Bluetooth speakers come in a few basic styles, and the first thing you have to consider when choosing the right model for you is whether you want a portable unit, something potentially waterproof. The alternative is something more powerful, louder, typically offering better sound without the restrictions and worries about battery life. If you can plug it in, you’re tied to an outlet, but the upsides are significant. Besides, while you are in your house or office, you’re going to be near an outlet anyway.
The Kicker Amphitheater 2 Bluetooth Speaker is built for kitchen, living room, or bedroom use- or potentially for you to setup in your garage or attic. Fifty watts of power drive dual 0.75″ Tweeters and five-inch woofers. Weighing in at about ten pounds, that means you aren’t going to travel with it, but you can charge your mobile devices thanks to the USB port on the rear. There’s an auxiliary 3.5mm minijack audio input as well, and the shape of the unit helps direct audio appropriately.
There’s a free app as well, available for iPhones from the Apple App Store or for Android devices from Google Play, and the coolest part is an eight-band equalizer so you can modify your sound profile to fit the music. We’ve seen Kicker gear in the past- a docking speaker a while ago, and a tubular Bluetooth speaker a bit over a year ago- and we’ve always admire their focus. Bluetooth connectivity was decent- we did face occasional drop-outs like most other gear- but the distance was pretty normal. And we liked the included remote, as well as the easy-to-use controls on top of the unit.
Kicker gear isn’t pretty, and it isn’t colorful. It’s masculine and unafraid to show it. There’s no Airplay or multi-room support, but if you’re in need of a a bookshelf Bluetooth speaker that can play loud and proud, then this guy might just be the ticket. The Kicker Amphitheater Bluetooth 2 (model iK5BT2) is available now, online and in stores, for around $149.