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Best wireless speakers

As dozens of wireless speakers flood the market, here's a look at some of CNET's top picks to take with you back to school.

David Carnoy
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
David Carnoy
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1 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

UE Boom

While it's not cheap, the UE Boom delivers very big sound and is a great choice for outdoor use.

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2 of 13 David Carnoy/CNET

Bose SoundLink Mini

It may not deliver as big a sound as Bose's step-up Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II speaker, but the slickly designed SoundLink Mini is significantly smaller, costs $100 less, and sounds good for its tiny size.

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3 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

JBL Flip

The JBL Flip offers a decent amount of bang for the buck, though its battery life could be a bit better.

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Sony SRS-BTX500

The Sony SRS-BTX500 may be a little pricey at close to $300, but it looks slick, sounds very good, and comes with a neoprene case for on-the-go use.

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5 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

JBL Charge

The Flip's slightly bigger brother offers a touch better sound but significantly better battery life for $50 more.

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6 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Cambridge Soundworks' The Oontz

Cambridge Soundworks recently dropped the price on the Oontz from $69.99 to $49.99, making it one of the better deals in Bluetooth mini speakers.

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7 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Logitech UE Mobile Boombox

At just under $100, last year's Logitech UE Mobile Boombox offers good build quality and decent sound for its size.

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8 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

HMDX Jam Plus

The sequel to the popular HMDX Jam speaker offers slightly improved sound for under $50.

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9 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Philips SoundShooter Wireless

People often refer to the Philips SoundShooter Wireless as "the grenade speaker."

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10 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

JBL Micro Wireless

The compact JBL Micro Wireless fits nicely in a laptop bag and also has a built-in cord for wired use.

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11 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Jawbone Big Jambox

It may not be as portable as the original Jambox, but it offers much bigger -- and better -- sound.

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Audyssey Wireless Speakers

Audyssey's Wireless speakers have come down in price, so they're now a nice deal if you're looking for a set of computer speakers that you can also stream music to from your smartphone or tablet. The only downside: they're not portable.

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Peachtree Audio Deepblue

As its name implies, the Peachtree Audio Deepblue gets deep -- at least when it comes to bass response. At $399, it's a higher-end model, but it's also one of the better-sounding Bluetooth speakers.

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