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PARTY POWER! Whether it’s a celebration or just a rowdy get-together, music is the life of a party and a dedicated party speaker will get everybody moving and grooving. Words Bec Summer

F rom big boom boxes to towers of power, party speakers are ready to rock and fully portable, with Bluetooth connectivity, long battery life, and tough enough to withstand spilled drinks and light rain. Why you need a party speaker Many incorporate lighting effects that sync with the beats, adding a clubbing vibe to your shindig. They can include a mic for karaoke as part of the package, as well as a guitar input. And if busking is your trade, amplify your sound and get your tunes heard! Party speakers can be linked with other compatible speakers for even more massive sound. Remote control your music, lighting and general functions via the companion app.

Sony ULT Tower 100 Wireless Party Speaker Standing over a metre tall and perfect for house parties, this monolithic tower of power looks like it means business, and that business is delivering LOUD playback, massive bass, and 360° sound via rear tweeters. You get inbuilt lighting, a splashproof top panel, wired karaoke mic and guitar input, ULT

Sony ULT Field 7 The best of both worlds – a big party speaker that’s also a rugged portable speaker to take the party anywhere. Designed for open-air audio, with sound optimisation for ambient noise, the Field 7 strikes a good balance of vocals and heavy bass. There’s a karaoke or guitar input for when it’s time to take to the stage, inbuilt lighting, stereo pairing and PartyConnect for more speakers, and up to 30 hours of party time from a full battery.

JBL Party Box Stage 320

Party on with a wide sound field, thumping bass from 6.5” woofers, AI Sound Boost for high volume, distortion-free audio, and be dazzled by an adaptive lightshow full of stars, trails, and strobes. The Stage 320 has a telescopic handle to wheel it where you need the party to be, IPX4 splashproofing for an outdoor bash, and up to 18 hours of playback time. You can

button for a bass boost, and a TV booster to add punch to movie audio. Plus, you can pair it with another Tower 100 for stereo, or connect to other compatible Sony speakers.

also connect multiple JBL Auracast enabled speakers for sound all around.

GET SMART Want to check the latest news, turn on the lights and heating, listen to a playlist, and better organise your day? A smart speaker is at your command! Words Bec Summer S mart speakers are simple to set up, even if

you’re not tech savvy. More than just a personal virtual assistant, they also pump out serious sound and can be linked for multi-room audio or intercom use. Smart speakers also play a vital part in managing a smart home, serving as a central hub for controlling connected devices. So make sure your new speaker is compatible with your voice assistant, be it Alexa, Google, or Siri.

Amazon Echo Pop Compact Smart Speaker Perfect for small spaces and bedrooms, the Echo Pop looks great on a shelf and has a front-firing speaker for impressive sound. Alexa is inbuilt for controlling audio and smart home tech, with a speaker light bar that indicates her readiness. You can also disable the mic for privacy.

Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker & Alexa 5th Gen This generation of Amazon’s popular smart speaker features improved sound quality for clearer vocals, deeper bass and richer audio, and can be paired with compatible Echo devices throughout the home. Once again, Alexa is at your beck and call, ready to play music and podcasts, control your smart home, and even tell you a joke!

Samsung LS60D Music Frame Speaker This stylish lifestyle speaker is certain to be a talking point, doubling as a picture frame that can hold a photo or art print. The three-way speaker system delivers balanced sound with a wide sweet spot, and Alexa or Google give you hands-free control. It can also control your smart home when connected to a SmartThings USB dongle (sold separately).

22 JULY 2024

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