Like the UE Hyperboom (see below), this has a USB-out port that allows you to charge external devices like your phone, and there's also an analog audio input if you want to go wired and connect a device without using Bluetooth connectivity (the Hyperboom adds an optical digital input). While this speaker isn't fully waterproof and can't float like some speakers can, it's splash-proof, with an IPX4 rating, and has a microphone input with discrete gain and reverb controls (no microphone is included). In the companion app for iOS and Android, you can customize the sound profile and light show. Battery life is rated at up to 16 hours, but that number will drop if you crank the volume.

The Brooklyn boombox is designed to give you a good old taste of the ‘80s, but with some modern twists as well. Of course, no boombox could live with itself if it didn’t play cassettes or the radio, so this one does both with style. But, it also plays modern media like CDs, MP3s, and any music you want to stream via Bluetooth. It also has USB, RCA, and Aux inputs, letting you play music from all your different devices. The boombox was never known for having exceptional sound quality, and the GPO Brooklyn Boombox continues broadly in this tradition. Its 40w stereo speakers have some power behind them, and it’s worth letting them warm up for a few hours before casting judgment on a very lightweight initial presentation.

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The Xtreme 3 improves charge time to just 2.5 hours, down from 3.5 hours for the Xtreme 2 (both have 15 hours of battery life) Though it costs more than Tribit's Stormbox Blast, the 11.7-pound Rave Party 2 is a more attractively designed speaker and arguably sounds slightly better. Its two 4-inch woofers and two 2-inch tweeters deliver aggressive, punchy sound with enough volume to fill larger rooms (the Tribit's bass goes a little deeper, but I was pretty satisfied with this speaker's low-end capabilities). For even bigger sound, you can wirelessly link multiple Rave Party 2 and other Soundcore speakers that support the company's PartyCast 2.0 feature. For outdoor use, I like the design of the Boombox 3 better than UE Hyperboom. The portable Bluetooth speaker is easier to carry around and just looks more like an outdoor speaker. It's also fully waterproof and dustproof with an IPX67 rating (the previous model was waterproof but didn't have a dustproof rating).

Grab your high tops and baggy clothes, pop this boombox on your shoulder, and walk past your nearest graffiti for a full-on ‘80s Brooklyn experience!One that's really caught our eye is from Boomboxery.com, a forum for people who love Boomboxes. We'll be honest, we were a little nervous when they asked to review the Brooklyn. We've put a lot of love and care into this unit and this crowd knows their stuff. They're collectors and experts on 80s ghetto blasters.