Audio has been a big part of my whole life. From playing my dad's 33s on our family record player as a kid, to completely outrageous amplifiers and subwoofers in my car as a teenager, to designing audio systems for Acura and Honda vehicles...to enjoying the world of wireless audio today. I spend a lot of time listening to the spoken word as well as musical numbers across a variety of genres.
There are a number of situations that I find myself in that I want a pleasant audio experience. Playing over my phone's speakers is awful. The sound is sharp and tinny and only has a partial area of the frequency spectrum available to our ears. Ears that work perfectly can hear everything from low bass (20Hz) to the highest of highs (20,000Hz). In theory, you want a speaker setup that can replicate across that entire range equally well; however, the most highly praised speaker of all time, the Quad ESL, lacked the punchy bass we associate with today. The biggest factor is "does the music move you?" through whatever listening device you are using in the environment you are in.
I am, by no means an audiophile. In fact, my hearing was effectively dropped about 4,000 Hz so a lot of subtleties are lost after my ear canal. Still, there are bad sounding audio products to me. I feel like I'm a touch pickier because of my hearing. I listen in a mashup of situations so I've found better products for each. Here are most of my environments for listening to audio:
Driving in my car
Paddling on my kayak
Riding my bike
In my workshop
On an airplane
Walking or running
Gaming
Sitting at home alone
Having a party
Watching TV
On my deck
On my boat
Out in the woods
Out and about
Most of these locations don't require a unique solution from all of the other ones, but many can benefit from one. For some locations (my home), I have multiple solutions in one room. Even as I type this, both my wife and I are listening to Spotify stream music through all of the Amazon Echoes in our house.
I like to think of audio in a few different buckets than traditional retail outlets based on my actual use case. Here are my categories:
Private Audio (e.g. earbuds & headphones)
Mobile Audio (e.g. portable speakers)
Fixed Audio (e.g. home, office)
Fixed Mobile (e.g. auto, marine)
Now that you know the different use cases, you can think about the level of performance you want. I wrote a post about the Three Performance Categories of products that will help you decide what level of consumer you are. I typically find myself in the low- to mid- range of the performance category with audio products. When I dip into the Basic category trying to score a deal, I'm always disappointed and throw or give it away...don't tell my recipients ;)
Private Audio
For private audio, I use earbuds and over-the-ear headphones. I have purchased on-the-ear headphones several times and have always been disappointed. My earbuds are split into two areas: workout and non-workout. My workout headphones have to be sweat proof and not fall out of my ear when running or make extra wind noise when riding my bike. As such, my workout headphones usually have an ear loop that holds them in place. I really love my JBL Peak Endurance headphones for running. They're currently my all-time fave. They sound good, they're comfortable, reasonably priced, and they have a case that can charge when not in use, providing up to 40 hours of use. You can find the Gen II for a much better price than the latest Gen IIIs without sacrificing much at all.
My non-workout headphones are always noise-canceling, sound isolating headphones. I want the lowest amount of background noise getting through. This is for two reasons: 1) I can listen at a lower volume and it still sound loud and 2) The audio content is muffled by everything happening around me. I use these headphones everywhere: mowing, flying, working, walking around the neighborhood, and more. I used to buy earbuds in the $30-50 range and found they just didn't sound good. It wasn't until I went north of $100 that I found something I was really satisfied with. I currently have Sony XM and JBL Live Free. They both have exceptional ANC performance (for my ears) in a variety of conditions and the audio quality is excellent. There is decent bass and the mids aren't muddy like the cheap earbuds I had been using. I can get nearly 40 hours of use with the rechargeable case. The JBL fit better in my ears and are more comfortable for me so I use those more. The JBL app allows you to program your own basic EQ, which is amazing. I can tune for the environment or the audio type. Also, the case is smaller.
Mobile Audio
Bluetooth paved the way for portable speakers today but Lithium Ion batteries really made them good. Before this battery technology, I used plug in models; but I currently don't use any with cords. All of mine are rechargeable and can play for hours at a time before needing a recharge. They have a multitude of use cases. I think of 3 distinct areas with 2 caveats. The 3 use cases:
Just me
A small group of people
A party
The two caveats:
Dry use
Near water
I have slowly built up to have speakers for all of these conditions. There are a TON of portable speaker options out there. Some are cheap and some are WAY too expensive. Price does not translate to audio performance here. Cheaper can sometimes be better. I have yet to find Chinese speaker that really sounds good. They claim performance but rarely deliver. If you just need something to work, you can buy them. If you haven't seen the brand in Walmart or Target, it's probably Chinese.
I've listened to household names Bose and Sony and just am not impressed for the price and lack of waterproof options. Right now, I am fully on a JBL kick. I've purchased several while testing Chinese products and they really stand out. I have yet to buy a unit that I'm not satisfied with. You can spend a lot but don't have to. You can always buy the previous generation for less than the latest and not sacrifice much. They go on sale at times for the latest gen, you just have to watch for it. If you're ok with full price, they are still worth it. They simply perform. Not surprising, I have 3 units to cover my 3 use cases:
JBL Clip
JBL Charge
JBL Partybox
I've used the Clip for years over multiple generations. It's simple the perfect "just me" speaker. I initially bought it (fully IP67 dust and waterproof) as a way to listen to podcasts while kayaking and still being able to hear nature (ear buds blocked the bird calls and frog croaks). Now I have one on my kayak and one on my work backpack. It's so small, it's goes everywhere with me. The Clip sounds 10X better than a phone and the battery lasts a LONG time. If you're more than 10' away, you might want to consider the next move up, the Charge.
The Charge (pictured at the top of this post) is a fantastic small group speaker. The bass on all of their units is well balanced and not overpowering. It packs a great punch for its size. You can actually use it outside and hear it in small groups. I would put max range about 25' and it shines in individual rooms. When background noise is loud, you have to make the next jump. It's also IP67 waterproof so you can use at the lake or a pool.
JBL has a whole range of PartyBoxes from 100W to over 800W. They're all wireless and have long lasting batteries. All feature multiple drivers for highs and lows. RGB LEDs increase the fun. They include jacks to plug in a guitar or mic and some come with a mic. They're loud and are a great speaker for a picnic or patio party. They will provide plenty of volume. Their PartyBoxes are rated to IPX4 so they can get splashed on but not soaked.
Another bonus with most JBL units is that you can connect 2 or more and have stereo output. You can always find the previous gen on sale for a much better deal. Also, check out Woot! for sometimes extreme deals.
Fixed Audio
This genre is by far the most established and most used. There are too many options to explore so I'll give you the most typical: TV soundbars and bookshelf speakers. TV's just don't have the space to provide good sound, much like your phone. They can't fit large drivers and just don't have the range that soundbars provide. Even a basic soundbar improves performance...and a powered subwoofer does wonders.
I've tried Chinese soundbars (only get if you're trying to save money), Onn by Walmart (actually not too bad), Vizio, LG, and Samsung. A powered subwoofer is a must. Period. Don't get a soundbar without one, you'll feel like its just not enough. You can choose between 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 and more surround modes, virtual or real. How many speakers and do you have the right place to put them to sound good without being awkward. I think the 3.1 virtual surround are decent with the 5.1 actual surround great for a bedroom.
I have Amazon Echoes throughout my whole house. They are unique in that I can group them and play music through the groups. I have one setting called Everywhere and all 10 or so Echoes play at the same time. I hate the audio performance of the Echo Dot. It just doesn't sound good. The regular Echo and the Show sound good in nearly every generation. You might consider getting an Echo Sub to add some punchiness.
In addition, I use several type of wired bookshelf speakers, in-ceiling and outdoors speakers. Some are powered, others use an amplifier. My outdoor speakers are Polk Atrium. You can get them by main driver size: Atrium 4, Atrium 5, Atrium 6, or Atrium 8 (flagship). They all sound good and are reasonably priced. On my gaming desk are a pair of Klipsch R-51PM powered speakers. I paired them with a Jamo 12" powered subwoofer and the set-up pumps and sounds amazing. You don't have to have a $2500 pair of KEF LS50s to be happy.
Fixed Mobile
The possibilities are endless here. My advice would be to consult with Crutchfield, Best Buy, or a local installer as price and performance can increase significantly. Also, every car, motorcycle, or boat is unique and has different installation requirements, even between trim levels. One of my first jobs was installed auto audio systems and it could be challenging.
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