Reading A Bluetooth Speaker Specification Sheet

Four numbers decide how a portable speaker sounds and how long it lasts. Here is what each one means, using the models in our own range as the worked examples.

Driver size sets the bass floor

A 1.5 inch driver cannot move enough air for low frequencies, whatever the amplifier does. D9 and PL-B006 use 1.5 inch drivers; FL-B003 and D28F use 1.75 inch; FL-M39F and FL-B009 use 3 inch. If bass matters to your buyer, driver size is the first number to check.

Output power is about loudness, not quality

Our range runs 3W to 15W. BS100 is 3W, D9 is 4W, D28F and FL-M39F are 5W, FL-B009 is 7W, L9 is 4W per channel across two drivers, and FL-B010 is 15W. A 15W speaker is not better than a 5W one; it is louder, which matters outdoors and not at all on a desk.

The chipset sets the connection, not the sound

CSR V4.0, RDA V4.2 + EDR, Actions V4.2 + EDR, BK V4.1 + EDR, JieLi V2.1 + EDR and Jianrong V3.0 + EDR all appear in this range. Later versions generally mean a more stable link and lower idle drain. They do not make a small driver sound big.

Battery capacity and what drains it

600mAh on BS01 and D9, 800mAh on D28F, 1200mAh on BS100, PL-B006, FL-M39F and FL-B003, 2000mAh on FL-B009 and L9, 3000mAh on M59, and four 2000mAh cells on FL-B010. Play time depends on volume as much as capacity - M59 is stated at 6 to 7 hours.

Passive radiators are worth looking for

FL-B003 uses two. A passive radiator is an undriven cone that moves with the pressure the main driver creates, extending bass response from a small sealed box. It is the most cost-effective way to make a pocket speaker sound bigger.

What To Take Away

• Check driver size before output power if bass is the requirement.
• Do not use chipset version as a sound-quality claim.
• Play time claims need testing at the volume your market will use.
• Passive radiators, not wattage, are what make a small speaker sound large.