That quality is possible in large measure because of the powerful neodymium magnets in these new-age wireless speakers that produce prodigious amounts of sound from the smallest drivers.
Today, we're sampling a half-dozen wireless speakers from brands familiar (Bose, Logitech, iHome) and less so (Soundmatters, Jawbone and Supertooth).
MINI-MITES: Smallest of the lot - think a family-size box of toothpaste - are the Jambox by Jawbone and foxL v2 Bluetooth by Soundmatters. The guts of both were designed by former NASA engineer and Soundmatters chief Godehard Guenther, and both carry a $199 price tag.
Available in a choice of colors, the 12-ounce, square-edged, metal- and rubber-wrapped Jambox feels super sturdy. Top-mounted buttons are convenient for adjusting volume and answering calls - yes, both the Jambox and its sibling double as speakerphones.
Jambox's 2-watts-per-channel amplifier produced 84 dB of sound, the least in our survey yet enough to keep you entertained in a quiet bedroom. Occasional bass distortion was audible when volume was pushed to the limit. Unlike its sibling, Jambox is user-upgradeable (via PC connection and custom "app") with a quasi-surround mode that's pretty dazzling when the little thing is a foot in front of your face.
Sound matters most in the foxL v2. Its 4-watts-per-channel amplifier delivers 96 db of sound on battery power and a walloping 102 db plugged into an AC outlet.
Most controls are delegated to the (inconvenient) back on this metal- and plastic-encased, 9-ounce device. Still, the louder, brighter and more dynamic sound makes the foxL v2 the mini-mite I'd pack in my overnight bag.
