I’ve been trying out several different Bluetooth speakers, both for on the water and at the beach or campsite. The small ones are okay - until you turn them up. They either start to distort, or just are not powerful enough to be heard on more open spaces. Then came the DreamWave “Tremor”.

The battery-powered Tremor boasts a whopping 50 watts of crisp, clean audio - more than any other portable unit I’ve seen on the market. It can connect either by wire or Bluetooth 4.0 to any media player, and even supports hands-free calling if you’re connected to your smartphone. While the Tremor itself comes with a plug-in AC charger, there is a USB 1A connection to its 20,800 mAh battery pack to allow you to charge almost any player or phone. It’s rated for a maximum twenty-hour play time, with an eight-hour rating at full volume and max bass.

Pound for pound and inch for inch, the Tremor sounds as good as many shelf stereo systems I used to own, and the low-end response is really remarkable. Even more remarkable - the ability to turn two Tremor units into a single stereo speaker system. Two units in close proximity will pair to individually broadcast the left and right channels of your stereo music for the ultimate in battery-powered portable audio.

The Tremor is not a “pocket” speaker. It comes with a shoulder strap the DreamWave website describes as “sturdy”, and you’ll use it. At a MSRP of $299.99, it’s not a disposable purchase. If you like your music outdoor, and you want to be able to hear it, the Tremor deserves a serious look.