By Mike "Jabs" JaballahFounder and Director. Location Sound Recordist.
The best battery powered speaker for most events is one built for speech and smaller crowds. Ours is the Bose S1 Pro+. It's brilliant for outdoor ceremonies, talks and anywhere without power.
A battery speaker is the wrong call for a loud party or a dance floor. For that, you want a proper PA with subs.
When does a battery powered speaker make sense?
A battery powered speaker makes sense when there's no power, or no easy way to run it. Think outdoor ceremonies, talks in a park, a market stall or a pop up, where nobody wants leads across the grass.
Battery powered speakers are either incredibly handy or completely useless, depending on the space and how they're used. They're quick to bump in and bump out, and you put them where you need them. Battery powered no longer means low power for speech and background music. I never thought I'd say that. But they have limits, and the rest of this guide is about knowing where those limits are.
What are the best battery powered speakers for events?
For most events we use the Bose S1 Pro+. If you're buying rather than hiring, the JBL EON ONE Compact and the Mackie FreePlay LIVE are worth a look too.
Bose S1 Pro+: our pick
The Bose S1 Pro+ is our battery speaker, and it's the one in our Battery Speaker Wireless Mic Package, from $165 per day. It has a three channel mixer, Bluetooth and four ways to position it. Bose lists it for audiences up to about 50 people. It suits speech, and it's not the right call for a loud party.
JBL EON ONE Compact: most mixer for the size
The EON ONE Compact packs a four channel mixer and a swappable battery rated up to 12 hours into a box of about 8 kg. Handy if you've got a couple of mics and a music source. One catch: it has no IP rating, so keep it out of the rain.
Mackie FreePlay LIVE: long battery, small jobs
The FreePlay LIVE is a small personal PA for speeches and background music. It runs on mains or battery, and Mackie quotes up to 15 hours on battery. Think lunchtime speeches, not a band.
Plenty of speakers have BT in the name, like the EV ZLX-12BT, and still need a power point. That one runs on mains power. Bluetooth means wireless audio, not wireless power, so check the spec before you plan an event around it.
How long does a battery speaker really last?
Less than the box says, once you turn it up. Bose rates the S1 Pro+ at up to 11 hours, but that's at a quiet volume. We plan on about 8 hours for speech, and less again for live music.
Bose tested that 11 hour figure playing music at a volume you can talk over. A performer playing to up to 100 people at performance volume can expect around 5 hours or more. Volume, the type of sound and the temperature all eat into it. So charge it fully, and for a long day, have a spare battery ready. The S1 Pro+ battery swaps out for a fresh one.
Can a battery speaker run a party or a DJ set?
Not a loud one. A battery speaker is fine for background music and a small gathering. For a DJ set or a dance floor, you need a proper PA, and for real low end, add subs.
This is where people get caught. They book a battery speaker for a party because it's easy, then the dance floor has no punch and the battery's flat by ten. If people are dancing, look at our Platinum PA Speaker Package, with two QSC K12.2 tops and two KS118 subs, from $549 per day. And if you're bringing DJ gear, remember DJ consoles are console only, so you'll need a PA. Our guide to the best powered speakers for events covers the bigger setups.
How do you get the best out of a battery speaker?
Position it well, set it for the room, start with a full charge and test before anyone arrives. Most problems come from skipping one of those.
- Get it up near head height and pointed at the crowd
- Keep it off hard walls that bounce the sound around
- Set the EQ for speech or music, not both
- Start with a full charge, and bring a spare battery for a long day
- Run a sound check before the guests arrive
- Pair it with a wireless mic for speeches
Nothing is worse than realising there's an issue when your event is already live. This is exactly the sort of thing we help spec every week, so if you're not sure, ask.
Questions we get asked
How long does the Bose S1 Pro+ battery last?
Bose rates it at up to 11 hours at a quiet volume. At performance volume, expect around 5 hours or more. For speech, we plan on about 8 hours.
Is a Bluetooth speaker the same as a battery speaker?
No. Bluetooth means wireless audio, not wireless power. Some Bluetooth speakers, like the EV ZLX-12BT, still need a power point.
How many people can a battery speaker cover?
Bose lists the S1 Pro+ for audiences up to about 50 people. For bigger crowds, or anything loud, a powered PA is the better choice.
Can you use two battery speakers together?
Yes. Two Bose S1 Pro+ speakers can be paired in stereo or Party Mode for a wider spread of sound.
Can I hire a battery speaker in Melbourne?
Yes. Our Battery Speaker Wireless Mic Package with the Bose S1 Pro+ starts from $165 per day, with pickup from Footscray or delivery across Melbourne.
Not sure what your event needs?
Tell us the space, the crowd and whether there's power. We'll tell you if a battery speaker will do the job, or if you need something bigger.
