It’s official: we’re entering the summer festival season – even if the UK weather doesn’t recognize it yet.
And while there’s no Glastonbury this year, there are still plenty of options to enjoy, whether you’re heading to the Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds or one of the many other music festivals around the country.
If you’re looking for an outdoor projector, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 Air is our top pick. Its built-in battery, speakers and wi-fi mean you just fire up the Google TV operating system and start watching – nothing else is needed. The image is a step above other projectors of that size, too.
If you’re going to a festival, then the JBL Go 4 might be the speaker of choice. It’s compact, waterproof and can be bought for just £30, making it ideal festival fodder that can be easily carried and has a good chance of surviving the UK climate. But most importantly, it sounds very impressive for its price, and can serve as an inexpensive upgrade to external projector speakers.
If you’re looking for a budget soundbar to experience a festival performance in all its glory, may we introduce the Creative Stage Pro. The soundbar and subwoofer combo delivers amazingly cinematic sound and shines when it comes to music too, and it’s compact enough to take out without being able to plug it in.
If you’re looking for an outdoor projector on a budget, then the Xgimi Vibe One is, well, what we recommend. You’ll have to account for a battery that only lasts 1.2 hours, but this is a great value for money for a portable projector with a detailed, heavy image.
If you want to step up the volume on the Go 4 but still want portability, the JBL Flip 7 is a great deal. Its IP68-rated construction should protect almost anything the festival throws at it, and it’s still portable thanks to its burrito-like design and carabiner clip. The Flip 7 also offers incredible clarity and sonic precision, with punchy bass for its size.
If you’re after a sound bar system on a budget, the Hisense AX5125H knocked our socks off during testing. Despite the low price, the Dolby Atmos system is a compact and impressive player, with a dedicated Music preset.
To really feel like you’re at a festival, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than the Sony Bravia 8 II. Our current TV Product of the Year, the QD-OLED is amazing out of the box and is one of the best sounding TVs you can buy.
If you’re serious about sound, then the Bose SoundLink Max it offers a lively, punchy delivery with a clear midrange. Its IP67 rating and 20 hours of battery life mean it should survive the festival weekend.
The best soundbar for most people, if your budget can stretch, is the Sonos Arc Ultra for its clean, precise and three-dimensional sound. It’s almost as good for music as it is for movies, and it makes for a great performer.
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