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4 Noise-Canceling Headphones That Are on Sale Now

If you’re looking for a solid pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones, but don’t want to fork over MSRP prices – we’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find four great deals on some of our favorite noise-canceling headphones by Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and Jabra.

Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony’s flagship noise-canceling headphones typically cost $348, which is what they’re going on Amazon and Sony’s website, however you can get a pretty sweet deal if you shop on eBay. It’s selling new, black or silver models for $270

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Even though these aren’t Bose’s flagship noise-canceling headphones anymore (that title now belongs to the Headphones 700), the QuietComfort 35 II are excellent and arguably more comfortable and travel-friendly than the above Sony’s. They’re also on sale on eBay.

Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 2

The price is a little bit of a misnomer, here. That’s because Sennheiser just released a newer version of this headphone, the Momentum Wireless 3, and is likley trying to phase out these new-year-old models. That said, these are great-sounding noise-canceling headphones with a great industrial design.

Jabra Elite 85h

Jabra’s noise-canceling headphones have been getting rave reviews online. In his review, David Carnoy of CNET wrote that “The Jabra Elite 85h is a good alternative Bose and Sony noise-canceling models for slightly less money, particularly if you value call quality.” And now Amazon is selling these headphones for an extra $50 off.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

October 22, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bose put its most powerful sports car system ever in the 2020 Corvette

There is a lot of change between the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette and the all-new 2020 Corvette. The engine moved behind the seats, there is no manual transmission offered, and there are no chrome wheel options. But one thing remains the same: Bose is handling the sound. Bose first linked up with Chevrolet on the Corvette back in 1984, and the company claims the 2020 model houses the most powerful and best-performing system it’s ever built for a two-door sports coupe.

The 2020 Corvette system has 14 speakers, which Bose says is the most it has ever put into a coupe. Up front, it features 2.5-inch and 3.25-inch neodymium Twiddler speakers on the dash, with 4-inch neodymium wide-range speakers and 1-inch neodymium tweeters assisting on the upper door. Two 5.25-inch neodymium wide-range speakers and three 3.25-inch neodymium Twiddlers in the rear of the cab help create a 360-degree experience. For bass, each door has a 10-inch Nd woofer. Rather than using a box surrounding the woofers, Bose used the door cavity as the bass box to economize space.

With speakers sprinkled throughout the cabin, there is sound coming from every direction, whether it be front, back, side to side, or corner to corner. Bose calls this Centerpoint 2, and it’s tuned to create a wide front stage that is complemented by surround sound. Bose aims to create a clear enough sound that listeners will be able to pick out each instrument and where it is coming from.

The biggest Corvette change, going mid-engined, forced Bose to completely rethink the entire Corvette sound packaging. Because the distracting engine sound is coming from the rear, Bose had to tune the system to block that out. This is called AudioPilot noise compensation technology. It uses microphones embedded within the cabin to monitor noise levels. The system reads these levels, and Bose-tuned algorithms adjust the sound signal.

As expected, Bose’s top-of-the-line system is offered as an option, with a 10-speaker system offered as standard. Luckily, the 2020 Corvette is pegged to start at less than $60,000, which leaves plenty of cash for special features. Check out the full order guide to scroll through the features.

August 2, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bose Frames Rondo Audio Sunglasses

This spring, Bose introduced a new kind of wearable apparel: audio sunglasses. Seemingly a counter-argument to Google’s impressive but underwhelming Glass from several years past, the Bose Frames Rondo is a pair of sunglasses with wireless technology.

Wearable technology is currently somewhere in the interim between “technology” and “design.” As for the tech, there’s no question about the potential. But it gets spotty when it comes to design. Everyone wants the latest wearable gear without looking like a robot. So far, most, if not all, wearable gear have failed to deliver. So, the team at Bose decided to make a product that, while high-tech, doesn’t skimp on aesthetics.

We mentioned that these are audio sunglasses. They don’t actually have buds that you wear as you would do with any conventional pair of earphones. Instead, the open-ear design directs the sound to your ears, minimizing what nearby people can hear. This is real sound, by the way, not some weird vibrations or anything like that, as on other gimmicky options. And because this is Bose we’re talking about here, the sound is no short of topnotch.

It does take some time getting used to. Honestly, the technology is so amazing you’ll be paranoid that people can hear what you’re listening to. But they can’t.

The Bose frame design features easy access to controls. You can change to volume, skip songs, pause, play, and even accept calls via the built-in mic. Oh, and it works with smart assistants as well. At $199, this is a risky buy considering it’s still early tech. But it’s worth a try.

BUY HERE

June 25, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

For so long, Bose’s QuietComfort 35 have been the grab-bag pair of cans when asking for a recommendation. And you know what? It’s really hard to argue with that. Though certainly on the premium side, they’re great, robust, high-quality headphones that offer tip-top noise cancellation. But a successor is overdue, and thus comes the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Many things remain unchanged in this iteration. The price, for starters, will still burn a hole through your pocket. Make no mistake, though — this $399 flagship model bears all the bells and whistles, and then some. It’s an ambitious update. In fact, it doesn’t even like its predecessor.

On the headphones, you’ll find a USB-C charging port, which was overdue for Bose. A single charge squeezes 20 hours of full-featured playback out of these bad boys.

Bose went big on voice assistants this time around, too. Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri are all supported. Whatever device you have or digital assistant you prefer, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 has you covered.

That, says Bose, ensures “you’ll be able to remain seamlessly connected to your phone without looking at it or even touching it.”

In addition, Bose says it’s got the world’s best microphone implementation to date. There are four of them in total, and the company is making bold promises on this pair’s noise cancelling abilities. One interesting thing Bose announced is its new Bose AR platform, which will apparently serve as an audio augmented reality tool. Say you’re looking at a particular landmark while wearing the headphones. An app will automatically tell you information about them or give you context-based directions.

BUY IT HERE

Photos courtesy of Bose

May 30, 2019 / Comments Off

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Bose Home Speaker 300

The Bose Home Speaker is the audio company’s tiniest smart speaker yet at just a little over six inches tall. Bose says it delivers “powerful bass and true 360-degree sound” at just $259.95.

For that kind of cash, you’d hope for top-tier audio quality, and fair enough, Bose has never failed us before. The Bose Home Speaker 300 is loaded with modern smarts. You can link it up with other speakers or soundbars from the company’s lineup and create a true multi-room music system.

It’s clear Bose patterned this one after its Home Speaker 500, but to downsize the prize, it had to make some compromises. For starters, there’s no more LCD that features album artwork for currently playing tracks. Still, it’s got the same playback controls on top, alongside several preset buttons that help users quickly pull up favorite songs or an internet radio station.

Besides voice command support, the Bose Home Speaker 300 also features AirPlay 2 integration. And it can act as your everyday Bluetooth speaker if you don’t care much about the smart speaker stuff. The only potential downside to this powerful device is that it needs to plugged in at all times. And there’s no built-in battery for wireless listening, so that means you can’t bring this with you poolside-style. Unless there’s an outlet there nearby, of course.

The Bose Home Speaker 300 is sleek, svelte, and offers topnotch sound quality. At a price you’ve come to expect from Bose, which is to say quite expensive. But, really, what’s not to like here?

CHECK IT OUT

May 23, 2019 / Comments Off

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Check Out The PIQO: The World’s Most Powerful 1080p Pocket Projector

The PIQO Projector had us intrigued when we came across it, understanding that it was a newer model projector. Instead of a big projector that would take a lot to move it from place to place, the PIQO fits in your pocket. It is true that pocket projectors are becoming the new “thing” for projector companies, but could this device be worth the investment?

The PIQO brand put its product on IndieGoGo to see the intrigue it might have. The concept was nothing new, but could it deliver all the things that other pocket projectors or larger projector models could not? It seems that people feel it could, allowing the company to more than surpass their goal monetarily.

Today, they have gathered over $2 Million for their project on their campaign. In fact, they hit their goal back in January of this year and immediately began production on the PIQO device. The plan is to begin launching the product for shipping in May.

It is quite impressive to see how far they have come, but what about this projector makes it worth your time? Let Men’s Gear guide you through the impressiveness of this device.

The PIQO Projector Is Revolutionary

As mentioned, the PIQO Projector is not considered new in theory. There are other pocket projectors currently in development or already released. However, what they have done with the projector makes it stand out. Pocket projectors, to begin with, are quite useful, however.

They are capable of being moved around without much effort due to their size. You also don’t need to plug them in, as they work on a battery. In the case of the PIQO, the battery lasts for 5 hours. That is enough to watch the entire Toy Story franchise from beginning to end. Well, before the 4th comes out. The battery can also charge up in an hour!

The PIQO is one of the smallest pocket projectors we’ve seen as well, coming in with dimensions of 2.25 inches all the way around its cube structure.

It can be used on any structure, so you won’t need a white screen to show it on. This means you can adjust it to show on a wall or even the ceiling! The picture comes in at 1080p, which is still the main pixel strength that most television and movies come in.

The fact that something so small can project 1080p in its picture is respectable for sure. If that’s not enough to sway you, perhaps its large picture will.

The PIQO’s picture reaches 240 inches, larger than any television currently on the market. Due to its use of Keystone Angle Correction, the picture can also be adjusted to fit the place you shine the projector.

The PIQO Has Some Big Connections

The PIQO Projector also comes in with a 200 ANSI lumen display. This display does not come off too bright, which allows for those with light sensitivity to not have any issues with the picture. While the device does not shine too brightly, do not assume it’ll be tough to see.

The ANSI Lumen display allowed for the brightness to be distributed in the proper way, thus allowing it to not come off too dark nor too bright.

The company partnered up like many others with Texas Instruments to use their revolutionary DLP Technology for the PIQO too. It also used Android Software to fully develop the core of their pocket projector.

Due to its Android software, it is compatible with Google Play and already has applications set up to play YouTube and even Netflix upon arrival. If the connection to Google wasn’t enough, the device is also touchscreen. This allows you to handle everything at the device itself, but a remote does come included if you prefer that instead.

PIQO also needed to have proper speakers, as one would like to hear a good sound when watching things on the go too, right? While the Android software was a big asset, the Hi-Fi Speakers are also impressive. They were developed by Harman Kardon and Bose engineers, which is pretty huge.

You should know by now how impressive Bose is with their audio software, as they do have some of the absolute greatest audio products on the market. Yet Harman Kardon should not be overlooked. They happen to be a U.S. based subsidiary division of Samsung Electronics, a South Korean company.

Having basically Samsung and Bose engineers make your speakers is a HUGE get in our opinion. It also uses Bluetooth technology that helps to give it even more freedom from the audio and visual standpoint.

The PIQO Is Great For Any Entertainment Activity

Due to being so mobile, it can really go anywhere and work. This is really essential and makes it well worth having around we think. While its mobility should be commended, it should also be commended for its complete compatibility too. The PIQO Projector is universally connectable and can work with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows products perfectly.

Computer, tablet, or phone, it does not matter. The universal connectivity allows it to do everything you need it to do. You could literally be watching a YouTube video on your phone and a minute later, watch that same video on the PIQO. Set up is a breeze and makes the device even more valuable to have around.

Gaming will never be the same, as video games can also be played on the PIQO Projector with amazing clarity. Since it works on every device, you can also hook your game system to it and play off the PIQO like you would with your television. Imagine playing X-Box One’s Halo on the PIQO. It could be legendarily awesome!

While the battery for the PIQO is great for video at 5 hours of life, it is also capable of music play for 50 hours straight without a charge. The main technology of the visual uses the battery a great deal. Meanwhile, the audio engineers who worked on the projector were able to make the tech’s audio impressive while also helping it take up less battery.

This allowed or the visual to take up most of the battery up, thus allowing the 5-hour battery life. However, if JUST the audio is used, the audio was made to quite literally last a long time. This is how the 50-hour battery life on music play was possible.

How To Buy

Clearly, you can do just about anything on the PIQO Projector. We now know we can play music, video games, or watch television and films. Entertainment wise, what can this thing not do, right? The partnerships and engineers used on the PIQO went on to make it well worth your time and money.

Since this pocket projector is very new, you can pre-order it right now. If you pre-order before the campaign on IndieGoGo ends, you’ll be able to buy the PIQO for around $350. This is insanely low for such an incredible device. We advise you to take advantage of the opportunity!

To buy today, go to the link below:

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PIQO PROJECTOR

April 11, 2019 / Comments Off

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Top 8 Motorcycle Handlebar Speakers

ou’ve got the bike, the helmet, the scarf, the gloves, and even the leather jacket. Aren’t you forgetting something, amigo? Music, that’s what! Every great journey on the back of two-wheels should be accompanied by music. Whether it’s rock, hip-hop or anything in-between, it doesn’t matter. In order to hear it right, motorcycle handlebar speakers offer the best possible way for motorcyclists to listen.

Music and motorcycling have a long history together. Many great songs have been written about motorcycles. Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf, Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf alone prove our point.

There’s a lot that makes a journey great, especially on the back of a two-wheeler. However, without music, is the experience really as good as it could be? We don’t think so.

You need music to soundtrack your movement. It can make those dramatic turns in the road and the reaching of maximum speed all the more exhilarating. How do you go about combining both bikes and music? Dr. Seuss once said that the questions are complicated, but the answers are simple. That tracks here just as well.

Simply buy yourself some motorcycle handlebar speakers.

However, there are thousands of different motorcycle handlebar speakers out there. Trust us, we’ve looked. You need to think carefully and research carefully before buying. That’s where we come in.

The team at Men’s Gear have worked hard to produce this guide to motorcycle handlebar speakers so that you get the best value for your money. We’re going to count down our pick of the best 8 around. Before we do that, however, there are FAQs we need to address.

What must one Consider when Buying Motorcycle Handlebar Speakers?

Buying motorcycle handlebar speakers without doing research first is simply irresponsible. We don’t want you to make a bad choice, so we’re here to help.

If you want a more freeing music listening experience, then going with handlebar speakers makes all the sense in the world to us. The offer a far better listening experience and standard earbuds ever could.

The next thing you really need to think about is how you want to connect them. Unfortunately, there are not many options in this department. You essentially have two choices. You can pair a speaker or set of speakers with a Bluetooth receiver to a Bluetooth-enabled music player.

However, you can also sync to a portable device such as your smartphone or tablet.

This option allows you to be free of wires, but you can still go down the wire route too. You’d simply use your 3.5mm Auxilary Jack normally. Sound quality isn’t usually determined by the connection but the sound and experience you prefer are what matters in this decision.

Regarding sound quality, you don’t want to spend all that money buying then setting up your new motorcycle handlebar speakers only for your engine to be louder than they are. The sound level is just as important, so be sure to check the sound of your normal to loudest engine roar first, well before buying.

A $16 Decibel Meter can test this very well.

All of this is in addition to the style of the speakers too. As you’d like to find ones that match your bike. We don’t advise yellow speakers with red bikes. You’re not Hulk Hogan at in 1988.

How Do Motorcycle Handlebar Speakers Even Work?

That is another very good question and one with a surprisingly very easy answer. The last thing you want is a complicated installation process. You want to hit the road with a soundtrack to your journeys and adventures right away.

It’s understandable that you’d be worried that there’ll be lots of wiring and complicated tinkering involved. However, regardless of whether it’s a Triumph or Harley, the set up to these speakers is very easy. Particularly if you invest in a Bluetooth set.

Clearly, before you can actually start blasting out your journey with a soundtrack of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, you need to attach your speakers to your bike.

Manufacturers have made this very simple, and even offer mounting hardware for the speakers to set them up properly. Mounting hardware may sound like an intimidating phrasing, but it’s mostly simple clamps that slot on to your handlebars. They can be adjusted appropriately until they are secure.

The wiring set-up for those types can be more complicated because… well, it involves wiring. While Bluetooth is probably your best bet if you want an uncomplicated life. You simply need to pair your chosen music player or portable device. That could be anything from your iPhone to your Tablet. It’s as simple as that.

Are Some Motorcycles More Suitable for These Types of Speakers Than Others?

The trouble is with this question is there’s no real right or wrong answer. Often, it depends on two things really – the style of handlebars you have and if you have a specific set of speakers. Generally speaking, most manufacturers who make these speakers ensure they have the maximum level of compatibility.

This means that most speakers will fit and work with most motorcycles.

While rare, there are some speakers that need additional accessories to make them fit on specific bike brands. For instance, in our guide, you’ll find one speaker in particular that isn’t suitable right off for installation on Yamaha motorcycles.

A customer actually spoke to Yamaha about the ordeal about the bike and new speakers. Yamaha then happily sent out the additional piece needed to install the speakers. Presto, music then played perfectly on the bike.

We always recommend that you look at the specification and finer details closely. Most motorcycle handlebar speakers will include information about what bikes they are compatible with, while most have universal mounting hardware. Meaning they’ll fit most motorcycles.

Again, it is always worth looking at the size of the clamps and mounting rigs used. This is to see if they match with the thickness and size of your handlebars. There’s also the fact that some are bigger than others. Therefore, you’d need to give some careful consideration as to whether the speakers would get in the way or make riding less safe.

Being in the wrong place could lead to bad sound quality, or worse, a wreck. We do not want either to occur.

We hope with the reviews we’ve put together of our favorite motorcycle handlebar speakers that you’ll be able to find one that fits on your motorcycle with ease.

Which of these Handlebar Speakers Below are Most Suitable for a Harley Davidson?

If we had a Harley, we’d certainly have a handlebar sound system hooked up and we’d be off on the road. As we’ve established, the majority of motorcycle handlebar speakers have universal mounting hardware. You’ll generally find that most can be fitted to most bikes.

Like maple syrup and pancakes, there’s also some handlebar speakers that are better for combining with a Harley than others.

Take the Lexin S3 3-Inch Waterproof Motorcycle Audio System as an example. In the manufacturer’s spec for this speaker, Harley Davidson motorcycles are specifically mentioned as being compatible. More specifically, the Harley Davidson Street, Sportster, and Softtail motorcycle models.

We’d also recommend the Scosche BoomBars Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Bike Mount. It already looks intimidating and impressive, so why not pair it with one of the most intimidating and iconic bike brands on the planet?

Another to try on a Harley is the Golden Hawk 300-Watt Full Range Stereo Speakers. It makes perfect sense to us that this would be a good match for a Harley too.

Also, make note that the Kicker 3-inch Weatherproof Enclosed Mini Speaker System would be a good set to use with a Harley. Mainly due to its size, we feel it would look great and fit extremely well. If you’re looking for the truly best match for your Harley, the three we’ve noted would be ideal.

However, you’ll find that any of the speakers below will fit well enough. The only issue will be the sound level and quality, which is still often fine. Often times, this is a preference thing. Despite that, the ones mentioned above are likely the best for Harley Davidson models.

What Motorcycle Handlebar Speakers are the Loudest?

Loudness and sound quality are always vital aspects you need to take into consideration when buying sound systems. You probably have no intention of waking up the dead by booming Metallica or Guns ‘n’ Roses at full blast. That said though, you still want to hear the music as it was intended.

There’s no point in having a speaker if you can’t hear Tool’s prog rock and metal soundscapes. That‘s even without being on the back of a roaring beast of a bike. Why have speakers you cannot hear anything out of, right?

Another consideration you need to be concerned with is the wattage any of the motorcycle handlebar speakers have. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the wattage a speaker has, the louder the sound will be.

Applying that rule to the products in our guide, there are many that stand out. To start with, MTX Universal 6 Speaker All-Weather Handlebar Sound System has 150-watts of power in total, which is quite powerful.

The Golden Hawk 300-Watt Full Range Stereo Speakers set we mentioned before, but it’s that good. It provides 300-watts of power, obviously. There are some discrepancies with the experience customers had, however. That power rating is amazing even still.

The highest by far on our list is the BOSS Audio Systems Bluetooth Weatherproof Sound System and the Sound Storm Weatherproof Sound System. Both of which come in at 600-watts. It’s worth remembering that there’s more to think about than just the wattage. We feel we’ll certainly show you some speakers you’ll want right away.

Now that we’ve covered the big questions about these useful accessories, it’s time to look at our top picks for motorcycle handlebar speakers. Check it out!

1) BOSS Audio Systems Bluetooth Weatherproof Sound System

You want to feel like the boss on the road, don’t you? That’s why you want to make a lasting impression and entrance wherever you roll up. Even if it’s for less arrogant reasons, there’s no shame in wanting to look cool. The first on our list of motorcycle handlebar speakers is this awesome set from BOSS Audio Systems that’ll help you stand out fast.

The BOSS MCBK420B offers the kinda versatility you want from a portable sound system. You can either pair it with a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as your smartphone and tablet or connect it via the 3.5mm Aux. It consists of two 3-inch speakers with a smart black finish that can be adjusted by one inline control.

Some days you just want to say ‘to hell with it’ and head out on the highway looking for adventure. Regardless of whatever comes your way. Yes, that was a very deliberate reference, you wild man.

With this BOSS set, all you need to do is fire up the engine. Well, once you’ve set up the speakers of course. Then blast those tunes as you ride around town or along those mountain ridges and country roads. To say this is a deceptively beefy sound system would be an understatement.

After all, the built-in amplifier can produce a maximum of 600-watt. Definitely, one to consider.

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2) MTX Universal 6 Speaker All-Weather Handlebar Sound System

Why not have something a bit more substantial than just one speaker? With the MTX Universal all-in-one 6 speaker sound system, that’s what you get. This is one system that’s really made for all you rockers out there. Even if you want to blast some high-velocity EDM, we’re sure this will do the trick and we certainly won’t judge you for that.

Six speakers come in this set and are divided up into four 1-inch high-frequency tweeters and two 2-inches by 3-inches full range drivers. That might sound like a lot to fit onto even the most spacious handlebars, but don’t worry.

Remember, it’s an all-in-one unit.

The speakers are all connected up to a powered amplifier that provides the power needed for you to enjoy some Five Finger Death Punch or The Foo Fighters. In a similar fashion to the above speaker, this set includes an onboard Bluetooth receiver. This will allow you to stream your favorite music from a portable device, such as a tablet or smartphone.

Like most people in any vehicle, you’re bound to get caught in the rain at some point. When that happens, the MTX MUDHSB-B is protected from all elements. Electronic devices protected from the elements, especially rain? You had our curiosity MTX, but now you have our attention.

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3) JBL Cruise Bluetooth Handlebar Speaker Kit

Slick and compact, the JBL Cruise Bluetooth Handlebar Speaker Kit is a terrific model that any motorcycle enthusiast would love. It offers a great solution for listening to your music while roaring along the freeway or those country roads, catching the wind in your hair and helmet.

These motorcycle handlebar speakers come with a pair of 2.5-inch mount-capable speakers. JBL is a very well-known and reputable brand when it comes to loudspeakers and other sound systems. They’re a leader in the sound industry but they make multiple other electronics as well.

Their experience really shows with their attention to detail in the design and construction of these cool speakers. The mirror integration mounting is an awesome touch alone. Although there are some bikes you’ll find it’s harder to install them onto, a quick message to the company and they’ll help you out.

There’s no denying it’s a truly magical experience riding along on a hot summer’s day, but the weather won’t stop you roaring along. That said, why should it stop you soundtracking your journeys? The IPX5 model is waterproof rated, which basically means it will cope with low pressure and a sustained jet spray of water.

You can connect your portable device, whether it’s a tablet, smartphone or other devices via the onboard Bluetooth receiver. This is handy for listening to tunes with portable ease. You can also benefit from moderate, but reasonable enough sound quality 20-watt speakers.

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4) Lexin S3 3-Inch Waterproof Motorcycle Audio System

You know what your bike really needs, dude? A set of bullet-shaped speakers, that’s what. Not only are they strikingly shaped, but they’re made from chrome-plated metal. They’re available in a shiny black or chrome color and have an incredibly cool finish.

Each of the speakers in this Lexin S3 audio system is 3-inches in size and capable of producing 25-watts of sound. Installation of these speakers is as easy as warm apple pie. Simply pair the speakers with your chosen Bluetooth-enabled device or plug it into the appropriate Aux port and you’re good to go.

Ready to listen to a bit of Boney M and Rick Astley, while thundering along at 50mph? You’ll be all set to do so within minutes.

As is the case with most on our list, the Lexin S3 motorcycle audio system is waterproof and will function properly in inclement weather. Whether you’re more of a punk rocker, heavy metaller, or old school rocker, then Lexin will not let you down. Even when Mother Nature seems to have it in for you.

The high quality of sound produced by these motorcycle handlebar speakers is tremendous. Plus, it’s easy to mount, and it comes in at a price of less than $70. That makes this a model we’d be happy to get and it’s clearly a very good deal.

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5) Scosche BoomBars Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Bike Mount

The Scosche BoomBars Portable Bluetooth handlebar speaker is simply incredible. This speaker is awesome for a variety of different reasons. For one thing, it operates completely wirelessly and connects up with your portable devices. It doesn’t matter if it’s your smartphone, tablet, or music player, it all connects via Bluetooth.

This gives you completely hands-free playback. Just what you need when you’re riding along on your bike.

These motorcycle handlebar speakers can mount onto your handlebar directly using the clamp it comes with. Meaning no complicated set-up.

It doesn’t need to have the batteries replaced regularly like other systems. It’s powered by a rechargeable battery that gives you around 5 hours of music. Take a moment to just look at this thing. If you want something that’ll make your bike look more extra badass than it already does, adding this will do just that.

It’s big, looks impressive, and works very well. However, it’s more than just a beautiful thing on the outside, your favorite tunes and radio are blasted out from the 35mm 2-W up-firing speaker. The speaker itself sends your tunes in different directions. However, the mount can be rotated to enable you to position the speaker in whatever direction you want.

Don’t have a Bluetooth-enabled device or just prefer to connect to an actual wire? You can connect your portable device with the use of an AUX 3.5mm cable.

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6) Golden Hawk 300-Watt Full Range Stereo Speakers

Do you sometimes feel like an eagle or a hawk soaring through the sky as you’re racing along the freeway or taking those quick trips along inner-city roads? The perfect companion for a true hawk of the open road is the Golden Hawk 300-wall full range stereo speakers.

Gaze in wonder at just how shiny the finish is on them. They actually resemble motorcycle helmets, with their aerodynamic design. With a rating of IP56 for waterproofing, they’re made to cope with serious rainfall. Especially on those days when you won’t let a good soaking stop you hitting the road.

Come rain or shine, you’ll be able to blast Speed King, Born to Be Wild or Toto’s sublime AOR classic Africa. You can’t go wrong with a bit of Toto, can you? Whether you want to leave it to the local radio DJ to choose your ride soundtrack or you want to choose your own incidental music, with the Golden Hawk you can.

They offer a fully functioning wired connectivity via the 3.5mm AUX port. However, you can ‘get with the times, grandpa’ and use the Bluetooth wireless streaming option. Simply pair the device of your choice with the speakers and you’re good to go.

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7) Sound Storm Weatherproof Sound System

A motorcycle gives you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever, more or less anyway. With motorcycle handlebar speakers, like the Sound Storm Weatherproof Sound System, you also have the freedom to take your music with you. Motorcycling is very much about the experience rather than being just about getting from A to B.

You can get from A to B with style or not, so why not let Sound Storm give you the cool ride? The addition of a sound system makes it much more exciting and memorable. This is a weatherproof set of two 3-inch speakers that connect to an amplifier with a maximum output of 600-watts.

Like all good modern speakers for your handlebars, you get a choice. The choice of whether to connect your speakers wirelessly to your music playing device or to connect it old-school via the 3.5mm AUX wire. The actual mounting hardware you need is included, as you’d expect. It’s also reasonably easy to set up.

Once it is, you’re ready to benefit from some of the best sound quality of any of the items on our list. Any day, any time, any weather, take this baby out and let it boom out loud and proud. Those tunes you normally have in your ear will breath new life!

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8) Kicker 3-inch Weatherproof Enclosed Mini Speaker System

Are you ready for love and looking for a sound system to knock you off your feet? Could it be the Kicker 3-inch weatherproof mini speaker system? We certainly think so. These are real stunners in the looks department. A lot of care and attention clearly went into the crafting of them. Was that you, Zeus?

It didn’t stop at just the looks though. As underneath the durable and robust chrome plating, is speakers that can produce reasonably clear and crisp sound. This comes in loud enough for most any riding situation.

As you’d expect, they come complete with the appropriate mounting hardware that is easy enough to use. To top it off, they can even be connected via Bluetooth. That makes it easy to start playing your favorite music through them right away.

Picture the scene – you’re roaring through the streets of L.A. or Miami and blasting some RTJ, Avenged Sevenfold. Perhaps something more traditional like Led Zep’s Immigrant Song or Black Sabbath’s Paranoid.

Even if you’re more of a Know Your Enemy by Green Day kinda guy, when you combine riding your motorcycle with the music you love, it’s an unbeatable mixture.

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Rev Up Your Engine and Crank the Sound Up

There you have it, gentlemen, we’ve reached an endpoint to our motorcycle handlebar speakers review. This has been a real joy to put together. Are you ready to order one of those beauties listed above, strap them to your bike, and roll out?

Even the guys at Men’s Gear without motorcycles wished they had them so they had an excuse to invest in a set of speakers for the handlebars.

If you were on the fence about motorcycle handlebar speakers before reading this piece, we hope we’ve managed to convince you that they’re a worthy investment when chosen wisely. To that end, we also hope we’ve given you all the information you need to make the right choices when buying these speakers for your cool set of wheels.

There are so many different products to choose from, believe us, we know. That’s why we whittled away at a much larger list until we found “the perfect 8.”

Maybe you didn’t need much convincing and were all but ready to buy a set of handlebar speakers for your Indian, Triumph, Yamaha, or even Harley Davidson. Hopefully, we’ve helped you avoid any major mistakes you may have made without the tips and advice from Men’s Gear.

We want to empower our readers to make the best buying decisions possible.

There’s not much left to do, except wish you all well on your next adventures. Once to begin playing your music on your new motorcycle handlebar speakers, we’re sure you’ll create even more lasting memories. The open road is yours to enjoy, let your favorite music boom out to everyone you pass. Then, let it fuel that adventurous spirit you’ve always had.

December 20, 2018 / Comments Off

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The Best Portable, Waterproof Speakers You Can Buy This Summer

This definitive guide to the best portable speakers of 2018 explores everything you need to know before buying your next portable speaker, including what features to look out for and the different options available, along with which portable speakers we feel are best for every type of person.

Prefer to skip directly to the picks? Click here.

The Short List

Best Overall Speakers: Ultimate Ears Megablast and Blast

Verdict: The UE Megablast and UE Blast are the next evolution of the best-in-class portable speakers, the UE Megaboom and UE Boom. They’re slightly larger and more powerful, but the UE Megablast and UE Blast are also the company’s first smart speakers. They support Alexa voice commands and essentially work exactly like an Amazon Echo, but they’re portable so you can take them hiking or to the park. When I originally reviewed these speakers in early 2018, my two criticisms were that they were too expensive and didn’t support Alexa voice commands with Spotify — both of the problems have now been rectified; UE has significantly dropped the price of each speaker and updated its software to support Spotify. | |

Runner Up: Bose SoundLink Revolve Plus

Verdict: The Bose SoundLink Revolve Plus is the company’s first 360-degree Bluetooth speaker. It’s loud and powerful, and the audio is accurate and spacious; it’s engineered with dual-opposing passive-radiators and an efficient transducer to eliminate distortion. It’s not the most rugged speaker on this list, but it’s still splash-resistant. And it’s simple design and easily-defined buttons make this traditional Bluetooth speaker very intuitive to use. It also has a built-in mic so you can answer calls without having to take out your phone — super convenient. For anybody who loves Bose, the SoundLink Revolve Plus is an easy next buy. (Even if it does look like a lantern.) |

Best Budget Speaker: Anker Soundcore Flare

Verdict: The Soundcore Flare is new and small portable speaker that produces suprisingly great, room-filling sound. Throw in the fact that in only costs $60, and this is an excellent portable speaker for pretty much anybody. It’s extremely waterproof and has a dedicated button on the outside to boost its bass, in case you like more bass-heavy audio. Additionally, through Anker’s Soundcore app you can tweak the EQ setttings and customize the LED lights that flash on the outside of the speaker.

Introduction

When I was younger, I remember having a dependable portable speaker was everything. It provided the soundtrack to backyard barbecues, pool parties, sports practices and pickup games. Then in my nefarious high school years, it was one of three weekend essentials that we divvied up between our friends — somebody brought the beer, somebody brought the cups and balls, and somebody brought the tunes. It was great.

Today, having a dependable portable speaker is still super important, even if seems like there are so many more types of speakers to choose between, from smart speakers to bookshelf speakers, multi-room speakers to multi-channel hi-fi systems. One of the main reasons is that all those speakers need to be tethered to a wall outlet, which is boring and not conducive to a life on the move. Also, many of our favorite portable speakers have no problem operating in the sun or rain and have long-lasting batteries, which makes them ideal companions for camping, hiking or just picnicking at some park.

The cream of the latest crop of rugged portable speakers — meaning they’re water-resistant and can handle a drop — don’t necessarily look the rugged part, but looks are far from everything. Many of these models are rated IP7, which means they can handle more than just splashes, smashes, snow and sand; instead, they can be submerged in water 3.3 feet deep for up to 30 minutes. That’s not bad for speakers that might look as nice on your bookshelf as they do on the edge of the hot tub.

The Factors to Consider Before Buying

When setting out to buy a portable speaker, there are almost too many to choose from. They come in all different shapes and sizes, with different sound qualities and price points. Also, they also come with many different features. Here’s what you need to look for to make sure a speaker is right for you.

• Brand: You’ve probably heard of all the speaker manufacturers on this list, which is a good thing. You want to trust that speaker is not only going to sound good but also last. The other thing with brand, is that many portable speakers on this list work with other like-branded speakers; for instance, you can pair two Bose Soundlink speakers together or two of Kicker’s Bullfrog speakers together for more of a party (or multiroom) setup.

• Size and Shape: Portable speakers come in all different shapes and sizes, and generally the bigger the speaker, the louder and better it is going to sound. You also want to consider the shape and design of the speaker. The two most popular shapes these days are 360-degree (cylindrical) or monodirectional speakers. The 360-degree speakers are generally better when placed in the middle of a room while monodirectional are better for stereo audio.

• Ruggedness: All rugged speakers aren’t the same. And in order to know how water-resistant or drop-proof a speaker is, you really need to understand IP (Ingress Protection) ratings. The easy way to explain it is that the higher the IP rating of the speaker, the more water-resistant it is — an IP7-rated speaker is more durable than an IP4-rated speaker. You can check out how the IP ratings are explained, here.

• Features: Some of today’s portable speakers are more versatile and feature-packed than others. For instance, some speakers like Ultimate Ears’ Megablast and Blast can actually connect to wi-fi and function like an Amazon Echo. Others can pair with other like-minded speakers in a stereo setup. Some have built-in microphones so you can use it as a loudspeaker without having to pick up your phone. And then some have controllable LED lights. Depending on how you want to use the speaker and if you want to deal with a companion app — these are all factors you have to consider.

• Voice Assistance: Some of the newer portable speakers have wi-fi connectivity and support a voice assistant, such as Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. This allows you to use speaker similar to an Amazon Echo or Google Home, using voice commands to request songs, answer general queries and control smart home devices. However, you’ll only be able to access the voice assistant when connected to wi-fi or a mobile hotspot.

• Battery Life: Bigger speakers tend to have larger and longer-lasting batteries. That said, it varies from speaker to speaker. If you know you’re going to listen to the speaker a lot and you’re also going to have to go days between charges, these are things you should consider before purchasing a portable speaker.

• Charge: Most of today’s portable speakers need a micro-USB cable to charge. However, there are some speakers that require a USB-C or AC cable to charge. Knowing what kind of cable might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually really convenient to be able to use the same cables to charge a few of your devices, like wireless headphones, smartphone and computer.

Buying Guide

Best Overall Speakers: Ultimate Ears Megablast and Blast

Ultimate Ears Alternatives:

• The UE Boom 2 ($100+) is an older, slightly cheaper, and less powerful version of the UE Blast — it also doesn’t have a built-in virtual assistant. It’s a very good sounding 360-degree speaker that comes in a lot of colors and you can find online for pretty cheap.

• The UE Megaboom ($169) is a larger version of the UE Boom 2. While it’s a still a very good speaker, you can find the newer and better-sounding UE Megablast for even cheaper than the UE Megaboom, so it makes sense to pass on this.

• The UE Wonderboom ($63+) is a really small, ball-shaped portable speaker that’s water-resistant and sounds way bigger than its size. A solid budget speaker.

• The UE Roll 2 ($62+) is ideal for bike messengers or anybody with a backpack. It’s a front-facing speaker — not 360-degree — that’s super portable and comes with strap for those who want to fasten the speaker to their backpack.