6 Ways to Repurpose an Old Bluetooth Speaker
Bluetooth speakers come and go, and you might be about to throw out an old one so you can unbox the newest, shiniest model to take to the beach or set up in your office.
But wait! Before you get rid of that speaker, here are some other options than turning it into electronic waste for your consideration.
Use it as a bathroom speaker or in the kitchen
My wife and I have had a nice JBL Bluetooth speaker in our bathroom at all times for years now. We use it to listen to music in the shower or bath, or for a really long bath, maybe an audiobook or podcast. It doesn’t have to be one of those waterproof speakers designed to be used inside neither does your shower. As long as it’s not under direct water it should be fine.
The kitchen is another place where these speakers come in handy. I love watching YouTube videos while I cook, but my poor iPad’s speakers don’t have the punch to overcome the noise of the extractor hood or sizzling pots and pans. Even a small, basic Bluetooth speaker packs a lot more power, especially if you just want to hear someone’s voice over the noise.
Make it a permanent speaker for PC or gaming console
So this seems like a bad idea because Bluetooth tends to have latency, and you don’t necessarily want to have that with apps like gaming or for watching YouTube videos. However, some newer Bluetooth speakers, paired with the appropriate Bluetooth chipset on your device, have little or no latency that you may notice.
That aside, if your Bluetooth speaker has an “aux” input, it’s actually perfect. No lag, no loss of quality. However, this tip is most useful for Bluetooth stereo speakers. While you can use a mono speaker just fine, you’re losing too much in my opinion.
Use it for outdoor or workshop tunes
If you like to work in your garage or have a shed at the bottom of the garden, keeping a Bluetooth speaker there is perfect for listening to music or podcasts whenever you feel in the mood to work on your hobbies or have tasks to complete. It’s more comfortable than wearing headphones or earbuds while you work, and since you probably have your phone with you, it takes seconds to play your content.
If the speaker is one of these robust models, even better.
Turn it into a white noise or sleep sound machine
Like many people, I sleep much better with white noise in the room. In my case I simply use a fan, but this is not always possible, suitable or practical. This is where a good white noise generator app comes in, but unless you like sleeping with headphones on, you’ll need a speaker. Just about any old Bluetooth speaker will do. Just make sure your alarm goes off in the morning too.
Add it to a Raspberry Pi or Retro Tech project
People love using SBCs (single board computers) like the Raspberry Pi, and there are many interesting projects using these devices. Whether you’re building a retro arcade machine or a custom rig that I couldn’t even imagine on my best day. Most of the time, these projects benefit from some sort of speaker, and an old Bluetooth speaker might be the perfect solution.
Depending on the specific project, issues like latency or stereo audio may not even matter. So even if you don’t have any such project in the works right away, it might be a good idea to place this speaker somewhere safe, because you never know when you’ll need it.
Give it a second life as a gift or as a children’s music player
Just because you’re done with your speaker doesn’t mean someone else couldn’t benefit from it. Even if the battery is no longer good, many speakers can be plugged in with a USB charger and operate for years. So why not give it to a family member who can enjoy it long after you’ve lost interest?
8/10
- Bluetooth connectivity?
-
BT 5.2
- Entry type
-
RCA, HDMI, Bluetooth, AUX 3.5mm
- Power
-
100.5 dB at 1 m
- Voice assistant
-
N / A
