Music companions while on the road

Travelling on a long trip is bucket-list worthy, especially if you yearn for adventure, an experience of a lifetime and an exposure to places far into the blue yonder. But in all fairness, no trip is complete without music, life is incomplete without it too, inarguable man’s greatest gift that he could gift himself.

Whether heading out solo, or in the company of friends and family, here’s a selection of gadgets that would prove a superb companion for you and your music whilst on the go.

Keeping in mind features, availability, weight, sound quality, pricing and all in all its performance over time, these gadgets are ideal for travel. Although this list may seem to rank the gadgets, it does not. The gadgets noted are some of the many options available in the market, with no regards to any ranking order whatsoever. However, their pros and cons are certainly one to make note of.

1. Boult Audio’s Wireless Bluetooth Earphones

To begin our list, Boult Audio’s Wireless Bluetooth Earphones enters the fray. Priced at an MRP of ₹3330, it’s available on Amazon for a slashed price of ₹1299. A sweet deal considering the features this gadget boasts.

With a lightweight design and frame, the earphones comes with features ideally suited for travel.

Ear-fins help set the earpieces in the ears for a more sporty, comfortable fit. It also helps when travelling on bumpy roads to keep the earphones firmly in place.
With built-in magnets, the earphone get attached to each other, allowing you to wear the gadget across your neck.
With around 6-8 hours of battery life, a long playlist can be enjoyed to the fullest on your travels.
The inbuilt microphone allows for high definition calls, it also supports Siri and Google assistant.
With an IPX4 water and sweat-proof rating, this proves an ideal travel companion when going to places where you know you’re a sure shot going to hit the waters.

2. Boult Audio’s CR-BLK Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speakers

Coming up next is a hand-held speaker, one so majestic you would would not take it for a mini speaker at first. The portable speaker boasts of 32 different faucets, all which directs sound in each of the 32 directions the faucets point to. Like most other speaker, it’s compatible with all operating systems, smartphones, laptops and other bluetooth enabled devices, making the speaker versatile not just in a physical aspect but on a software platform as well.
The speaker holds a dual microphone system, lasts for 6 hours in a single charge, connects via 4.2 bluetooth tech and to top it of, is under a warranty provision for about a year.

Getting into the pricing, Boult Audio’s Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is sold at a Retail price of ₹2829, but is available on amazon.in at a slashed price of ₹899. Sweet deal wouldn’t you think?

3. URBN Thump 700 Bluetooth Wireless Speakers

Following in third place is URBN’s Thump 700, a trend-setting wireless on-ear headphones. The headphones stands out with its Active Lighting feature, one that encircles the outer edge of the earpieces and lights up as and when you listen to music. Well not only does it light up, its light as well! A perfect replacement for heavier headsets that are uneasy to carry whilst travelling.

A set of dedicated buttons to control music, calls and voice commands, on the go. With a battery that lasts for as long as 15 hours, the headphones has an Aux port that lets you connect your device if the battery’s low.

Compliant with Bluetooth 4.2 and with a warranty of one year, this pair of headphones is worth the investment and a good deal all the same. Priced at ₹2999, it’s available at amazon.in for ₹1499.

4. URBN Bang 1000 Bluetooth Wireless Speakers

Not far along into the list is URBN’s Bang 1000 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, a mid-ranged price set for the speaker, with the intention of being as versatile with its multiple connection modes, and yes a connection via Bluetooth 4.2 is it’s primary connection mode.

Integrated controls control your music on the go, what else could be needed? The downer being that the speaker is as large as it shows, with just six hours of playable time, the battery doesn’t give justice to support that claim. It also supports FM play on the go, if you would switch off music for a while and hear the wit of RJ’s on air.

With a year warranty on the Bang 1000, it’s available on amazon.in at a swell price of INR 2199.

5. URBN Bang 2000 Bluetooth Wireless Speakers

What happens when you make a crossover with one on India’s most loved sports personality and all in all the most beloved captain the country’s ever seen? Two words; instant, impact.

URBN has teamed up with Mahindra Singh Dhoni, to develop a series of products that would show-off the former Indian captain’s signature on the gadgets in the series.

With the captain’s iconic colours of Blue and Orange dubbed onto the body, URBN’s Bang 2000 is showcased as a limited edition which as claimed, packs a powerful punch with a set of integrated buttons to control your music.

Unlike most others on this list, Bang 2000 connects with Bluetooth 5.0, and also has alternate connection options with a playable time of 8 hours, a time frame that does not fit well with the size of the Bang 2000. Another unique feature is that the speakers light up with active lighting that complements the colourway of the speakers when the music is played.

Downfall of this limited edition is that the speaker is bulky and feels like a extra bag is being carried and the battery life isn’t justified with regards to the size of it.

Nevertheless, as a limited edition, it’s doing quite well for itself being one of Amazon’s Best Sellers at a decent pricing of ₹ 2999 and a year warranty from the company.

5. NU Republic Starboy Wireless

Next up comes NU Republic’s Starboy, a stylish yet simple pair of over-ear headphones with a metallic finish and memory foam. With a foldable frame, this renders the headphones useful while traveling and offers noise isolation, making it compact to store in your backpack.

Being lightweight plays an important role in setting your head on ease as you hear your playlist on for hours, with 8 hours being the headphones standard battery life, reeling in a decent amount of time for the size that Nu Republic showcases. Aux port is on the headphones if you’re a hardcore music lover and a 4.2 Bluetooth connection if you love going wireless.

Available on amazon.in at ₹ 1499 with a year warranty provided by the company.

6. NU Republic Skream

A handheld speaker, compact yet bold in the sound that it delivers. Fit with a hook that lets one clip the speaker with ease and can be carried anywhere and everywhere.

Multiple connections make this compact gadget a versatile speaker for people on the go with Aux, 3.5mm audio input and MicroSD reader.

What makes this a game changer is the fact that it’s strong, with a double-molded polymer base, forming a protective shell in turn making it a durable speaker with a splash proof(IPX5) and dust resistant, at such a low price.

The Skream is available on the Amazon store for ₹1499

7. MuveAcoustics AStar Wireless Bluetooth Wireless Speakers

MuveAcoustics have made waves in the market, with the addition of their products endorsed by Virat Kohli. Needless to say their products hit the heights like the current Indian skipper.

Coming up on this list is A Star, or as propagated “A*”, a simple yet unique in its design, barring any sort of complexity possible. With an IPX6 rating, the A* is water resistant with a Bluetooth 4.1 connection. A six hour battery life is quite unexpected given the stature the A* dictates, but it takes two and a half hours to charge the device.

The speaker is available at Amazon store at ₹1899, with offers on and off.

8. MuveAcoustics Edge MA-1020SB

Another game changer on our hands, with the MuveAcoustics Edge Wireless earphones. This pair of earphones has a 7 hour battery life, and with magnetic earpieces it’s perfect for carrying it around and storing it without any hassle. Water resistant and Bluetooth connectivity 4.2 makes it ideal for wireless travel.

With a year of warranty, its available on amazon.in for ₹1499.

Our Verdict

Given the vast market and variety of headphones and speakers, it’s easy to say this list would be endless. Get the best out of your music and wander far and wide. Life’s too short to be cribbing about the things that don’t matter in the long run, so jump about, run to the hills, eat till your belly bursts and just have absolute fun.