STEREO GUIDE test verdict
The Teufel Motiv Go 2 is the successor to one of the most popular compact Bluetooth speakers. Our review quickly shows: the update brings modern features like PartyLink, app control and Bluetooth 5.3 – but drops AUX and the microphone.
Pros
- Balanced tuning with a solid bass foundation
- App control with sound presets
- Audio playback and charging via USB-C port
- High-quality feel
Cons
- No power adapter included anymore and no analog input either
- No carry strap
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Tonal balance / transparency8
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Bass / Dynamics7.2
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Usability / Connectivity8.5
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Price/Performance8.7
With the Motiv Go 2, Teufel takes a step that goes beyond a classic update. The compact Bluetooth speaker stays true to its look, but conceptually it sets new priorities. The second generation from 2026 (you can find our review of the predecessor here) is more geared toward wireless use and remote control via app. That brings it closer to rivals like the JBL Charge 6 or the Bose SoundLink Flex. In return, the Berlin speaker specialist deliberately cut some functions that apparently seemed obsolete to the developers. This makes the mobile Bluetooth speaker more modern, but also less universal.
The 2nd-generation Motiv Go concept sets new priorities
The new approach is already clear in connectivity. The switch from Bluetooth 5.0 to Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a more stable connection and reflects the current state of the art. At the same time, Teufel replaces aptX with AAC. For Apple users, that’s an advantage because their smart devices don’t support the aptX codec and previously had to fall back on the SBC standard codec. Now, for example, the audio data used by Apple Music can be transmitted directly to the small Bluetooth speaker without format conversion. Android users, however, now have to make do with SBC. Still, you shouldn’t overrate the effect on a mobile Bluetooth speaker of this size. In practice, most people are unlikely to notice much.
As before, the Motiv Go 2 supports multipoint connectivity and can be connected wirelessly to two devices at the same time. With the newly added Google Fast Pair, pairing is now particularly quick as well. In this discipline, Teufel is now on par with the competition instead of lagging slightly behind as it used to.
Goodbye, analog port!
The shift is even clearer when it comes to ports. Teufel has completely removed the analog AUX input with its 3.5 mm jack, as well as the integrated microphone. That means phone calls or voice assistant commands directly via the speaker are no longer possible. That’s unusual, because models like the Bose SoundLink Flex still rely on such everyday functions. Teufel is deliberately moving toward a pure streaming device here.
When charging the integrated lithium-ion battery for up to around 14 hours of playback in normal operation without Eco mode, the Motiv Go 2 also follows the current trend: USB-C replaces the old barrel connector. However, Teufel no longer includes a power adapter. While that’s not uncommon today, it makes the slightly lower price compared to the first-generation Motiv Go seem relative. If you don’t have a USB power adapter to spare for the Motiv Go 2, you’ll need to buy one as an accessory with a charging output of 7.5 to 30 watts. At Teufel, a 30-watt USB-C power adapter costs around 20 euros.
USB audio playback
A real step forward compared to the previous generation is the ability to play music in high quality via the USB input. This worked reliably on the current MacBook Pro M5. On the iPhone, however, the speaker refused USB audio completely after a brief successful attempt. At first, this looked like a small bug in the early firmware version of the Teufel speaker, which we had in hand for testing before launch. But restarting my iPhone showed that this problem was solely down to the concentrated Apple intelligence from Cupertino, which has cost me a lot of nerves and trust lately as a long-time user… During the test of wired playback from the smartphone, I disconnected the connection several times and plugged the connector back into the USB port, without the problem recurring.
Practical: the smartphone app also works when audio is played via USB from a computer. That way, I could change the sound presets for playback from the MacBook via the iPhone. However, the volume control in the Teufel Go App made big jumps or got stuck. I still see update potential here. By the way, in our test the Teufel couldn’t be used as a power bank. The iPhone connected via USB was not charged.
What also didn’t work was using USB playback with the iPhone while simultaneously controlling the Motiv Go 2 via the Teufel app, because in that case the Bluetooth connection was cut. It’s worth keeping that in mind in advance, because you then can’t access many settings that are only available via the app.
Party readiness as part of the new concept
A definite plus is the new PartyLink function. Multiple devices from the Berlin brand can be paired wirelessly, either as a larger group or as a stereo pair. These include the Rockster Go 2 or the recycling-friendly Teufel MYND, both of which have already been reviewed by STEREO GUIDE.
This is precisely where Teufel has so far had catching up to do compared to JBL or Bose, which have been consistently implementing multi-speaker setups for some time. With the Motiv Go 2, the Berlin direct seller clearly closes this gap.
Operation and App
Also new is the already mentioned integration into the Teufel Go App, which keeps the Bluetooth speaker up to date via firmware updates. You should allow a little over 10 minutes for this, and the Motiv Go 2 must be powered from a mains adapter throughout the entire update.
Users can now adjust sound parameters like bass and treble in the app or access various sound modes. The app, available for free for iOS and Android in the respective download stores, offers nine sound presets. These include a neutral tuning, a party mode and a night mode, plus a user-saveable EQ setting. Teufel also does without a multi-band equalizer like the ones common at JBL and others, even on the Motiv Go 2. But compared to the predecessor, which had to do entirely without an app, the second edition of the classic is a sensible step forward.
There’s now also an Eco mode that reduces punch, low-end extension and dynamics of the small Bluetooth speaker to extend battery life. The cut is clearly noticeable, but it doesn’t affect tonal balance quite as drastically as, for example, the Eco mode on the JBL Flip 7.
Dynamore now with a greater sense of spaciousness
The feature set is rounded out by a revised Dynamore function, as usual also activatable directly on the device via its own button, which provides a wider stereo image. (Warning, spoiler): In direct listening, the stage in our test did indeed seem wider, taller and more three-dimensional than on the predecessor. Progress in an area where speakers this compact typically hit their limits.
Operation is still via buttons on the top under a rubber cover. Teufel speaks of improved recognizability. On our test sample, however, that wasn’t apparent. The buttons mainly differ by their smooth surface, not by color contrast or illumination. In poor light, that’s not very helpful, especially on our black version. By feel, even the previous layout with the centrally placed, raised Play/Pause button and the skip buttons to its left and right was, at least in my impression, clearly better. However, judging by today’s press photos, this seems to apply only to our pre-production test sample.
Teufel sticks with its driver concept
Teufel hasn’t changed the basic acoustic concept of the Motiv Go. Two 2-inch full-range drivers with aluminum diaphragms and two passive radiators are still used in the enclosure, which is reinforced by an aluminum frame. The two oval passive radiators sit back-to-back between the full-range drivers, which are still driven with 20 watts total power. According to the manufacturer, the tuning has been refined, which is said to result in a more balanced and more detailed sound.
Visually, the speaker stays true to itself. The rugged metal housing looks premium and is said to withstand water jets to the IPX5 standard. New is an additional color option in lavender, which livens up the otherwise classic design a bit.
Sound test: how the Teufel Motiv Go 2 sounds
Unfortunately, we no longer had the predecessor in the editorial office for a direct comparison. But based on notes and memory, we can say the basic tuning follows the same model: balance in the mid/treble range, supported by a bass foundation that’s substantial for its comparatively compact dimensions.
What I noticed immediately was the increased effect of Dynamore. The stereo base widening now works so well that you don’t perceive the sound as too diffuse when you switch it on. More importantly: when you switch it off, you immediately feel like something is missing – something of everything that makes up space and depth. The soundstage then seems to collapse in on itself at first. You can hardly pay a better compliment to this kind of trickery in a Bluetooth box of this size.
With Dynamore activated, the sound clearly detaches from the cabinet to the sides, especially with free placement. On “Money” by Pink Floyd, effects like coins or slot machines are audibly outside the speaker. It works so well that you almost forget how compact the enclosure actually is. Accordingly, in everyday use most users will likely leave the function permanently enabled. If you expect a true panorama, however, you’ll need to pair a second Motiv Go 2 via Bluetooth using the new stereo pairing function.
Great bass performance
If there’s one discipline besides spaciousness where many portable speakers of this size traditionally struggle, it’s bass. This is exactly where the Motiv Go 2 makes a statement. It was already a strength of the predecessor – and it still is. Tracks like the live version of Toto’s “Africa” benefit from bass that’s not only present, but also brings structure and punch. The drums hit hard, feel physical, and remain surprisingly well differentiated.
It’s even more obvious with electronic music. The deep, punchy electronic sounds in “Ratchets” by Hedegaard come through with a confidence you wouldn’t expect from a speaker this size. It doesn’t sound bloated, but controlled and surprisingly mature.
Suitable for all music genres alike
In the mid and treble range, the Motiv Go 2 shows its pleasant side. Voices are rendered cleanly and with a certain expressiveness, without harshness or artificial sharpness. This comes across particularly well with sparse arrangements, because nothing sounds pushed to the foreground. Instead, you get a coherent overall picture that you can listen to for longer without fatigue.
Another plus is its dynamic headroom. The Motiv Go 2 plays surprisingly confidently, even when you turn the volume up significantly. Even at higher levels, it doesn’t sound strained. That’s easily enough for small to medium-sized rooms – and in everyday use it can certainly replace a classic compact system, as long as it’s not about the perfect stereo listening position, but about musical presence in the room.
All in all, the Motiv Go 2 delivers exactly what you want from a modern Bluetooth speaker in our listening test: it combines mature tonal balance with bass that’s impressive for its size, convincing spaciousness, and strong everyday usability.
Conclusion and alternatives: Teufel Motiv Go 2
All in all, the Motiv Go 2 shows a clear evolution: away from a versatile all-rounder and toward a modern streaming speaker focused on the app, multi-speaker operation and wireless use. That brings it closer to the usage scenarios of JBL and Bose, but with its own priorities. Not least thanks to the further optimized Dynamore processing, it sounds noticeably more spacious than alternatives like the JBL Flip 7 or Bose SoundLink Flex.
As for the comparison with the predecessor, the 2nd generation of the Motiv Go can also score with a soundstage that’s strikingly good for its size. Party mode and stereo pairing plus USB playback should also be compelling arguments for most users alongside the app. For most users, that should make up for the omission of the analog AUX input and the hands-free microphone. However, some may miss the included power adapter, even if you can now charge via USB-C in line with the one-standard trend.
More alternatives in STEREO GUIDE’s best Bluetooth speaker list
Technical specs: Teufel Motiv Go 2
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 230 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 21.1 x 6.6 x 11.5 cm
- Weight: 935 g
- Battery life up to 14/15 hours (without/with Eco mode)
- Highlights: Bluetooth 5.3, protection against water jets to IPX5, multipoint connection, Party mode, stereo pairing,
- More at: teufel.de
