and feel the beat like you were meant to.”

The rear of the speaker features a USB C port for charging, along with an Aux In input and right and left line in connections.

Sound

I've mentioned House Of Marley's support for sustainability above, and while they are to be congratulated on the work they're doing, does the Get Together Solo speaker actually deliver on sound? Thankfully, the answer is yes - although there's a caveat.

That's because House Of Marley's dedicated app I use for my Redemption 2 earbuds doesn't support the Get Together Solo, but I understand the company are adding other devices.

The first album I tested the speaker on was Pearl Jam's Dark Matter on Dolby Atmos, Lossless via Apple Music. The galloping React, Respond sounded good - although the bass was a touch heavy for my tastes. Again, app integration would make tweaking settings a bit more natural. That said, the guitars on Wreckage shone and Eddie Vedder's vocals came through beautifully.

A track I just can't stop listening to at the moment is Drab Majesty's Photograph - a song taken from the soundtrack to Jane Schoenbrun's film I Saw The TV Glow. That was on (repeat) next and even without any EQ tweaking, this sounded... well, majestic! The snappy drums and warm balanced audio sounded magical through the Get Together and I couldn't resist cranking it up to an obscene level. No crackle or audio slip ups were noticeable - and proved that the Get Together Solo can easily deliver room-filling sound.

All About Eve’s wonderful Scarlet And Other Stories was the first CD I ever bought all the way back in 1989 when I had nothing more than a double tape-deck ghetto blaster with a top-mounted CD player. Even with this battered black and silver plastic unit, I remember being completely blown away by the way in which Mark Price’s drums came through on the album - so for fun (and nostalgia) I put it through the Get Together Solo. Again, I was rewarded with crystal clear audio with no blemishes - and yes, the drums on Road To Your Soul still sound immense.

The alternatives

With portability in mind, there are a couple of speakers I recommend if the House Of Marley Get Together Solo isn't quite your thing. 

First up is the Marshall Emberton II which is a rock solid choice. It sounds great, has more than 30 hours of music playback from a full charge, is water resistant and it's also small enough to be chucked in a backpack if you’re off on your travels.

Another Bluetooth speaker worth checking out is the JBL Charge 5. This one has 20 hours of battery life and comes in a variety of colours. It has more of a cylindrical design (a bit like my old ghetto blaster) and will also keep you dancing out on the patio as it's also waterproof.

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There’s a common misconception that you can only get great audio equipment by spending a fortune, but that needn't be the case, as I've found while putting together a list of some of the best budget hi-fi speakers around.

Whether you’re new to collecting vinyl and looking to hook up to your first turntable, or you’re something of a music veteran who simply wants to grab a new pair of affordable speakers, you’ll find some great options below.

To ensure you get the right product for your needs and budget, I’ve highlighted my top choices in a variety of categories, along with links to where you can buy them at the best prices.

But before we go any further, let's kick things off with my no.1 pick which goes to the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. You can't go wrong with these speakers. They offer crystal clear audio and offer 100W of pure power - all for a very good price.

Along with my eight product picks, below you'll also find a FAQ section to help you make an informed choice before you take the plunge.

Starting your hi-fi set-up from scratch and need a new record player to go with your speakers? Then be sure to check out our guide to the best budget turntables.

The quick list

Best overall

If extra features such as Bluetooth connectivity and funky colour styles aren't factors in your search for a budget hi-fi speaker, and you want a set of good quality, well made, super-sounding speakers to connect to an amplifier, then look no further than the excellent Wharfedale Diamond 9.1.

Coming in slightly larger than some other speaker in this list, thanks to a 5” Kevlar woofer, the Diamond speakers offer pristine sound reproduction and build quality at a price that might surprise you.

That audio is helped along with an additional 1" textile tweeter which really does compliment the Kevlar mid/bass driver, and I found the overall performance to be fantastic.

Without built-in electronics, moving parts, or power connections, there’s very little that can go wrong with the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, buying a pair is a solid investment in your listening journey at home and they come highly recommended.

Best active speaker

It’s amazing what you can get for less than $/£100 these days when it comes to audio tech and if you need convincing, then take a closer look at the Majority Active D40X bookshelf speakers.

Packing rigid Kevlar cones and 4” bass drivers, these 2.0-channel, 70W speakers deliver thunder and clarity in equal measures.

There are numerous ways to hook them up to your devices – including Bluetooth 5.3 if you want to do some wireless streaming – and there’s even a remote control for when you can’t be bothered to lift yourself off the sofa.

While I found the Majority Active D40X to be an excellent set of speakers, hundreds of Amazon shoppers seem to agree with me, with the music masses rating these 4.5 / 5.

That said, I'm not sure if everyone will love the yellow accents on the Active D40X, but I think it makes them stand out from the crowd.

Best value

The Roxel Infinity active bookshelf speakers might look a little nondescript, but you won’t be able to ignore the sound delivered by these 2.0-channel, 60W speakers.

I found they offered an immersive listening experience which was eye-opening, and when you take the price into consideration you're getting an superb set of speakers for an amazing price.

The Roxel Infinity come with a remote and when I hit play, I was rewarded with rich bass, finely balanced mids and clear highs.

You can also choose from a range of audio modes which is a nice touch, depending on whether you’re listening to music, watching movies or playing video games, or you can simply manually adjust the bass and treble to suit your own personal taste.

Add in a wide range of connectivity options, and you’ve got a quite remarkable package for the money and it more than deserves its place in this list of budget hi-fi speakers. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Best desktop

If you're an audio enthusiast looking for high-quality audio without the premium price tag attached, then the Sanyun SW206 could be just what you're looking for.

These are a pair of desktop speakers that really impressed me thanks to Sanyun's range of versatile connectivity options, including ¼” jack, USB-C, optical and Bluetooth interfaces, ensuring compatibility with a vast range of devices.

The design is sleek and modern and they're right at home if you're in the market for a smart pair of budget hi-fi speakers for desktop use and ideal, great package for small listening set-ups.

Build quality is excellent and they can double up as audio production rigs.

A nice bonus is that fact that the Sanyun SW206 are available in some colour mixes: Dual Mode Black and Dual Mode White feature yellow cones, while the Black model is as dark as a black coffee on a moonless night.

If you're after a pair of desktop speakers for a great price, then look no further.

Best portable

Tailored for the modern home, the House Of Marley Get Together Duo set provides exceptional sound quality and versatile connectivity, with some nice touches on the design front too.

The Get Togethers connect seamlessly to all your devices, ensuring a rich, uninterrupted audio experience, while the built-in battery gives you 25 hours of cable-free listening too from the right-sided speaker - although this can be hooked up to a USB wallplug if you prefer a more static listening environment.

This versatility makes them an ideal portable option: easy enough to take from room to room, or for taking them to a friend's house for a night of music and snacks.

Like all House Of Marley products, these speakers have been created with sustainability in mind and that's something I love to see.

Best premium

Another, slightly higher-priced option for setups where an amplifier or receiver is the centrepiece are the big and powerful DALI Spektor 2 speakers.

These speakers sit at the top of what you’d call the budget end of the spectrum, but they deliver superior sound quality - especially with low end frequencies - thanks to the 5” woofer speaker.

When testing, I also found the stereo image of the Spektors to be superb, making them the ideal choice for slightly larger rooms.

Build quality is, as you’d expect at this price point, excellent and this results in the Spektors being a great value investment in your future listening pleasure.

The DALI Spektor 2 speakers also come in a variety of colour variations, making it easy to choose something to fit with your existing set up. They're available in Ash Black, Walnut Light and White.

Best for small spaces

Compact bookshelf speakers are a superb option for smaller spaces, or where there are limited areas to place speakers.

British manufacturer Ruark has earned a whole host of accolades for its audio products, including a What Hi-Fi? award for its MR1 Mk2 speakers.

These desktop units are just 14cm high, yet offer the kind of power and panache you’d expect from much bigger, and more expensive, speakers.

Packing custom 20mm silk dome tweeters and 75mm polypropylene cone neodymium woofers, these small wonders deliver deep, resonant bass and impressive lucidity in the higher ranges.

You can easily connect them to a turntable or computer, while support for aptX HD means you can even stream your favourite tunes in Hi-Res.

Best for turntables

If your music listening encompasses connection to a turntable and also a computer, then the PreSonus Eris 5BT are a superb option.

Packing in a hefty 5” woofer, these speakers are capable of providing plenty of power and volume to your listening.

Their inherently flat frequency response may require some tweaking at source, although there are a couple of EQ controls onboard too so you can ensure they’re sounding at their best from the start.

Bluetooth connectivity rounds out the package, making the Eris into a comprehensive music-enjoyment package for not a lot of cash.

FAQ

When venturing into the world of budget hi-fi speakers, understanding your options and their respective benefits is crucial. This buyer’s guide will help you navigate the landscape, ensuring you find the perfect match for your audio needs.

Connectivity options

Connectivity is another critical factor to consider. Modern budget hi-fi speakers often come with a variety of connection options to accommodate different setups. Bluetooth connectivity is prevalent for wireless streaming, allowing you to play audio from smartphones, tablets, and other devices without physical cables. It's a convenient option for casual listening and is almost standard in today’s speaker systems.

For more traditional or professional setups, RCA and TRS inputs are common. RCA connections are typical in home audio environments, compatible with most home theater systems, and provide reliable sound quality. TRS, or Tip Ring Sleeve connections, are usually found in professional audio equipment and offer a balanced connection that reduces audio interference and noise – ideal for a purer sound if you're setting up a home studio.

How to choose the best budget hi-fi speaker

What sets the best budget hi-fi speakers apart from their competitors? It often boils down to how well they balance cost and performance.

The top contenders in the budget category manage to offer both good build quality and impressive sound fidelity. Look for speakers that provide clarity, balanced output across a broad range of frequencies, and minimal distortion at high volumes. Also, consider the durability of the materials used and the overall design, as these aspects can significantly impact the longevity and performance of your speakers.

In conclusion, choosing the best budget hi-fi speakers involves evaluating your specific needs regarding amplification, connectivity, and audio quality. By understanding the differences between active and passive systems, assessing connectivity options, and prioritising sound quality and construction, you can make an informed decision that ensures a superior listening experience without overshooting your budget. This approach will lead you to a set of speakers that fits your current audio setup and will give you years of happy listening.

Why you can trust us

Louder’s reviewing team consists of music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have accumulated decades of product reviewing experience, writing thousands of words on music listening gear across thousands of reviews on Louder. Our tests also inform our buyer's guide - just like this one.

As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound incredible, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs. We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic '70s rock album, or a cutting-edge noise band.

And we test the the best budget hi-fi speakers with albums we know inside and out, and that we've listened to on a variety of systems already, so we know exactly what we should be hearing and when we're being short-changed by lackluster audio.

Meet the experts

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• The best speakers for your home: Overhaul your sound system

Marshall introduced the Woburn III Bluetooth speaker on to the market in the summer of 2022 - around four years after the Woburn II shook our foundations.

It’s one of three third generation speakers in the latest Marshall line-up along with the Acton III and Stanmore III and is the largest in the range - but just how does it perform and does it do enough to raise it above the crowded Bluetooth speaker market? I’ve put the Marshall Woburn III through its paces to find out, testing it with a number of artists to get the most out of this raucous bit of kit.

Design

The Woburn III is a tabletop speaker designed for indoor use that sports the classic Marshall amp look, complete with that iconic signature in bronze/gold across the black and white front grille. It’s a sizeable bit of hardware at 40cm x 31cm x 20cm and it weighs 9.18 kg - so a smidgen heavier and bigger than the Woburn II.

The outside of the speaker is wrapped in textured vegan, artificial leather - Marshall don’t use real leather in their products - and this green feel is also replicated elsewhere: Plastic parts have been created with recycled materials and the speaker is PVC free.

The control panel sit on top of the speaker and there’s space for an aux port alongside reassuringly tactile volume, bass and treble dials. If the speaker is switched off at the mains, you’ll notice there’s no marker line on the knobs - only when you flick the satisfyingly chunky power switch on will you see that the base of each dial lights up in red to indicate where your level is set to. There’s also room on the top panel for a forward/reverse track slider so you can skip around your tracks physically, rather than just use your phone or tablet.

Features

You could argue that the Marshall Woburn III is light on features, but take a closer look and you’ll find there’s more than enough to keep music fans. Bluetooth has been upgraded from the previous model’s 5.0 to 5.2 LE. There’s also the addition of an HDMI port on the back of the speaker - something missing from the Woburn II, making it ideal for hooking up to your TV - along with an RCA input.

As mentioned, you can flick back and forth between tracks using the slider switch on top of the Woburn III, but it’s more conveniently to do this via the Marshall app - especially if you’re kicking back on the sofa. Here, you can also adjust bass and treble settings.

The Woburn III also features Marshall’s Placement Compensation feature, where you can select whether the speaker is close to an edge or corner; or if it’s close to a wall or free-standing through the app. This results in an adjustment to the speaker’s soundstage to give you the best possible audio experience.

Sound

The most important part of any speaker is, of course, how it performs while cranking out your favourite albums and artists. First up, I need to talk about how loud this stereo speaker can go - and that’s LOUD. Even with the volume set at 4/10, the audio delivery was powerful enough to fill my living room easily. I cranked it as high as I could, but only briefly as I didn’t want angry neighbours battering down my door - not that I would have heard them through the wall of noise the Woburn III delivers. Very, very impressive.

Audio clarity and balance are spot on with the Woburn III, with the speaker easily handling everything I threw at it via Apple Music.

The first album I played was Heart’s Bad Animals from 1987 and Ann Wilson’s voice projected beautifully through the mix, while Nancy Wilson’s chugging guitar on opener Who Will You Run To was punchy and full of life. Her backing vocals also came through on-point. Smash hit single Alone also sounded fantastic, with Denny Carmassi’s drums shaking the room.

Next up on the playlist was Rush’s Clockwork Angels album - an record that truly shines through a good pair of headphones. Happily, the results through the Marshall Woburn III were equally as good. Alex Lifeson’s spine-tingling solo on Halo Effect was sparkling, while the frenetic seven minutes of Headlong Flight almost knocked me on my backside: Crisp, balanced and punchy. Special mention goes again to Lifeson on his solo to the emotional rollercoaster that is closer The Garden. It’s a piece of music that brings out the ol’ goosebumps, and cranking up the volume for that meaty solo sounded simply majestic on the Woburn III.

Drab Majesty’s The Demonstration was next up and with its silky synths, jangly guitars and 80s goth vibes. Again, the Woburn III delivered here too, with the Woburn III's wide soundstage giving Deb and Mona’s 2017’s masterpiece a rich, warm glow. 

The alternatives

The Marshall design may not be for everyone, so if you’re looking for an alternative, here are a couple of options. Soundboks (Gen.3) remains at the top of our guide to the loudest Bluetooth speakers. This is a wireless unit with 40 hours of play time from a full charge, so it’s a great option for use outdoors - unlike the Woburn III which is for indoor use only and remains tethered to a power socket.

If you’re in the market for something with a little more portability, then the Louder team think the JBL Boombox 2 is worth a closer look. It’ll give you 24 hours of music from a full charge and although you can take it outside, it looks and performs equally in a living room or bedroom.

Related content

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• Best Bluetooth turntables to put a modern spin on your vinyl
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• The best speakers for your home: Overhaul your sound system

Marshall have teamed up with Dutch streetwear brand Patta to launch a new-look, limited-edition Emberton II speaker.

Marshall launched the second generation of their hugely successful portable Bluetooth speaker in the spring of 2022, with the new Patta-branded model released to celebrate “Caribbean Soundsystem Culture”.

Rather than go with the speaker in its traditional colour scheme, the Emberton II Patta edition is bright and vibrant and features a multi-coloured grille with wood print sides, accompanied by a fluorescent orange finish.

Patta co-founder Guillaume Schmidt says: “We’re stoked to be the first brand to collaborate on a portable speaker design with Marshall. Patta has strong ties to sound system culture and music communities at large. Like many of our collaborations, we touch on various aspects beyond just the product, exploring multiple pillars of the project.”

The two firms have also created a campaign which is spearheaded by Caribbean artist Gilleam Trapenberg to explore “the vibrancy of everyday life in the Caribbean.”

Marshall Group CEO Jeremy de Maillard explains: “The partnership with Patta goes beyond just product design; the fundamental belief that music has the power to unite and uplift people, is what brought us together in the first place. 

“Patta’s commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices is truly inspiring, and it resonates with both Marshall’s values and legacy. Together, we want to create meaningful products and experiences that will empower the communities we care deeply about.”

The Emberton II Patta edition features 30 hours of music playback from a full charge, has a IP67 weatherproof rating, is small enough to store in a backpack, has Bluetooth 5.1 and can also be stacked with other Emberton II speakers for a wall of sound.

It’ll go on sale from 12 noon on February 23 priced at £179.99.

Related content

• Marshall Emberton vs Marshall Emberton II: We put them side by side
• Best Marshall speakers: From portable speakers to home Hi-Fi
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The annual Christmas shopping rush has begun in earnest and I've spent the last couple of days trying to snatch as many presents as I can to try and avoid the dreaded last-minute chaos I usually find myself in. 

And while on my online travels, I spotted a great deal that should appeal if you have a budget turntable on your ever-growing shopping list. Amazon have lopped 34% off the RRP of the popular 1 By One Bluetooth turntable with bookshelf speakers - it's down from £259.99 to £170.99 making this an amazing £89 saving.

And if you’re based in the US, you can get the same package with 15% off, with Amazon reducing the price from $269.95 to $229.97.

The 1 By One turntable is an ideal starter set for those getting into vinyl for the first time - and even more so with the addition of the two included 36W bookshelf speakers. 

It features an eye-catching wood finish and also boasts an iron platter to give it stability when in use - something that's also helped by the 1 By One's anti-skating system which limits annoying tonearm skipping, allowing the tracks to play lovely and smooth as they should be.

It also has an AT moving magnet-type cartridge which delivers depth to the audio, while Bluetooth functionality means you can stream music from your phone/tablet/laptop through the speakers. I also like that you can convert your vinyl tracks to digital files via a USB connection - a nice extra option to have.

If you're on the lookout for more bargains this festive season, don't forget to check out our list of Christmas gifts for music lovers and for something a bit more extreme, take a peek at our favourite Christmas gifts for metalheads.

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Nothing compares to a great home stereo set-up. Whether it's a full surround sound home cinema , the boost of a great soundbar and subwoofer or even just a couple of stand-alone speakers to give your audio set-up some extra oomph, there are almost endless options on hand for the discerning music lover. In turn, these allow you to not just improve the sounds you love, but revolutionise the way you listen to music (or films and TV, for that matter). 

Hopefully you've already seen our list of Cyber Monday speaker deals that will help you find a whole catalogue of deals on speakers - both portable and for home use - but if you're on the hunt for massive savings, we'd say it certainly won't hurt to check out the offers from World Wide Stereo that could see you save hundreds of dollars on your next purchase.

We've collected a few of the biggest and best deals below, but be sure to check out our favourite Cyber Monday music deals to get an idea of just how brilliant these deals are.

JBL can usually be relied on to to provide decent quality portable speakers for when you want to have music on the go, whether it's in your garden, by a lovely pool on holiday somewhere or in the wilderness on a big ol' adventure. Now, thanks to this great Amazon Cyber Monday deal, you can bag their very decent Charge 5 speaker for up to 33% off, making it just $119.95 (was $179.95), or £129 (was £179.99). If you're buying from the UK, make sure you're quick as Cyber Monday deals are only active for a few more hours at this point.

We've included a number of JBL speakers in our round-ups of the best portable audio equipment over recent years, and they always rank well for loudness, audio quality and convenience. The JBL Charge 5 absolutely ticks all of those boxes and looks perfect for bringing on tour with you wherever the road may take you, thanks to it being both waterproof and, in an improvement from its predecessor the JBL Charge 4, dustproof. You'll have to go some way to messing it up, is what we're saying. It also has a great battery life: 20 hours from four hours of charge.

It's also brilliantly portable with its dimensions coming in at 22.3 x 9.4 x 9.7 cm, making it easy to slip into your bag when you're popping out somewhere for the day, or chucking in your luggage if you're going on holiday. Need more convincing? It comes in a load of different colours! Some of them are just a snatch pricier than others, but who can argue with that fetching pink tinge, or that badass camo look?

If you're on a slightly stricter budget but still like the look of JBL's speakers, you can grab the JBL FLIP 5 for $69.95 (previously $129.95), or £81.95 (down from £99.99). Or, if you're in the UK and willing to spend big, we highly recommend Curry's deal for the excellent JBL Boombox 3, which has a whopping £150 sliced off its price, now available for £349 (previously £499). 

If you want an idea of the bigger picture for good speaker deals, head over to our hub for the best Cyber Monday speaker deals. You also still have a few more hours to gaze over our collection of the best Cyber Monday music deals

The Cyber Monday music deals are still going strong, but the sales window will slam shut later tonight. However, if you’re still pondering what to buy and want something quality that’s not too expensive, I’ve got a few top choices that won’t break the bank.

For example, the Sony WH-CH520 wireless Bluetooth headphones are down to just £34 at Amazon, a healthy 43% saving on their usual price of £60. And if it’s a speaker you’re after, then the hugely popular Echo Dot (5th Generation) speaker from 2022 is available for a ridiculous £21.99 - 60% down from its £54.99 RRP.

Check below for more awesome Cyber Monday deals for less than £50.

Do you have some old speakers in your garage – maybe from a 5:1 system that got binned when you got a soundbar? Did you pack away your old hi-fi speakers when you got that JBL Boombox? Did you stick an Amazon Dot in the bedroom and kid yourself that would do?

I feel your pain. I did all those things and I’m here to tell you some good news. You can buy a tiny Bluetooth speaker about the size of a cigarette packet, plug it into those old speakers and get an amazing sound - all for less than £50, with this Fosi Audio Bluetooth amp that’s 41% off in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

And I can say it with confidence because I bought not one but TWO a week ago and it’s already changed the way I listen to music.

Here’s how and why. I had two problems:

1) In lockdown we transformed our garage into a gym. Cleared it out, stuck a bike on a trainer, got a weight bench, stuck a Bluetooth speaker in there, bosh. But a tinny Bluetooth speaker in an unfurnished garage, when you’re pedaling on a bike? It’s audio carnage.

2) A decade ago, we extended into our loft. I thought ahead and had speakers fitted into the walls in the bedroom and en suite. I bought a little amp with an aux input so that I could plug my phone into it. Awesome. But then Apple changed the outputs on the iPhone. Uh-oh. Then the amp started to play up. So I got an Amazon Dot. With work-from-home, I spend more time in my bedroom than ever before and, with the Dot, I could connect easily and the sound was… OK. 

This is where the Fosi comes in. Now I’m no hi-fi expert, I have no idea who Fosi are  (I Googled it: they're a Chinese company) – and sure, you can get Sonos or Denon or some other fancy-dan multi-room set up – but if you want an affordable, unobtrusive alternative, this could be it. 

I told you it was tiny, didn’t I? Look: I took it around my house to give you idea of how big it is (it’s the same length as a 330ml drinks can):

It connects to the built-in speakers in my bedroom by banana cable plugs. (In fact, you don’t even need those – you can just thread the bar speaker wire through the terminals at the back and tighten – in my previous experience, though, you get a bit of crackle.) You plug it in. You connect by Bluetooth, you turn up the bass. Compared to the Amazon Dot, the sound is warm and full, louder than you could ever want, and you can control the volume with your phone’s volume buttons. 

In the garage, I plugged it into two of the speakers from an 5:1 set-up I had. Tucked either side of the garage walls, the sound fills the room. You could have a party in there. 

I mean, it would be weird – it would smell of white spirit and you might trip over a rake – but it’d be loud enough. 

The Positive Grid Spark Go is one of 2023’s hottest guitar mini-amps and Smart speakers. Real guitarists love it for practicing, and for the range of tones you can access on it by connecting it with the Spark app on your phone. From the app, you can dial into dozens of classic amp sounds and pedals, literally at your fingertips, plus play along with backing tracks or real songs. And right now it’s £30/$30 off.

The Spark Go clocked up great reviews from people who know what they’re talking about, who raved about its sound quality, depth of tone and the volume it creates despite its size. But it is also great for those of us who don’t (read: “can’t”/“shouldn’t”) take our guitar playing too seriously. 

It is small – literally smaller than my phone, though far chunkier, which means it doesn’t take up any floor space and packs away easily – and it is more than loud enough for my embarrassing playing. I bought it earlier this year because my son was learning to play and was frustrated that he couldn’t make the guitar sound like the songs he was listening to. 

I play guitar – I am “busker level” (and by that I mean, the most basic busker you can think of, not the fancy-dan street performers you get in city centres today: someone who can knock out a song with three of four chords) but I usually just favour my acoustic. Acoustics are straightforward: no need to plug in, or find an effects pedal, just pick it up and bash away. 

Electric guitars, on the other hand, are a world of pain to me. I have an ESP Les Paul-type guitar and for years all I have had to play it through is a small Marshall amp. I had a multi-fx unit (Digitech, I think) for a while but I gave it to a friend: it took me forever to find a sound I liked. By the time I sounded good, I had no time left to practice. So my electric sat in a wardrobe until my son said he’d like to play. 

The Spark lived up to its name: it ignited something. 

It turned a flat-sounding guitar into a world of sound. I would pass his room and hear him working out Come As You Are, the Arctic Monkeys Do I Wanna Know? or the lick from Brazil by Declan McKenna. And I found myself drawn in: “Let me try.” He’d hear a song by Bakar and we’d find the tab and work it out. 

The Spark Go was at the heart of this: portable, easy to use (I have two favourite settings: a rhythm sound that’s quite clean but I’ve modified with some added Drive, Delay and Reverb) and a lead sound that it is very Angus Young (or maybe more Billy Duffy). It is hours of fun. With headphones on, he could practice until late (hey, it beats him shouting at Fifa). Rechargeable, portable, it's so small that my other half doesn't even know I have it. 

I have no ambitions of getting on stage or going in a recording studio, so the Spark Go means I don’t have to invest in hundreds of pounds of unnecessary amps and effects. To my son, it’s a jumping-off point. Maybe he’ll stick in and graduate on to something bigger and meaner. Or maybe he’ll pass his driving test and forget all about it. It doesn’t matter – if all else fails, we’ve got an extra Bluetooth speaker.

For more speaker discounts, take a look at our pick of the Black Friday speaker deals and for everything else, check out our favourite Black Friday music deals.

Don't think you have to shell out thousands of dollars on premium audio equipment - and especially when the Black Friday sales are in full swing. You can pick up some amazing deals this year, and one that really stood out to me was the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers, which Amazon have reduced from $999.99 to a much more affordable $549 a pair.

Among the best bookshelf speakers around, the 606 S2 Anniversary Editions combine a striking aesthetic with innovative technology to deliver a luxury listening experience that audiophiles will love. They’d make a great pair of turntable speakers, too. Read on to find out more about this cracking pair of speakers.

Great music should really be heard on good-quality audio equipment – and the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition bookshelf speakers definitely fit into this category. 

Available in black, white or a combination of white and oak, the sixth iteration of the audio firm's esteemed 600 Series contain an array of snazzy technological features, which combine to offer a truly immersive listening experience.

Each of these stand-mounted speakers packs a low-distortion 1” Decoupled Double Dome aluminium tweeter, along with a 6.5” Continuum cone mid/base driver, to deliver sound that’s clear, detailed and powerful. They’re not lacking in bottom end, either, thanks to their Flowport technology, which offers enhanced bass response.

Though the 606 S2 Anniversary Edition are compact enough to sit on a bookshelf or table, they also come complete with stands, giving you the option to place them anywhere in your living space.

With all of these features, it’s no wonder that the speakers have received plenty of plaudits on Amazon, with the majority of customers awarding them the maximum rating of five stars. And there’s a good chance they’ll put a smile on your face, too.

This isn’t the only great offer on music equipment doing the rounds right now – check out our guide to the best Black Friday speaker deals to find a whole range of delicious discounts from a range of big names in the audio world.

If you’ve been hunting for a portable Bluetooth speaker, then you’ve probably considered the Marshall Emberton – after all, the British guitar amp company has an outstanding reputation for manufacturing audio equipment.

But there are two versions on the Emberton now available - the original which launched in 2020, and the 2022 Emberton II, so which one should you consider buying?

In this article, I'm going to compare the Emberton with the Emberton II to help you make the right buying choice and tell you the differences between the two speakers.

Looking for more Marshall products? Then take a look at our guide to the best Marshall speakers and our pick of the best Marshall headphones.

At a glance

Emberton vs Emberton II: Sound

When it comes to sound quality, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with any Marshall speaker. Remember, this is a company that’s been making amplifiers used by some of the world's biggest bands for decades. I do think the Emberton II offers a better listening experience than the original Emberton, though. The soundstage is more spacious, the mid-range more detailed and the bass response deeper – probably due to the sub-woofer. The overall delivery is also warmer and more mature than the original, although I appreciate that won’t appeal to everyone’s tastes.

How Marshall’s audio technicians have managed to improve the sound - and also make the speaker slightly louder - while keeping most of the internal technology the same is anyone’s guess. But that’s exactly what they’ve done and it’s elevated the Marshall Emberton II to another level.

Emberton vs Emberton II: Features

There really isn’t much to separate the two products here. Both the Emberton and the Emberton II are stereo speakers that pack two full range drivers, two class D amps and two passive bass radiators, with both delivering 2 x 10W of power. The one fairly significant difference under the bonnet is that the Marshall Emberton II contains a sub-woofer while the original Emberton doesn’t. 

There are similarities in other areas, too. Both Emberton Bluetooth speakers will pair to two devices at once, meaning you and a friend can each stream music to them without the other having to disconnect. Both units can also be powered by their rechargeable internal battery or via USB-C, which is also how the speakers are charged.

One advantage the Emberton II does have over its the original portable speaker is that it connects to the Marshall Bluetooth app. This lets you adjust the sound using a variety of presets, and even pair the speaker with two or more other Marshall units via Stack mode. The second-generation Emberton also supports a more up-to-date version of Bluetooth (5.1 as opposed to the Emberton’s 5.0), which results in considerably better range. 

Emberton vs Emberton II: Design

Again, there's very little to distinguish these two Marshall speakers from one another. Their dimensions and weight are identical, with both speakers measuring 6.3 x 2.68 x 2.99in/160 x 68 x 76mm and tipping the scales at 1.5lb/0.7kg.

This means they’re small and light enough to be held in one hand, which is just as well as, surprisingly, neither comes with a carry strap. They both sport Marshall’s iconic solid metal grille and logo. And they have the same physical controls at the top – namely, a multi-directional knob that serves as a power switch, play/pause button, track skipper and volume adjuster, plus a Bluetooth pairing button and a small battery indicator. Neither model supports voice control.

The only real differences come in the choice of colours available. The original is available in Cream, Black, Black/Brass or Forest, while the Emberton II is restricted to just Cream and Black/Brass), and the fact that the later speaker feels slightly more robust. 

The Emberton II actually is more resilient, its IP67 weatherproof rating representing an improvement on the Emberton’s IPX7 score (essentially, they can both be submersed under a metre of water for up to 30 minutes, but the Emberton isn’t dust-proof like its younger sibling.

Emberton vs Emberton II: Battery life

Battery life in a portable speaker is one of the biggest considerations and while both  Emberton speakers have many similar traits, longevity isn’t one of them. The Marshall Emberton II easily wins in this category, its 30 hours of listening time trouncing the 20 hours offered by the earlier model. 

The original Emberton does mitigate this somewhat with a shorter charging time, though, topping up in three hours as opposed to the Emberton II’s rather sluggish 4.9 hours. 

Emberton vs Emberton II: Verdict

Marshall hasn’t exactly reinvented the wheel with its second-generation Emberton portable Bluetooth speaker, but the improvements are sufficient enough to make it the obvious choice when deciding between them – especially when you consider the Emberton II isn't significantly more expensive than the original.

That said, the Marshall Emberton II comes in just two different colours, so if you’re looking for something to match your furniture/picnic accessories, you might have more luck with the 2020 edition - although it's entirely possible Marshall have a few colour variations up their sleeves to be revealed at a future date.

Whichever Emberton you plump for, it’ll come with Marshall’s seal of quality, and that alone should make it worthy of your cash.

We’ve always been big Marshall speaker fans here at Louder. We love the amp-styling, the rock heritage behind every grille and, of course, the room-filling sound. One of our favourite Marshall launches in recent years is the tiny Emberton speaker, which is small but punchy with great battery life. Since the launch of the second generation Emberton, we’ve started to see welcome discounts on the OG model. Currently you can save up to 40% off at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. That’s a price drop from £149.99 to £89.99 in the UK and $169.99 to $115.99 if you live in the US.

That’s definitely something to get excited about, as this Bluetooth speaker is very highly rated – we hold up the Emberton as our favourite portable speaker in our guide to the best Marshall speakers, while it gets a lofty 4.7 out of five among those who’ve already bought it and reviewed it on Amazon.   

There’s lots to like about the Marshall Emberton. Despite its compact size, it packs a punch and also offers some impressive features, including 360-degree sound and more than 20 hours of battery life.

If you’re in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, then you’ll ideally want something that marries great sound quality with decent battery life for those times where you’re taking the tunes away from a charging socket. The Marshall Emberton ticks both of these boxes. 

Despite its modest price, this little unit delivers clear and detailed audio that will enable you to enjoy your music just as the artist intended. With Marshall’s True Stereophonic multi-directional sound technology on board, you’ll never be out of the proverbial sweet spot. And with two 10W drivers under the bonnet, this speaker also offers plenty of oomph, helping you to get the party started whether you’re indoors, in the garden or at your local park. 

Obviously, if you are going to take a speaker outside, you’ll need it to have good battery life. The Emberton is no slouch in that department, providing more than 20 hours of listening from a full charge, or five hours from a 20-minute top-up. 

As you might expect from a Marshall product, this little 0.7kg appliance is robust enough for outdoor activity, too, its IPX7 rating protecting it from rain, beer and even a dunk in the water. Add in support for Bluetooth 5.0, and Marshall’s speaker would make a great companion for those al fresco adventures.

We’re tracking all of this year’s Black Friday Marshall speaker and headphone deals as well as collating all of the year’s best Black Friday speaker deals - and Black Friday music deals. So if you're after more discounts, keep your eyes locked on Louder.

It’s not even Black Friday yet, but the discounts are already coming through thick and fast. There are lots of Black Friday music deals to be had this year, but on this page we’re focusing on five ace speakers that have been reduced ahead of the annual sales event. If you’re in the market for a new pocket rocket to blast out your tunes wirelessly at home or via Bluetooth at the campsite throughout the 2024 festival season, you can currently get money off the top-rated speakers from JBL, Marshall, Sonos, Sony and Bose meaning you can pick up a cracking speaker at a bargain price.

As you’d expect from these esteemed brands, all of the speakers on this page bear the characteristics demanded from a Bluetooth boombox, including a compact form factor, great sound quality and robust connectivity. While the Sonos One is essentially an indoor wireless speaker – and a very good one at that – the other four also come with the necessary features for outdoor listening, including portability, decent battery life and protection from the elements.

To find out more about these speakers, and to discover exactly how much you can save in these Black Friday deals, carry on reading…

We’ll be publishing more deals on Bluetooth, wireless, smart speakers and more on our Black Friday speaker deals page. 

When you’re sizing up your dream vinyl playing station for your home, the temptation is to go big on the turntable itself. While I would happily endorse pushing the boat out to acquire one of the best record players, it’s also important to think about the wider system and, more specifically, the speakers.

Speaker systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from smaller models designed to sit discreetly out of sight and desktop speakers which sit neatly either side of your turntable, to enormous centrepiece models which go out of their way to deliver pure power and audio performance.

Which is best for you though? Let’s take a look in my guide to the best turntable speakers.

Quick list

Best budget option

For the money, you’ll struggle to find a turntable speaker set with as much to offer as the Edifier R1280DBs. These active speakers - meaning they don’t require a separate amplifier - pack in a bunch of different connectivity options including Bluetooth, and a pair of RCA line inputs so you can connect two different sound sources.

I felt the design was maybe on the borderline of being a bit too retro, but overall it's a very sensible package for a very reasonable amount of money. Highly recommended.

Best retro style

Wharfedale is one of the better-known names in home audio thanks to a reputation it has built up over a long time. Indeed, the Wharfedale Denton 85 is an anniversary model and brings with it a dash of refined heritage thanks to the chunky mahogany cabinet and old-style logo.

Under the hood, however, the Denton 85 set is more than capable of delivering the goods, with plenty of low-end response thanks to its 6.5” bass driver. These aren’t the cheapest speakers on this list by any means, but they’re definitely worth further investigation if your budget stretches this far.

Best mid-range

The thing with passive speakers is that they’re really only as good as the amplifier that’s driving them. With the DALI Spektor 2, however, there exists a set of passive speakers that will elevate a fairly rudimentary amp system and positive sparkle if used with a good one.

The manual states how they’ll sound even better after around 100 hours of initial use. Trust us, they aren’t lying. Highly recommended and, for the price, hard to beat.

Most versatile

While they won’t win any prizes in the audiophile stakes, the Sanyun SW208 speaker set did impress me with their no-fuss simplicity and accessible price point. I can see them being popular in particular with owners of those inexpensive portable record players who are looking for a way to boost the volume, which they can thanks to the Sanyun’s 3.5mm aux input.

Onboard EQ control is a nice touch, as is the Bluetooth 5.0 functionality, making for a great value starter speaker set.

Best high-end design

If you have an established setup, possibly incorporating other audio equipment, then a solid bet for upgrading your speakers may come in the form of the KEF LSX II. The second iteration of the LSX lineup, the new generation introduces USB-C connectivity, while also bringing HDMI Arc connections so you can control volume with your TV remote control. While this may hint at the LSX being meant for TV viewing, they boast enough functionality and elite audio quality that they’re more than suitable for pairing with a turntable.

Best portable

While the thought of a set of portable speakers for a turntable - that famously static piece of audio equipment - might seem odd, the boom in popularity of suitcase-style turntables makes the House Of Marley Get Together Duo a neat proposition. A few niggles with the wireless connectivity aside, I loved the way one speaker contains a battery and so can be carried around for on-the-go listening. Sound quality is slightly bass-heavy but still pleasing, and the use of renewable materials in their construction is a plus point for me.

Best for power

If your turntable is the centrepiece of your listening space then you’ll likely have considered a set of tower speakers to complement things. The KEF Q550 should feature highly on any list of the best tower speakers thanks to their sleek design and formidable sonic profile.

Admittedly, you’re going to need a suitably premium amp to drive them, but if you’re looking for to upgrade an existing system then the KEF Q550 is an easy recommendation.

Best upgrade option

It might seem controversial to recommend Sonos for use with a turntable, but with the Sonos Era 300, you can easily incorporate your record player into the broader Sonos ecosystem. This means - providing you have other speakers from the brand - hearing your records in any room in the house. I've done it, and it works.

The Era 300 is a great speaker (if a little odd, visually), with all of that glorious Sonos technology running through its veins. If you’ve got a bunch of Sonos gear already and have wondered about hooking up your vinyl, then the Era 300 might just be the route to take.

FAQ

With any music environment - be that for listening or producing - possibly the most important factor to consider is the room itself. Small rooms will have different requirements than larger ones when it comes to speaker choice and placement, so it’s worth cutting your cloth accordingly when you’re making any buying decisions.

For smaller rooms or rooms where the turntable perhaps won’t be the centrepiece, a nice set of bookshelf speakers will work perfectly. These are perhaps the most common forms of turntable speakers and range in price from very cheap to eye-wateringly expensive.

The other, slightly less common but undoubtedly more impressive option is to opt for a set of larger ‘tower’ speakers. Due to their increased size, tower speakers will deliver superior volume - enough to fill even the largest of living rooms - but this size can also be a downside depending on the space available. The last, more modern option is to look at integrating your turntable into a wireless multi-room audio setup, like you find with Sonos. This is more difficult and there can be hoops to jump through, but the benefits of filling your entire house with sound are clear.

Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll also need to look at the different connectivity options. Many modern speakers will double up by offering Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, which may suit your wider audio ecosystem. Be mindful, however, that some speakers you’ll come across are called passive, i.e. they have no method of amplifying a sound themselves. To use them, you’ll need an external amplification source like a dedicated AV system, although some turntables also come with line-out functionality.

If your system is simple, i.e. turntable plugged directly into speakers, then look out for a set that has a degree of EQ control on it. Many speakers are sold as being ‘flat frequency’, which is ideal for music production but may not let your treasured vinyl sound as good as it could. Look for a set of speakers with individual controls for bass, treble and middle and you’ll be able to dial in your sound the way you want.

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Used by everyone from AC/DC hero Angus Young, to rock 'n' roll god Jimi Hendrix, the original JTM45 remains one of Marshall's most iconic tube amps. Now, the legendary audio innovators have released a new spiritual successor to the JTM45 - one that perfectly channels that amp's classically warm and smooth tone into a more compact, streamlined and convenient model.

Handmade just miles from Marshall's home in Milton Keynes in the UK, the significantly smaller and more portable Studio JTM offers players the ability to effortlessly flick between 20W and 5W, and jump channels like a true professional, with a patch cable to blend between Normal and High Treble tones, echoing the original JTM45. The amp is also fitted with classic Creamback Celestion speakers, first developed in the golden era of the 1960s, as well as a newly added FX Loop and DI out. It all means you can make sure your playing is given that unmistakably Marshall quality level of tone, no matter where you are in the world.

Want more evidence of why you need the Studio JTM in your life? None other than Joe Hottinger, guitarist for beloved US arena rockers Halestorm, has been busy riffing away on the amp, and has nothing but glowing things to say about it.

"I think it's got its own voice, you know?" he muses between shredding sessions in an exclusive video filmed with Marshall earlier this summer. "It's not an 800, it's not a plexi. They're all occupying different areas, I'd say. 

"There's like a creamier, kind of like a mellowed-out crunch," he adds of the amp's tone. "It's cool!"

Watch Joe do his thing on the Studio JTM in the video above, and for more information, head over to Marshall's official website at https://marshall.com/studio-jtm.

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Marshall have opened their spring sale by slashing prices across their extensive line of speakers - and that includes knocking their popular Emberton range of speakers down from £129 to £99 - that covers the popular portable speaker in four colour variations: Black & Brass, Cream, Black and Forest.

Also included in the Marshall Spring Sale is the pocket-sized Willen speaker - down from £99.99 to £79, while the Woburn II Bluetooth speaker has been reduced from £469.99 to £379. It ranks in the top 5 in our list of the Loudest Bluetooth speakers thanks to its powerful sound, which is fuelled by double subwoofers and bass reflex system and is definitely worth a closer look if you're after a speaker that packs a punch.

The Marshall Spring Sale runs through April 16 and is currently UK-only.

Marshall are also known for their choice of headphones, and they’ve decided now is the time to freshen up the look of their Minor III in-ear headphones. 

The Bluetooth 5.2 earbuds have, until now, only been available in black, but you can now get them in cream and burgundy - both of which are available through the official Marshall website for $129.99/£119.99.

And if you’re on the lookout for more Marshall goodies, then take a look at our guide to the best Marshall speakers and best Marshall headphones.

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Positive Grid have unveiled the latest addition to their hugely popular Spark amp range in the shape of the brand new Spark Go, a powerful guitar amp and Bluetooth speaker. It's set for release in late May priced at $149/£129 - but if you pre-order now, you can grab it for $109/£89.

The ultra-portable amp follows in the footsteps of the original Spark amp and the Spark Mini - both of which have been well received by the music-playing public - and we’d be surprised if the Spark Go didn’t follow suit.

While the Spark Mini was small, the Spark Go is pocked-sized meaning you can carry it around with ease and experience the full sound no matter where you go. The Spark Go comes loaded with 33 authentic amp models along with 43 effects so you’ll be able to tailor your sound while on the move. It’s also fully integrated with the Spark app for even more cool stuff including access to more than 50,000 guitar tones, AI-powered auto chords, Smart Jam and more.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the Spark Go also doubles are a neat portable Bluetooth speaker with up to eight hours of music playback - perfect for dropping in the backpack for this summer’s festival season.

Future's very own Daryl Robertson has been putting the Spark Go through its paces and has been impressed with the results.

Daryl says: "The Spark Go is a triumph. Not only is it an insanely portable and durable Bluetooth speaker, but it's also a fabulous guitar amp and audio interface in its own right. I was truly taken aback by how big and full this pint-sized device sounds. The vast and rich tones produced will do justice to whatever you decide to play through it - be that your favourite tunes or your own guitar."

The Spark Go delivers 5 Watts of power and has anti-vibration tech to ensure top performance. Check out a product video and gallery below, and visit the official Positive Grid website for more.

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Audio firm GravaStar are known for their range of quirky sci-fi-inspired audio devices such as the Mars Pro Bluetooth speaker and the cyberpunk stylings of the Sirius P5 earbuds - but two new arrivals from the company have send us into hyperdrive.

First up is the eye-catching Supernova Bluetooth speaker which is like something you’d find scuttling around the polished floors of the Death Star. The lantern-like, tripod device can pump out 90db of synthwave sound, is portable and features three light modes across eight colours - and includes a camping mode which offers a “luminous visual experience” by mimicking the flicker of a campfire.

Its Bluetooth functionality spans 20 metres and is light enough to take with you on your travels.

GravaStar founder and designer Yong Huang says: “GravaStar wants to bring an explosive sound experience to every aspect of life. Supernova is built to be taken anywhere: the office, home or even camping. It lights a path forward while bringing the soundtrack to any adventure.” 

To keep the Supernova company, GravaStar have also introduced Alpha65, a fast charging unit which boasts 2 USB-C ports and one USB-A port so you can charge three devices simultaneously. What we like best, though, it it looks a bit like Jumping Flash from back in the PlayStation 1 days… and its face lights up in ice-blue. 

Huang adds: “GravaStar strives to take products that are traditionally ‘boring’ and transform them into nostalgic, collectible items that also incorporate the latest technology available. Alpha65 safely and quickly powers devices while doubling as a mini mecha robot.” 

Both the Supernova Bluetooth speaker and Alpha65 are now available for pre-order from the GravaStar website, with shipping from April 10.

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Marshall have introduced the latest model to their ever-growing Marshall speakers range in the shape of the portable Marshall Middleton.

The Bluetooth speaker is bigger than the audio giant’s hugely popular Emberton, with the new model boasting 20+ hours of battery life from a full charge.

Marshall say: “Carry the heaviest portable sound in your hand. Middleton utilises True Stereophonic - a unique form of multi-directional stereo sound to deliver the ultimate immersive experience wherever you roam.

“The Middleton is equally at home in the festival mud or your polished sideboard thanks to its iconic, yet durable, design. With a rugged IP67 dust and water resistant build, a bit of rain and dirt won’t get under its skin.”

Marshall also say fully charging the unit takes four and a half hours with the company also touting the Middleton’s massive Stack Mode.

They say: “Connect the Middleton to as many other Middleton speakers as you like and amplify the sound with a multi-speaker Stack session. Stack them up or spread them out for a colossal sound that fits whatever space you’re in. 

"Whether you’re filling the room with music or taking the party outside, Middleton brings a sound as big as your imagination.

The Marshall Middleton is available now in a Black And Brass colour variation for $299.99/£269.99.

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The most romanic day of the year is right around the corner - and we’ve found something better than chocolates or flowers to get pulses racing: Marshall’s big Valentine’s Day speaker sale.

The iconic audio firm are asking your wallet out on a hot date by smooching a bunch of cash off their range of speakers, including the ever-popular Emberton portable speaker which you can grab for just £99.99 rather than its usual price of £129.99. The offer covers the Emberton in Black, Cream, Black & Brass and Forest colour variations.

Looking for something a bit bolder? Then you can also get £130 off the price on the Stanmore II Bluetooth speaker in Black or White. That’s quite a chunk of change you’ll be saving - down from £329.99 to £199 - and that should be enough to pay for a nice candle-lit meal. There’s also more than £90 off the Woburn II Bluetooth speaker in Black and over £70 off the super-smart Acton II.

The sale is running on the official Marshall website and will continue through February 14.

Marshall say: "Roses and getaways all have their place, but cranking up your home speakers to something you really love also has a romantic ring to it. Whether it’s for someone special, or to treat yourself for being so loveable, we think you’ll find something you’ll love in our sale.”

Founded by Jim Marshall in 1962, the company celebrated “60 years of loud” last year by launching a special edition speaker and two sets of Diamond Jubilee headphones.

Looking for more Marshall products? Then take a look at our guide to the best Marshall speakers and our pick of the best Marshall headphones.

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The Sonos Move has been described by its manufacturer as “the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker in the world”. Not one of the best, the best. That’s some statement right there, especially since this portable music box is far from being the most expensive wireless speaker on the planet. 

Sonos has launched some pretty exceptional products over the years, from its Play range of connected speakers to its Symfonisk speaker lamps, created in tandem with IKEA. So, when the US company unveiled its first-ever battery-powered speaker the Sonos Move in 2019, it’s fair to say that expectations were high. But is it really the best-sounding speaker in the world? And what other reasons are there for buying this wireless debutant? Let’s find out.

Sonos Move review: Design

In terms of aesthetic, there’s nothing particularly distinctive about the Sonos Move – this speaker isn’t going to turn heads at the beach like, say, the JBL Boombox 2 would. That’s not to say it’s unattractive; indeed, with its cylindrical shape and subtle colour choices (Shadow Black or Lunar White), it could easily pass off as a member of the Amazon Echo family.

Measuring 6.29in x 9.44in x 4.96in (WxHxD), the Sonos Move couldn’t really be described as compact – and neither is it especially light at 6.6lbs, though its built-in handle makes it fairly easy to carry. (If you want something more petite, Sonos has now added a smaller portable speaker to its repertoire, named the Sonos Roam.)

As with the aforementioned Echo speakers, the Move’s touch controls are largely found at the top of the device. A play/pause button is flanked on either side by volume up and down buttons that can also be used for skipping tracks back or forth – to achieve the latter, you’ll need to swipe in the relevant direction. If you don’t fancy getting off the sofa, you can easily set up Alexa or Google voice assistance (four integrated far-field mics will ensure you’re heard loud and clear), or control the device using the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2.

Finally, round the back, there’s a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi switch, a button for putting the Move into sleep mode, plus a USB-C port for charging the device. But why use this when you can simply pop the speaker on the snazzy wireless charging base that comes packaged with it.

Sonos Move review: Features

This speaker’s portability is obviously one of its key selling points, and Sonos has ensured that the Move is up to the task: not only is it drop-proof and IP56-rated (meaning it’ll withstand dust and strong jets of water), it also offers up to 11 hours of battery life from a single 2.5-hour charge – all of which should be enough for even the wildest of outdoor parties. Yes, it’s true that some Bluetooth speakers will give you more battery life – for example, the Anker Soundcore 3 lasts up to 24 hours – but 11 hours is by no means awful. 

The Move isn’t just for al fresco activities, though, and with two class-D amplifiers, a downward-firing tweeter and a mid-woofer tucked in behind that metallic grille, the speaker is easily capable of filling a room with sound. Want even more oomph? The Move can be connected to other Sonos speakers around the house via your Wi-Fi network. Just open your Sonos app and you can create a stereo set-up (the Move is a mono speaker) or an immersive multi-unit combination.

One thing we love about the Sonos Move is its Trueplay feature. Basically, using those four far-field mics, the speaker will analyse its surroundings and optimise its sound levels to suit. Not only that, but with an accelerometer built in, it’s able to detect when the speaker is being moved around, and re-adjust its output accordingly. Clever stuff!  

Sonos Move review: Sound

When you hear the phrase ‘portable speaker’, you might not instantly think of great sound quality. But the Sonos Move proved itself to be more than capable both indoors and out, maintaining impressive fidelity even at higher volumes. Basslines were clear and punchy, while vocals, guitar licks and keyboard lines were delivered with verve. Even in those rare instances where we demanded a little more bottom or treble, this was easily achievable with a few tweaks of the in-app equaliser. Is it the best-sounding Bluetooth speaker in the world? We wouldn’t like to say – but it’s undoubtedly a very good one.

This thing can also get very loud, giving you all the power you need to get your party bouncing. Pairing it with another speaker or two would almost be cruel on your neighbours.

Sonos Move review: The alternatives

Want a Bluetooth speaker for a bargain price? You might be surprised at what you can get for very little money. The EarFun Uboom, for example, offers powerful sound, up to 16 hours of battery life and IPX7 weatherproofing, and all for just £50/$60. No wonder it’s top of our list of the best Bluetooth speakers under £100/$100.

If you want more power (and you’re prepared to pay for it), then make space in your life for the mighty Soundboks (Gen. 3). Delivering the kind of earth-shaking sound you’d expect to hear at a rock concert – and for up to 40 hours off a single charge – this Danish-made diablo is a sure-fire party starter. At around £720/$999, though, it doesn’t come cheap.

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The dust has finally started to settle on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales after a long weekend of massive discounts on a whole range of products. But if you were busy watching the World Cup, on a Thanksgiving trip home, or simple wrapped up in other things, you might have missed out on some top offers.

Thankfully, some discounts are still available - but as always with deals on the other side of Cyber Weekend, the price drops could come to an end at any time depending on stock or website updates. Below, we've highlighted a total of 17 deals that are still going strong at the time of writing in the US and UK. 

So if you see something you like, our advice is to jump on it ASAP as these bargains will soon be over. We also have more live deals over on our Cyber Monday music deals page. Good luck! 

US deals

UK deals

More Cyber Weekend sales

US

• Walmart | Savings on tech and more
• Amazon (US) | All the deals in one handy place
• Best Buy | Headphones, video games and more
• Bose | Discounts on headphones, speakers and more
• Converse | Grab a fresh pair of Converse
• Guitar Center | Savings on instruments, amps and more
• Marshall | Tune into Marshall's speaker and headphones
• Nixon | Home of the Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones watches
• Sweetwater | Grab a sweet deal
• Musician's Friend | Save big on essential items for musicians
• Target | Savings on practically everything!

UK

• Amazon (UK) | Shop the latest deals at Amazon
• Andertons | Save on guitars, amps and effects
• AO | Everything from tablets to fridges
• Argos | Tech and toys for less
• Bose | Headphones, speakers and more
• Converse | Up to 40% off fan favourites
• Currys | Top price drops on top tech
• EMP | Save on EMP's Cyber Week sale
• Etsy | Up to 60% off during Etsy's Cyber Sales Week
• Firebox | Quirky gifts and more
• HHV | Save on vinyl and merch
• I Want One Of Those.com | Lego, gifts & cool tech 
• John Lewis | Shop the latest offers
• LoveHoney | Up to 60% off sex toys
• Marshall | Explore all the speaker and headphones
• Nixon | Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones watches 
• Thomann | Hot deals on big-name music gear brands
• Townsend Music | Records, t-shirts and more
• Very.co.uk | Save on headphones, TVs, tablets and more

We’re big fans of Marshall here at Louder and we’ve spotted a neat early Black Friday deal on their Acton II speaker right now on both sides of the Atlantic.

US retailer Best Buy has reduced the price of this little powerhouse from $279.99 to $225.99, giving customers a saving of $54. And in the UK, Very has slashed the cost of the speaker from £239.99 to £219, meaning you would be £20.99 better off.  

So, why should you be excited about these Marshall deals? Well, the Acton II is not only one of the best Marshall speakers you can get, it's one of the most highly rated products in the 'affordable Bluetooth speakers' category. Indeed, on the Best Buy website it gets a score of 4.7 out of five based on more than 250 customer reviews.

Looking every bit like one of Marshall's iconic guitar amps (only smaller), the Acton II offers the kind of audio quality that we've come to expect from this legendary brand. With three dedicated class D amplifiers powering its dual tweeters and subwoofer, it delivers up to 60 watts of room-filling stereo sound. 

While this speaker doesn't take battery power, meaning it's for indoor use only, its robust Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and 30-metre range will enable you to stream music from your smartphone or tablet, no matter where you are in the house. Prefer analogue listening? With a 3.5mm input on-board, hooking up your kit the old-fashioned way is as simple as it comes. And you can even tweak the sound to your own taste, thanks to bass and treble controls on the top of the unit.

With the Marshall Acton II available in black, white or brown, it's sure to fit in with your home furnishings. And whether you use it for parties, practising your air guitar or soundtracking your daily chores, you can guarantee that this speaker will be up to the task.

For more great discounts on music tech, don't forget to check out our Black Friday Marshall speakers and headphones deals page, along with our Black Friday Bluetooth speakers deals and our guide to all the best Black Friday music deals.

House Of Marley have revealed details on the latest product to join their growing audio range - and it’s a Bluetooth speaker called the Get Together Solo. It’s a reimagining of their original Get Together speaker and it’s portable, has Bluetooth 5.0 functionality and boasts 25 hours of play time when fully charged.

Like all House Of Marley products, the Get Together Solo has been made from sustainable material, including bamboo and Rewind fabric, which is woven from recycled materials including organic cotton, reclaimed hemp and plastic bottles.

House Of Marley say: “Engineered to deliver vibrant, balanced audio wherever you are, the Get Together Solo speaker features 3.5 and 0.75 inch drivers, meaning you can fully immerse yourself in the sound and feel the beat like you were meant to.”

It’s also possible to pair two speakers to deliver stereo sound, with House Of Marley adding: “You can also pair the Get Together Solo to our Stir It Up wireless turntable for the perfect home sound set up. Chill as your favourite vinyls spin.”

House Of Marley were founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan and they support the drive for global reforestation and ocean preservation in conjunction with One Tree Planted and Surfrider Foundation. For further information, visit the Project Marley website.

The Get Together Solo is available from the House Of Marley website now and will be available towards the end of October through Amazon and HMV priced at £99.99.

Below, you'll find the latest offers on some of our favourite House Of Marley products - and if you're after more savings, then remember Black Friday will be with us on November 25. We'll be updating our guides to the best Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals and Black Friday music deals, so keep us bookmarked. 

Let's be completely honest here: Rock and metal are two genres that sound their very best when played loud. How loud? Well, as loud as your neighbours, landlord or significant other can cope with.

It really doesn’t take a volume junkie to know that good music sounds better when cranked up. All the better, too, if you can blast it with all the modern convenience of wireless technology. What’s the point of having a stacked playlist of chuggers if you can’t recreate that famous Maxell advert, where the guy in the armchair is blasted facewards with pure and righteous noise?

Loudness is a powerful thing to wield, whether you’re in need of some pummelling ‘audio therapy’ or simply need the wattage to fill the room at your next shindig. But not every Bluetooth speaker is built alike. Quite simply, some are just better at being louder, whether small portables with a disproportionate bark or large party speaker systems loud enough to wake the neighbourhood. And where better to find out about all this stuff than right here? Louder is in the name, after all, and this time, ‘loudest’ is very much the game.

In this round-up of the loudest Bluetooth speakers going, you’ll find winners in every category, but if you want my top pick, I've given that to the SounndBoks 4 – a supremely adaptive high-watt party speaker that delivers where it counts.

For more information on loudness, how it’s achieved and how to pick the right Bluetooth speakers for your own needs, you'll find my FAQ section further down the guide.

Best overall

Marshall is a formidable player in the world of loud, as evidenced by its long career serving the needs of our brightest and best rock'n'rollers. Here, its consumer hi-fi division aims to truck in exactly that reputation – with a 500W party Marshall speaker that absolutely bringz the noize.

The Bromley 750 takes after the taller amp designs of Marshalls gone by, and with the same rugged versatility. All the controls are accessible by a top rack of knobs and buttons, and a replaceable battery pack is easily accessed on the rear (as are a whole host of analogue inputs besides the obligatory Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity).

Amp-y as it looks, the Bromley 750 actually disperses sound in all directions, thanks to clever speaker placement; put this in the middle of the pit and no one will be disappointed.

I’m a big fan of its connectivity, and also of the on-board EQ controls that ape the tone stacks of real-deal Marshall instrument amps. I’m also a big fan of the fact it has wheels and a telescopic handle built-in, particularly for its considerable heft. There’s no bones about it: the Marshall Bromley 750 is a heavy-hitter.

Best portable

JBL is king of the castle when it comes to portable party speakers, and its Boombox series has been holding that particular fort for a while. With the arrival of the Boombox 4, it’s easy to see why – and also hard to believe the prior iterations were ever enough.

The JBL Boombox 4 is, in a word, louder. The Boombox 3, which used to hold this very position in my previous round-up, was plenty loud – but the Boombox 4 comes with two beefy new woofers, 50% more wattage and a considerably more output volume than its predecessor. It’s impressive stuff. That extra volume is a godsend for the better-attended of your shindigs, too, in that it increases headroom, making for a much cleaner reproduction of sound.

The only thing ostensibly missing from the Boombox 4 is a good old-fashioned 3.5mm aux port, but even on this front JBL has you covered. The Boombox 4 supports USB-C audio in, meaning you can stick a dongle in there for analogue action or even just straight-up connect a laptop for endless playlisting. And if you’re keeping it wireless, there is of course the same Bluetooth connectivity. Boom!

Best for parties

The fourth generation of SoundBoks' huge-sounding speaker range delivers yet another sonic assault on the senses. It delivers a whopping 126dB of sound, which is delivered thanks to two 10-inch 96dB woofers and a 104dB compression driver tweeter. In other words, it’s loud. Indeed, it at one point held the title of Best Overall right here in this list – usurped only by the incredible versatility of the Marshall Bromley that took its place.

The SoundBoks 4 retains the excellent 40 hours of battery from previous generations when played at mid-volume, with a playback time of 6 hours when cranked to the max. It can be connected to your smartphone or tablet through Bluetooth 5.0, but it also has dual-XLR/TRS inputs for the more pro PA-style setups.

It still wins over other contestants for the loudest Bluetooth speaker, too – particularly when it comes to build. Though still a heavy thing to lug around as it weighs in at a considerable 35.5 pounds, it’s nearly half the weight of similarly-specced speakers – and features IP65 weatherproofing too, so it’ll cope better with rain and dust than the competition. It also hooks up to the SoundBoks app where you can tweak EQ settings, add a personal pin number to protect your speaker and update firmware.

Best for home

Marshall is quite simply killing it on the Bluetooth speaker front. The more recent Bromley 750 is in our top spot, but the Woburn III is a phenomenal speaker for indoor listening – not in the least due to the surprising amount of power packed in its princely form.

The third generation of Woburn speaker offers a brilliantly robust sound and has been built to sustain clear, low frequencies thanks to its 90W Class D amplifier for the woofer, alongside a total of four 15W Class D amps for the mids and tweeters.

Although the Marshall Woburn III Bluetooth speaker is low fuss, it is high maintenance considering it's not waterproof, dirt-proof, beer-proof… so keep this inside and away from spillage. All that said, I thoroughly enjoyed my time reviewing it.

Best heavy bass

Soundcore may be better known to you by its parent company, Anker – an Amazon-shopfront fave in the world of charging cables, battery packs and other such consumer-tech object d’art.

The Soundcore name is Anker’s sonic footprint in the same consumer-tech space, and a prodigiously-sized one at that. This is the Boom 2, one of Soundcore’s largest and loudest wireless speaker systems – and is it a doozy.

The Soundcore Boom 2 is almost retro-futurist in looks, combining 3D-CAD rounded corners with 80s blockiness and some considerable RGB trigger-happiness for good measure. Its outsized carry handle tells you it’s destined for the party, wherever that may be; wherever you go, it’s bringing its 80W of power with it – split into a 50W sub and two 15W drivers. That bass-heavy imbalance is what makes this worthwhile.

When used normally, the Soundcore Boom 2 is a capable 60W system crammed into a small-ish lunchbox. When the ‘Bass-Up 2.0’ mode is activated, though, an extra 20W of bassy goodness are unlocked for maximum juice. Add in IPX7 waterproofing and floatability, and the Soundcore Boom 2 is a party speaker through and through with all the trappings to suit.

Best Sonos

Sonos speakers are sort of the Apple devices of the hi-fi world. They’re closed books with minimal control surfaces, but which connect to one another smooth as anything – and give you a foolproof wireless sound system to show for it. Enough of any speakers can guarantee loudness, but the Sonos Move 2 makes loudness easy.

This Sonos speaker iterates upon its predecessor – the Move, which previously held this very spot – by adding an extra tweeter for more volume and a large, wider, stereo soundstage.

This is a big upgrade from monoaurality to stereoscopic sound, and all the better for the Move 2.

Various improvements have led the Move 2 to last a lot longer than its prior iteration, with up to 24 hours of continuous playback for you to look forward to.

Sadly, Sonos don’t make a habit of publishing information about power output or frequency range, so for now you’ll have to take my word for it that this thing can get loud, and deep, and surprisingly so in both camps.

FAQ

How we test the loudest Bluetooth speakers

Bluetooth speakers can be for the living room or portable – either way, we need them to be able to play hellishly loud without complaint.

The biggest challenge when it comes to testing Bluetooth speakers has got to be their low frequency response. Can they do justice to deep growls and thunderous bass? A quick blast of Motorhead's Ace Of Spades will usually tell us what we need to know. Does Lemmy’s bass sound dirty but tight? Do Phil Taylor’s machine gun beats knock you back on your boot heels? What we don’t want to hear is a confused mash of noise.

The Louder team also listen for ‘presence’. Bluetooth speakers can sound monophonic, with all their energy emanating from the same physical space. What we value is a wider soundstage, whether this is achieved through clever digital signal processing or an inventive driver/passive radiator configuration, it doesn’t really matter.

Finally, to assess their treble performance, we inevitably fall back on Do It Again by Steely Dan, which remains a challenging soup of electric piano, cymbals and soaring vocals.

Why you can trust us

Louder’s reviewing team consists of music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have accumulated decades of product reviewing experience, writing thousands of words on music listening gear across thousands of reviews on Louder. Our tests also inform our buyer's guide - just like this one.

As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound incredible, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs.

We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic '70s rock album, or a cutting-edge noise band.

And we tested the loudest Bluetooth speakers with albums we know inside and out, and that we've listened to on a variety of systems already, so we know exactly what we should be hearing and when we're being short-changed by lacklustre audio.

Meet the experts

Latest updates

Read more

• Best turntable speakers: Take your vinyl listening to the next level
• The loudest headphones on the planet: You want volume? You got it
• Best Bluetooth turntables to put a modern spin on your vinyl

Amazon are currently holding their Prime Early Access sale and they’ve knocked wads of cash off some of their most popular items – and if you’re searching for a new speaker, then we have great news as the shopping giant has turned up the volume by slashing the price of multiple Echo devices.

The Amazon Echo Dot is down to a very tempting $17.99, while the Spherical fourth-generation Echo is clocking in at $59.99. Elsewhere you'll also find the popular Echo Buds, which are coming in at the low, low price of $69.99 - that's a mega saving of $50! 

• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the UK
• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the US

While the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation) won’t shake your foundations quite like its big brother, the Echo Studio, it shouldn’t be overlooked – especially at this price. It’s available in Glacier White, Charcoal and Twilight Blue and will give you access to your music, podcasts, news reports, weather forecasts and much more all through the power of your voice.

The Amazon Prime Early Access sale ends today, so you'll need to be quick if you want to grab a bargain! 

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up now. Not only will you get access to great deals, but other benefits include Prime Video, next day delivery and more. And if you want more great deals on speakers, then remember that Black Friday returns at the end of November. 

We'll be updating our guides to the best Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals and Black Friday music deals in the coming weeks.

Amazon Prime Day Early Access deals 2022: Best deals right now

• Amazon Devices: Up to 60% off Echos, Kindles and more
• Apple savings: Apple iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 6
• Booze: Up to 32% off rum, whisky, beer and champagne
• Coffee machines: Save big on your next cup of rocket fuel
• Gaming: Mega savings on XBox, Switch and PS5 gear
• Headphones & speakers: Up to 61% off Sony, Sennheiser, Marshall
• Laptops: Microsoft, ASUS, Lenovo and more going cheap
• Lego: Up to 47% off sets. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Technics...
• Smartphones: Save hundred on handsets from Sony and OnePlus
• Vans: Save up to 40% on high-tops, slip-ons

Amazon’s late year Prime Day Early Access deals event is beginning to wind down, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some brilliant bargains to be found – and if you’re looking to up your speaker game, then we have just the thing for you.

In the UK, you can grab the Marshall Stanmore II wireless Bluetooth speaker for £209 - that’s a saving of £120.99 - 37% down on it’s usual price of £329.99. In the US, Amazon are offering the speaker for $316.34 - down from its list price of $379.99

• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the UK
• See all the Prime Early Access Sale deals in the US

The Marshall Stanmore II is a medium-size speaker and is perfect for keeping on a desk or tabletop. It has that iconic retro Marshall look and delivers superb crisp sonics and balanced bass.

It uses Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to your phone or tablet and has a decent range of up to 30ft before the sound begins to falter - and that’s not bad at all. You can also tweak the speaker’s settings to your heart’s content, either through the dedicated Marshall app or the dials on top of the speaker itself.

It’s a chunky and robust bit of kit that can withstand even the wildest of rock nights with your flatmates and it can also be used wired if your internet connection isn’t great.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up now. Not only will you get access to great deals, but other benefits include Prime Video, next day delivery and more. And if you want more great deals on speakers, then remember that Black Friday returns at the end of November. 

We'll be updating our guides to the best Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals and Black Friday music deals in the coming weeks.

Amazon Prime Day Early Access deals 2022: Best deals right now

• Amazon Devices: Up to 60% off Echos, Kindles and more
• Apple savings: Apple iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 6
• Booze: Up to 32% off rum, whisky, beer and champagne
• Coffee machines: Save big on your next cup of rocket fuel
• Gaming: Mega savings on XBox, Switch and PS5 gear
• Headphones & speakers: Up to 61% off Sony, Sennheiser, Marshall
• Laptops: Microsoft, ASUS, Lenovo and more going cheap
• Lego: Up to 47% off sets. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Technics...
• Smartphones: Save hundred on handsets from Sony and OnePlus
• Vans: Save up to 40% on high-tops, slip-ons

Amazon’s surprise 48-hour Prime Day Early Access deals event has already thrown some awesome bargains out there, and we’re delighted to see there’s an epic price drop on the House Of Marley Stir It Up wireless turntable - one of our favourites here at Louder.

The price of the Stir It Up turntable has been slashed on Amazon from £249.99 to £175.99 - a 30% saving of £74 - and that’s something to celebrate given how good it is.

House Of Marley were founded by Bob Marley’s son Rohan and they support the drive for global reforestation and ocean preservation in conjunction with One Tree Planted and Surfrider Foundation. 

And like all of House Of Marley’s products, the Stir It Up wireless turntable has been crafted from sustainable materials and along with the eye-catching bamboo plinth, there's a recyclable aluminium alloy platter and a black fabric that's made of 30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp and 40% recycled polyethylene terephthalate.

It’s belt-driven, has two speeds and can be connected to your PC or Mac via USB, where you can transform your vinyl collection into digital tracks and in our House Of Marley Stir it Up review, we said it was “gorgeous, environmentally friendly and sonically balanced.”

And that's not all, because Amazon have also cut prices on the House Of Marley Get Together Duo Bluetooth bookshelf speakers and the House Of Marley Get Together Bluetooth portable speaker. Check out the deals below.

For more behind the company’s ethos, visit the Project Marley website and keep tabs on all the best deals by checking out our Amazon Prime Day deals 2022 live blog.

If you want more great deals on turntables and speakers, then remember that Black Friday returns at the end of November. We'll be updating our guides to the best Black Friday record player deals and Black Friday Bluetooth speaker deals so keep it locked to Louder.

Earlier this year, House Of Marley unveiled the first wave of their new speaker range in the shape of the Get Together 2 and the Get Together 2 Mini.

At the time, the audio firm founded by Bob Marley's son Rohan, hinted that a bigger Bluetooth speaker was set to join the range - and they've now lifted the lid on the Get Together 2 XL wireless Bluetooth speaker.

House Of Marley say: "The head member of the Get Together family, the Get Together 2 XL Bluetooth Speaker takes your sound session to the highest level in more ways than one. Delivering exceptional audio clarity and unmatched sound for a levelled-up listening experience, this speaker is bigger and better than ever.

"With 20-hour playtime, quick-charge technology and an optional multi-pair mode, this innovative Marley must-have promises non-stop sound. True to its roots, this speaker was crafted with natural bamboo and upcycled fabric made from plastic bottles to give new life to old materials."

The Get Together 2 XL wireless Bluetooth speaker is available now for £399.99 from the House Of Marley website, while some other items from their range of audio equipment including in-ear headphones and turntables can be found below.

The latter part of their statement above is core to House Of Marley's sustainability ethos, with the company linked with One Tree Planted and the Surfrider Foundation.

You can find out more about House of Marley's support for the drive towards global reforestation and ocean preservation on the Project Marley website.