Five rugged Bluetooth speakers for streaming all summer long

• Small Bluetooth speakers have established themselves in our lives and can accompany us wherever we go.

• On the eve of the summer migrations, manufacturers are renewing their ranges and offering more durable devices which, with the IP67 standard, are now resistant to dust, splashing water and immersion.

• However, not all are equal, with differing autonomy, but also a more or less successful application system.

Manufacturers of Bluetooth speakers play their little summer music.

Their novelties are preparing to hit the road for vacation with in their suitcases increased resistance to the vagaries of everyday life.

With the IP67 standard, their mobile speakers are now resistant to dust, splashing water and immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

But not all are equal, as

has seen by testing five new features.

The all-rounder: Roam, from Sonos

The Sonos Roam speaker (430 g, for 168 x 62 x 60 mm) has a particularity: it is Wifi and Bluetooth.

Wifi, it can be associated with other speakers from the American brand to join a multiroom configuration at home.

Bluetooth, she invites herself on the balcony, the terrace or when travelling.

Despite its small size, Roam, which is controlled from an application rich in compatible

services (Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Tidal, Apple Music), broadcasts a well-structured sound, with serious bass, and displays an autonomy close to ten hours.

Our opinion:

The little Roam, which has just been launched in new colors (grey, sunset, wave and olive, in addition to black) keeps its promises and we appreciate its automatic switch from Wifi to Bluetooth when we goes from inside the house to outside.

This allows continuous listening.

We regret that it is not multipoint, but above all that launched a year ago at 179 euros, its price is now at 199 euros.

Inflation, we are told.

The powerful: Flip 6, from JBL

Of contained size (550 g, for 178 x 68 x 72 mm), offered in six colors and displaying a power of 30 watts, the Flip 6 is equipped with two front speakers, against one for its elder, the Flip 5. The new JBL speaker thus improves its audio quality.

More solid in the treble thanks to the contribution of a

, it diffuses a full sound which can be multiplied thanks to the Party Boost mode.

This makes it possible to pair compatible speakers of the brand in stereo, or in collective broadcasting.

Its autonomy is announced up to 12 hours.

Our opinion:

You don't change a winning concept!

JBL is developing its star speaker, the Flip, but perhaps lacks audacity.

Now resistant, with increased audio quality and multipoint compatibility, it remains a safe bet, with a sound that is powerful.

Too bad its application does not allow you to go further in audio customization.

And a pity, too, that since the Flip 5, the hands-free kit function has disappeared, whereas it existed on the Flip 4!

The enduring: Emberton II, by Marshall

With its Emberton II, the brand of stage amplifiers remains faithful to its DNA: “looked” rock speaker and iconic aesthetics.

Compact (700 g, for 68 x 160 x 76 mm), it fits everywhere and can

music, radio or podcasts in Bluetooth 5.1.

To personalize the rendering, the Marshall Bluetooth application offers access to three equalization modes: Marshall (for the brand's audio signature);

Push (to reinforce bass) and Voice (to emphasize vocals).

Its autonomy is announced up to 30 hours.

Our opinion:

Marshall upgrades the first version of its Emberton loudspeaker to the margin: supported by the Marshall Bluetooth application with its three equalizers;

can be combined with other Emberton II loudspeakers;

increased autonomy (30 hours instead of 20 hours);

and upgrading to IP67 standard.

Enough to justify an additional cost of 20 euros compared to its elder.

For its part, the sound is rich, but suffers the pangs of distortion as soon as one crosses the bar of 50% of the possible sound volume.

The bright one: Sound Joy, from Huawei

Huawei and sound specialist Devialet come together around the Sound Joy, a tubular speaker (680 g, for 202 x 73 mm).

To be placed horizontally, vertically, or to be hung using its strap, the beautifully finished device is as comfortable indoors as it is outdoors.

Originality: this speaker incorporates a light ring on its right side, the color of which can be adjusted in the AI ​​Life application.

Its autonomy is promised up to 26 hours.

Our opinion:

In black or green, the Sound Joy speaker is a beautiful object that provides a solid sound presence, with firm bass and dynamics that can be heard.

But if the audio quality of this Bluetooth 5.2 speaker is there, it is not multipoint.

And, worse: it must be paired each time you use it!

For its part, the announced autonomy is really struggling to be achieved.

The communicator: SoundLink Flex, from Bose

With its Soundlink Flex, Bose offers a speaker cut out for outings.

Discreet (590 g, for 91 x 200 x 53 mm), the SoundLink Flex hangs everywhere using its side strap.

It should be associated with a carabiner (not supplied).

Optional to use the speaker, the Bose Connect application offers access to a few settings: Party Mode to pair it with another SoundLink, automatic shutdown timer (after 5, 20, 40 minutes…)… If its autonomy, up to 12 hours at moderate volume, remains sober, its hands-free kit function is a real plus compared to many competing speakers which do not offer it.

Our opinion:

Pleasant in the hand with its silicone back, this speaker available in three colors (blue, white, black) is satisfactory, even if its autonomy does not work miracles.

Its robustness remains a strong point (and safety advantage: the enclosure floats!).

We would have liked to be able to customize the sound rendering through its application.

Although it is very qualitative and strong in bass and low mids, it lacks a bit of brilliance.

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