We live in a world where everyone and their dog is a DJ, and what with technology developing at such a rapid pace, electronic equipment and systems need to evolve with the entertainment needs of the consumer. Never opt for just using your home Wi-Fi system with party speakers. The equalizers on any DJ equipment will destroy them. Invest in speakers that suit your needs not only for one gig or personal get-together, but that will consistently give you the sound and quality you are looking for. Party speakers come with a wide variety of features depending upon who will use them and how they will be used. You might want a basic set up with a DJ controller, PA amplifier, and party speakers.
Or, you are more serious about your entertainment and are looking for party speakers that will enhance a mobile set-up that will include a PA mixer, iPod, microphone, and a DVD player. The venue is also a factor in the type of party speakers you choose as well as the size of the crowd you are expecting to entertain. This affects the wattage you will need in your party speakers for a bare-minimum sound or have some sound to spare for larger crowds.
Also, for best sound quality, floor speakers should be raised off the floor and onto a pedestal, with the high-toned speakers sitting at least 6 feet or more. Also, the bigger the cabinets on a speaker system, the better sounding the bass sound. The more dynamic the PA, the more likely it will have a third speaker with it for just the bass. Finally, keep in mind whether you are going to want portable speakers; if you do, then 12” speakers or smaller are what you should be looking for. Anything bigger and with multiple speakers uses at one time, will leave you needing a crew to move them around just to use.
With these tips in mind, here is a variety of the best party speakers to choose from with varying features and qualities:
TOP CHOICE: JBL PartyBox 1000 – High Power Wireless Bluetooth Party Speaker
Our top choice party speaker by far is the JBL PartyBox 1000.
If you’re a serious DJ or party host then this is the speaker for you. It’s an absolute beast! The epitome of a party speaker. Loud, brash, thumping sound and great fun!
This high powered speaker is easy to connect up with your devices via Bluetooth and can pump out 1000 watts of the finest sound quality. Because of the 1000 watts of power, the speaker can’t be run on batteries unfortunately, which makes it less portable than it’s slightly less powerful versions in the range.
The sound quality is epic and doesn’t lose any quality at higher levels.
Other features of the JBL PartyBox 1000
- full panel lighting effect creates a captivating light show to astound your crowd with a lasting visual experience.
- Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
- DJ launchpad allows you to play drums, keyboard and piano, record and loop on the fly
- Mic and guitar inputs allow you to plug in your mic or guitar and take the stage
Sony GTKXB90 High Power Bluetooth Speaker – Exceptional Portability
Sony has produced a really versatile party speaker with the GTKXB90. It’s highly portable, connects via Bluetooth and has a convenient two-way design which means you can lay it down flat or stand it up. This level or versatility makes for a great party speaker as you never know how much space you have for sound equipment at party venues.
It is connectable via Bluetooth or you can hook it up using the wires included. Ideal if you want to have a mixer or any other system hooked up.
The Sony GTKXB90 has party chain capabilities as well. This means you can connect the speaker to other speakers for a richer and more comprehensive sound experience.
Another great feature of this party speaker is the fact you can power from a plug or use the rechargeable batteries. There’s no need to worry about finding a power outlet as the built-in battery kicks in whenever you’re not plugged into the mains. You get up to 16 hours of play time, or up to 3.5 hours at maximum volume.
There’s a clever feature called Stamina Mode which will slightly drop the volume to give you up to five hours of playback.
To top it off, the Sony GTKXB90 has an awesome LED light show. This will add even more atmosphere to your party as well as enhancing the already great sound quality.
JBL Partybox 100 – Portable & Fully Wireless Speaker – Bluetooth Party Speaker That Has A Kick!!
Not only does it look like good fun but like the PartyBox 1000, the JBL PartyBox 100 is again the epitome of a party speaker. It’s easy to move around, offers unprecedented performance and kicks out a high-quality sound which will make people remember your party for. The JBL bluetooth party speaker pumps out 160 Watts of that thumping JBL signature sound.
It’s fully bluetooth enabled so you can easily link it up your phone or laptop easily. There’s also a guitar and mic inputs which allows you to plug in a guitar or microphone should you wish to offer your audience some live music! It also creates a pretty awesome light show to really get your party moving. Choose between several RGB LED light patterns or switch it to random to let the JBL partybox do it’s thing. The JBL partybox is fully portable and wireless speaker that has a rechargeable battery which has a massive battery life of 14 hours of continuous use.
Ideal for an outdoor party or to take with you on camping trips or festivals
Pyle High-Powered Wireless PA Speaker- 1000 Watt
These speakers give a full range of high-quality sound and are portable. They have a blue-tooth capability for easy music streaming and a rechargeable battery. It also has USB flash and SD Memory Card Readers. The sound system is made up of a 12” Woofer and 1” Tweeter that includes a wireless handheld and headset microphones, a belt pack, remote control, and power cable. Most consumers felt the benefit of this speaker was that the battery lasted longer than they expected.
Pyle Portable Bluetooth Speaker System – 1000W Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker Portable PA System – Party Lights, USB SD Card Reader, FM Radio, Wheels – Remote Control, Tripod
The Pyle portable bluetooth PA speakers in this package can be set up to deliver 360° of sound. It is portable and has Bluetooth capability on electronic devices from up to 33 ft. It comes with a rechargeable battery that can be used over 5 hours with each full charge. Consumers seem to all be in agreement that the best feature of this product is the unbelievable clarity of the sound. They describe the bass as deep and thumping and on the other end of the spectrum, crystal clear high sounds.
It also comes with flashing DJ party lights which features multi-color flashing disco LED lights. Great for an outdoor party, patio parties or gatherings at night when a colorful presence is noticeable.
ION Audio Tailgater Speaker
This portable speaker has a system has a built-in rechargeable battery that gives continuous sound for 50 hours on one full charge. It has Bluetooth capability as well as an iOS/Android app for additional control of the system. It comes with a USB port for recharging any additional devices such as tablets, iPod, smartphones, and more. There is a microphone and auxiliary cable included. Nearly all consumers commented on the ease of the Bluetooth connectivity of this product and the sound quality afterward. They also agreed that the speakers are definitely loud enough for a very rowdy time tailgating or any healthy-sized party.
Alphasonik 12″ Powered 2000W PRO DJ Amplified Loud Speaker Bluetooth USB
This speaker has Bluetooth capability and audio streaming USB/SD Card/AUX inputs. It also has a built-in FM radio and MP3 player LCD screen. Included is a microphone and cable for guitar-amplified Karaoke. Consumers loved the speaker quality of this product and even said that one speaker could easily accommodate a party of 80-100 people. One customer said that half the volume of the speaker was enough for his 1-acre property.
Rockville RPG8BT 8″ Inch Powered 400W DJ PA Speaker – BlueTooth Party Speaker with Remote Control
This speaker has a single 8” Woofer combined with 2″ aluminum voice coil. This give out an incredibly deep bass and acoustic power. It includes a Piezo Compression horn and 2-inch high-temperature aluminum Voice Coil. Program Power is 200 Watts and Peak Power is 400 Watts with a Frequency Response of 50Hz – 20 kHz.
Pyle PADH212 Heavy Duty Speaker- 800/1600 Watts
This speaker is portable and has highly durable construction including extra heavy handles. It has binding post terminals as well as a built-in crossover network. It has a super horn midrange tweeter and a ported enclosure for added bass response. It also comes with a built-in light show. Several consumers who said they were professional DJ’s complimented the speaker quality as being “seriously loud” and worth trying for that reason. Several customers said they would be buying several different sizes of this product because of the phenomenal sound quality.
Bluetooth Loudspeaker PA Cabinet Speaker – 600 Watt – 8 Inch Bass Subwoofer
This speaker has Bluetooth capability for music streaming on compatible devices including Smartphones. It has an 8” bass sub woofer and a 3.5 Aux-Input for multiple device connections, with a USB Flash drive for music files play. It has a microphone input and RCA line input with a master volume and microphone level control board. Most customers raved at the build quality of the product and agreed it is an exceptional speaker for small venues of up to 50 people. Many use it for personal use such as pool parties, deck parties and small classes such as yoga, yoga trapeze and other fitness courses.
ION Audio Block Rocker Plus | 100W Portable Speaker
This speaker is compact, and it is Bluetooth ready for wireless music streaming and can also be plugged in through a 1/8” audio output to any adaptable music player including phones.
Party Speakers Buying Guide
Party speakers can do a lot to take your get-together to the level! With space-filling sound, plenty of pumping bass, and some good jams, your guests can’t help to have a good time. Sounds simple enough, right?
Take one look through the speaker market and you’ll soon find out that it’s anything but!
The audio world is quite vast. There are countless speaker systems and audio devices out there. From small portable speakers for intimate gatherings to large room-thumping speakers to fill a huge venue, the possibilities are endless. So how do you choose the right one for your needs?
With this buying guide, we aim to help you do just that. Here are some crucial considerations you need to make on your hunt for the best party speakers.
Balancing Budget and Features
The first thing you should do is figure out your budget. Party speakers run the gamut from super affordable to wallet-hurting expensive! This is great for consumers like you. It means that you can easily find a set of party speakers that fit within your price range.
Take a moment to figure out what kinds of features you need and how you plan on using it.
Is this something that you’re going to use every week? Or, is it for the occasional party a couple of times a year? Do you want to have a huge rager or an intimate gathering with a few close friends?
The answers to these questions matter! A speaker’s performance capabilities and extra features will have a huge impact on its price. So, you need to figure out what features are most pertinent.
If you’re on a strict budget, it may be better to forgo all the bells and whistles. For example, extras like flashing lights, microphones, and wireless connectivity come at a premium. But, if you’re looking to spend a bit of money to get a device that can serve your guests through many parties, a higher budget might be worth it!
Pay Attention to Sound Quality
No matter your budget, audio quality should be your top priority. What good is a party speaker if it produces crappy sound?
Party speakers are in a league of their own. They’re not about filling up a small room with noise. They’re about creating a heart-thumping sound that fills your venue and gets everyone jumping! Average sound quality isn’t going to cut it here!
So what specs should you scrutinize to determine sound quality?
Truth is, sound quality is very subjective. Not only that, but several factors contribute to a speaker’s capabilities! That said, you don’t have to be an audiophile to distinguish between the good and the bad. The two biggest features to analyze are the speaker’s frequency response and driver setup.
The frequency response refers to the range of tones the speaker can reproduce. Humans can hear, on average, between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. That’s a solid foundation to start with. For the best sound quality possible, find speakers with a similar range. That way, the speakers can recreate those deep bass tones as well as the delicate highs.
The drivers are equally as important. Drivers are responsible for recreating specific frequency bands. At the very least, you should get two-way speakers. These units have two drivers: a tweeter for the highs and a dedicated driver for the mid-range and lows.
For even better audio quality, go for a three-way or four-way setup! Three-way speakers have a tweeter, mid-range driver, and a separate woofer. With a four-way speaker, you’re getting an additional tweeter for crisper highs.
A three-way speaker has a lot to offer in terms of audio quality. The addition of that subwoofer ensures that your speakers can produce bass that you can feel!
One final specification to pay attention to is the wattage. The wattage is a great quick-take indicator that can give you a better idea of what the speaker is capable of. The measurement refers to how much power the speaker pulls. With a higher wattage rating, the speaker can produce higher volumes and cleaner sound.
Portability and Connectivity
Unless you have a dedicated party space, you’re probably going to move your speakers pretty frequently. Keep this in mind when you’re choosing the right equipment. Large and bulky speakers are great for portability. But, they can be a nightmare to strike down, move, and set up in a new location!
If flexibility is important to you, consider getting a unit that’s built with portability in mind. There are plenty of great wireless speakers that can produce comparable audio quality to those clunkier units.
Also, think about how you’ll connect to your music source! Wired connections are fine if you have a permanent setup. But if you need to party on the go, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity is a must!
With Bluetooth technology, you can easily sync the speakers up to a smartphone, tablet, or computer. You won’t have to worry about complicated setups. Even better, there’s no concern about party-goers tripping over wires! The same goes for Wi-Fi speakers that can stream directly from your favorite music service.
All that said, portability might come with some tradeoffs.
Low-quality portable speakers are notorious for having inferior sound quality. Some information can get lost in-transit from your device to the speakers, resulting in poorer sound. Furthermore, you have to consider battery life and the possibility of interference.
If you need portable speakers, it pays to spend a little more. Go with a premium model that doesn’t sacrifice sound quality. It should also provide you with at least 10 to 12 hours of runtime so that you can keep the jams pumping all night long!
Indoors or Outdoors?
Speakers made for outdoor use look similar to their indoor counterparts. But try using an indoor speaker in a spacious outdoor venue. You’ll quickly realize that you have tons of obstacles to overcome!
Outdoor party venues are usually quite large. Without any walls to keep the sound contained, even the best indoor speaker is going to sound weak. Plus, the acoustics are all off when you’re outside, which could translate to crappier sound.
If an outdoor location is your go-to party spot, make sure that you’re getting speakers that can handle the job!
Outdoor party speakers need to be more powerful. They should produce a higher RMS rating to ensure that you can fill the space and avoid the dreaded thin sound.
Ideally, speakers for outdoor use should also be portable and wireless. The fewer hazards you have the better!
Finally, outdoor speakers need to be durable. Look for housings that can withstand a bit of wear and tear. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a completely weather-proof unit. But, there are plenty of great speakers out there that offer protection from splashes, spilled drinks, and tumbles.