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Party on the beach? You need one of these high-end portable speakers

We have come a long way from the days when the only viable option for portable music was a ghetto blaster. Their clunky speakers and even clunkier cassette tapes — not to mention short-life alkaline batteries — made portable music listening a chore. MP3 players eventually shifted us away from needing physical media for recorded music. But the arrival of Bluetooth and wi-fi meant you could control a speaker wirelessly. Durable lithium batteries likewise avoided the need for a speaker to be shackled to a power outlet. So now enjoying your favourite tracks in any location has never been easier. And wherever you are heading — beach, mountain or city — we have selected some of the best portable speakers to take with you. • Read more luxury reviews, advice and insights from our experts All the devices in our list include Bluetooth connection and healthy battery lives, therefore defining them as portable. Luxury speakers are better suited to packing away in luggage and then unleashing at a party on a destination yacht deck or villa parterre. Alternatively the compact grab-and-go devices are perfect for throwing in a knapsack or beach tote. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Bang & Olufsen has always taken pride in blending aesthetics with utility, no less so with its finely finished Beosound A5 wireless speaker. At first glance it's reminiscent of a retro countertop radio. But the Danish manufacturer transports the device into the 21st century with stylish aluminium frame trims and components crafted from real oak. There are four optional removable grilles available, depending on your mood or how the interior space dictates. When in wi-fi range you can stream with Airplay or Google Cast. Go out on to the deck and Bluetooth will keep the tracks spinning, amply supported by 12 hours of battery life. The four speaker drivers concealed behind the grilles ensure a wide cast acoustic presence. B&O's Beosound A5 exhibits powerful and articulate sonic chops for such a small speaker. £1,400 Devialet's beautiful Mania is both orbital in shape and its auditory presentation. A 360-degree stereo mode creates a sense of immersion from whichever listener's vantage point. The four-microphone array uses real-time acoustic mapping technology to optimise the sound for each environment. The result is a confident, bass-infused sound that defies the Mania's modest footprint. The full-featured app control allows streaming from Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2, and you get ten hours of battery playtime. The Mania exudes luxury with its woven textile exoskeleton and watch-grade carrying strap. An optional Cocoon carrying case is a must for regular travellers. If you are holding out for a more exclusive version, we particularly like the tobacco brown and gold Fendi edition for £2,250. £790 The French maker Cabasse has also conceived a globe shape for its Pearl Myuki. Built in the tradition of the Brittany company's La Sphère loudspeakers, the luxurious device's radial geometry mitigates wave diffraction. Transport this luxurious 2kg three-cone hailer with push-pull bass drivers from room to room with the bowling ball-type integrated finger grip. Or use the nifty twin-handled carrying case that is also provided. The Pearl Myuki is available in a matte white or black housing and sports elegant chrome accents. Connect over wi-fi or Bluetooth and stream from your favourite music platforms with the Cabasse mobile app. Then indulge yourself with 12 hours of uninterrupted battery playback. £999 If the above solutions are a little too bulky for your travel needs, why not try one of these super-portable options? These mini devices are ideal for slinging into a valise or backpack. The Germany luxury TV and hi-fi maker Loewe even turns its hand to producing sumptuous coffee makers. But it cuts no corners either when it comes to portable devices. The We. HEAR Pro is a snazzy compact speaker with a shoulder strap and available in striking denim, neon or black cotton shrouded colour schemes. Developed in collaboration with the footballer Kylian Mbappé, the passive bass radiator end caps aptly carry the French striker's initials as a stamp of approval. There is no need to worry about the battery lacking juice. You get 24 hours of continuous play from a super-speedy two-hour top-up. Partiers will revel in the We. HEAR Pro's ability to go loud when it needs to, but musical clarity and mid-range punch are among its other notable £249 Bang & Olufsen gets a second shout on our portable speakers list, and for good reason. The hockey puck-shaped Beosound A1 is only 13 cm in diameter, making it easy to slip into a neat travel bag. The accomplished Danish designer Cecilie Manz has ensured the finest materials have been deployed in the manufacture of the device. Take the speaker section's outer coating, cast from a tactile pearl blasted anodised aluminium, for example; or the hard-wearing leather strap, which is also waterproof. Indeed, the entire product carries an IP67 rating, meaning it can be dunked in a metre of water for up to half an hour. The battery will play out for 18 hours after a charge and is even replaceable. With its poolside credentials, sustainability and gorgeous design, the little disc from B&O provides spacious 360-degree stereo sound with full-bodied bass. £259 Do you ever wonder at the stacks of stage amps at old Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin gigs? Or were you perhaps a budding guitarist strumming away in student digs? If the answer to either question is yes, then you may want to get your hands on Marshall's Emberton III. The 16cm long speaker plays on the iconic brand's heritage with its knobbly surround and lattice grille, reminiscent of the company's professional cabinets. Furthermore, the Marshall is part crafted from recycled electronic devices and CDs. The Emberton III comes with an IP67 dust and waterproof rating and multidirectional sound, but this time you get a mammoth 32 hours of battery use from a single charge. Marshall includes the latest Bluetooth Auracast tech for broadcasting to multiple devices without individual pairing. The oblong enclosure achieves a balanced and rich audio panoply, with improved low-frequency response over its Emberton I and II forebears. £149 There are few audio household brand names as universal as the Massachusetts-based Bose. The Soundlink Max portable speaker pulls in ingredients from the company's unmistakable house sound and pleasing looks. Available in blue dusk or black, the speaker brandishes a premium powder-coated silicon finish. It's also built to take some knocks, so bringing it along for outdoor adventures or gatherings is not a problem. Plus it has an elegant and comfortable carrying handle fashioned from a two-tone weaved rope. With Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound for audio quality, a waterproof rating (it can also float) and excellent app control, the Soundlink Max is awash with features. The Bose renders audio with clear details, bulky, forthright mids and grounded bass. It can also get plenty loud for off-the-cuff parties. £299