Tried and tested: the best party speakers for the Christmas season

Having a party or just want amazing home surround sound? We tried out portable speakers — and here are our tech editor’s top picks.

Christmas parties are nothing without Mariah Carey’s famous track. These party speakers will make sure she’s heard.

LG XBOOM 360

An unexpected, lamp-like design but a guaranteed entertainer

$649, lg.com.au

PROS

– 360-degree audio

– Quality, room-filling sound

– Bonus light show

CONS

– 5.5kg weight

– Pricier than some

– Gimmicky DJ effects

Many portable speakers are designed for throwaway get-togethers but this model has a more stylish dinner party feel to it. The audio entertainer stands 50cm high, features a cone-shaped design, and has a light inside that can be programmed to glow in different colours. Its lantern shape and acoustics deliver 360-degree sound and, if you’re really keen, you can also use it and an app to add DJ effects to your music. The speaker also comes with a handle and controls up top, and can play music for 10 hours unplugged.

Verdict: 4.5/5 stars

Sonos Roam

The most portable Sonos speaker is surprisingly accomplished

$299, sonos.com.au

PROS

– Sound adapts to its location

– Works with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

– Doubles as a smart speaker

CONS

– Plays from one side only

– No power adaptor

– Very strong bass

This artfully designed column is the smallest and cheapest Sonos speaker on the market but it borrows heavily from its bigger, more expensive siblings. The Roam can play songs from a nearby phone using Bluetooth or directly from a music service using Wi-Fi. A mic button on its top delivers quick access to the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, its body is waterproof for use outdoors and, if you have other Sonos speakers, it can transfer music to them with the touch of a button. Best of all, it delivers surprisingly full sound for such a small device.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Apple HomePod Mini

Siri’s favourite music machines just added colour

$149, apple.com/au

Apple launched its HomePod Mini smart speaker in new colours, including orange.

PROS

– Budget-friendly

– Works with others in stereo

– Three bold new colours

CONS

– No upgrades outside colour

– Won’t work with Spotify

– Works best with an iPhone

Apple didn’t make big changes to its smart speaker this year but it did make one bold one. The newest HomePod Minis now come in vibrant orange, yellow and blue, and each is accompanied by a matching cable. The baseball-shaped speakers feature touch controls up top, 360-degree sound, and can be paired with others to play music in stereo or as TV speakers. The HomePods are most useful for iPhone users, however, and will only work with a limited list of music-streaming services.

Verdict: 4/5 stars

JBL Charge 5

Only a handful but this speaker is ready for a summer outdoors

$199, jbl.com.au

PROS

– Tough, waterproof body

– Plays music for 20 hours

– Can also charge a phone

CONS

– Distortion at high volume

– Limited app features

– No headphone jack

Like a puppy, this speaker is begging to be taken to the beach or pool this summer. The JBL Charge 5 features a waterproof shell, comes in a choice of five colours, and is shaped like a drink bottle for easy carriage. It has stylish, moulded music controls on one side and a charging connection on the other side that can be used to plug in a phone for recharging. Given its size, this speaker will only entertain a modest beach party but it’s a handy device to have on standby.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars

BlueAnt X4

A colourful, fully featured, “ear candy” speaker with microphone

$299, blueant.com.au

PROS

– Good value at $299

– Comes with a microphone

– Will work with others

CONS

– Lacks serious bass

– Quite large

– Only splash-proof

This party speaker bills itself as “ear candy” and you can see how it would be a hit with the kids. The BlueAnt X4 comes in five colours, including vibrant blue and pink, a ring of LED lights on its face, and it’s packaged with a microphone for impromptu karaoke sessions. The 2.6kg speaker also features a handle, simple controls including a large volume knob, and 50 watts of audio power. It doesn’t deliver as much bass as you’d expect of its size, but it can be paired with other X4 speakers to give it more oomph.

Verdict: 3.5/5 stars