WIRED reviews party speakers for people increasingly entertaining at home, as younger consumers seek alternatives to expensive nights out. These speakers prioritise high volume, portability and colourful lighting, while the best models also deliver respectable sound quality for everyday listening.

The LG xboom Stage 501 is named best overall, offering powerful, clean bass, 160 watts on battery, 220 watts when plugged in and up to 25 hours’ replaceable-battery life. The 25.8-pound speaker includes karaoke, lighting and DJ features, whereas the 24.8-pound JBL PartyBox 130 provides 200 watts, a strong light show, physical controls and a 15-hour battery, though the article says LG sounds better; Marshall’s larger premium Bromley 750 costs $1,300.