ASK THE PACK: Best blutoof speaker

[aTotal360]

I was going to buy the Apple Home Pod, but all the reviews are saying the same. Sounds fantastic, has very little functionality. I'll mostly be listening to podcasts from from it so I don't need Moon Audio's Dark Star Opulence system. I just want something that will get sorta loud and has all the cool voice command capabilities (Siri). I'm looking for something less than $200.

And no, I don't give a **** about the Illuminati spying on me.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Gonna be hard to stay under $200.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

360... I am not sure you are built for the virtual assistant...

Everytime I go to someone's house that has one of those things, I feel like Alexa, Siri, Google Chick are about to #metoo somebody's ***. As soon as my idiot friend starts trying to show off, it turns into a Gunny Hartman style verbal beat down of the device because it never quite understands what he is saying.. except for the jokes. They always resort to "Alexa, tell me a joke."

 

[blacklistedbully]

Have you considered looking into a separate smart device that has an output for external speakers? For instance, I went with the smaller, Amazon Echo Dot over the larger one because I could easily hook up external speaker(s) via either bluetooth, or line output.

My living room Dot sends the signal bluetooth to a Bose Sounddock. My daughter has hers hooked up via line output to a nice set of PC speakers (including subwoofer). Both sound great, and both can get plenty loud. Both sound better than the more expensive Echo with the bigger speaker would have, and utilized stuff I already had on hand.

 

[Junction John]

Well, hell, I didn't know you could send the signal out. I've been wasting a soundbar this whole time.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Yep. Set my mom and step-dad up last year with an Amazon Echo Dot, and plugged it in via line-out to their decades-old Bose Wave shelf/portable system. Works great.

 

[blacklistedbully]

If your smart device has a line-out port, you can also hook it into a stereo amp/receiver. You may have to buy an adapter to take it from a PC style-mini plug to dual RCA (you know, the red and white ones that plug int the back of amps).

But if you have the aforementioned powered PC speakers, you won't need the adapter. You just plug the powered PC speakers into the smart device the same way you would a PC.

If you don't have spare PC speakers around, you could pick something up cheaply at a Goodwill or similar store. Voila...for a few bucks you've got a decent set-up, particularly if you can find a half-way decent speaker system complete with sub-woofer.

My daughter is using a set of Altec Lansing ACS44 that has to be at least 20-something years old. I had them in storage from a PC I stopped using before she was born. She loves it.

 

[blacklistedbully]

Then I set them up with an annual subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited. Now they can kick back in their den, and tell Alexa to play whatever they want, increase/decrease volume, set alarms, reminders, etc.

And the more they tell Alexa what music to play, the better it gets at suggesting other songs or artists they might like.

 

[aTotal360]

You are probably right. I'll unplug the thing if it gets too mouthy.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I bought a JBL Charge 3 and love it. Was 149. I ended up getting an additional one and pairing them. Impressive sound.

 

[blacklistedbully]

The JBL charges are a great deal. Bought my daughter one as well. They do occasionally have pairing issues. My daughter's Charge 2 will not connect via bluetooth to an Echo.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I got this a few weeks ago. It's awesome and can put out a hell of a lot of bass. It'll make the room shake. Can't beat it for the price. I use it with the speakers detached, but they can be connected and make a sound bar. It is portable and the bluetooth connection is great. The LED lights are kinda cool too. It's got separate knobs on the back for bass and treble. You can play some real bangersz near max volume and it sounds clear.

https://www.amazon.com/LuguLake-Blu...rd_wg=ABZsm&psc=1&refRID=KZ8T6NRDVFZ3TJX3RQAD

 

[Digging dog]

+1 for the JBL CHARGE.

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

I have the first version of the full size Echo and the sound quality is very solid. Music sounds really good on it and I can clearly hear whenever Steve opens a coke or bag of chips. The new version is only $100. So you could get 2 for your budget and sync them across your house.

Haven't used any of Google's offerings, but I'm sure their product is solid. I'm done with Apple for now. They have really violated my trust recently and charge me out the wazoo for everything, so just beware with them.

Good luck and enjoy. We enjoy ours a lot.

 

[o_dawgnabit]

I have the Amazon Echo and it is amazing. Loud and you can get the smaller dots and have them set up throughout your house to play music through the house. Also, if you have Amazon prime, wait til prime day and get it very very cheap

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

I have the Amazon Tap. It's a good, portable compromise between the Echo and the Dot. Alexa isn't "always on" like she is with the Echo and Dot, but she's easy to wake up and talk to. I like the Tap because it's a quality speaker in a portable design, so you're not limited to where you can use it.

 

[Rockydawg]

I'm pretty happy with my Bose Mini Soundlink.

 

[tmjdog]

I'm pretty happy with my Bose Mini Soundlink.

Have a jam box by Jawbone after looking at Bluetooth speaker reviews online several years ago. Bought on Ebay for less than $100 used. Unbelievable bass & sound quality. Recommend you look at online comparison reviews before making a decision. Good luck.

 

[DocHolliday.sixpack]

Bose SoundLink Revolve.........Excellent

 

[DEEREdawg]

I bought the jawbone big jambox 6-7 years ago and it’s still going strong. Use it every day, carry it to deer camp and the beach. I bought mine new and it was pricy but I think they’ve come down since I bought it. My son has a mini jambox and it does ok for him. The big jambox has a big sound for its size.

 

[Grove Sh*tter]

My big jawbone would not hold a charge after only 18 months. It's a good device, it just didn't last