When shopping for a speaker for teens, you’ll want to consider whether it’s waterproof or water-resistant (based on their needs), how good the sound quality is, and overall size for portability. We carefully reviewed design, sound quality, size and shape, value, and water-resistance when reviewing products. Whether you’re in the market for the perfect gift or just want to surprise your kiddo, these are the best speakers for teens. We named the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II our top pick because it packs strong sounds into a bold, colorful, small speaker. Devices are easily paired via voice prompts to other Soundlink products, creating a surround sound-like experience. The battery life holds for eight hours and while it’s not waterproof, this speaker is water-resistant, so it should be safe poolside or outdoors. Price at time of publication: $130 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $130 Price at time of publication: $155 Price at time of publication: $43 Price at time of publication: $150 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $220 Check out speakers that are small and lightweight for travel, but don’t sacrifice on sound quality despite their small design. Additionally, some speakers feature a carrying handle to make on-the-go portability that much easier. This allows your teen to take their speaker over to a friend’s house or move it around their room with ease.
Water Resistance
Before you make a decision, it’s important to know the differences between waterproof and water-resistant. Many parents and caregivers, and even teens, don’t realize the two are not the same, and not knowing the difference may damage the speaker you choose for your teen to enjoy. If a speaker is waterproof, this means it will not be affected by any water it may come into contact with. Many waterproof speakers can actually be submerged for a certain period of time, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. These types of speakers are perfect for days by the pool or lake, or even for some tunes while taking a shower. A water-resistant speaker provides some protection against water. Water-resistant speakers are typically designed to prevent water from entering the device, but it’s still possible for water to slip through. It’s best to keep water-resistant speakers away from water, knowing that it’s probably going to be fine if it accidentally gets a bit wet.
Sound Quality
It’s no secret all speakers don’t sound the same, one aspect you definitely want to consider is sound quality. There are two measurements of sound quality to look for: frequency and total harmonic distortion.
Total harmonic distortion tells you how much voltage or current is distorted due to the signal’s harmonics. Aim for a number under 1%; the lower the number, the better the sound quality.Frequency usually ranges from 20 kHz (the top frequency, which most of us cannot actually hear) to 100 Hz, which has a deeper bass and better sound quality.
Why Trust Verywell Family?
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year old daughter. While she doesn’t have any teens yet (eek!), her kids do have some very specific musical tastes (hello Hamilton, “Old Town Road,” and “Bean Bag Boogie”), so maybe it’s a good thing her house isn’t filled with portable Bluetooth speakers.
