When I first started traveling again this time around, I thought that bringing a speaker along would be a waste of space. After all, I had my trusty earbuds and could always play music on my laptop or TV, right? But on a long weekend in Cozumel a friend brought a small bluetooth speaker along, and I caught the vision.
It’s nice to be able to bring your music out on the patio, or into the bathroom while you’re get ready. You can put a little speaker places that you can’t or wouldn’t put a computer. It’s easier than having to set up a TV to cast to. I don’t always have a TV where I’m staying anyways, or it’s in another room.
The Sony SRS-XB13
After experimenting with several different speakers, I settled on the Sony SRS-XB13. For me, it offers the best combination of sound quality and compactness for travel. Other speakers I’ve tried were either too bulky or, while smaller, failed to deliver in terms of sound quality.
The Sony SRS-XB13, on the other hand, strikes the perfect balance for me. The sound quality is great. It’s straightforward to use, pairs easily, and it boasts an impressively long battery life on a single charge. I like the simple sleek design. It’s roughly the size of a coffee mug and fits neatly into any corner of my checked bag. I’ve had it for 5 months now, and so far it’s been an excellent travel companion.
Other Travel Speakers I’ve Given a Shot
My previous speaker was an Anker Soundcore Mini, which I actually bought by mistake. I thought I had ordered its slightly larger sibling, the Soundcore Mini 3. But faced with the hassle of returning it and considering that it was only a bit smaller and not very different, I decided to keep it. While I liked the Soundcore Mini, I ultimately felt that a slightly larger speaker would be worth it for better sound quality.
The Mini 3 remains the top contender to the Sony in my mind. In the end I chose the Sony after watching one of those YouTube sound comparison videos and reading other reviewers, which led me to think that the Mini 3 sounds a bit more tinny than the Sony. But I might have to try it out for myself at some point.