From a robust, basket-like design to a piece that looks as though it should sit on a museum plinth, here’s how to fill the warm-weather seasons with great sound
Words: Josh Lee
After a few months of endless work, we hope that you finally get to visit the coast or the local lido – or just have a lazy few days at home, barbecuing for hours on end – this spring and summer. But regardless of the plans, a reliable speaker is a must, even if it’s only for all those grill-centric gatherings in the back garden. After all, these noisy little lives-and-souls of the party always keep things ticking along nicely.
But not all speakers are created equal, so we’ve rounded up a handy list to ensure your hardware does the business in the coming months, whether you want something drink-splashingly waterproof, extra bassy, or aesthetically on point.
Size isn’t everything, and never more applicable than with this tasteful speaker. This is a piece of kit that can be placed discreetly on a bookcase or tucked away in a quiet corner of the kitchen (or sat on any countertop, really) – and contrary to its genteel exterior (the basket-style design gives it a sort of wholesome-looking quality), it’ll fill space with full-range sound thanks to the 360-degree dispersion.
Though we’d love to keep waxing lyrical about the aesthetics (we’re fairly torn between the slim panelling of the dark-oak option, and the beachside feel of the Nordic weave), it would be remiss of us to not mention that it uses the most powerful woofer in any of B&O’s portable-speaker options.
Since 1973, Linn has been designing, engineering and manufacturing the greatest audio equipment in the world. Its story began with the Sondek LP12, a sleek, timeless turntable whose focus on acoustic isolation was groundbreaking on release. In the decades since, the label has grown its portfolio, and a standout product is the flagship 360 speaker, which is popular for its organic, curved profile and its ability to disperse sound cleanly to any corner of the room and completely eliminate audible distortion.
The result, as Linn says, is something that ‘produces precisely the same tonality in every direction, reinforcing the sound-stage of the original recording.’
With its all-black palette and a lack of decoration, this looks like a Very Serious Speaker. And it is, in that it comes equipped with a speakerphone (for all those conference calls you’ll be making once back to work) and its voice prompts keep you on track with navigating the system. But it’s also not averse to a good time; in fact, it actively encourages boisterous, over-excitable partying, because it can handle the rough-and-ready treatment.
Take its water-resistant design, for example – no need to worry about bombing into the pool while this speaker’s around. It’s also able to cope with the odd bump – if you drop it or knock it, don’t fret, as it’ll bounce right back, thanks to a use of soft materials that can absorb the shock. And its shape, complete with handle, is carefully designed for a grab-and-go situation.
A speaker with ‘wedge’ in the name doesn’t sound overly attractive, but this feature is surprisingly unobtrusive. For us, it looks like a piece of contemporary sculpture; perhaps an aesthetically pleasing chiselled piece of marble.
However, don’t mistake a stoney appearance for a lack of punch. At just under £900, it’s not cheap – but it can shake the walls, to say the least, due to its five precisely angled drivers and 240 watts that provide high-res sound.
The We. Hear Pro might have it all. It’s water-resistant, has a lovely fabric-mesh shell, pairing is seamless, and, because of the adjustable shoulder strap with which it arrives, it can be carried anywhere, meaning you can take it from your kitchen to the office, bring it to the park, or tote it to a party.
24 hours of playback is mightily impressive, and we rather like the touch sensor that allows you to easily drag the volume, bass and treble up and down. The sonics are also immersive and bold, packing a serious ear-drumming and clarity. The fact it can double as a power bank is a welcome bonus.
Sonos has made its mark on the audio world not only for its reliable performance and unobtrusive shells, but also because many of its speakers are interconnectable. Here, its Era 100 (mainly for the house) and Move 2 (portable) team up to create a pretty solid indoor-outdoor duo that can entertain guests within the kitchen and those outside waiting for their ribeyes to hit the grill.
They’re Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible, and there’s the option to play something completely different on either one, or group them so their content is in sync. Era 100 is a staple in stylish abodes across the world due to its gently smoothed curves, and Move 2 is weather-resistant, so it can safely stand outside even when the British climes take an inevitable turn for the worst.
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