10 Best Bluetooth Speakers With Lights In 2024

If you want to add a little bit more fun to your music, there's no better way than buying a Bluetooth speaker with lights. That way you will get your own light show that sets the mood and makes your listening experience even more enjoyable.

If you are looking to buy a Bluetooth speaker with lights, there is no better place to start your search than this one. We have prepared an interesting article in which we are going to explain all the important features you should be looking for. We have also tested a bunch of LED Bluetooth speakers with lights and made a list of 10 best divided into 2 categories so you don’t have to look elsewhere. Take a look at our list and see if there is something you like.

Note: You won’t find any Bluetooth light bulb speakers or dancing water speakers on this list since we have separate articles dedicated to these types of speakers. Light bulb speakers and dancing water speakers can also be considered speakers with lights but they are kind of more about the lights than about the music (they are interesting and fun but the sound quality they deliver is mediocre at best). The speakers on this list are definitely more about the music and the lights are just a small detail that makes them better.

👉 Related reading: How to Connect Multiple Bluetooth Speakers Together

Why 2 Categories?

If you do a short research on your own and type in ‘’Bluetooth speakers with lights’’ in your browser, you’ll see that there’s a great disparity in size between different speakers with lights. Some of them are really small and portable (battery-operated) Bluetooth speakers. Others are quite large (some are portable and some are not). There’s practically no middle here – you will hardly find some medium-sized speaker. That’s why we have two categories so you don’t even have to go through the whole list and read all the reviews. If you have already decided what kind of speaker you need (small/portable Bluetooth speakers with lights or large/party/tailgate speaker with lights), you can simply skip to the part that interests you more.

This is our list of 10 best Bluetooth speakers with lights in 2024.

Small/Portable Bluetooth Speakers with Lights

You can bring these speakers with you wherever you go. They are all battery powered and can fit your bag or backpack. You can use them both indoors and outdoors. Some are water resistant or even fully waterproof. Not all the speakers deliver the same sound quality and they don’t offer equally interesting lighting, but then again, some are much more expensive than others. So, even though there are only 5 speakers in this category, there will be something for every budget. Our favorites in this category are Sony XB40 (and all the small speakers from the Sony XB series) and JBL Pulse 3.

1. Sony XB40 Portable Wireless Speaker Bluetooth Speaker Lights

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XB40 comes from a famous XB series of Bluetooth speakers made by Sony. All the speakers from this series starting from XB20 have the LED lights and look pretty good. XB40 is larger than XB20 and XB30 and delivers bigger sound with more bass and it’s also more expensive than those smaller models.

XB40 is a great portable Bluetooth speaker with lights. It’s important to emphasize that the lights are not the only good thing about this speaker. There are many great things about it – it’s nicely built, it has a powerful battery, and it can really fill small and medium rooms with sound. It’s one of our favorites when it comes to portable Bluetooth speakers with lights.

 What’s in the box?

XB40 comes in a nice-looking box. It’s nothing flashy but it looks good and everything inside the box is nicely packed and protected. Along with the speaker, you will get a proprietary charging cable with a wall adapter (it’s not a standard USB to micro USB cable), user manual and a bunch of other documentation, and 1-year warranty card.

The speaker is kind of hefty. It’s 3.94 inches tall, 11 inches wide, 4.1 inches deep, and it weighs 3.3 pounds.

 Things We Like

When it comes to design, you probably know what to expect from Sony even when the speaker is small and boxy. It’s still very stylish. The housing is slightly angled upward. The drivers (two full-range drivers) are on the front side and they are protected with an aluminum grille. Around the grille, there's an LED strip which makes this speaker much more interesting. The LED lights are also installed inside the housing, around the drivers. The lights are bright but not blinding. They can follow the beat of the music and you can choose the color of the lights through one of two apps that come with the speaker. On the back side, there’s another metal grille protecting two passive bass radiators. You will also find all the inputs there, hidden beneath the rubber flap. When you remove the flap, you will see the AUX input, charging port, reset port, and USB charge out port for charging your phone.

Controls are simple to use but there are more than a few multifunction buttons. All the buttons are on the top and there are seven of them – EXTRA BASS/Lights button, speakerphone/battery status button, play/pause button, ADD button (for pairing two or more speakers together), 2 volume/track buttons, and power/Bluetooth button. There are also two LED indicators around the power button – Bluetooth indicator and charging indicator. NFC tag is located right in the middle of the top panel, below the ADD button.

Build quality is not an issue. The speaker is made of hard plastic and completely rubberized. The aluminum grille protects the drivers. The speaker is water resistant (IPX5) but it's not shockproof or drop-resistant. It's also not fully waterproof so it can't survive submersion in water. If you like the design and the lights but need something more rugged, there's an upgraded version XB41 (it is IP67 certified).

The speaker features Bluetooth 4.2 and has a range of 30ft (it can go up to 50ft without obstacles depending on your phone and the type of Bluetooth on your phone). XB40 supports LDAC Bluetooth codec which enables streaming of high-res audio so you can expect pretty good sound quality. The speaker is also NFC-enabled and you can use this fast pairing feature if you have an Android device. In case you havea an iPhone or some other Apple device, you will have to go through the standard pairing process which is also quick and simple. The speaker can be paired with another XB40 and used in stereo mode. You can also pair up to 10 XB40 speakers together and make a great party (this feature is called party chain). If you have a non-Bluetooth device, you can use the AUX port to connect that device to the speaker.

The battery is one of the most amazing features. Sony claims that you can get up to 24 hours of playback at 50% volume. This is true if the lights are off but when they are on, you can get less than 20 hours of playtime. Still, it’s pretty long playtime. The recharge takes 4 hours. XB40 also features charge out port so you can charge your phone through the speaker in case of emergency. If you want to know the battery status, you can press the speakerphone button for three seconds and you will hear a simple voice prompt telling you the battery percentage.

Thanks to ClearAudio+ digital signal processing, XB40 delivers pretty clear and detailed sound. The emphasis is obviously on the bass and there’s even the extra bass button which turns on the second bass radiator and brings even more punch. Luckily, that kind of bass doesn’t affect the midrange and voices. They actually sound perfectly clear and not muffled at all. The highs are clear and sparkling.

👉 Related reading: How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to an Xbox Series X/S

You can use two apps to control the speaker and the lights – SongPall and Fiestable. They are available for Apple and Android devices on Appstore and Google Play. You can use the SongPall app to control the playback, change the EQ settings, choose the sound mode, pair multiple XB40 speakers together, etc. The Fiestable app allows you to control the lights and add some funny DJ effects to your playback.

XB40 also features a built-in mic and it’s compatible with Google Assistant and Siri. The microphone performs very well – there’s no echoing and your voice will sound loud and clear on the other side.  

 Things We Don’t Like

The speaker comes with a proprietary charging cable so if it gets broken, you will have to order a new one from Sony. You cannot use just any charging adapter or a standard USB to micro USB charging cable.

XB40 is on one of the most expensive portable speakers on the market. It’s more expensive than some large party Bluetooth speakers.

When the battery is at 50%, the volume is limited to less than 50% which is really annoying (and you cannot increase the volume any more). We understand the idea behind this but that could be acceptable if applied when there’s 10-15% of juice left.

Comparison Table

2. JBL Pulse 3 Wireless Bluetooth IPX7 Waterproof Speaker

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The next speaker on our list of 10 Best Bluetooth speakers with lights in 2024 is Pulse 3. This one is our favorites when it comes to lights but the XB40 is a clear winner when it comes to sound. Pulse 3 doesn’t sound bad but it’s not as good and loud as XB40.

 What’s in the box?

Pulse 3, just like any JBL speaker comes in a really stylish packaging. Along with the speaker, you will get a USB to micro USB charging cable with a detachable wall adapter, user manual, and a warranty card.

Pulse 3 is significantly lighter and smaller than XB40 and it’s more portable. It has a recognizable cylindrical design just like many popular JBL speakers. It is 8.8 inches high, its diameter is 3.3 inches, and it weighs 1.76 pounds.

 Things We Like

This is arguably the most beautiful JBL speaker but only when the lights are on. Without the lights, it's just a regular JBL speaker with a recognizable JBL design similar to Flip 4, Charge 3, and other JBL speakers with famous JBL passive radiators on both sides. About 60-70% of the speaker is wrapped in a transparent plastic that looks like a glass. That’s the part of the speakers where all the LED lights are located. LED lights are probably the biggest selling point and the most interesting feature about this speaker. They can move to the beat or you can customize them in any other way you find interesting through the JBL Connect App. In pairing mode, the LED lights are blue, and when the battery is fully charged the lights are green which makes the speaker interactive and even more interesting. You can also take a photo of anything or any color, with the JBL connect app, and have that color on the LED surface. You can select the lighting modes through the app (fire, rainbow, etc.) and you can also customize the way the lights move. Pulse 3 kind of looks like a modern lava lamp.

All the controls buttons and inputs are at the bottom, on the back side.  There are 7 buttons – power button, Bluetooth button, 2 volume buttons, play/pause button (can be programmed to activate Google Assistant and Siri), Connect + button (for daisy chaining), and light button (you can use it to select one of the lighting presets or to turn on/off the lights). In the middle of the control panel, there’s a rubber flap protecting the AUX input and micro USB charging port.

Build quality is pretty good. The bottom part is made of waterproof fabric and the upper two-thirds are made of transparent plastic. The speaker is IPX7 rated (fully waterproof) and it floats on water. The only problem is that it’s not very stable and it’s not shockproof or drop resistant. If it falls from a table, there’s a great chance that it will break.

Pulse 3 features Bluetooth 4.2 with up to 66ft range. The connection is very good (even when the signal has to go through walls). Pairing is simple and quick but there’s no NFC quick pairing feature. You can connect two devices simultaneously to the speaker and take turns. Thanks to JBL Connect+ button and JBL Connect app, you can pair up to 100 Pulse 3 speakers together. You can also connect two of them and use them in stereo mode.

The battery is pretty strong. It has the capacity of 6,000mAh and the manufacturer claims that you can get up to 12 hours of playtime at 50% volume. You may get 12 hours but only if the lights are off. But who wants that? You’re buying this speaker because of the lights. When the lights are on, the battery lasts up to 8 hours (at 50% volume). The recharge takes 4.5 hours.

Pulse 3 is loud enough to fill small and medium-sized rooms with sound. The sound signature is pretty neutral. The bass is punchy but it’s not really that powerful (bass heads will not be happy with this speaker). XB40 is a better choice if you want more depth in your music. The midrange reproduction is pretty flat and the voices are perfectly clear. Highs are clear but not sparkling.

The speaker comes with the app (JBL Connect app) that you can use to connect multiple speakers together (daisy chaining), to program the play/pause button, control the lights, etc.

Microphone delivers satisfying performance even if you are more than 5ft away from the speaker.  The mic is noise-canceling so you can use it outdoors, too (but it’s almost useless if there’s too much noise around you).

 Things We Don’t Like

Pulse 3 is not compatible with previous versions of Pulse speakers or other JBL speakers which is kind of a downer since you can only pair 2 or more JBL Pulse 3 speakers.

There are some issues with the AUX mode. Sound cuts in and out when using AUX cable. This is really strange – the speaker is more reliable and performs better in Bluetooth mode than in AUX mode.

Pulse 3 is not the most stable speaker. It has to be placed in the upright position and the base is only 3.3 inches wide so it can fall easily.

NFC quick pairing is not supported.  

Comparison Table

3. DOSS SoundBox Pro Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

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DOSS SoundBox Pro is obviously inspired by the Sony’s XB20 but it is much cheaper than XB20 and if you are on a budget and you don’t want to pay $100 for XB20, you can buy SoundBox Pro for less than $50.  

 What’s in the box?

SoundBox Pro comes in a much cheaper-looking box than XB speakers but that’s completely normal considering the price. Everything inside the box is well protected and that’s the most important thing. You will get one Soundbox speaker, AUX cable, USB to micro USB charging cable, user manual, and 1-year warranty card. Carrying case is not included.

The speaker is 7.7 inches wide, 2.9 inches tall, 3 inches deep, and it weighs 1.28 pounds. It’s smaller and more portable than the previous two speakers on our list.

 Things We Like

Doss tried to make this speaker look like XB20 and they pretty much succeeded. The speaker is boxier than XB20 but has the same LED strip around the grille with 6 color presets and 3 lighting modes. The materials XB20 and SoundBox Pro are made of are also kind of similar. Soundbox Pro is mostly made of rubberized plastic and has the aluminum grille on the front side.

Controls look really nice and simple. All the buttons are located on the top panel. There are 7 buttons in total – ADD button (use it to pair two SoundBox speakers together for better stereo separation), MODE button (for switching between AUX, Bluetooth, and micro SD card, and for cycling through different light colors), 2 volume buttons, play/pause button (also used to unpair the speaker and your device),  EXTRA BASS button (used to activate extra bass feature and to change lighting mode or turn off the lights). As you can see, the DOSS has ‘’borrowed’’ two buttons from XB20 – ADD button and EXTRA BASS button. All the inputs are protected with a rubber flap. The speaker has a micro USB charging port, AUX input, micro SD card slot, and a reset button.

Build quality is more than satisfying for the price. The speaker doesn’t look cheap. The body is completely rubberized and the drivers are protected with an aluminum grille. The speaker is IPX5 certified (water resistant).

Soundbox Pro features Bluetooth 4.2 with up to 66 ft range. The connection is stable and works flawlessly within the advertised range. Pairing takes a few seconds. NFC quick pairing is not supported. You can pair two SoundBox Pro speakers together for stereo sound but you cannot pair multiple speakers together (with XB20 you can pair up to ten speakers). If you have a non-Bluetooth device, you can connect it via AUX cable. There is also one more option – you can insert a micro SD card from your phone into the slot on the rear panel and play the music from it.

The battery is quite powerful and offers more than satisfying playtime. You can get almost 11 hours of continuous playback (at 50% volume and with the lights turned on). Recharge takes 3-4 hours.

SoundBox Pro definitely has a bassy sound signature. Considering its size, it can deliver plenty of bass, especially when the extra bass feature is activated. Extra bass brings more depth but also more volume. The mids are not affected by such a powerful bass and the voices are pretty clean. The highs are a bit too harsh. The sound undistorted at moderate volumes but there is some distortion at high volumes. SoundBox Pro actually offers equal if not better listening experience than XB20.

The mic works well if you are no more than 3ft away from the speaker. If you are more than 3ft away, the voice sounds distant and the echo becomes really noticeable

 Things We Don’t Like

You cannot activate Google Assistant and Siri by long pressing play/pause button. There’s no voice assistant integration.

SoundBox Pro doesn’t feature voice prompts and there’s no battery status indicator.

There's no app that you can use to control the lights, playback, and EQ settings. All the speakers from Sony's XB series come with 2 apps and they all offer more colors and more lighting options.

The speaker doesn’t have dedicated track buttons.

Comparison Table

4. Anker Soundcore Flare Wireless Speaker

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Anker Soundcore Flare is another budget Bluetooth speaker. It’s slightly more expensive than the Soundbox Pro and it offers more discreet lighting than the previous three speakers but it’s still very interesting and fun.

 What’s in the box?

Soundcore Flare comes in a nice-looking (almost premium-looking) box. You won’t get many accessories but that’s understandable considering the price. Along with the speaker, you will get a USB to micro USB charging cable, user manual, and 1-year warranty card.

The speaker is cylindrical. The diameter of the base is 3.5 inches. the speaker is 5.95 inches high, and it weighs 1.2 pounds.

 Things We Like

Soundcore Flare features a minimalistic design with the Soundcore logo on the front side and the control buttons on the top panel and on the back.  The whole speaker is wrapped in a premium-looking fabric (it’s not grippy like the fabric on JBL or UE speakers but it’s pretty tough and waterproof). The LED strip is located at the bottom and it goes around the speaker. The LED lights are pretty bright but not as crazy as the lights on JBL Pulse. There are 5 color themes and 5 lighting modes. You can shift between them by pressing the light button on the control panel or through the Soundcore Companion app.

The controls are simple and easy to use but it would be much better if they were backlit (they are kind of hard to distinguish, especially when it's dark). Most of the control buttons are located on the top panel which is rubberized. There are 5 buttons on the top – light button, play/pause multifunction button (press it twice to play the next song or three times to play the previous song), Bass Up button (for enhanced bass response) and two volume buttons. Power and Bluetooth buttons are located on the back side and they are both rubberized. Below the power button, there’s a rubber flap protecting AUX input and micro USB charging port.

👉 Related reading: Braven BRV-XXL Bluetooth Speaker Review

Build quality is quite impressive. The speaker doesn’t look cheap at all. That waterproof fabric wrapped around the speaker actually looks quite durable. The LED strip is made of transparent plastic similar to the plastic that’s used for JBL Pulse 3.

Soundcore Flare uses Bluetooth 4.2 with up to 60ft range. The pairing is simple and quick and the pairing procedure is pretty much standard. There is one thing we don’t like about pairing and you can read about it in the next section. The speaker is compatible with Apple, Android, and Windows devices. If you want to connect a non-Bluetooth device, you can use the AUX input (AUX cable is not included). If you want stereo sound, you can pair (wirelessly) two Soundcore Flare speakers together.

Battery delivers decent playtime. You will get up to 12 hours of continuous playback at 50% volume with the lights on (5 hours at full volume), and you need 3.5 hours to recharge the battery. The speaker will shut down automatically after 30min of inactivity in order to save battery.

The speaker sounds pretty good for the price. When the Bass Up feature is off, the sound is nicely balanced. The bass is there but it’s not impressive, mids and voices are clear and pronounced, while the highs are a bit too intense. When you activate the bass boost feature, the bass gets stronger but it tends to overpower the lower midrange frequencies and some voices. The loudness is satisfying – Soundcore Flare can fill a small room with sound. Flare can deliver 360-degree sound thanks to the driver arrangement. The distortion is really noticeable at high volumes.

If you want to, you can download Soundcore Companion app and control different aspects of playback through the app (EQ settings, light colors and lighting modes, pairing two speakers for stereo sound). The app is available for iPhone and Android devices.

Flare features a built-in mic. The microphone delivers a mediocre performance. It's not completely useless in a quiet environment.

 Things We Don’t Like

Only the light button is backlit. It would've been much better if all the buttons on the control panel were backlit.

The speaker can only remember one device (not up to 8 devices like the most of today’s speakers). If your phone was connected and you want to connect some other device, you will have to unpair them and remove the speaker from the list of remembered devices.

NFC pairing is not supported.

There are no dedicated track buttons. You have to use the play/pause button to play the next/previous song.  

You cannot pair multiple Soundcore Flare speakers together wirelessly. You can pair only two speakers for stereo sound.

Comparison Table

5. UD MIANOVA LED Bluetooth Speaker

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UD MIANOVA is the cheapest speaker on this list and performance pretty much matches the price. This speaker features better-looking lights than some other (more expensive) speakers but when it comes to sound quality, loudness, and build quality, this one is not on par with 4 previously mentioned speakers. This is one of those generic cheap speakers that you can find under many names (Greadio, AXESS, etc.).

 What’s in the box?

UD MIANOVA comes in a simple cardboard box along with USB to micro USB charging cable (wall adapter not included), AUX cable, and user manual. Carrying case is not included and you will have to buy it separately.

The speaker looks like a cylinder with a 3-inch base diameter and 5.7in height. This is the lightest speaker on the list – it weighs only 15 ounces. The speaker features only one up-firing 5W driver.

 Things We Like

The design is pretty much basic. The whole speaker is made of acrylic plastic and the whole speaker is an LED area. The driver is located on the top and the controls and inputs are on the bottom. The speaker looks ordinary and cheap when the lights are off but when you turn on the LED lights, it gets much better. There are 6 color themes that you can change by pressing the light button on the control panel.

Controls are simple and easy to use but the location of the control panel is quite unusual. They are on the bottom which is probably the most inconvenient place. There are 5 buttons on this panel – play/pause/call/mode button, volume up/next song button, volume down/previous song button, light button, and power button. The speaker features AUX input, micro USB charging port, micro SD card slot and a USB port (you can use it to play the music from a USB flash drive but you can’t charge your phone).

UD MIANOVA uses Bluetooth 4.2 with a 30ft range. In reality, the range is shorter (approx. 20ft). We haven't experienced connection issues or signal cutouts within this range. Pairing is simple and takes 5-10 seconds. It’s compatible with Apple, Android, and Windows devices. You can also pair two (but not multiple) UD MIANOVA speakers together for stereo sound.  

Battery delivers decent playtime. The battery capacity is rated at 2000mAh and you will get up to 8 hours (at 50% volume with the lights on). Recharge takes two hours.

The sound is decent for the price but it’s not comparable to previously mentioned speakers. First of all, it’s much quieter and the sound is not as rich and detailed. The bass is weak and lacks some real punch. Mids and voices are pretty clear. Highs are probably the best part. The manufacturer claims that you will get ‘'true 360-sound” which cannot be the truth. There is only one driver inside the speaker, and it's up-firing driver. The sound gets distorted at high volumes.

 Things We Don’t Like

The speaker looks cheap and plasticky. It’s not waterproof or shockproof.

The design is not the most convenient. We don’t know whose idea was to place the control buttons on the bottom but that’s simply stupid.

The lights are not (and cannot be) synced with the music.

Comparison Table

Large/Party/Tailgate Bluetooth Speakers with LED lights

Speakers in this category are much larger and less portable than the first five. They also have a different purpose. The next five speakers are basically party speakers and can be used for home parties, backyard/BBQ parties, tailgate parties, etc. Not all of them are battery-operated so you might want to be careful when choosing the right speaker – depending on your needs and the future purpose of the speaker, you should check if the speaker has a built-in battery or not. These speakers are also more expensive than the first five speakers on the list. Some of the large/party speakers are quite rugged and can be used outdoors while others look more fragile and should be used indoors only. Our favorites in this category are Sony GTKXB7BC (indoor speaker) and ION Audio Road Warrior (indoor/outdoor battery-operated speaker).  

6. Sony GTKXB7BC High Power Home Audio System with Bluetooth

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Sony GTKXB7BC is the first large party speaker and it’s our favorite when it comes to party speakers with lights. It offers plenty of interesting features and the only problem is that it’s not battery-operated. It needs to be plugged in all the time. If you want a wireless speaker that looks the same like this one you should check out GTKXB90 party speakers.

 What’s in the box?

Inside a large cardboard box, you will find your speaker, AC power cable, remote control with two batteries, user manual, and 1-year warranty.

The speaker is 25.6 inches high, 12.8 inches wide, 13.4 inches deep, and it weighs 26.5 pounds.

 Things We Like

If you want a nice-looking speaker, you can’t go wrong with this one. It looks really great especially when the LED lights are on. The lights are definitely one of the most amazing features and they look mesmerizing. The speaker can be placed horizontally or vertically but it’s easier to the control buttons on the speaker when it’s placed vertically. It’s made of hard plastic. The plastic is not rubberized like on those smaller/portable XB speakers. The speaker has two handles at the top and at the bottom.

Controls on the speaker itself are simple and easy to use. Most of the control buttons are on the top panel. There are 5 buttons – the power button, function/pairing button, EXTRA BASS, and two volume buttons. You will also see three LED source indicators. On the rear panel, you will see two more buttons – ADD button for pairing two XB7BC speakers (for stereo sound) and party chain button for pairing multiple XB7BC speakers together. All the inputs are also on the rear panel – XB7BC features RCA inputs and outputs (you can use them for connecting two speakers together in wired mode or to connect the speaker to your TV or some other audio source), USB port (you can use it to play the music from a flash drive or from your phone and to charge your phone), and AC input. If you want more control over the playback you have to use the included remote. The remote allows you to play/pause the music, play the next/previous track, shift between Bluetooth, RCA, and USB, or choose between two lighting modes (rave or chill). If you want more control over the lights and more lighting options, you will have to download and install the Songpall app.

Build quality is quite satisfying. The speaker looks pretty strong but you should have in mind that it's not waterproof or shockproof.

XB7BC uses Bluetooth 3.0 which is not the most ideal choice. The advertised range is 33ft but depending on the phone (and on the Bluetooth version on your phone), you can get even 60ft. Pairing is simple and quick and NFC pairing is supported, too (NFC tag is on the top panel). The speaker can remember up to 8 devices. If you have a non-Bluetooth device, you can use two RCA inputs to connect them. If your device doesn’t have RCA outputs (if it has AUX out), you will have to buy AUX to RCA cable. If you have a device with a digital optical output, you will need a converter (DAC). You can also play the music directly from a USB flash drive (only MP3, WMA, and WAV formats are supported). The speaker can be wirelessly connected to Apple, Android, and Windows devices. You can pair two XB7BC speakers for stereo sound or pair multiple XB7BC speakers.

The sound signature is bassy, especially when the extra bass feature is activated. The speaker is more than loud enough even at 75% volume and it can really fill a large room with sound. The bass is strong and punchy and it doesn’t overpower the low midrange frequencies at moderate volumes. Unfortunately, it makes them muffled at high volumes. The highs are not perfectly crisp. They are not lifeless but they could be sharper. You will definitely lose some fidelity and clarity at full volume. Stereo separation and soundstage are not great but they get better when you have two speakers playing in stereo mode. XB7BC is an ideal speaker for EDM, hip-hop, and rap music.

 Things We Don’t Like

XB7BC doesn’t have a built-in battery and has to be plugged in all the time.

The speaker is not waterproof (no IPX rating of any kind) and not shockproof.

It doesn’t have AUX input. You will have to buy AUX to RCA cable if you want to connect some non-Bluetooth device with a headphone output.

There are no dedicated track buttons, light button, and play/pause button on the speaker itself. You have to use the remote to control the playback, and you have to install the app to control the lights.

XB7BC cannot be wirelessly paired with other speakers from the XB series

Comparison Table

7. ION Audio Road Warrior

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ION Audio Road Warrior is one of the largest and most powerful portable, battery-operated Bluetooth speakers and it’s probably the largest portable Bluetooth speaker with lights. It’s very rugged and it’s a great choice for outdoor parties (beach parties, pool parties) and tailgating. We will quickly go through some of the most important features of this speaker and you can read our in-depth review here.

 What’s in the box?

The speaker comes in a huge cardboard box. Along with the speaker, you’ll get an AUX cable, AC power cable, DC charging cable with a car adapter, and user manual.

The speaker is 27 inches wide, 13 inches high, 9.75 inches deep, and it weighs 29 pounds.

 Things We Like

Road Warrior is designed for outdoor use and you can see that the moment you open the box. It’s made of hard plastic and it’s very rugged. Two large woofers and two tweeters are located on the front side and protected with aluminum grilles. The enclosure is slightly angled upward. The build quality is more than satisfying for the price.

All the control buttons are located at one place – in the middle of the front panel. The buttons are arranged in a circle with an LCD display in the middle. There are 9 buttons – 2 volume buttons, 2 mic volume buttons (mic is not included), 2 tuning buttons (you can use them to search for radio stations), source button (Bluetooth, FM, AUX), light button (you can turn the lights on or off), and Bluetooth button. Power button and inputs are on the back. There are AUX input, mic input, AC, and DC inputs. The speaker also features FM antenna and USB charge out port located on the top panel.

Bluetooth connection works flawlessly but the range is slightly shorter than the advertised 100ft (it’s more like 50-60ft). Pairing is fast and if you have an Android device you can also use NFC quick pairing feature. Road Warrior is compatible with all kinds of Bluetooth devices (Apple/Android/Windows). You can connect non-Bluetooth devices via AUX cable.

Inside the speaker, there is a huge 7,000mAh battery. It can deliver up to 9 hours of playback at 50% volume (with the lights on). The speaker also has one USB charge out port so you can charge your phone while listening to music.

Road Warrior also features FM radio tuner. If you get bored of your music, you can always turn on the radio and listen to your favorite station.

Sound quality is not impressive. The speaker can get extremely loud and the bass is really powerful. The highs are also pretty good (not crispy or sparkling but there is more than satisfying clarity). The biggest issue is the midrange reproduction, especially the lower midrange, because the bass tends to overpower the adjacent frequencies. Distortion is also an issue and it becomes noticeable at 80% volume.

 Things We Don’t Like

ION uses lead-acid batteries for all of its speakers. The problem with lead-acid batteries is that they won’t hold the charge after a few months of use and you will eventually have to buy a new battery. Luckily, lead-acid batteries are quite cheap so you won't be paying more than $30 for a replacement battery.

Road Warrior is rugged but it’s not waterproof. It’s not IPX certified so you should try to keep it away from water.

Comparison Table

8. Pyle PSUFM1035A Bluetooth 1000 Watt 2-Way Speaker System

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The next party/DJ speaker is made by a well-known manufacturer called Pyle. Pyle was once one of the big players in the audio industry but unfortunately, their products are not as good as they used to be. We are presenting to you a powerful Bluetooth party speaker with lights from the ‘’discojam’’ series called Pyle PSUF1035F. The price of this speaker varies depending on the seller. You can find it for less than $200 on Amazon which is an affordable price considering the performance. There are two versions of this speaker – active (with a power cable) and passive (has to be connected to your AV receiver).

 What’s in the box?

Pyle PSUF1035F comes in a huge box along with a remote control, power cable, AUX cable, user manual, and 1-year limited warranty.

The speaker is really large and hefty. It’s 36.8 inches high, 15.2 inches wide, 13.6 inches deep, and it weighs 48.8 pounds.

 Things We Like

The speaker looks simple and boxy but what makes it special is the lighting. The enclosure is black and it’s made of hard industrial plastic. There are carrying handles on the left and right sides. The front side is where all the drivers are (2 10-inch woofers, 2 3-inch tweeters, and 2 bass reflex ports). All the drivers are lighted and the lights follow the beat. At the top of the front panel, there’s an interesting LED panel with the ‘’racing lights’’. All the corners are reinforced with aluminum but the drivers are not protected with a grille. Instead of grilles, there are some plastic protective covers. The build quality is far from impressive but it is still on par with the price.

This speaker offers more control over the playback and more inputs than any other speaker on this list. Most of the control buttons/knobs and inputs are on the top. Besides those common controls and inputs (volume knob, play/pause, next track/tune + button, previous track/tune – button, mode button, and AUX input), this speaker also features the onboard EQ controls (with 7 adjustable EQ bands and EQ switch), treble and bass knobs. Pyle PSUF1035F can be used as a guitar amp since it has the guitar input and guitar volume knob. There are also two ¼-inch mic inputs (the microphones are not included), mic volume, and echo control knob. Below the master volume button, you will see a small LCD screen which displays the number of the song, song playtime, and FM frequency. There are two additional inputs right below the display – USB charging port and micro SD card slot. The rest of the controls and inputs are on the rear panel. There are power, light, and voltage selector switches, RCA inputs and outputs, and FM antenna.

We didn’t find any info about the Bluetooth version but, based on our experience, the Bluetooth delivers decent performance if you are within 10ft range. Anything further than that can be problematic. It’s probably smarter to use AUX cable whenever you can. Pairing is simple. You will be required to enter the pairing code (0000). NFC pairing is not supported. You can pair two active speakers via RCA cable but not wirelessly.

The speaker also has a built-in FM tuner. It works well and it’s a nice additional option in case you don’t want to play the music from your phone.

The sound is pretty powerful and bassy. The bass is strong but it ruins the reproduction of the low midrange frequencies, especially at high volumes. You can adjust the sound signature (maybe reduce the bass a little bit) through the EQ settings. The distortion is really noticeable at full volume. Stereo separation doesn't exist and the soundstage is kind of narrow. When there are many instruments involved, everything sounds jumbled up. The sound is not rich and detailed but it's good enough for parties (because it's loud and delivers a decent amount of bass).

 Things We Don’t Like

The speaker is not portable (it’s not battery-operated) and has to be plugged in all the time.

Pyle PSUF1035F is not waterproof (no IPX rating).

You cannot pair two speakers wirelessly for stereo sound and you cannot pair multiple speakers together via Bluetooth.

Comparison Table

9. Altec Lansing ALP-XP800 Xpedition 8

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If you’ve been wondering if there is a cheaper alternative to Sony’s party speaker GTKXB90, Altec Lansing Xpedition 8 is the answer. To be completely honest, you won’t save that much money if you buy this one instead of XB90 (you’ll save some 50 bucks) but you will also get slightly better sound quality. Xpedition 8 and XB90 are similar in many ways (design, build quality, lights, bass boost feature, battery) but there are still some small differences that could be the decisive factors for choosing one over the other. We will be comparing these two speakers throughout this review, and you can decide which one you like more.

 What’s in the box?

Xpedition 8 comes in a simple box. Sony is slightly better when it comes to presentation but that’s the least important thing. Inside the box, you will find your speaker, AC power/charging cable, DC car charger (this could be one of those decisive factors since XB90 doesn’t come with a car charger which makes Xpedition 8 a better choice for tailgating), user manual, and a warranty card.

 Things We Like

In terms of design, Xpedition 8 is very similar to XB90. The basic shape is the same but the XB90 maybe looks a bit more sophisticated because of the rounded edges. It’s all about your taste and what you like more. Like XB90, Xpedition 8 can be placed vertically or horizontally thanks to the ‘’smart’’ tweeters (the speaker has 3 tweeters but two are active at a time depending on the position of the speaker). Both speakers have interesting lights (strobes and lighted woofers). XB90 allows you to control more aspects of the lighting (through apps) while there's no app for Xpedition 8. You can use strobe and light buttons to turn on/off the lighting and to shift between different lighting modes. The control panels are interesting on both devices but we like more the look of the control panel on Xpedition 8.

When it comes to build quality, Xpedition 8 is a clear winner. They are both made of plastic but Xpedition 8 is much more rugged and sturdier (thicker plastic). It's also IP67 certified (completely waterproof and dustproof) while XB90 is not waterproof or dustproof.

Controls are simple and very intuitive. All the buttons are on the front panel, right in the middle. There are 7 buttons – the power button, strobe button (activates the strobe lights), light button (activates the LED lights around the woofers), large volume knob in the middle with intuitive LED volume/battery indicator, link button (for pairing two Xpedition 8 speakers together), Beast mode button (which is another fancy term for bass boost feature), and the Bluetooth button. NFC tag is located on the top. All the inputs are located on the back and they are protected with a plastic cap. The speaker features DC input (for charging via car charger), AC input, AUX input, and a USB charge out port (for charging phones and other devices). Xpedition 8 doesn’t have RCA inputs and outputs like XB90 but XB90 doesn’t have AUX input. Also, you can use the USB port on XB90 for playing music, while you can only charge your phone with Xpedition 8.

Altec Lansing doesn’t offer info on the Bluetooth version but it performs well within the standard 33ft range. It’s compatible with all Bluetooth enabled devices and if you want to connect a non-Bluetooth device, you can use the AUX cable. If you have the money, you can buy two Xpedition 8 speakers and link them wirelessly for stereo sound. You cannot pair multiple Xpedition 8 speakers together (you can pair multiple XB90 speakers together).

When it comes to battery Xpedition 8 wins again. You will get up to 24h hours of playtime (at 50% volume without the lights). With Sony, you can get only 16 hours of playtime. The playtime naturally shortens when the lights are on but it's still more than satisfying.

The sound is, along with the LED lighting, the biggest selling point. XB90 delivers powerful sound but the Xpedition 8 is even crazier (and louder). The bass is strong to the point that you can feel it but it doesn’t destroy the midrange reproduction. The voices are perfectly clear. Highs are crispy and maybe a little bit harsh at high volumes. When the BEAST mode is active, the bass gets slightly punchier but it’s still not overwhelming. This is a great speaker for parties, especially for outdoor parties.

 Things We Don’t Like

There are no dedicated play/pause and track buttons on the speaker itself – you have to use your phone to control the playback.

The speaker doesn’t have a built-in mic.

There is no app that you can install and use to control the lights or adjust the EQ settings.

Comparison Table

10. Ion Audio Party Rocker Max

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ION is a very popular brand when it comes to large/party/tailgate Bluetooth speakers with lights so it’s not so strange thing to see two (or more) ION speakers on the list of 10 Best Bluetooth speakers with lights in 2024. The last speaker on this list is ION Audio Party Rocker Max.

Party Rocker Max is arguably the most colorful speaker on this list. The whole grille is lighted and it looks like a disco dance floor. On top of that, there’s a lighted dome on the top of the speaker.

 What’s in the box?

Party Rocker Max comes along with one microphone, one AUX cable, charging cable, and user manual.

 Things We Like

There’s nothing special about the design of this speaker when the lights are off. It’s simple, minimalistic, and boxy. But, when you turn on the lights, it becomes much more recognizable. The lights are the most interesting feature on this speaker. Party Rocker Max also features a telescoping handle and wheels so you can easily transport it. The build quality is on par with the price (less than $200). You can find a more rugged speaker at this price point but you can also find less rugged and more expensive speakers.

Controls are simple and intuitive. All the control buttons and all the inputs (except for the charging port) are on the front panel right above the grille. There are three knobs (master volume, mic volume, and echo knob), 6 color buttons for turning on/off the specific light color, Bluetooth button, party light button (for controlling the dome lights), and speaker light button (for controlling the grille lights). The speaker also features 2 mic inputs and AUX input (also on the front side).

Party Rocker Max uses Bluetooth 4.0 with up to 60ft range. The connection is stable within this range but it shortens when the battery is low (we have no explanation for this issue). The speaker is compatible with Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth devices.

Party Rocker Max features a huge 9,000mAh battery. This battery delivers up to 75 hours of playtime at 50% volume when the lights are off but if you turn the lights on, you will get 7 hours max. You will need 10 hours to fully recharge the battery.

Sound is not the best feature of this speaker and you can probably find a better-sounding speaker at this price point but you can hardly find such a great light show. The bass is strong and kind of boomy, especially at high volumes. It is completely out of control at full volume. Mids and highs are clear at moderate volumes but anything above 50% volume ruins the listening experience since the mids get muffled because of the bass and highs tend to sound intense.

 Things We Don’t Like

Party Rocker Max is not waterproof/dustproof and it's not shockproof.

The battery is huge but it's not lithium-ion – it's the lead-acid battery. Lead-acid batteries tend to stop holding the charge after a few months of use. So, you will get 7 hours of playtime at first, but maybe 3 hours after 6 months. The good thing is that you can replace the battery on your own and that it's cheap (less than $30).

Dome lights are too bright.

The included microphone produces a lot of static noise and it looks cheap.

Comparison Table

This is the end of our list of 10 best Bluetooth speakers with lights in 2024. Hopefully, you have found just the right speaker for you. If you haven’t found anything you like and you want to keep looking, there’s a short buyer’s guide below. Read it and make your search faster and easier.

Buyer’s Guide – Things to Pay Attention to When Buying Bluetooth Speakers with Lights

You already know that we have divided all the Bluetooth speakers with lights into two groups – small/portable and large/party speakers. So, the first thing you have to decide is what you need (the future purpose of the speaker). This is probably the most important thing you have to think about and it’s the thing that affects many the other parameters.

Price

The price is highly dependent on the size of the speaker. It’s only natural that a small speaker costs less than a large speaker but it’s not all black and white. A mid-end small/portable Bluetooth speaker with lights could cost more than a low-end large/party speaker with lights. For example, new Sony XB40 costs more than $200 which is only slightly cheaper than Ion Audio Road Warrior (about $20 cheaper). You can even find some large Bluetooth speakers with lights that are cheaper than XB40 or JBL Pulse 3. It’s partially because Sony and JBL are selling the name but it’s also because of better build quality, longer playtime (or the existence of a built-in battery), etc.

Recommended Reading :

Lights/Lighting modes

• Most Popular Wireless Surround Sound Systems
• 10 Best Levitating Bluetooth Speakers
• 15 Best In-Wall Speakers

When it comes to lights and the number of different lighting modes, there's a huge variety of choices. Some small speakers offer nice and soft LED candle lights while others offer a real party light show. Larger speakers usually deliver party light show but there are many different lighting modes. Some speakers have lights that can be controlled via smartphone apps so you can choose the type and color of the lights. Other speakers have a few predefined lighting modes and you can choose the one you like. If you have something specific in mind, you should try the speaker before buying it and see if that’s the kind of lighting you want.

Battery

Practically all the small Bluetooth speakers with lights on the market have built-in batteries and can be used indoors and outdoors but the playtime varies. Cheaper speakers offer up to 8 hours per charge (with the lights on) while the expensive speakers deliver even more than 20 hours with the lights on. When it comes to large/party speakers, the number of different choices is even greater since you have both battery-operated speakers and speakers without battery. The Bluetooth speakers without batteries are usually much cheaper than the ones with built-in batteries. In fact, some large Bluetooth speakers with lights but without the battery are much cheaper than small Bluetooth speakers with lights with built-in batteries. Also, different Bluetooth speakers have different types of batteries (Li-ion, lead-acid) which is one of the things that dictates the price. When it comes to large Bluetooth speakers with built-in batteries, the playtime varies from 7 to 20 hours.

Bluetooth Version/Bluetooth Connection/NFC pairing

The Bluetooth version is very important whether we are talking about small or large Bluetooth speaker with lights. It dictates the range, connection quality, playtime, and sound quality. In general, newer Bluetooth versions (the latest is 5.0) are better. Depending on the Bluetooth version, the range can vary between 30ft (the majority of speakers have 30ft Bluetooth range) and 150ft. Connection quality and the sound quality (or the amount of compression) also depends on the Bluetooth version. Again, newer Bluetooth versions are better.

Waterproofness/Ruggedness

If you are going to use the speaker outdoors, you really have to pay attention to this feature. If you are going to use the speaker outdoors (especially if it’s going to be used for pool or beach parties) it has to be at least IPX4 certified (splash-proof). Some of the speakers on our list are water resistant (IPX5 or IPX6 certified), waterproof (IPX7 certified), or even dustproof and waterproof (IP67 certified).

Sound quality/Loudness

Sound quality is, obviously, the most important thing when it comes to speakers and it depends on many things (type of drivers, type of enclosure, Bluetooth version, etc.). You can get a pretty good idea about the sound quality based on the price but there are always some exceptions. It’s also important to know what to expect for your money. Many of today’s speakers tend to sound bassy, but there are also some speakers with a more balanced/natural/neutral sound signature. When it comes to small speakers, you might want them to deliver balanced sound. If they are tuned to be bass-heavy, there's a great chance that some midrange frequencies will sound muddy and muffled. It's a little bit different when it comes to large/party Bluetooth speakers. If you are going to use them mostly for parties, especially for outdoor parties, they should have a strong and powerful punch even if it's slightly overpowering.

This is the end of our article on 10 best Bluetooth speakers with lights in 2024. Hopefully, you have learned something new and found something interesting on our list. If you liked the article, please share it and subscribe to our mailing list.