Do I need stereo pairing or is one speaker enough?

For one or two listeners in a small space, a single speaker is usually plenty. Stereo pairing (available on the JBL Charge 6, Bose SoundLink Flex, and Beats Pill in this roundup) widens the soundstage noticeably for music listening but doubles your cost. For parties and outdoor use, dual-speaker party modes are more impactful than true stereo.