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Speaker Reviews

Our 10 Top Picks

Best Alexa Smart Speaker

editors' choice
4.5
Outstanding

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

$99.99 
at Amazon
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The fourth-generation Amazon Echo speaker takes the sound quality and smart home hub capabilities of the Echo Plus and puts it in a new round package.
Read Our Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Review

Best Apple Smart Speaker

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023)

$299.99 
at Best Buy
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Apple's second-generation HomePod carries over the elegant design from the original, but improves the audio and smart home experiences to better compete with speakers from Amazon and Google.
Read Our Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023) Review

Best All-in-One Speaker System

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (2021)

$599.00 
at Amazon
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The 2021 model of the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin speaker delivers wonderful, high-fidelity wireless audio from a strikingly designed enclosure, with built-in support for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant.
Read Our Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (2021) Review

Best Google Assistant Smart Speaker

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

Google Nest Audio

$99.99 
at Best Buy
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The Nest Audio smart speaker offers Google Assistant functionality and clear, detailed sound in an attractive design for a reasonable price.
Read Our Google Nest Audio Review

Best Computer Speakers

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

Harman Kardon SoundSticks 4

$299.95 
at Amazon
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$299.95 
at B&H Photo Video  
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The Harman Kardon SoundSticks 4 are a 20th anniversary, Bluetooth-compatible update to the classic 2.1-channel speakers, and they remain just as compelling as ever.
Read Our Harman Kardon SoundSticks 4 Review

Most Powerful Outdoor Speaker

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

JBL Boombox 3

$449.00 
at Amazon
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You won't want to carry it too far, but the highly durable JBL Boombox 3 brings impressively deep bass and plenty of volume to the great outdoors.
Read Our JBL Boombox 3 Review

Best LED Lighting

editors' choice
4.0
Excellent

Sony SRS-XG300

$198.00 
at Amazon
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You pay a premium for it, but the stylish and outdoor-friendly Sony SRS-XG300 speaker delivers commendable bass and offers lots of customizability in a portable package.
Read Our Sony SRS-XG300 Review

Best High-End Design

4.0
Excellent

Astell&Kern Acro BE100

$499.00 
at B&H Photo Video
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$499.00 
at Amazon  
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The pricey Astell&Kern Acro BE100 speaker offers high-fidelity Bluetooth streaming from a striking, modern design.
Read Our Astell&Kern Acro BE100 Review

Best Bookshelf Speakers

4.0
Excellent

Audioengine A1-MR

$229.00 
at Amazon
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Audioengine's A1-MR speakers deliver top-notch audio free of digital signal processing, with Wi-Fi support for lossless audio and multiroom playback.
Read Our Audioengine A1-MR Review

Best Outdoor Speaker

4.0
Excellent

Marshall Middleton

$299.00 
at Marshall Headphones
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The rock-inspired Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker delivers punchy bass and cutting highs from a rugged and portable frame.
Read Our Marshall Middleton Review

Latest Speaker Reviews

Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX Review
4.0
Altec Lansing RockBox XL 2.0 Review
3.0
JBL Pulse 5 Review
3.5
Marshall Middleton Review
4.0
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023) Review
4.0
Editors' Choice
Philips Fidelio FB1 Review
3.5
Anker Soundcore Rave Neo 2 Review
3.5
Anker Soundcore Rave Party 2 Review
3.5
Bose Smart Soundbar 600 Review
3.0
Victrola Music Edition 2 Review
3.0

Latest Speaker News

Ikea's New Waterproof Portable Speaker Costs $15, Lasts 80 Hours By Stephanie Mlot
Sonos Revamps Speaker Lineup With Spatial Audio-Equipped Era 300 By Will Greenwald
Next-Gen Sonos Smart Speakers Leak Ahead of March Launch By Stephanie Mlot
First Listen: Ears On with Apple's Retuned HomePod Smart Speaker By Tim Gideon
New Apple HomePod Speaker Features Upgraded Audio, Smart Home Sensors By Chloe Albanesius
LG Display Can Turn Any In-Car Surface Into an 'Invisible' Speaker By Matthew Humphries
Qualcomm Debuts Gen 2 Sound Chips for Better Mobile Music By Eric Zeman
Compact Bose Smart Soundbar 600 Supports Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio By Will Greenwald
Amazon Adds Eero Mesh Wi-Fi Support to Echo Dot By Will Greenwald
Victrola Stream Turntables Wirelessly Connect to Sonos Speakers By Will Greenwald

Latest Speaker How-Tos

How to Set Up a Stereo Pair of HomePods With Your Apple TV By Tim Gideon
What Is Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and How Does It Affect Audio? By Tim Gideon
Easy Listening: How to Connect Your Music Services to Sonos Speakers By Tyler Hayes
Sound Upgrade: How to Use Your Amazon Echo as a Speaker for Your Television By Lance Whitney
Alexa, How Do I Set Up My Amazon Echo? By Eric Griffith
EQ 101: What Is an Equalizer and How Can It Improve Sound Quality? By Tim Gideon
High-Res and Lossless Audio: Are You Getting Your Money's Worth? By Tim Gideon
What Are Bluetooth Codecs? A Guide to Everything From AAC to SBC By Tim Gideon
What Is Surround Sound? 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos, and More Explained By Will Greenwald
How to Set Up Reminders, Alarms, Timers, and Lists With Alexa By Lance Whitney

Popular Speaker Brands

JBL

Latest Speaker Stories

The Best Soundbars for 2023

Want better audio from your TV? From our lab to your living room, these are the best soundbars we've tested.

By Will Greenwald

Ikea's New Waterproof Portable Speaker Costs $15, Lasts 80 Hours

The tiny Vappeby speaker can hang in the shower or sit poolside.

By Stephanie Mlot

Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX Review

4.0

The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX offers powerful home theater audio with just a small soundbar and a subwoofer, though it can't fully produce accurate spatial audio imaging.

$299.00
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Will Greenwald

The Best Bluetooth and Wireless Speakers for 2023

Whether you want a rugged, take-anywhere speaker for the beach or to build a multi-room sound system, these are some of the best Bluetooth and Wi-Fi speakers you can buy.

By Will Greenwald

Sonos Revamps Speaker Lineup With Spatial Audio-Equipped Era 300

The smaller Era 100 smart speaker, meanwhile, replaces the Sonos One and Play:1 speakers.

By Will Greenwald

Altec Lansing RockBox XL 2.0 Review

3.0

The Altec Lansing RockBox XL 2.0 offers good bass depth and treble, but you can easily find other outdoor-friendly speakers with better apps, onboard controls, and LED lighting.

$229.99
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon

Next-Gen Sonos Smart Speakers Leak Ahead of March Launch

The Era 100 and Era 300 are expected to hit shelves next month.

By Stephanie Mlot

JBL Pulse 5 Review

3.5

The JBL Pulse 5 Bluetooth speaker casts impressively vibrant light, but mono sound and a dearth of physical controls give similarly priced competitors an advantage.

$249.95
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon

How to Set Up a Stereo Pair of HomePods With Your Apple TV

Want to use two HomePods for stereo audio with your Apple TV? We walk you through it.

By Tim Gideon

Marshall Middleton Review

4.0

The rock-inspired Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker delivers punchy bass and cutting highs from a rugged and portable frame.

$299.00
at Marshall Headphones
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon

Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023) Review

4.0
Editors' Choice

Apple's second-generation HomePod carries over the elegant design from the original, but improves the audio and smart home experiences to better compete with speakers from Amazon and Google.

$299.99
at Best Buy
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon  & Angela Moscaritolo

Philips Fidelio FB1 Review

3.5

The Philips Fidelio FB1 soundbar pushes out serious bass without a dedicated subwoofer and spreads decent spatial audio around the room.

$699.99
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Will Greenwald

What Is Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and How Does It Affect Audio?

Most wireless headphones and speakers rely on some type of digital signal processing. Here's what you need to know about DSP—and why it's hard to avoid.

By Tim Gideon

First Listen: Ears On with Apple's Retuned HomePod Smart Speaker

We got an in-person introduction to Apple's new smart speaker. Here are our initial thoughts from the listening session, and why you may want to spring for two of these $299 speakers.

By Tim Gideon

New Apple HomePod Speaker Features Upgraded Audio, Smart Home Sensors

Paired with Siri automations, the $299 HomePod's temperature and humidity sensors can measure indoor environments and control smart home devices.

By Chloe Albanesius

Easy Listening: How to Connect Your Music Services to Sonos Speakers

You don’t have to stick to one music or podcast app. With the Sonos app and a Wi-Fi connection, your speaker can connect to dozens of services with just a few taps.

By Tyler Hayes

Anker Soundcore Rave Neo 2 Review

3.5

The portable Anker Soundcore Rave Neo 2 speaker delivers palpable bass power and customizable LED lights in a waterproof design.

$179.99
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon

Anker Soundcore Rave Party 2 Review

3.5

The Anker Soundcore Rave Party 2 speaker sets the stage for your next get-together with bright LED lights and a karaoke input, but it's not as durable as many competitors.

$229.00
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon

Bose Smart Soundbar 600 Review

3.0

The Bose Smart Soundbar 600 is a small and feature-packed speaker that features upward-firing drivers for height-based spatial audio, but its highs can be cutting and its bass response is often too thin.

$449.00
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Will Greenwald

Victrola Music Edition 2 Review

3.0

The outdoor-friendly Victrola Music Edition 2 speaker features a built-in wireless charging pad, but its highs-focused audio performance isn’t very compelling.

$135.99
at Amazon
(Opens in a new window)
By Tim Gideon