1. Sonos Period 100
Cheaper than its pricier Period 300 sibling, the brand new Sonos Period 100 replaces the now-discontinued Sonos One. New to its repertoire is Bluetooth help, which means you’re not restricted to Wi-Fi streaming providers like Spotify. Apple AirPlay 2 is, after all, nonetheless current and accounted for.
The Period 100 packs a punch, because of a 25% bigger mid-woofer, two angled tweeters for stereo efficiency, and three class-D amps.
You additionally get Amazon Alexa taking good care of your whole sensible assistant wants. It’s one of the vital inexpensive routes into Sonos’ world, and at this worth, you may be tempted to select up a pair to get pleasure from a real stereo listening expertise. Not like the dearer Sonos Period 300 additional down our listing, nevertheless, the Period 100 lacks spatial audio.
2. Apple HomePod Mini
Whereas the unique HomePod has been discontinued, the Mini variant continues to be going sturdy. It’s virtually a no brainer for any Apple fan with an Apple Music subscription, because of the truth that it’s received built-in Siri smarts. In actual fact, it’s the one sensible speaker with Siri, interval, so if that’s your most well-liked digital butler of alternative, then it virtually deserves a spot in your shelf.
Assistant apart, it sounds much better than its comparatively inexpensive price ticket would counsel, making it a wonderfully formidable speaker in its personal proper. Be warned although — if you happen to don’t have an Apple Music subscription, you’ll be able to solely management different music streaming providers like Spotify through AirPlay in your cellphone, which quite limits its handy operation.
3. Sonos Period 300
Sonos’ new Period 300 gives unimaginable, immersive, room-filling sound, because of its potential to play good with spatial audio within the type of Dolby Atmos Music. The readability is outstanding, with wealthy sound, a large soundstage, and punchy bass all current and accounted for — even for non-Dolby Atmos Music content material.
Android followers may also lastly get in on the Sonos room-tuning motion with the accompanying app too, and built-in Alexa smarts are additionally current and accounted for. When you can afford a few them, you need to use them as supplemental rear audio system for appropriate Sonos soundbars just like the Sonos Arc or Beam Gen 2 as properly.
With loads of energy, Sonos construct high quality, and an uncommon pinched, oval design, the Period 300 has loads going for it, and is a perfect alternative for these trying to enter or broaden the Sonos ecosystem.
4. Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Era
With a whopping 300 watts of energy artfully hidden away beneath its deceptively compact cubic physique, the second model of Naim’s critically acclaimed Mu-so Qb sounds much more unimaginable than its diminutive stature suggests.
Able to pleasant room-filling sound, it’ll deal with something you care to throw at it with ease, with a enjoyable motion-sensitive management dial, slick app, and AirPlay/Google Forged help thrown in for good measure. It’s one of many dearer choices on our listing, however given the pleasant design, small footprint, and very good sound, it positively gained’t disappoint.
5. KEF LS50 Wi-fi 2
KEF’s beautiful pair of lively audio system will hit your checking account more durable than every other possibility on this listing, however your ears and eyes will likely be rewarded in equal measure.
Retaining KEF’s iconic design DNA, they’ll comfortably take delight of place in any house setup, demanding consideration with their clean curves, polished end, and colored tweeter. Out there in a putting vary of colors, they’re certain to impress with out even being turned on. When you do fireplace them up although, you’ll be handled to thumping bass, exact sound, and stereo readability {that a} single-source speaker merely can’t match. With Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Google Forged, Bluetooth and extra obtainable, they’ll serve you properly for years to come back.
6. Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin
The most recent model of the legendary Zeppelin is probably the most tech-packed variant but, touchdown with AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.0, and help for streaming providers like Spotify and Tidal. There’s even help for Amazon’s Alexa sensible assistant, for these moments if you’re too lazy to succeed in to your cellphone.
Sound is, as anticipated, very spectacular, with a large soundscape doing an honest job of filling a room with clear, exact renditions. It may possibly’t really replicate the sensation of a correct stereo setup, thoughts, however no single-source speaker can. With dashing seems to be and a premium construct, it’s able to take centre stage on whichever desk or shelf is fortunate sufficient to deal with it.
7. Amazon Echo Studio
When you’re already acquainted with Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem, it is sensible to stay to acquainted territory. Enter the Echo Studio — Amazon’s best-sounding Alexa-powered speaker to this point.
Regardless of its comparatively small footprint (not less than, in comparison with a lot of the different audio system on our listing), it manages to sound surprisingly full-bodied. A latest replace additionally implies that its digital Dolby Atmos immersive sound expertise is now even higher, endowing content material with a extra spacious 3D impact. It gained’t substitute a devoted encompass setup after all, however contemplating the value and easy operation, the Echo Studio deserves loads of reward.
8. Bang & Olufsen Beosound Emerge
Slathered in Scandi-chic with impeccable sound and craftsmanship, the Beosound Emerge is a novel providing that laughs within the face of bland design. Its slim, compact type is right for slotting right into a bookshelf, mixing right into a room with out drawing an excessive amount of consideration. And regardless of its delicate look, it stays mud and splash resistant, letting you pop it on a kitchen counter with out fretting.
Specifically tuned to supply 180-degree sound, it’s far punchier and wider than its slim profile might ever counsel, because of ingeniously positioned parts which embody a 4in woofer, 1.45in mid-range driver, and 0.6in tweeter. The tip end result? A high-end listening expertise that packs in all of the refined auditory goodness you’d count on from Bang & Olufsen.
When you can stretch your finances for 2, then you definately’ll unlock studio-quality stereo sound for a fair richer expertise. All in all, it’s an ideal alternative for these searching for high quality sound, in a chic type issue that gracefully elevates its environment.
9. Ruark R1S
Followers of Ruark’s critically-acclaimed R1 radio must be very tempted by the newer R1S. That includes the identical delightfully compact, minimalistic type as its sibling, the R1S is actually an internet-connected model, full with Wi-Fi streaming for providers like Spotify and Amazon Music.
Naturally, it additionally options web radio, along with DAB and FM tuners, with a particular part devoted to podcasts. If you wish to get a little bit extra hands-on, there’s additionally Bluetooth 5.0 for direct machine streaming, together with a USB-C port for holding your cellphone/pill topped up. And if you happen to actually wish to hold it down whilst you’re chopping veg, there’s even a headphone port for solo listening.
With a Class A-B amplifier and a bespoke NS+ full-range driver, it guarantees to ship class-leading, pure sound, in any respect quantity ranges too. Due to its pleasant front-mounted wood grille, it seems to be nearly as good because it sounds as properly.
