Tribit Bluetooth speakers sound a lot better than they should for the price. The StormBox 2 is largely the same as the original model, with dual-firing drivers and passive radiators in a 7-inch-long tube, but it comes with upgraded controls and about 6 watts more output (up to 30 watts from 24). No, it can't fuel a trance dance party on its own, but its clarity is impressive, and it has a fun extra-bass button that adds some surprising, if slightly muddy, thump. Its long battery life and robust design make it a great companion for backyard tunes, a trip down the river, or other informal gatherings. —Parker Hall

Never underestimate the middle child. Set between the plucky Soundlink Flex and beefy Soundlink Max, Bose’s Soundlink Plus offers impressive performance in a posh yet robust frame. You’ll find full and clear sound thanks to its articulate tweeter and punchy woofer backed by four passive bass radiators, along with convenient controls and stylish color options like the Citrus Yellow model I reviewed. Extras like a removable battery (from Bose) and the ability to charge other devices sweeten the deal, though in true Bose fashion, the price is as premium as the vibe. —Ryan Waniata

The Sonos Play may just be the most versatile portable speaker I've ever tested. Its sound quality gets very close to the fabulous Sonos Era 100 smart speaker thanks to a similar configuration of dual tweeters and a powerful woofer, but in a portable design. Using Wi-Fi, you can stream from over 100 services, control it with your voice, link with other Sonos speakers in a group, and even plug in an analog audio source (with a Sonos adapter, that is).

Hitting the road? Take the Play off its charging cradle, tap the Bluetooth button, and it's ready for any adventure with a full day of battery. If you're after a speaker that's perfect inside, outside, and everywhere in between (even a dunk in shallow water), you want the Sonos Play. —Ryan Waniata

JLab made its name on budget-friendly wireless buds, and now the company has brought that philosophy to Bluetooth speakers with several new models. The JLab Go Party hits the sweet spot with solid battery life, convenient controls (including a volume knob!), and customizable lights, all for a wildly affordable $30 or so. The sound can’t keep up with our favorite budget speaker, the Tribit Stormbox 2 ($80), but the EQ3 preset provides a nice balance between the bass and mids. Plenty of battery life and solid water resistance round things out for a tempting appeal to squeaky tight budgets. —Ryan Waniata

The JBL Clip 5 is a tad pricey for a micro-sized portable, but this is a classic case of getting what you pay for. I think of the sound as “fat” in a good way, with fuller bass and midrange frequencies than expected. The warmer sound still offers rich detail and definition, and you can adjust the sound in the JBL Portable app. I love listening to podcasts in the shower, or even clipping its wide carabiner on my belt loop for cranking tunes while doing yard work.

The speaker's stout body is dust- and water-resistant, and adds advanced features like the ability to stereo-pair two Clip 5s or connect to newer JBL speakers via Auracast. Battery life is still middling, but a two-hour boost over the previous Clip (five extra hours with Playtime Boost) provides a solid upgrade that makes the Clip 5 more versatile than ever. —Ryan Waniata

The Soundboks Mix is powerful, durable, and aimed at raucous outdoor adventures. It doesn't offer the same PA-style design as my favorite karaoke speakers, but as reviewer Parker Hall notes, it dishes out surprisingly sophisticated (and loud) sound and includes extras like a replaceable 40-hour battery and the ability to pair multiple speakers together for larger jams.

Its rugged design includes Soundboks' signature tennis-ball corners to keep you from putting a hole in the wall or scratching your tailgate. It's also large and heavy, and its reliance on USB-C charging is rather a hassle for its size, especially since there's no charger included. Those knocks aside, the Mix is a great, weather-ready sound solution that should last for years to come. —Ryan Waniata

We loved the first generation of the Tribit StormBox Micro for its easy-to-use silicone strap, which firmly held it against bicycle handlebars. In this update, Tribit has maintained the rugged IP67 rating against water and dust, and given us more battery life (around 12 hours), plus better bass response and upgraded Bluetooth for improved connectivity. —Parker Hall

★ Also handlebar-ready: Bose makes a great speaker of a similar design called the SoundLink Micro ($119), which was previously our top bike handlebar pick. It sounds about the same but is twice as expensive as the Tribit.

Positive Grid's Spark Mini is one of our favorite portable tools for musicians. You can pair your phone and play music via the cube-shaped speaker, but also plug in a guitar and blend yourself in to jam along. It's a perfect playing tool for campfires and backyard barbecues (eight hours of battery), and it even doubles as an audio interface if you need to scratch down an idea quickly. Because it's a guitar amp, the thing is much louder than it looks, easily able to fuel sing-alongs and shredding interpretations of The Star-Spangled Banner on Independence Day. —Parker Hall

★ Miniaturize it: Looking for a smaller way to shred on the go? The Spark Go ($129) is about half the size of the Spark Mini and comes with all the same great sounds, making it perfect for those who don't need much volume (or who plan to practice with headphones anyway).