Matthew CoxLarge Bluetooth speakers can reach volume levels unmatched by those that focus on portability. When you’re trying to entertain a large group of people or throw a party, you’ll want a speaker that can keep up. That’s where these large and loud Bluetooth speakers excel.
Large and loud are both relative terms, and for the sake of this article, we have decided to include speakers that weigh more than 10 lbs and can produce a sound pressure level of more than 100 dB. The following speakers are best suited to demanding situations like large social gatherings or covering open outdoor spaces.
Best Overall: SOUNDBOKS 4
How Loud?
126 dB
Power
100 W
Battery
40 hrs
Weight
35.5 lbs
Size
25.6 x 17 x 13″
The Soundboks 4 is the self-proclaimed “loudest battery-powered speaker in the world.” It produces 126 decibels of high-quality audio and has up to 40 hours of battery life. These two features alone put the Soundboks 4 at the top of the list as our choice of the loudest Bluetooth speakers.
Sound Quality
The Soundboks series’ sound quality has improved with each new version. The Soundboks 4 has improved clarity and detail over the Soundboks 3 and better bass performance. If you need more power from the Soundboks, you can wirelessly pair two speakers together for improved soundstage and volume. The dynamic performance is impressive, and pushing the volume will only have a minor impact on the sound quality.
Audio Connections
The Soundboks 4 features XLR and aux connectivity. It also has a TeamUp function, allowing you to connect multiple Soundboks speakers together wirelessly.
Battery Life
The Soundboks 4 uses its own dedicated battery pack that provides up to 40 hours of playtime. The removable battery packs allow you to always keep the other battery on charge, providing infinite playtime.
Portability
It is far from a small speaker, but at just 24 lbs, it’s far from the heaviest Bluetooth speaker out there, weighing less than the JBL PartyBox 310. However, because of its larger form factor, you won’t just be able to pick it up and carry it with one hand. For that, there’s the Soundboks Go.
Conclusion
The Sounboks 4 is a Bluetooth speaker that produces a powerful 126 decibels of high-quality audio and boasts an impressive battery life of 40 hours. The speaker has two removable battery packs, XLR and 3.5mm AUX inputs, and a TeamUp function to connect multiple speakers wirelessly. Overall, the Soundboks 4 is a top choice for those seeking a powerful, high-quality Bluetooth speaker.
Best For DJs: JBL PartyBox 1000
How Loud?
120± dB
Power
1100 W
Battery
AC only
Weight
76.5 lbs
Size
45.6 x 18.4 x 18.6″
The PartyBox 1000 is the loudest in the PartyBox range and is intended for demanding environments like corporate events, parties, or entertainment venues. It does not have a battery, requiring a direct AC connection for power.
Sound Quality
It has a 12-inch woofer with 2 x 7-inch mid-woofers for serious party power! The PartyBox 1000 is loud with excellent bass response, a characteristic of JBL’s PartyBox range. The bass is both punchy and deep, with lots of low-end extension. The midrange is clear and detailed but not particularly bright, with the elevated low-end impacting some lower midrange.
Battery
Unlike the smaller models in this series, the PartyBox 1000 does not feature a built-in battery. This speaker requires a power outlet to work, something that’s important to consider. Despite its Bluetooth functionality, this isn’t what we’d consider a portable speaker.
Features
The PartyBox 1000 comes with more features than you’ll find on any other portable party speaker on the market. These include wireless Bluetooth streaming, a full LED light show, and microphone and instrument inputs for your karaoke parties.
The JBL ParyBox 1000 also features an integrated DJ pad, which even allows one to import audio, and comes with an Air Gesture wristband, which allows you to control the light show with a flick of your wrist. You can also link two ParyBox 1000 speakers to create full stereo sound. While not battery-powered, the PartyBox 1000 features integrated easy-roll wheels for when you need to transport it.
Conclusion
The JBL PartyBox 1000 is a powerful, feature-packed Bluetooth speaker with massive volume, driven by its 12″ woofer and two 7″ mid-range woofers. With no built-in battery, this speaker needs a power outlet to work. However, it has many features, including wireless Bluetooth streaming, microphone and instrument inputs, an integrated DJ pad, an Air Gesture wristband, and an LED light show. The PartyBox 1000 produces excellent bass response with one 12-inch woofer and two 7-inch mid-woofers, making it a perfect party speaker for those prioritizing loudness over portability.
Most Versatile: SOUNDBOKS Go
How Loud?
121 dB
Power
2x 75W
Battery
10 hrs
Weight
20 lbs
Size
21.2 x 16.6 x 13.5″
The Soundboks Go is a new Bluetooth speaker on the market, and it doesn’t fail to live up to the Soundboks models that came before it. While the much larger Soundboks 3 model offers 126 dB of volume, the now more widely available Soundboks Go brings 121 dB.
Portability
Soundboks has focused on balancing loudness and portability with this new speaker. Unlike the Soundboks 3, the Go measures only slightly larger than competitors like the Hyperboom or Boombox 2 and weighs a much more manageable 20 pounds. Now, while this is still no lightweight speaker, carrying a Soundboks product in one hand is possible.
We almost placed the Go onto our list of lightweight contenders due to the size, but we find that at 20 lbs, there is a demographic of people who would struggle to move the Soundboks between locations.
Build Quality
The Soundboks Go is a rugged speaker, and the primary plastic shell feels extremely durable. Regarding weather-proofing, it offers IP65 protection, keeping you safe from dust and, most typical, splash or rain damage. You’ll also find a removable battery in the Soundboks Go, which makes the Go even more appealing. This allows for easy replacement should the battery cause problems or deteriorate with time. The Go also provides 40 hours of battery at mid-volume, 10 hours at full volume, and 3.5 hours full recharge, about double that of the Gen 3.
Sound Quality
The Soundboks Go’s sound quality is what we had expected, given our experience with the Soundboks 3. While the Go can’t quite match the same benchmarks, it does bring the same full sound that we come to expect from a Soundboks product with tons of bass and little in the way of distortion, given the volume levels.
To get the most out of the Soundboks Go, we recommend installing the Soundboks mobile app.
Conclusion
The Soundboks Go is a portable Bluetooth speaker that balances loudness with portability. It offers 121 dB of volume and weighs 20 pounds, making it easy to carry in one hand. The speaker is built with rugged and durable materials and features IP65 protection, a removable battery, and a 40-hour battery life. The sound quality is full, with lots of bass and little distortion, making it a great option for those who want a powerful portable speaker. The Soundboks mobile app is recommended to get the most out of the speaker.
Best For Tailgating: ION Pathfinder 280
How Loud?
100 dB
Power
120W
Battery
100 hrs
Weight
27 lbs
Size
14.8 x 10.6 x 17.6″
The ION Pathfinder 280 is a moderately large speaker that is popular for tailgate parties. It features a 280-degree direction of sound and is best suited for gatherings of between 25 and 75 people. At around $400, it isn’t a particularly budget-centric speaker and can be compared in price to the JBL PartyBox 110. An IPX5 water-resistance rating protects the Pathfinder from light rain, splashes, and soft water sprays.
Sound Quality
The Pathfinder 280 has a 120-watt maximum power output, with a frequency response range of 65 Hz to 16 kHz, and reaches a maximum sound pressure level of 100 dB. A standout feature of this speaker is its ability to reach these high volume levels while retaining the same high-quality sound as lower volume levels. The dynamic performance is impressive, but despite the wide direction of sound ION advertises, it still has a somewhat mediocre soundstage. Pair two Pathfinder 280s together using the wireless stereo pairing function to improve the soundstage and overall volume.
It lacks some deep bass due to limited bass extension – but can still produce sufficient middle and upper bass frequencies. There is a lack of balance in the midrange, with some instruments and vocals sounding a little muddy. Additionally, there are some uneven frequencies in the treble range. These problems can be rectified using the EQ feature of the mobile app. Additionally,
The sound isn’t as impressive as the JBL PartyBox 110, but the ION Pathfinder remains a good-sounding speaker with many features.
Battery Life
The battery performance of the Pathfinder 280 is outstanding. While ION advertises up to 100 hours of playtime, this is only at low listening volume. However, you can still expect around 60 to 80 hours during traditional use. This number varies depending on the features you have active and the volume levels you listen at. Still, this type of battery power is unrivaled by similar speakers.
It can take up to 10 hours to charge, which is somewhat lengthy, but given the overall battery life provided, we consider it more than suitable.
Features
The features of the Pathfinder are one of its highlights: it has controllable LED lighting, an essential feature if you’re looking to throw a party. It also has an FM radio, a feature uncommon in modern Bluetooth speaker releases, and some novelty features, such as the storage compartment and the inclusion of a bottle opener.
Portability
At 27 pounds, the Pathfinder 280 is a fairly heavy speaker and can be challenging to move around for those with limited physical strength. However, the two handles on either side of the speaker make the process easier and allow two people to carry it together, should strength be an issue.
Conclusion
The ION Pathfinder 280 offers good overall sound quality and can get very loud without much degradation. It is ideally suited for moderate-sized gatherings, with its intended design for tailgate parties. The associated mobile app allows the Pathfinder 280 to be tuned to your liking.
Most Portable: Turtlebox 2
How Loud?
120 dB
Power
80 W
Battery
25 hrs
Weight
10.00 lbs
Size
11.5 x 6.5 x 8.8″
If you’re looking for something a little more compact but still able to compete with the heavyweights, you might want to check out the Turtlebox 2. The Turtlebox was designed specifically for the outdoor market, meaning it’s also a tough little speaker with much power behind it. It’s small enough to take anywhere, tough for the road, and loud enough to start the party.
Build Quality
The speaker comes with an IP67 (IPX7) waterproof rating and is enclosed in a tough enclosure resembling a smaller jerry can rather than a speaker. When we say this is a rugged speaker, we mean it. Everything about this speaker’s design is catered to outdoor enthusiasts who love music. Thanks to its great build quality and lightweight, you can easily toss this into your trunk.
Battery Life
The 8-hour built-in battery will provide enough power to last all day at high volume. You can expect around 25 hours of battery life at lower volumes; at louder volumes, you can still achieve up to 10 hours of battery life. This is more than enough for traditional uses and can even last you several hours of sessions if you’re using it out in the wilderness.
Audio Connections
With the Turtlebox 2, you have the option of ⅛-inch AUX or Bluetooth for audio inputs. Turtlebox Audio states the Bluetooth range is about 100 ft, which is more than enough for operating the speaker outdoors.
Sound Quality
While the Turtlebox is seriously loud, it doesn’t have as big a bass response as some heavyweight speakers on this list. The low-end presence is strongest in the upper and mid-bass, but you don’t get the same deep low-end extension found in the PartyBox range, for instance. It is strongest in the upper and mid-bass, but you don’t get the same deep low-end extension found in the PartyBox range, for instance.
Still, the low end is sufficient to cater to all genres of music. These characteristics make the Turtlebox 2 less suited for large parties and more suited for high-volume demands with traditional use, such as large social get-togethers. It provides sufficient details in the midrange and treble.
Conclusion
The Turtlebox is a durable and powerful speaker designed for outdoor lovers, featuring an extremely rugged and waterproof design. It offers an 8-hour built-in battery and 25 hours of battery life at lower volumes, making it an ideal choice for extended use. It features ⅛-inch AUX and Bluetooth inputs, and while its bass response is not as big as some of the other heavyweight speakers, the midrange and treble provide exceptional clarity.
Sony GTKXB90
How Loud?
103 dB
Power
200 W
Battery
16 hrs
Weight
36.5 lbs
Size
29.1 x 15.9 x 16.3″
Another awesome-looking portable Bluetooth speaker is the Sony XB90. The XB90 is the loudest Bluetooth party speaker from Sony. It has various LED lights, including a strobe effect, to add party ambiance. In addition, the speaker comes with audio effects for the microphone input. This makes the XB90 great for karaoke parties.
Audio Connections
The XB90 features an RCA input and output, USB (also can be used as a power bank), ¼-inch microphone input, and Bluetooth. There is also an NFC tag for the quick pairing of NFC devices. The Sony XB90 comes with some onboard controls, but you also have the option to operate the speaker using the Music Center app for audio and the Fiestable app for lighting and party effects.
The XB90 also comes with Sony’s Party Chain feature, which allows you to add up to 50 Sony-compatible speakers. You can add just one other XB90 in stereo or mono for extra power.
Battery
The Sony XB90 features a 2,500mAh battery, which provides 16 hours of playback at a moderate volume and only about 3-4 hours at max volume. While this battery life may seem minimal compared to the Soundboks Gen 3, it aligns with most LED-focused portable, loud Bluetooth speakers.
Sound Quality
The speaker includes 2 x 7.5-inch woofers with 3 x 2.4-inch tweeters to produce serious sound. The bass from the woofers is punchy and defined, while the EXTRA BASS feature delivers some serious low-end power. Mids and treble perform well with vocals upfront and clear. Great for karaoke, solo performances, or rapping over some beats.
Conclusion
The Sony XB90 is a powerful portable Bluetooth speaker with LED lights and audio effects that make it great for karaoke parties. It features an array of audio connections, including RCA input and output, USB, and Bluetooth, and can be operated using Sony’s Music Center and Fiestable apps. The XB90 can also be paired with up to 50 Sony-compatible speakers through Party Chain. With a 2,500mAh battery, the speaker provides up to 16 hours of playback time and produces excellent sound quality with punchy bass and clear vocals.
Things to Consider When Buying a Loud Bluetooth Speaker
If you’re unsure what to look for when buying one of the loudest Bluetooth speakers on the market, we’ve put together a guide with some points of consideration. This should help you make an informed decision and understand the drawbacks and benefits of certain speakers.
Volume
The first thing to consider is volume. We recommend only opting for models producing more than 95 dB of volume. For parties or events, don’t go lower than 100 dB. Don’t pay too much attention to the wattage of the speaker. This doesn’t mean much about volume and has more to do with how much power the device can consume. Two speakers with the same peak power output can produce vastly different volumes, depending on the efficiency and overall design of the speaker.
Portability
If you want to move your speaker around between venues, carry it to friends’ houses, or even move it around your homestead – portability is something you should take seriously. Look for lighter speakers, and those with carrying handles can also prove very useful. If you’re elderly or physically limited, you’ll want to opt for something within your capabilities. While all speakers covered in this article are large and relatively heavy, we’ve included easier options for all physical capabilities.
Battery Life
Battery life is important! In some speakers, you can operate them either from the battery or through an AC input. There is no hard rule to battery life as it depends on how you plan to utilize your speaker. Look at the maximum playtime the battery can offer and its battery life when played loud. Buying a loud Bluetooth speaker is pointless if you’re scared to crank it up due to excessive battery drain.
Chaining/Pairing
Because Bluetooth speakers are sold as singles unless you use a boombox-style speaker with dedicated left and right channels, the audio will be mono (both audio channels playing through one speaker). This limits the overall soundstage, as it is on the speaker to try to spread sound effectively from its driver panel.
Chaining lets you connect multiple speakers together, while still playing from a single source. Chaining varies between speakers, with some focused on providing TWS (True Wireless Stereo) pairing and others using party chaining. TWS lets you pair two speakers to produce sound as a dedicated left and right channel. They will continue to play the same music, but each speaker will operate independently in the frequencies it reproduces, improving the soundstage.
In addition to TWS, some speakers can be paired with several others. This type of party chaining keeps the audio in mono but helps expand the range of coverage. For instance, if you have a party that spans three stories of a home, you could place a speaker on each floor, paired together so that they play the same sound. The number of speakers that can be paired varies, but in most cases, you’ll only need to pair three to five speakers for a large party.
Sound Quality
Loudness is one thing, but what’s the point in volume when you don’t have clarity? Weak dynamics on a speaker can result in the degradation of audio due to compression artifacts. Additionally, speakers have different sound profiles. Some speakers sound bright, emphasizing the midrange and treble, while others have recessed the midrange and deep, extended bass.
The best sound profile is one that caters to your primary use. In party speakers, where primarily dance music is played, low-end is king. Alternatively, a speaker with a brighter presentation is typically better if you’re looking for the most intelligibility, particularly with voices. Thankfully, many of these large Bluetooth speakers come with companion apps to adjust the sound signature to your needs.
Weather-Proofing
Finally, consider the weather-proofing protection offered if you want to use your speaker around the pool or in open weather conditions. IPX 4 or 5 will serve fine in most situations, but for a versatile speaker that can really handle the outdoors, consider an IPX7 or, better yet, an IP67 option.
Understanding dB Ratings
Let’s clarify some of the most common terms you need to know to make the best decision when purchasing the loudest Bluetooth speaker. The specifications of a product provide insight into the construction and quality of the product and also guide us to the given purpose of the item.
When it comes to speakers and specifically speaker loudness – it is important to understand the different loudness ratings of a speaker. Let’s look at what dB (decibel) means regarding speaker loudness.
Sound Pressure Level
When we compare a speaker’s output sound or volume to other speakers, we look at the output SPL, meaning the Sound Pressure Level, which is mentioned as a dB rating. This is also sometimes referred to as speaker sensitivity.
Now, the output dB SPL (Sound pressure level) has to be backed by power. The power of a speaker is the wattage, which tells us the strength of its amplification. Specifically, to determine a speaker’s loudness and power rating – you should look at its RMS wattage rating and how much output dB SPL it can handle.
Wattage vs. Volume
You might be wondering, does a higher wattage provide a louder sound? No, it doesn’t.
Many factors affect the volume of a speaker. The wattage alone might give you an idea of a speaker’s potential volume (a 400W speaker will be louder than a 5W speaker), but compare the RMS wattage instead of peak power.
Do More Decibels Mean Louder?
Yes! Volume, or how loud a speaker is, is measured in decibels. Simply put, the louder the speaker, the higher the decibel value is. What is important to note about decibel measurement is that it is measured on a logarithmic scale. This means that the sound is ten times louder for every increase of 10 decibels! Simply put, a speaker that produces 100dB of sound is ten times louder than a speaker that produces 90 dB.
Interesting Facts on Decibels
Something interesting to note is that a decibel does not tell us anything unless you assign it to something – such as SPL (Sound Pressure Level). We are so used to using decibels to measure sound or music loudness that we would assume that that’s what dB stands for, but the decibel needs to be assigned to a unit to mean anything. Interesting, right?
The decibel itself is only a ratio which means that it compares the value of one number to the value of another
So, among other things, decibels are used to measure voltage and power in your gear – the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal, by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale – which we discussed earlier in this article.
The lowest threshold of human hearing, meaning the lowest sound level (20 micro pascals) – translates to 0 SPL and is accepted as the reference point by which all other sounds are compared.
RMS Wattage vs. Peak Power
Sometimes, the speaker manufacturer will state the RMS Wattage, and sometimes it will state its Peak Power – or sometimes both. What you need to pay attention to is its RMS Wattage.
RMS
The RMS Wattage stands for how much continuous power the speaker can handle. Simply put, this means playing a few songs through the speaker. That’s essentially what we want it to do, right? If a speaker has 30W RMS, it means it can comfortably run with 30W of continuous power. On the other hand, if it states it has a peak rating of 30W, it means it can only handle short bursts of 30W power.
Peak power
Peak power refers to the maximum power level the speaker can utilize in short bursts. Both RMS and peak values are still important to notice since you want a speaker that can handle both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the loudest portable Bluetooth speaker?
The Soundboks 3 and 4 are considered the loudest portable Bluetooth speakers available. They can produce up to 126dB of volume.
Can you have loudness and good sound quality?
You’ll often find that cranking the volume in cheaper speakers reduces audio quality. This typically occurs because the drivers are not well constructed with the device and can become muddy or distorted at volume. It is possible to find good sound quality at higher volumes, but typically, regardless of the speaker you choose, you’ll find some decay in quality towards the upper volume limits.
Should I focus on decibels or wattage?
Decibels, when measured correctly, are often a better indication of what a speaker can do in terms of loudness. An inefficient design can use much power (watts) to produce lower volume levels (dB). Think of it like modern lighting: old incandescent lightbulbs used way more watts to produce the same brightness as a much lower-powered LED light.
How loud is too loud?
According to the CDC, noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period may start to damage your hearing. Loud noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to your ears. Every speaker featured on our loudest Bluetooth speaker list exceeds 70 dB, so consider this when purchasing. Be aware of loud noise’s dangers to your hearing, and never listen to loud music for prolonged periods.
Bryn De Kocks
Well-written and informative for a novice like myself. Great intro and explanations. ☺️. I have the Sony XB90 and XB72 — but wanted other comparable items that were more outdoor and waterproof. Will try out the SoundBoks & Aiwa! thank you!
Great list! I was expecting the UE Hyperboom to land somewhere on it though. Just purchased one and it’s been great!
Hi, great informative article. However, are the dBs a statement of sensitivity (1 watt, 1 metre) or Max SPL (sensitivity x wattage)?
I’ve just bought the JBL Partybox 300 which has only 65dB of sensitivity and 120 RMS. Apparently 65dB(A) is the volume of a normal human conversation. But I’ve tried having a conversation with this speaker turned up to maximum and the speaker’s 65dB is a lot louder than my vocal chords. What am I missing?
These guys who write the articles can’t distinguish db/1watt at 1 meter and what max spl db is. Lol. The 310 is nearly 112 db max spl. The 1000 is about 120 spl ish
I just had cops come to my front door telling me my music is too loud cause the cop standing 10 ft away said so. I only have a $50.00 cheap JBS portable speaker from Walmart, listening to Jon Batiste “America” had it on for less then 5 min. At 3;15 am doing dishes in kitchen. The speaker maybe a 10 decibels if that even? My ugly neighbor next door who has poisoned me with gas where I’ve past out and smashed my skull, does nasty bad crap to me all the time I don’t even know her name or nothing about her probably made the complaint she’s made many before even about people delivering soil here. So is this actually law? Where I have no rights of privacy? I came hm tonight after shopping and she o believe it was her sprayed my front doorway with some kind of bad poison and it happens often. But so can’t prove it. This speaker is tiny! Is that really the law? I can’t play music in my place at night in my kitchen while doing dishes cause cops say it’s too loud when I openned the door.? Funny they aren’t here in two seconds like they were for her complaint. I found slivers of glass in my ice cream I believe by her breaking into my house. Almost swallowed them but cops NEVER SHOWED UP FOR THAT ONE!!!!! I gave up on the cops cause they never seem to do the right things. I’m sure my speaker is not low enough to warrant the cops . Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi. The Company PYLE constantly advertises a huge amount of watts for its bluetooth speakers–none of which come anywhere close to the advertised loudness. For example, PYLE advertises a 100w bluetooth speaker which, when played, is more like 15w; 300w more like 25w; 500w more like 40w etc… PYLE has done this for years. I’ve tried several of their speakers only to return them. Has this ever come to your attention prior? If so, please shed some light for me to understand this paradox and why the other speaker companies have not responded to the same. TY.
Unfortunately, this practice is still something we see quite often in consumer audio products. While most people have gotten used to referring to wattage in RMS, there are still companies that put out “PMPO” (Peak music power output) wattage in their advertisements in a way to make their products come across as louder than they are. It’s not too dissimilar to lighting companies doing the same thing by advertising wattage equivalency instead of the actual draw of power. One can just chalk it up to marketing gimmicks.
10dB sounds twice as loud for humans. 6dB is twice the sound level (SPL).