Top 10: The best mini Bluetooth speaker in the test – Marshall, Teufel & JBL

The stylish mini Bluetooth speaker Klipsch Austin scores with warm sound and robust workmanship. We listened very carefully.

Klipsch has become known primarily for its high-quality hi-fi speakers and powerful floorstanding speakers. With the Austin, Klipsch is presenting the smallest model in its mobile loudspeaker family. In terms of price and size, the mini Bluetooth speaker is below its larger siblings Nashville and Detroit.

The Austin has been available since the end of 2023, primarily in black, rarely also in cream. The RRP is around 100 euros. The speaker currently costs around 78 euros on Amazon. This means it competes in a highly competitive market segment. Competitors like that JBL Go 4 for around 40 euros Devil Boomster Go for 85 euros or the similarly styled one Marshall Willen II for just under 100 euros are also vying for the attention of buyers. The Austin is aimed at users who are looking for a small, visually and sonically appealing mini Bluetooth speaker for on the go.

The Klipsch Austin relies on a cubic shape. With dimensions of 105 × 105 × 44 mm and a weight of 397 g, it is one of the compact representatives of its genus. The speaker fits in a spacious trouser pocket or in the palm of your hand and is therefore at eye level with the speaker in terms of size Marshall Willen II and that Bose Soundlink Micro 2.

Visually, the Austin looks pleasantly rocky. The shiny bronze-colored Klipsch logo on the front looks great and is stylistically reminiscent of the Marshall Willen II. The front is decorated with a metal grill, the back is partially perforated.

When choosing the material, the manufacturer relies on a matt silicone coating. It feels high-quality, is non-slip and reliably dampens vibrations. Raised corners serve as feet. There is a wide elastic band at the back that allows it to be attached flexibly to a backpack, bicycle handlebar or belt.

The workmanship leaves nothing to be desired. The thick rubber coating and the sturdy metal grill give a high-quality, long-lasting impression – there is no cheap plastic look. The USB-C port is protected by a rubber closure. Thanks to IP67 certification, the speaker can survive being submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes and also keeps dust out without any problems. Only the strap looks as if it could tear under heavy loads.

A 3.8 cm full-range driver works inside, supported by two passive membranes, each measuring 3.5 × 5.5 cm. The amplifier delivers 10 watts RMS, the frequency response ranges from 70 Hz to 20 kHz. This means that the Austin reaches deeper than that JBL Go 4 with 90 Hz, but remains behind that Devil Boomster Go back at 65 Hz. The maximum sound pressure is 85 dB. The bass reflex housing is intended to ensure full sound despite its compact design.

In practice, the Austin cuts a better figure than its size suggests. The speaker reproduces language content such as podcasts and audio books clearly and naturally. The voices don’t sound muffled or unpleasant. The typical Klipsch character is evident here: warm, present and with good midrange reproduction.

The Austin shows its strengths with acoustic music, folk, jazz and vocals. Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why sounds pleasingly clear. The voice reproduction appears pleasantly warm, and the instrument separation is surprisingly good for a single-driver design. Also Ed Sheerans Lego House comes across clean. The guitar remains precise and the vocals come through well.

The bass extends to around 70 Hz. It seems resonant, but not really deep or powerful. For bass-heavy tracks like The Weeknds Blinding Lights or electronic music à la Daft Punks Get Lucky the Austin sounds comparatively thin. A low-frequency foundation like that Marshall Willen IIwhich builds up a lot of pressure thanks to the 38-watt amplifier, is clearly missing here. If you turn the volume all the way up, the bass cuts off audibly.

Classic like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – Spring convinces with clear, crisp highs. However, the speaker reaches its limits at high volumes. Overall, the maximum level is sufficient for personal use or small sessions in the garden. The Austin is undersized for a house party.

Overall, the Klipsch Austin scores with a clarity and warmth that is remarkable for its size. However, bass fans will not be happy.

Four physical buttons on the top control the speaker: power, Bluetooth pairing and volume +/–. This is the biggest weak point in the operation of the device. Dedicated buttons for play/pause or track control are completely missing. If you want to skip or pause songs, you inevitably have to use your smartphone – a clear disadvantage compared to competing models like this Marshall Willen IIwhich offers an elegant solution with its clever joystick.

The keys are tactile, but flat and unlit. They can hardly be seen in the dark. At least a five-stage LED display provides reliable information about the battery level.

The Klipsch Connect app (iOS and Android) includes presets (flat, bass, rock, treble, vocal) as well as a custom mode with a 3-band equalizer (bass, mid, treble). However, the effect of the EQ adjustments is rather subtle.

Additionally, the app offers OTA firmware updates, volume control, track control, battery level indicator, broadcast mode setup and a support section. A solid package.

Klipsch promises a battery life of up to 12 hours at typical volume. The charging time is around two hours via USB-C. In the test, the manufacturer’s information was confirmed quite well at medium volume. As soon as you really turn it up, the running time drops noticeably.

This puts the Austin on a par with the Bose Soundlink Micro 2 (12 hours) and is well ahead of that JBL Go 4 with only 7 hours – but behind that Marshall Willen II with 17 hours. The reverse charging function is practical: in an emergency, other devices such as smartphones can be charged via the 18 W USB-C port.

The Klipsch Austin relies on Bluetooth 5.3 and can remember up to eight devices. When it comes to the codec, however, Klipsch doesn’t take a modern approach and limits itself to the SBC standard. Premium codecs like aptX or LDAC are missing. However, SBC is sufficient for typical streaming applications such as Spotify or Apple Music.

With broadcast mode, up to 10 or more compatible Klipsch speakers can be linked to form a mono system. So if you already own Klipsch speakers, you can easily connect them and provide sound throughout the entire house or garden. In addition, the Austin allows true wireless stereo pairing with a second Austin – creating a stereo setup with a more spatial sound.

The built-in microphone enables hands-free phone calls. The voice quality is at a solid level. Klipsch does not have an AUX input.

The recommended retail price of the Klipsch Austin is around 100 euros. The mini Bluetooth speaker is currently available from 70 euros and costs 78 euros on Amazon.

The Klipsch Austin is a compact mini Bluetooth speaker that scores with high-quality workmanship, robust design and balanced sound. The speaker shows what it can do, especially with acoustic music, folk, jazz and vocals: warm sound, good voice reproduction and surprisingly decent instrument separation for its size.

On the plus side are the solid IP67 certification, the fastening loop, the reverse charging function and the broadcast mode for up to 10 Klipsch speakers. The battery life of 12 hours is also okay.

The Austin shows weaknesses in the bass, which is too thin for bass-heavy genres such as EDM or hip-hop. The operation of the device is also disappointing: the lack of play/pause and track buttons force users to use their smartphone.

With a street price starting at 70 euros, the Klipsch Austin is still a fair offer for anyone looking for a stylish, robust mini Bluetooth speaker. If you want more bass, you should get this Marshall Willen II look at. If you have to pay attention to money, this is it JLab Pop Party well served.