Buffalo Buff

I'm looking for a bluetooth speaker that fits the following criteria:

1. Less than 60$
2. Black
3. Is audible while traveling 25mph
4. Holds a charge for at least 5 or 6 hours, more is a big plus
5. Has buttons for next / forward that interface with android phones
6. Reasonably light & compact

https://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Super-...ustomerReviews

That's the one I'm thinking about ordering. It looks pretty small and light, only concern is how loud it gets.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A2L77EE7U53NWQ

That one looks nice with the stereo arrangement, but I wonder if two speakers sideways would be any louder than one speaker pointed towards me? Also can't find it anywhere in black except for 100$+ on ebay and **** that.

Any suggestions before I pull the trigger on the first one? Mine broke and its killin me having no speaker on my bike. I need jams when I ride, and I really don't like using my earbuds.

01 CAt Man Do

Just a comment. I understand the frustration of trying to find a suitable BT speaker for the bike. Most of the stuff out there is big and clunky and really not something most people want mounted on their bikes. I thought about ordering one of these for my bike and mounting it to my top tube. Problem is it only has 3hr run time. Possible though that it might be able to charge and run at the same time. No guarantees on that though. Some USB devices do and some don't.

Anyway, if the one I suggest looks too cheap I'd go with the one you suggested that pointed the speaker toward you or perhaps this one which is a little smaller. I like "smaller" when it comes to mounting crap to my handlebars.

Looigi

Not that there's anything wrong with starting a new thread, but in this case I do suggest you search on "speaker" in this forum as there are a number of threads on the subject that might have good info for you.

Diablito

I was looking at these but waiting for someone that has one to post what they think. It has a run time of 15hrs and all the buttons your looking for
Outdoor Tech Buckshot Bike Compatible Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Black | eBay

bgav

https://www.amazon.com/Photive-Resist...4015604&sr=8-7

Good reviews. Mount using a universal handlebar mount.

01 CAt Man Do

Apparently you didn't read my post two posts above yours.

Anyway, today I picked up a nice little clip-on type BT speaker at the local Target ( HMDX is the brand ) ...paid about $20 for it. Not sure yet how I'll mount it to the road bike. It is quite loud so there will be times when I might want to bring it along. Suppose to play for four hours and that's good enough for me. It should clip on to the straps on my hydration pack for Mountain biking but I rarely listen to music or media while riding back in the woods. I would however like to listen to baseball games but only if I'm riding on the road. In the mean time I'll be using mine only for when I want to listen to some old songs via youtube while I'm working. Should also come in handy for those times when I'm on a busy road and need to hear the navigation app better.

Buffalo Buff

I went with this: Amazon.com: Ailik Outbass II Bicycle Portable Rechargeable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker, Cycling Speaker Mp3 Player with Micro Sd Card and Aux Inputs, with 4 Interchangeable Colored Skins and Bike Mount, for Smart Phone and Tablet: MP3 Players & Access

I have no idea what's going on with this product. It has zero reviews and is literally the exact same product as the highly reviewed joyiqi product, but sells for cheaper. The instruction booklet says joyiqi, no mention of ailik anywhere besides the return address on the box it came in. Unit works as expected, comes with a black sleeve, seems loud enough based on indoor testing and is light & compact.

I'll do a video review at some point in the future. Happy with it based on dicking around with it for 20 minutes at home.

Buffalo Buff

Well that speaker was a piece of crap. I mean my expectations were low, I was guessing maybe 6 hours battery life and zero bass out of the speaker you know? But it won't even power on when its not plugged into an outlet. How the **** I'm supposed to use that on a bike is beyond me.

FYI the reason the previous post was so positive compared to this one is I had it plugged in the entire time, so I didn't realize it was DOA.

Returned it and went with an Outdoor Tech Buckshot. Hopefully this speaker is portable.

noglider 

A former cow-orker of mine had a JBL speaker that sounded darned good. I think it sells for $40 or $50. I saw it on Amazon.

Diablito

Go with the Outdoor tech buckshot like I said haha. Its small and last 15hrs

Redflea

Have you considered a single-ear BT headset? You can hear the game and still hear the traffic and other noises all around you important for safety. There are numerous options available in your price range, and they have the added advantage of allowing you to handle any calls that come in while riding.

Buffalo Buff

Happy with the Buckshot. Been using it on my bike and while at work and haven't had to charge it after a few days. Only complaint is the mount. They only included a bright red strap, and it doesn't hold the speaker as securely as I'd like for taking bumpy roads at 20-25mph. Gonna have to rig up something better.

Redflea

So don't want to start a BT speaker war, but just wondering - do any BT speaker users have any concerns about broadcasting content at other riders/pedestrians you encounter who may not want to hear it? Speaking about people you don't know, not friends you may be riding with who presumably could knock you on the head if they weren't happy.

I mention this because this has been a repeat topic of conversation in the the group I ride with. We don't enjoy it when we encounter someone using an external speaker to broadcast their music/news/game. If they are going in the other direction at least it's over quickly, but if they are riding in our direction and are near us for an extended period of time it is annoying.

Recently, of our regular riders invited someone who brought his speaker/music with him for the ride. We ended up asking our friend to talk w/his buddy nicely after the ride and confirm 1) we enjoyed his company and would like him to keep riding with us, and 2) please don't bring the speaker the next time.

This is in the context of recreational riding (bike paths and bike lanes for fun/exercise on the weekend) not commuting, but I'd feel the same if a fellow bike commuter was playing their stuff next/near to me while I was riding to work. Just prefer to not have someone else's entertainment choices imposed on me.

Obviously (at least to me) using a speaker in the context of an off-road ride/hike is more problematic. I (and I believe the vast majority of others) are out there to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, not top-40 shock-jocks, or that day's game.

Thoughts?

BikeLite

Top 40 music is awesome.

noglider 

@Redflea, if the cyclist can hear it, then yes, nearby cyclists can hear it, unless the speaker is turned down low and is very close to the cyclist's ear. This has nothing to do with bluetooth.

Redflea

Thanks for making my point in 19 letters. ;-)

Buffalo Buff

If all the cars passing me and other cyclists weren't already louder than my bluetooth speaker I might be inclined to care about noise pollution. As it is, people can just deal with it. No worse than cars blasting music with their windows down in the summertime. Much quieter in fact. If someone gets their panties in a bunch over my music and I'm not in a group ride, I'll tell them to find something better to spend their time worrying about.

Redflea

Yes, I get that. My point/question was about using a bluetooth headset rather than a bluetooth speaker, so that only the user, vs. the user and others around him/her, hear the audio.

Redflea

Thanks for your comments...fair enough. I tend to try to minimize my contribution to ambient noise levels, due in part, I think, to my personal sensitivity in that area. I can go to a movie w/my wife and after it's over I'll comment about how noisy someone behind us was, and she'll tell me she didn't hear anything.

noglider 

@Redflea, are you asking if other bluetooth devices will pick up stuff my phone/tablet is transmitting? Not likely. You have to pair the two devices together, and it is design to have exactly one transmitter and exactly one receiver. Besides, we are in proximity only briefly.

noisebeam

I've daily used a JBL Charge for over a years. Fits perfectly in a bottle cage. No on board controls other than volume. It lists about 2x OPs budget though, but has a wider freq range volume than others at lower price range and a very long use time between charges.

I blast it when solo, which is no louder than sounds from other vehicles. If I approach another cyclist I turn it down until I am past them. Don't use it in group rides unless the group asks me to put it on.

Redflea

Hey - nope, aware that can't happen unless the devices were paired, and that won't happen unless the speaker is in pairing mode and you search for available devices from your phone and pair to it. Not gonna happen.

My concern is purely about hearing the sounds from other persons' speaker as they ride by and/or along near me. I was thinking and maybe some of my sensitivity to this comes from the fact that I ride frequently on boardwalks along the beach, which seems to attract more of the type of folks who want to share their sounds with everyone else.

Bless you, my friend. You are my ideal of a BT speaker user. Great to hear your approach...

TrekkingMitten

What about making your bike a speaker. Anyone tried that technology? It may work well with new CF frames or aluminum ones. I don't think it would work with dense, heavy, thick steel frames.

plumberroy

Ok I know I am late to the game on this , I have a Merit shock speaker Amazon.com: Merit Shok Mini Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker w/ Mic for Call, 10hours Playtime, Work w/ Smart Phones / Tablets / Laptops / PC Computers / MP3 Players (Green): Cell Phones & Accessories it comes with a handlebar mount I bought it to stream off my phone , But it will take a micro S.D. card and you can down load music and play off that . that saves phone battery
As far as using headphone most trails around here I ride don't allow them . Most don't follow that rule but it is posted. I play my speaker at a level that I can here it , and most people seem to notice it at 30 ft or less. I slow down or speed up to stay farther than that from people music or not
Roy

Reddy Kilowatt

I'm running the Buckshot on my Optibike Pioneer Allroad and it's really sweet. I got it from Amazon for less than $40 IIRC.
It has plenty of volume to hear clearly with a helmet on but I can still hear cars approaching.
I love, love, Love having tunes on my ride. I use an old iPhone3GS (no SIM card) as an iPod and whether I'm listening to opera or Louis Armstron, it makes my commute better than ever.
Allen