Sony SRS-XB41

The SRS-XB41 portable Bluetooth speaker stands out from the crowd with its multi-coloured flashing lights. Here, the speaker’s coloured lights and flashing strobe synchronize to the beat of the music. Plus the speaker’s grip can be used to control the volume and to make different sounds (scratch, snare, kick drum, cowbell) depending on where you touch it — a fun and interactive feature. Thanks to its waterproof, rustproof and dustproof build, this speaker could theoretically survive being dropped in the sea and rinsed clean. Note that several speakers can be synced together for boosted sound and even more spectacular lighting effects, all in time to the music.

The Sony SRS-XB41 is priced at US$249.99.

UE Boom 2

This Ultimate Ears speaker will bring music to pretty much any environment, whether hostile or not. This waterproof speaker can be dipped, dunked, splashed and submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The manufacturer promises 360-degree sound and a battery life of up to 15 hours. Plus, with voice integration from Siri and Google Now (as well as Alexa, for Android only), music playback can be controlled with voice controls. The manufacturer also claims that “150+” UE Bluetooth speakers can be wirelessly connected to ramp up the party.

The UE Boom 2 is priced US$179.99.

Sonos One

The latest wireless speaker from Sonos connects to devices like smartphones over WiFi rather than Bluetooth. It also integrates Amazon’s Alexa intelligent voice assistant for controlling music playback with voice commands. Plus, the Sonos One can connect to any other of the brand’s speakers for instant stereo sound.

The Sonos One is priced US$199.