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Choosing Bluetooth Speakers for Your Piano Studio

This article about finding the right Bluetooth speakers for your piano studio was written by Daniel Light. Daniel is a pianist, composer and piano teacher based in Louisville, Kentucky. He has operated an independent piano studio for more than 30 years. Currently, he teaches 40 piano students each week with the help of his teaching assistant, Oscar, the cat. In addition to teaching full-time, Daniel enjoys composing and arranging music for piano students, church musicians and others. Find his music at daniel-light.com

As a piano teacher, I play a lot of recordings in my studio – both for myself and for my students. With access to a world of music on our phones and tablets, it makes sense that we play music primarily from those sources. But when you want to fill a room with music, the sound produced by your device alone might be inadequate.

For most of us, Bluetooth speakers are a great solution. But shopping for a quality Bluetooth speaker can be overwhelming. There are so many available! 

How do you decide what to buy

I’m so glad you asked! If you keep these 4 features top of mind when purchasing Bluetooth speakers, you’re sure to find the perfect system for your studio. 

Speaker Feature No. 1: Sound Quality

It may seem obvious, but when considering Bluetooth speakers for your piano studio you’ll want the highest quality sound you can get within your budget.

Generally people look for the best sound to have clear highs, rich mids and deep bass. Here are some essential factors you might not know about that help to shape the sound you’re after.

Frequency Response

Frequency response refers to the range of sound a speaker can reproduce. In general, the wider the range, the better the speaker will sound

When looking at the specs for your speakers, you’ll see the frequency response listed something like “20Hz to 20kHz.” That’s the range humans can typically hear, so hitting those marks – or at least close to them – would be ideal.

Low-end or budget-priced speakers might have a significantly smaller range listed – with the sound quality to match.

Power Output

Power output, which is measured in watts, will have a big effect on your speaker’s quality of sound – especially when you have the volume cranked. 🤘

For a smaller room, you might do well with a 10W or 20W speaker. In a larger room, a 40W speaker or larger might be more suitable. Higher numbers are better, but higher power output will likely be matched with a higher price

Stereo vs. Mono 

Will you be happy with a simple mono speaker, or would you rather surround your students with full stereo sound? 

While the majority of Bluetooth speakers are mono, there are quite a few that can be paired together for stereo sound (if you’re willing to purchase two). Some midsize and larger speakers have stereo sound built in. 

Audio Drivers 

The number and arrangement of audio drivers will have a large impact on the overall audio quality of your speaker. (Audio drivers are the components that actually produce sound.)

If you’re able, visit a brick and mortar store and listen to a variety of speakers. Most stores selling electronic goods tend to have stations where you can listen to and compare the Bluetooth speakers being offered. In the end, your opinion of how a speaker sounds will be more important than any list of specs.

If listening isn’t an option, online reviews from trusted sources can be very helpful. My go-to trusted source for such reviews is usually cnet.com.

Speaker Feature No. 2: Portability vs. Permanence

Whether you’re a travelling teacher or teach from your home or studio space, weight, size and power sources will be important considerations.

Portable Speakers

Compact and battery-powered, these speakers are ideal for the travelling teacher. Toss one in a bag and go! 

Be sure to consider the speakers’ size, weight and battery life. If your speaker needs to be charged on a daily basis and it weighs more than a toddler, that’s likely going to keep you from using it. 

Lighter weight models with longer battery life will serve you well.

Permanent Speakers

These tend to be larger, and often require a power outlet. If you can designate a permanent spot for speakers in your piano studio, you will appreciate the superior sound quality plus avoiding the hassle of keeping the batteries charged. 

Speaker Feature No. 3: Pricing

You can easily break the bank buying Bluetooth speakers if you don’t carefully consider what you can afford, as well as what features are most important to you.

Set a budget 

Bluetooth speakers range in price from budget-friendly to high-end. (For example, a simple search on Amazon garners prices from $20USD to $8,000USD.) To make sure you don’t overspend or get distracted by all the bells and whistles, determine your budget before you start shopping.

Remember: Even if you can’t afford to spend a great deal of money on these speakers, anything will be better than trying to play music from your phone or tablet.

Consider Features 

More expensive speakers often come with additional features like voice assistants, multi-room audio, the ability to pair two speakers for stereo sound, water resistance and others. 

Be willing to balance your wants and needs to stay within your budget. 

Speaker Feature No. 4: Connectivity

Before purchasing speakers for your piano studio, take the time to consider the version of Bluetooth you’ll be getting, and whether you might want to connect older audio devices that don’t have Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Version

All Bluetooth is not created equal! Newer versions of Bluetooth technology have upgraded audio quality, but connectivity is also considerably better in Bluetooth version 5 and higher. That includes faster connection and significantly better range. 

Bluetooth 5.0 is said to have a 4 times better range than Bluetooth 4.2. At the time of this writing, Bluetooth speakers are typically equipped with Bluetooth versions ranging from 4.2 to 5.3. 

Aim for a newer version if you can.

Additional Inputs

Some speakers offer auxiliary inputs for connecting non-Bluetooth devices. If you have an older audio device you would like to connect to a speaker, that feature could be gold for you. 

Your Wish List

Now that you have an idea of what’s available, write out a checklist of the features most important for you. Then try to find a speaker that checks all of those boxes and still fits within your budget. 

If you find that the price is still too high, consider what you can compromise on from your wish-list items. Can you live without stereo sound, extra auxiliary inputs or waterproofing in order to meet your budget?

What’s your most important feature in a Bluetooth speaker? 

For me, that feature is the ability to operate without batteries. I was done with having my speaker die in the middle of my teaching day. A pair of Bluetooth stereo speakers that stay plugged in 24/7 now holds a prominent spot in my studio, and I am loving them. 

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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