Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen. There are a ton of options out there, some with great sound, others with great battery life, and more than a few with a host of additional features, like smart lighting, party modes, and beyond. It also means as consumers we have a ton of choices when shopping and that’s never a bad thing. But that poses a challenge, there’s a lot to wade through to find the one. The single, resolute model that sings to our base desires. Having spent some time with the Edifier ES20 I’m happy to report it’s an excellent option, a standout among a sea of them.

I’d like to start by introducing one of my favorites, the Fender X Teufel Rockster Go 2. It has punchy sound, unlike anything I’ve ever heard from a speaker of its size. However, as wonderful as it is, it’s not exactly what I’d describe as ideal for portable use, especially while traveling. It’s a solid option for listening around the home though. The ES20, by comparison, is quite the opposite. It’s tiny, manageable, and fits perfectly in a backpack, travel bag, or some luggage. I would know, I took mine with me on a family trip to the Tennessee mountains earlier this year. It has some pretty cool features, too. So, let’s dive in, blast some tunes, and explore why it’s the top option for what I’m proposing. Grab a drink or a snack, if you don’t have them already, and let’s sync this Bluetooth bad boy up.

A low-profile speaker to enhance your listening experience

As a brand, Edifier fits squarely in the category of affordable and accessible. They offer a range of audio products from budget-friendly to expensive. Audiophiles looking for pristine quality might find something to be desired, but that doesn’t make them undesirable in my book. My ultimate baseline is whether or not they sound good with clear treble and punchy, evocative bass. The Edifier ES20 delivers on that front especially considering its size.

On the page, it has 6 watts of RMS total output power with a Φ43mm full-range driver and a Φ55mm passive bass radiator. Yes, there are neodymium magnets. For wireless, you get Bluetooth version 5.4 with support for both stereo pairing and multi-point connections. If you happen to grab two you can pair them together for more immersive audio. That allows you to place the two speakers within close proximity and treat them as a pseudo surround setup.

It weighs about 326 grams and is definitely palmable. You can also toss it into a backpack, luggage, or even a purse or handbag. It won’t take up much room or bog you down. I carry it regularly in a small satchel made to hold some to-go cigar gear and bring it back and forth between my home and the in-laws. Gotta’ have some music to jam to.

What does it sound like?

I wouldn’t put it on par with the Fender x Teufel, but the tones are bold for something of this size. Where most cheap speakers might handle bass by keeping the low tones slightly louder, the high-efficiency class D amplifier ensures the bass radiator delivers in kind. If you’re sitting close enough you’ll feel a small blip or punch. It’s weighty enough and surpasses what I expected. I’m a metal guy and the ES20 passes my test.

It’s tough, but most of all it’s fun

The IP67 rating means it’s dustproof and waterproof so you can use it outdoors in a variety of conditions. I have used it by the pool, while relaxing in a hot tub on vacation, in the Florida heat and humidity — and blaring sun — and in the cold Tennessee mountains during frigid weather.

The battery life is pretty great, too. Edifier promises about 15 hours of continuous playback on a full charge with 50% volume. I found that to be accurate, modest even. If you turn it up to max that battery life drops to about 10 to 12 hours. There’s also one more feature that both makes it fun and might drain the battery faster — the ambient lighting.

On the back of the speaker is an RGB ambient lighting system. A physical button on the top of the speaker can be used to turn it on or off and switch between modes. There are five lighting patterns, including breathing, rainbow, static, glittering and colorful and an emergency light. It really is a neat feature and can help you get the party going around the campfire, on your patio, or even just in your home. If you don’t want it, you can disable it at any time. You can also connect and control the speaker with the Edifier ConneX app. You can use your phone to adjust lighting, change the source, adjust sound effects, and play with the settings. You don’t have to touch the app if you don’t want to, so don’t fret if you hate that kind of thing.

Anything else?

A built-in high-sensitivity MEMS microphone allows you to use the speaker for hands free calls, which is great when you have it connected to your phone. If you’re busy doing something, you can leave your phone where it is and simply talk through the speaker. Noise-cancellation drowns out ambient noise so your voice stays pretty clear. I tested it out with my wife and several members of my family and it works reliably.

I could name a few situations during everyday use where that microphone would really come in handy. For example, while I’m out back doing some yard work and my wife calls from the store to check in or ask a question. It’s totally not necessary but I think most people would find it convenient and use it more than they expected, I sure do.

What’s the verdict, and the price?

If you look at it from a size to performance ratio, the Edifier ES20 exudes value and sounds pretty damn good. Pair two speakers together and that audio is elevated even more. It works great for music, audiobooks, podcasts, and I often pair it up with my TV outside to watch movies and shows while I’m smoking. The waterproof rating also makes it useful for shower or bath sessions, by the pool, or anywhere on the water, beach or boat. The mesh front grille is surprisingly easy to rinse and clean if you get any sand or debris in there.

All said and done, it is an absolute banger for travel or on-the-go use for the size and portability alone. Add in the adjustable sound effects and customization, the ambient lighting, and the long battery life and you’ve got one heck of a device here.

What about the price?

You can always opt for cheaper models, and that’s certainly the case here. At full price, $90 for a small Bluetooth speaker is in the high range if you’re looking solely for a budget option, no matter what it sounds like. But if you can find this on sale, and it does go on sale often, it’s a steal. I’m already mulling over the option to get a second, especially since I have the all-black model and the white one looks slick, too.

It’s a solid recommend from me. There are a number of Bluetooth speakers in the $100 range, which means there’s certainly some stiff competition, but the Edifier ES20 has managed to impress me and I think more than a few others would agree.

• Recommended Buy: Yes
• For Who: If you want a lightweight, capable speaker for use everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.
• Alternative: Edifier QS20 or JBL Flip 5
• MSRP: $90