Another year and another range of speakers released by a host of manufacturers. But there is a difference this year: namely the wide range of bluetooth speakers. While true audiophiles will likely scream in horror at the mere mention of wireless speakers (cables do perform better, after all, even if you can’t detect them), for most consumers, these wireless speakers, particularly speakers bluetooth, they are more than good enough to replace the old, cumbersome and wired lot. Add to that the ubiquity of iPhones and iPod Touch, and you can see the appeal of bluetooth speakers – they’re easy to use, affordable, compact, and offer decent overall performance without any of the nasty elements (read: cables, great power bricks , etc.).

So what are the best Bluetooth speakers for 2011?

If you had to choose a pair of speakers that stand out for their versatility, you would probably go for the Creative D100 and its bigger brother, the D200. These two speakers do everything right for me – they deliver good performance, they’re not too expensive (I say this after spending thousands of dollars on multiple sets of speakers), and they look good. But for the sake of this article, I’ll list the four best Bluetooth speakers of 2011:

1. Creative D100 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

As I mentioned earlier, this speaker set does a lot of things well: it looks good (it comes in five different colors, though I prefer the default black), it offers more than adequate performance, it’s small and easy to transport, it runs on AA batteries, and it won’t put a hole in your wallet.

But he is not a perfect speaker. Not much less (for that, I’d probably look at Klipsch or Bose). The bass lacks a bit of punch, and if you turn up the volume, there is distortion. I assume, however, that you won’t be using the Creative D100 to power your next house party. For any other purpose, this is an excellent and reliable speaker.

Pros: compact, affordable, aesthetically pleasing design, solid overall performance.

Cons: the bass sounds a bit weak; high volume distortions

2.Monster ClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker

With this speaker, there was love at first sight. How not to fall for this little package packed with features and power? It’s no bigger than an iPhone and yet it can set a house on fire with its sound. I’ve seen speakers that weigh 10 pounds that don’t perform as well.

Despite the compact design, the Monster ClarityHD is a very complete speaker that works seamlessly with any Bluetooth device. Your iPhone or iPodTouch will instantly recognize it and stream all your music through it. Audio quality is astonishing for such a small speaker: clear, loud mid and high tones, little distortion, even at high volumes. If you mainly listen to music through your smartphone (Android / iPhone / Blackberry) or iPod Touch, this speaker is the perfect choice.

Advantages: extremely compact design, clear and powerful reproduction, decent range.

Cons: As with all small speakers, it lacks strong bass tones. The volume output is somewhat low.

3. Altec Lansing inMotion Soundblade Bluetooth Speaker

Finally, a speaker that dispels the myth that Bluetooth speakers are only good for casual users. It costs a penny, but turn it on and you get crystal clear sound with incredible bass (thanks to SRS TruBass technology) that will blow your mind. It looks sleek, is only an inch thick, and even includes a built-in mic to act as a speaker.

Being a modern Bluetooth device, Altec Lansing inMotion is very easy to set up. You can go from opening the package to streaming music through your iPhone in as little as 60 seconds. The performance is, frankly, mind-blowing. It offers sound that can compete with a $ 400 Bose system and, for all practical purposes, is more than adequate for heavy use, both in the home and on the go.

The only drawback I can think of (which has made me rank it at number 3 here) is the price. At $ 199.99, it costs as much as a new Netbook computer. But if you care about quality, you will love the Altec Lansing Soundblade.

Pros: Excellent audio quality, aesthetically pleasing, just an inch thick, strong bass and clear high tones. Probably the best Bluetooth speaker out there.

Cons: Expensive

4.SuperTooth Disco Bluetooth Speaker

It looks like a brick, is almost a foot long, and does not have the pedigree of an Altec Lansing behind it. But turn it on, and the SuperTooth Disco can make even a $ 300 Klipsch speaker run for your money. Audio is surprisingly clear with strong volume output. Pairing it with a Bluetooth device is a matter of seconds and you have a long Bluetooth range to boot.

On the downside, the large size makes it a bit difficult to transport. While the Monster ClarityHD can be dropped in a bag, the SuperTooth Disco lacks a bit of teeth in the portability department. But if you want to use it mainly indoors, you will be very satisfied with the performance.

Pros: good performance, good Bluetooth range

Cons: Large, unwieldy design