‘What is that melody?’: why you should bring a speaker to your first year accommodation

By Molly Pullen, Third Year, English

On that first night at university, it’s difficult not to revert to the classic ‘what do I do now?’ mentality, sitting frozen in those four walls of your room, waiting for someone to direct you to your next activity, like a Sims character with autonomy turned off.

Except, no one is going to do that anymore. Everything is now your choice, from picking your daily meals (painfully never-ending) to working out what your favourite study spots are on and off campus (surprisingly fun).

Unfortunately, that also means that taking that first leap from enjoying your newly decorated space (fairy lights and a polaroid pin-board will always be a design staple) to venturing out into the wild – your flat’s kitchen – is completely up to you!

Navigating this social no-man’s land can be tricky, but if you are equipped with one key item, it may become a lot smoother.

Enter, the speaker.

First year pre-drinks | Epigram / *Charlotte Loader*

Filling that awkward silence after the typical big three (‘what’s your name?’, ‘what are you studying?’, ‘where are you from?’) can be difficult; there are only so many times other people can ‘mmh’ and ‘ahh’ as you try to explain where your small hometown is (you ultimately give up, and default to saying the city closest to your house).

Yet, as you slowly stir your first of many pasta dishes of the term, it may be time to break out your secret weapon. Something about the creation of a Spotify Jam, or designating one flatmate to be the night’s resident DJ, can create bonds between people faster than any amount of uncomfortable ice-breaker questions.

Your speaker will become the centrepiece of your living space. The soundtrack to your first uni pre-drinks, the tunes playing for getting ready for a night out, the background music to your frantic exam season cramming – all blasting from this one little speaker. Unlike that ironing board and candle collection you smuggled into your halls, this is one gadget you will never regret bringing along.

selective focus photography of DJ controller — Photo by Paolo Nicolello / Unsplash

Whilst this is all well and good, it’s important to also address the elephant in the room: speakers are expensive. This is not something you can quickly pick up on a whim from Dunelm, like that stack of clothes hangers you probably forgot at home. That said, here are a few options you might want to consider if you’re thinking of purchasing a speaker for your uni year:

Are you leaving your speaker in your flat? Does it need to be carried around to friends’ places?
Consider whether your speaker being portable matters to you, a heavy or wired speaker can be more difficult to transport and use.
What is your budget? How long do you want your speaker to last? Are you looking for high quality sound, or just a temporary solution? Can your gadget purchases be sustainable?
For larger budgets, brands like Sonos, Soundcore, Bose and Marshalls might suit your needs. However, realistically, you will have just as good a time with a JBL speaker from Argos (what matters is the atmosphere!).
My best tip would be to scour second-hand sites (Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree etc) for the best lightly used, great quality tech. A good quality speaker will last you through your student years and beyond; think of it as an investment into your social future.