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While it’s generally true that wireless speakers cost more than the wired variety, the price gap isn’t as wide as it once was. These days, you can get a fantastic speaker for around $200, and unless you’re a serious audiophile, it’s virtually impossible to tell the difference in sound quality. Plus, plenty of models are multitaskers and combine an excellent sound system with smart capabilities.
But with all the extra features that wireless speakers include—in addition to the already-complex lineup of speaker specs—finding one that fits your listening requirements and budget is no easy task, even for those with a working vocabulary of tweeters, mid-range drivers, and woofers.
The basics of how sound is produced is fairly straightforward; the details of how speakers produce sound is not—and it doesn’t help that companies like to slap confusing branding on every element of their sound systems. While it’s true that speakers with more components (aka woofers and tweeters) pump out a broader range of sound for a more immersive listening experience, having fewer doesn’t have to mean mediocre sound.
The good news is that whether you’re looking for something that’s perfect for beach vacations or a sound bar to boost your TV-watching experience, read on for our recommendations on the best wireless speakers, plus the most important things to consider while you shop.
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Best Portable
Bose Portable Smart Wireless Speaker
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What to Consider
When shopping for a wireless speaker, you’ll need to weigh your listening preferences and setup against budget to find a model that’s affordable and futureproof. You’ll also want to make a list of must-have features and what you’re okay doing without relative to price range. Below, we’ve outlined the most important points to help inform your decision.
Type
First up is figuring out which type of wireless speaker to buy. If you want a relatively inexpensive option for listening to music in multiple rooms, your best bet is a lightweight, portable wireless speaker, and most feature Bluetooth and built-in voice assistants. Wireless bookshelf speakers are a great option for medium-size rooms if you care more about power and nuanced sound than portability and smart features. There are also single-unit stereo wireless speakers that are smart and deliver top-notch sound, designed for solo use or to pair with other components for multi-room listening or to build a comprehensive home audio system.
Sound
In general, sound quality increases as the price does, and speakers with more sophisticated technology offer a more immersive, room-filling listening experience. If you want to dive deeper, drivers are components that turn electrical energy into sound waves. And speakers have three main drivers: woofers, the largest, which produce low-frequency sound and add bass; mid-range, which are mid-size drivers that cover the in-between frequencies, like vocals and instrumentals; and tweeters, the smallest drivers, which produce sound in the highest range of the frequency spectrum and add treble. Amplifiers give power to speakers, so more means higher volume. But the number of amps doesn’t affect the sound quality.
Beyond a certain point, “good” sound is based on personal preference. It’s also influenced by various factors, including music genre and room acoustics. The best way to judge speaker sound quality is to play a range of your favorite songs in the spaces you’re likely to be listening.
Connectivity
If you already have an audio system from Sonos or Bose, for instance, you’ll likely want a wireless speaker from the same brand to work seamlessly within your setup. Keep in mind that “Bluetooth” and “wireless” aren’t synonymous, and there are wireless speakers that don’t feature Bluetooth capability. The difference between the two is that wireless speakers connect to your home network, whereas Bluetooth speakers pair directly with individual devices, like a smartphone. Of course, there are plenty of speakers equipped with both.
How We Selected
We relied on our contextual knowledge from testing and evaluating a wide range of speakers and our expertise on what to look for—and avoid—when shopping. We also consulted with senior technology editor Stefan Vazharov and took into account reviews from other expert sources, such as Techradar and Consumer Reports. Our selection includes speakers from top brands such as Sonos, Bose, KEF, and Sony. And we judged models based on overall design, sound quality and clarity, and connectivity, as well as value-added features like voice assistant and pairing for multi-room audio.
Looking for more speaker recommendations? Check out our stories on the best smart speakers, the best tower speakers, and the best bookshelf speakers.
Pros
- Incredible sound for the price
- Well-rounded features and intuitive app
- Versatile for expanding home audio, with stereo-pairing
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Relatively compact with small footprint
Cons
- No Bluetooth
Of all the wireless speakers out there, the second-generation Sonos One is the best for most people, with a well-rounded lineup of features and a reasonable price point for what you get.
It’s compact but delivers room-filling sound, plus you can pair it with one or more speakers to upgrade to a multi-room sound system. It also offers voice control and Sonos’s TruePlay feature, which essentially calibrates the speaker based on where it is in a particular space.
Other highlights include an intuitive app and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant. The wireless speaker comes in black or white with a matte finish. Its only drawback (though likely not a dealbreaker) is that it lacks Bluetooth.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 4.7 x 4.7 x 6.4 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, ethernet |
| Sound: | 2 x Class-D digital amplifiers, 1 x tweeter, 1 x woofer |
| Weight: | 4 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Apple AirPlay, Spotify, Google Cast |
Pros
- Balanced sound, with rich bass
- HEOS high-resolution audio platform
- Bluetooth, plus USB port
- Features stereo-pairing
- Good volume for its size
- Small footprint, and lightweight
Cons
- Voice control is very basic
Denon may not be a familiar name, but this Japanese brand has been around since 1901 and is known for turning out solid-quality hi-fi audio equipment.
This model offers balanced sound with rich bass, and for the relatively affordable price, you may want to double up for a stereo setup. Performance is impressive considering its size—particularly the bass—though it lacks a bit in the mid-range.
While it’s compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, note that functionality is limited to basics like lowering volume and skipping tracks, which seems like a pretty big omission.
So is the Sonos One better overall? Yes, particularly in the mid-range and due to its versatile smart features. But if you’re looking to save a few bucks and want the option of Bluetooth pairing, it’s an excellent choice.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 7.4 x 4.7 x 4.7 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm aux, USB port |
| Sound: | 2 x Class-D digital amplifiers, 1 x tweeter, 1 x woofer |
| Weight: | 3.7 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Apple AirPlay, Spotify, SiriusXM, SoundCloud |
Pros
- Hi-res audio compatible
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Spotify and Chromecast are built-in
- Amazing 360-degree sound
- Seamless connectivity
- Bluetooth-enabled
- Sleek design
Cons
- Bass may be overpowering for some
Sony released this model in 2021 as one of the brand’s first two 360-degree audio speakers alongside the pricier SRS-RA500. We prefer it to the more expensive model for a number of reasons.
First is that, while it has some shortcomings when compared to speakers on the higher end, it delivers awesome, satisfying sound for a reasonable price. Plus, it’s equipped with Bluetooth and lightweight enough to be portable (though it isn’t water-resistant). It also happens to look sleek in that signature Sony way, and comes in black with rose gold grills or white with silver grills.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 6.1 x 5.8 x 9.8 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Google Cast, 3.5mm aux |
| Sound: | 2 x tweeters, 2 x passive radiators |
| Weight: | 5.5 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Chromecast, Spotify |
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Pros
- Fantastic, powerful room-filling sound
- Works positioned vertically for stereo separation
- Intuitive app with excellent features
- Six-driver design
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- No mic for voice control
- A bit bulky and heavy
If you have more to spend, the Sonos Five delivers significantly better performance than the Sonos One above. With a six-driver design, it’s the brand’s most powerful speaker, and it delivers rich, balanced sound. (Fun fact: It was tuned by the legendary English record producer Giles Martin.) It’s also the largest, which may or may not be an issue depending on your setup.
You can position the Sonos Five horizontally for stereo sound or vertically to pair with a second speaker. Like our pick above, Sonos’s TruePlay tuning helps to calibrate the speaker’s position with a space.
No Bluetooth or mic for voice control are cons. But really, the best reason to buy this model is because it sounds so damn good.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 8 x 14.3 x 6 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, 3.5mm aux, ethernet |
| Sound: | 6 x Class-D digital amplifiers, 3 x midwoofers, 3 x tweeters |
| Weight: | 14 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Apple AirPlay, Spotify, Google Cast |
Pros
- Fantastic design and exceptional sound
- Innovative technology delivers unmatched low distortion
- Top-notch listening experience across multiple music genres
Cons
- Expensive
Serious audiophiles will want to save up for this set of bookshelf speakers from British brand KEF, as the LS50 Wireless II are built to impress in both form and function.
They’re designed with an innovative synthetic material that does a stellar job of absorbing extraneous sound from the rear drivers to lessen distortion, delivering an incredibly immersive and accurate listening experience.
The speakers are available in white, black, carbon gray, and bright red, and all include a remote.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 12 x 7.9 x 12.2 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Sound: | Uni-Q driver array, 1-inch tweeter, 5.25-inch mid-base |
| Weight: | 17.2 lbs. (each) |
| Streaming: | Apple AirPlay2, Chromecast, Spotify |
Pros
- 360-degree sound
- Built-in voice assistant
- Up to 12 hours of battery life
- Water-resistant IPX4 rating
Cons
- A little pricey
There’s a lot to like about this Bose portable smart speaker, including 360-degree sound, up to 12 hours of battery life, and its ability to link up to other Bose speakers for multi-room audio. Despite its compact size, it delivers deep, satisfying bass to fill a room. And it works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Other highlights include Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi, a water-resistant IPX4 rating, and a top handle that’s comfortable to grip. It’s also relatively lightweight, at just over 2 pounds.
While it may be a relatively expensive compared to other portable options, it’s a great choice if you want a speaker that delivers top-notch sound for listening to music and a high-quality built-in voice assistant.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 4.1 x 4.7 x 7.6 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Sound: | 360-degree surround sound |
| Weight: | 2.3 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Apple AirPlay, Spotify, Pandora |
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Pros
- Top-notch features for the price
- Multi-room audio capabilities
- Compact form factor
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Great for music and movies
Cons
- Low bass lacks oomph
It may come as no surprise that Sonos makes the best sound bar, as it won the top spot during our testing. The brand’s TruePlay feature accurately calibrates the sound bar’s position within a room. And the hardware itself is incredibly compact, with a minimal footprint.
We found that it hits the mark for relaying a range of tones without distortion and delivers ample bass, though it’s somewhat lacking on the low end and not nearly as deep as a subwoofer. The simulated Dolby Atmos support also does a solid job of providing surround-sound, though don’t expect the performance you’d get from an actual Atmos system.
Key Specs
| Dimensions: | 25.6 x 2.3 x 3.9 in. |
|---|---|
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI, optical audio, ethernet |
| Sound: | 4 x drivers, 1 x tweeter |
| Weight: | 6.2 lbs. |
| Streaming: | Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2 |
Rachel Klein
Senior Commerce Editor
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
Expert consulted:Stefan Vazharov
Senior Technology Editor, Reviews
Stefan is the senior technology editor for Best Products, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He is an award-winning editor with more than a decade of experience reporting on and reviewing consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear like headphones, earbuds, speakers, and soundbars. Stefan was previously the U.S. editor for GSMArena.com. His writing can also be found in Popular Mechanics.
