Portable bluetooth speakers are great, but sometimes it’s nice to have a small system that can play the radio, stream via Bluetooth, and maybe even do more, such as play tapes, CDs, or MP3s from a USB stick.
This post will cover the best options for small units that can do it all with these criteria:
Priced under $100
Bluetooth capability
Digital AM/FM tuner
Corded AC plug
Note that for under 100 bucks you are not getting audiophile quality. These units sound ok, maybe even above average, but the main goal was to find a small workshop / garage / studio boombox for playing the radio and streaming tunes from a device via Bluetooth.
Top Pick: Sony Portable Boombox with Bluetooth and Digital Tuner
The Sony Bluetooth boombox has good sound and a digital FM/AM tuner with up to 30 presets.
This little Sony unit has everything: Bluetooth, digital AM/FM tuner, USB playback, along with features such as a CD player and “mega” bass. It also has a dedicated button for each mode (Bluetooth / FM / USB / etc) along with plenty of other buttons, making it very easy to use and operate. This is the boombox I use in my own studio.
It has great FM reception, pulling in every low-power station in my area along with all the big stations, easy Bluetooth pairing, and decent sound. As other reviewers have noted, it doesn’t get super loud and the “mega” bass leaves a bit to be desired. You may find Bluetooth speakers with better sound (such as JBL speakers) but I wanted a radio and Bluetooth and this delivered on that. It’s a great addition to my studio and it sounds way better and louder than streaming music through my phone speakers, plus I can tune into the radio stations I enjoy. This unit seems to be the market leader for small, plug-in Bluetooth boomboxes priced at $100 or less.
Sony Portable Bluetooth Boombox: $95-$99
Power: AC cord or 6 C batteries
Table of Contents
Top Pick: Sony Bluetooth Boombox with Digital FM/AM Tuner
Budget Pick: Megatek Bluetooth Boombox with Digital FM/AM Tuner
Alternate Pick: KLIM B4 Bluetooth Bombox
Throwback Pick: Ion Audio Street Rocker 1980s Style Bluetooth Boombox
Other options
Summary
BUDGET PICK: Megatek Bluetooth Boombox with Digital FM/AM Tuner
The Megatek portable bluetooth boombox in black.
Coming in at about half the price of the Sony Boombox, the Megatek Boombox has many of the same features at a budget price, including bluetooth connectivity, digital AM/FM tuner with 30 presets, MP3 playback via USB, an auxiliary-in port and it’s available in black or red. It’s a decent option but some reviewers mention the sound isn’t quite as good as the Sony.
Other drawbacks are that there aren’t as many dedicated buttons, so you’ll be pressing the mode button to switch between functions. But at $45, it’s a price that can’t be beat.
Megatek Bluetooth Boombox: $45
Power: AC cord in or 4 C batteries
ALTERNATE PICK: KLIM B4 Boombox with Bluetooth, FM, and Internal Battery
The KLIM B4 Boombox features a clean design along with a remote.
KLIM makes a variety of Bluetooth boomboxes but the most interesting option is the B4 model which has all the same features as the Sony but with an internal rechargeable battery and a remote. It also has more powerful 3 watt speakers as opposed to the 2 watt on the Sony. It’s a great package with clean design that is listed at $70 but can often be found on sale for less, and is available in white or black.
KLIM B4 Boombox: $70
Power: AC cord or with internal rechargeable battery with 6 hour run time.
THROWBACK PICK: Ion Audio Street Rocker 1980s Style Bluetooth Boombox
The Ion Audio Street Rocker 1980s Style Boombox features a cassette deck, bluetooth, and lots of old-school charm.
If you are looking for an old-school boombox with new features, Ion Audio has you covered. This unit features a cassette deck, bluetooth, AM/FM tuner (not a digital tuner though). The boombox has a variety of switches and dials that give that old-school feeling.
In theory I love manually scrolling through radio stations but at this point, the lack of a digital tuner is a real drawback for me (I know, I know…I’m complaining about a throwback style). But that aside, this is a cool option that would look great in any workspace.
Ion Audio Street Rocker 1980s Style Boombox: $95
Power: AC cord or 6 D batteries
OTHER OPTIONS
There are quite a number of Bluetooth-enabled boomboxes in the under-$100 category. Most seem to be around the $50-$60 range and are similar to the Megatek option listed above. In general, they don’t have quite the functionality / ease of use as the Sony because they have fewer buttons.
Insignia Portable CD Boombox with Bluetooth
The Insignia boombox has Bluetooth, CD, and a cassette deck.
Insignia, the house brand of Best Buy, has a $60 boombox option that has Bluetooth, digital tuner, CD player and a cassette deck. If you still use CDs and cassettes, this is the boombox for you.
KLIM B3 Boombox
The KLIM B3 Boombox has bluetooth, a CD player, and light-up speakers.
If you want more flare, the KLIM B3 Boombox has speakers that light up along with Bluetooth, digital tuner, CD, and USB playback. It also comes with rechargeable batteries, although it’s not a built-in battery. It’s a fun little unit that retails for around $60.
AUDIOFILE UPGRADE
If you are willing to spend more than $100, you can get a nice workshop system that will have great sound for around $500 and up by pairing a receiver with quality bookshelf speakers such as the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5 pair of speakers. There are plenty of affordable receivers that will work with these speakers, which are known for their combination of great sound and relatively low price.
If you’re the type of person who wants great sound but at a price that still makes sense for a studio / workshop / garage, this is the set up for you. One drawback of receivers is they often don’t have great AM/FM tuners—plan to install the long antenna cord but even then, it may not have great reception.
The Sony STRDH190 stereo home receiver with bluetooth is an entry level priced receiver that is great for a studio or workshop.
There are lots of receivers out there but one of the best cheap receivers at the moment is the Sony STRDH190. It’s listed at $200 but can often be found on sale for less.
The ELAC Debut 2.0 B5 speakers are great bookshelf speakers with 5” bass drivers and 1” tweeters.
For entry level speakers, you can’t go wrong with the ELAC Debut series. Try the 5 inch 5.0 speakers or if you want more power, the slightly larger 6.0 speakers. These are corded speakers and they sound great. Expect to pay $285 to $315 for the pair.
Summary
This post has covered a variety of options for a small boombox that can stream via Bluetooth and play the radio. Focusing on the units for $100 or less, these are simple devices to add some audio to your studio or workshop at a budget price. The top pick is the Sony Bluetooth Boombox for it’s ease of use and functionality, but there are other options. If you are an audiophile, check out the upgrade ideas which will deliver great sound but at a price that still works for a workshop.
What is your favorite device that can stream via Bluetooth and play the radio? Let us know in the comments.
