Finest audio system for iPhones and Apple Music: AirPlay audio system for Apple package

We’re placing the HomePod mini within the prime spot on the premise of its low price ticket, glorious sound high quality and deep integration with Apple’s software program ecosystem – so long as you don’t thoughts being tied to Siri.

The HomePod mini can’t match the bass punch of the full-size HomePod, however the output remains to be much better than we’ve any proper to count on at this dimension and worth. (Simply to reiterate, it’s a 3rd of the worth and a seventh of the burden of its bigger sibling.)

For jazz, rock and classical we had been blown away by its clear, wealthy sound. And whereas it’s not fairly obtained the welly to deafen your neighbors with home music at 3 am, it does fill a room superbly – particularly when teamed with a second mannequin as a stereo pair.

If you happen to’re deep within the Apple ecosystem and also you admire high quality audio, that is the good speaker for you: it’ll play your music superbly and make TV watching a delight.

As with the HomePod mini, ease of setup is certainly one of its strongest options–plug within the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its route and an onscreen popup (on the cellphone) will invite you to set it up. If there’s one other HomePod of the identical mannequin within the chosen room, you’ll be given the choice to hitch them as a stereo pair.

It sounds nice whether or not used as a single unit, or as a stereo pair, and it’s a fantastic accompaniment to your Apple TV because it helps Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To seek out out extra, learn extra about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini.

The primary disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the excessive worth (3 times that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations related to being reliant on Siri to regulate it. We actually need a HomePod with a display.

Roku is well-known for its vary of streaming media units, which provide an inexpensive various to Apple’s personal Apple TV field. Nonetheless, the Roku Streambar goes a step additional by combining streaming options with a compact soundbar speaker and assist for Apple’s AirPlay 2 – and all for a extremely aggressive $129.99/£129.99.

The AirPlay assist and built-in dual-band Wi-Fi imply that you would be able to merely use the Streambar as a standard AirPlay speaker, utilizing AirPlay to stream music by way of Wi-Fi from any Apple machine. It’s surprisingly highly effective for such a compact speaker, and greater than loud sufficient for enjoying music at house or watching just a few Hollywood blockbusters. It even gives fairly good bass too, touchdown the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Large Sky with actual influence (and Roku has not too long ago introduced a brand new vary of wi-fi audio system that additionally assist AirPlay 2, though we’ve not had the possibility to check these but).

Going past primary speaker mode, you can even use the HDMI port on the again of the Streambar to attach it to a TV or pc show, and this lets you stream video at as much as 4K decision out of your Apple units as properly. You’ll be able to even eliminate your Apple units altogether, and simply use the Streambar’s built-in streaming options to attach your TV or pc monitor to a variety of video providers–together with Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so forth. It additionally helps a lot of music streaming providers too, reminiscent of Apple Music and Spotify.

Admittedly, the low value of the Streambar implies that it does lack just a few superior options, reminiscent of assist for Dolby Atmos, which you may get from Apple’s HomePod and likewise the Apple TV 4K. However, in fact, the Apple TV field doesn’t embrace a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost mixture of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming options makes it an absolute discount at this worth.

When Sonos first launched the Period 100 it was positioned as a mid-range possibility that sat between the entry-level Sonos One and the imposing Period 300 with Dolby Atmos on the top quality. Nonetheless, the veteran Sonos One quietly light away just a few months in the past and the Period 100 has taken over as the brand new entry level for the Sonos vary of multi-room audio system, with a $249/£249 price ticket that makes it an excellent various to the Apple HomePod at £299/$299.

At first look, the Period 100 does look similar to the unique Sonos One, with an upright cylindrical design that’s obtainable in black or white. It’s barely bigger than the Sonos One, although, standing 182.5mm excessive, 120mm vast and 130mm deep. This enables the Period 100 to squeeze in a further high-frequency tweeter, in order that it now homes two tweeters which can be angled out to the precise and left to unfold sound extra extensively than the Sonos One. It additionally features a bigger woofer than the Sonos One, to deal with the mid-range and bass and add somewhat additional energy as properly.

This new design works a deal with and the Period 100 gives superb sound high quality for a comparatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Circulate have a light-weight, shimmering sound, however the compact speaker has obtained some muscle too, and is well in a position to fill the room round me with Enya’s swirling cloud of sound. The dual tweeters present a crisp, clear sound for the digital loops that fly via the air, however that bigger woofer may attain down and embrace the sluggish bass pulse and rumbling drums that enter as Enya’s multi-tracked vocals chant – “flip it up, flip it up”.

The one minor disappointment is that the Period 100 doesn’t assist Dolby Atmos or spatial audio. If you happen to’re a house cinema fan who actually desires Atmos you then’ll have to pay somewhat extra for options such because the Apple HomePod or the high-end Period 300. However, if you happen to’re simply searching for a compact, high-quality speaker with wi-fi and assist for AirPlay, then the Period 100 delivers the products at a cheaper price than most of its AirPlay rivals.

Sonos’ Roam needs to be the smallest and most moveable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen thus far.

Sonos’s authentic Roam good speaker was launched again in 2021, and it was probably the greatest moveable audio system we’ve ever seen, offering superb sound high quality in a extremely compact design that additionally managed to squeeze in helpful options reminiscent of wi-fi charging and even assist for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple units. The Roam 2 fine-tunes a lot of options reminiscent of its set-up and tuning course of, and gives extra easy controls.

Obtainable in quite a lot of colours–together with purple, inexperienced, blue and plain outdated black and white–the Roam 2 seems similar to its predecessor. It’s 168mm tall, 62mm vast and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, however it’ll match right into a backpack. It has a IP67 ranking water and mud resistance, so it’s suited to the outside.

There’s no room for a big battery within the compact design, but it surely ought to final for as much as 10 hours with music at 50% quantity. It wants to face upright for wi-fi charging and the amount, playback and microphone controls sit on the highest, however you may flip the speaker onto its aspect and lay it flat. A USB-C port on the again can be utilized for charging too. 

Roam 2 helps Bluetooth 5.2 and now has separate buttons for Energy and Bluetooth pairing, that are simpler to make use of than the fiddly multi-function button on the unique Roam. You’ll be able to press the Bluetooth button to pair by way of Bluetooth, however you could obtain the Sonos app for iOS in an effort to set the speaker up correctly. We encountered issues getting the speaker related to our Wi-Fi community and needed to spend time altering the Wi-Fi settings. However, as soon as that was performed, the Roam 2 labored rather well. Fortunate its assist for AirPlay made connecting it to further Apple units easy.

The Roam 2 gives nice sound high quality for such a compact speaker, particularly over a Wi-Fi connection. It did an excellent job with Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Alongside, laying down the grinding, fuzzy guitars that kind the bedrock of the sound. On Billie Eilish’s Dangerous Man it achieved a fairly respectable bass beat for such a small speaker.

Switching to Bluetooth prompted the sound to lose somewhat readability–however that’s a limitation of Bluetooth moderately than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any moveable speaker of this dimension and weight. The Roam 2 actually punches above its weight in relation to sound high quality and its sturdy and light-weight design is nice for outside use. 

Apple has been banging the drum for spatial audio for just a few years now, however Sonos actually took a step ahead with that expertise when it launched the Period 300 in 2023. Appropriately sufficient, it additionally marked a brand new period for the Sonos vary of multi-room audio system, with a completely new design that was at the least eye-catching even when it wasn’t maybe as elegant as Sonos claimed.

Obtainable in black or white, the cumbersome, hourglass design of the Period 300 may be very a lot designed for spatial audio, housing at least six separate speaker drivers, with assist for Dolby Atmos when watching movies and video, or listening to spatial audio on Apple Music. There’s one woofer and one tweeter on all sides of the unit, which give a large stereo soundstage, whereas one other tweeter on the entrance highlights vocals and dialogue, or lead devices. There’s yet one more tweeter on the highest, which is designed to fireside pontificate the ceiling to assist create a way of top and house when listening to music or video that makes use of Atmos.

Like most Sonos audio system, the Period 300 makes use of dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz) to connect with your own home community, and likewise helps AirPlay 2 to be used with Apple units and different AirPlay-compatible audio system. However, not like earlier Sonos audio system, the Period now helps Bluetooth as properly, in order that it may well present a fast and simple wi-fi connection for cell units and computer systems when required. You may as well purchase an adaptor that gives a wired connection (though it’s annoying that this prices an additional $19/£19, given the speaker’s hefty $449/£449 price ticket).

The Period 300 can earn its preserve, although. The Dolby Atmos assist works rather well on the opening scene of Blade Runner, creating an actual sense of motion because the hovercar flies over the Los Angeles skyline, and there’s a satisfying bass rumble to the bursts of steam and flame that erupts into the air.

It does an excellent job with spatial audio on Apple Music too, particularly with Ringo’s deft percussion on the Atmos mixture of Come Collectively by the Beatles. The bongos skip evenly via the air and the bass guitar glides ahead with a swaying, sinuous rhythm. There’s actual weight behind the guitar riff that leads into the refrain, however the Period 300 can nonetheless pick gentler particulars such because the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of many dearer AirPlay audio system at the moment obtainable, however the highly effective and atmospheric sound of the Period 300, and assist for Dolby Atmos, make it an excellent various to dearer soundbar programs for music and watching video.

It sounds higher than most moveable audio system this dimension, however nonetheless sounds clipped at excessive volumes and a few controls are somewhat opaque.

The Beats Capsule is way improved over earlier variations, but it surely has just a few faults that we’d like to see addressed within the subsequent revision.

Beats’ iconic “capsule” form is useful to hold round, matches wherever a water bottle would go, and sits properly on a desk or equally flat floor. You will get one in basic Beats colours—black, purple, or champagne.

When at relaxation the audio system are tilted 20 levels upward, which is an effective way to challenge the sound extra instantly at you. 

The Capsule is IP67-rated, so is needs to be secure on the seaside, beside a pool, or within the rain. A silicone outer wrap helps forestall bumps and dings, whereas including weatherproofing.

Alongside the highest, you’ll discover quantity buttons, a middle multi-function button, and an influence button. They’re far sufficient aside and labeled clearly sufficient that it’s straightforward to hit the precise one with out paying shut consideration.

Within the again is a single USB-C port that can be utilized for charging or as an audio enter, with assist for lossless audio (not that the Capsule has the sound high quality to do it justice). It even reverse-charges with a triple-tap of the facility button so it may be a type of energy financial institution on your cellphone.

Beats says the battery will final 24 hours. We will affirm it may well simply run all day with out recharging.

With a single woofer able to 90 % extra air displacement than the woofer within the Beats Capsule+ and a paired tweeter, the brand new Beats Capsule sounds OK. Like all moveable audio system with a cylindrical design it lacks low-end oomph. There’s extra bass than you’d count on, however nonetheless lower than you want. It does get fairly loud, however at excessive volumes, there’s a clipped or restricted really feel.

There’s a microphone to allow speakerphone or voice assistants, but it surely doesn’t have a lot in the best way of noise discount to guard from sturdy wind or close by freeway noise.

The weatherproofing, comparatively loud quantity, and incredible battery life all make this a very nice inexpensive speaker for hanging out by the pool. The $149.99/£149.99price is affordable, too. You simply have to handle your expectations for getting nice sound high quality out of somewhat moveable speaker like this.

If you would like one thing highly effective that may additionally enterprise outside often, then the A15 from Audio Professional is a very good possibility. It’s barely dearer than Apple’s HomePod, however its moveable design and connectivity options make it much more versatile than the HomePod (there’s additionally a smaller mannequin, known as the A10 which prices simply $250/£149 however isn’t moveable because it lacks an inner battery).

The A15 is kind of giant, measuring 8.1 x 11.2 x 5.3 inches (206 x 286 x 137mm), and weighing in at a reasonably hefty 2.2lb (3.4kg). Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless mild sufficient to hold from room to room, or out into the backyard when the summer season comes alongside, and there’s a bass port on the again of the speaker that doubles up as a deal with so to shortly choose it and head outside whenever you need to.

The good material cowl can be rated IPX2 for water resistance, to make sure that it may well deal with the occasional burst of rain. Battery life is sweet too, lasting for eight hours at full blast, or 11 hours at 50% quantity. The A15 helps dual-band Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 for Apple units, Google Forged for our Android buddies, in addition to Bluetooth and a 3.5mm connector for wired audio.

You’ll have to obtain the Audio Professional app to attach the A15 to your Wi-Fi community, however after that it really works identical to another AirPlay speaker, permitting you to play any music or video out of your Apple units. It sounds nice too, with the big speaker offering a agency, pulsing bass on Low’s Lower. There’s an icy readability to the haunting metal guitar, but additionally heat too, on singer Alan Sparhawk’s softly spoken vocals. And, if you happen to actually need to go to city at party-time, the A15 even has a connector for hooking it as much as an exterior sub-woofer too.

Most AirPlay audio system have a compact, all-in-one design, similar to Apple’s HomePod. Nonetheless, these compact audio system don’t present superb stereo separation, and there are various individuals who may have a correct two-piece (2.0) speaker system that actually reveals how stereo audio is supposed to sound. Edifier’s S1000W is an effective stereo system for musicians who’re recording their very own songs, or for podcasting or video-editing that includes audio modifying work. And, in fact, it sounds nice for simply listening to your favourite music too.

The 2-piece S1000W prices $449.99/£399.99 – which is loads cheaper than shopping for two HomePods and utilizing them for stereo. The 2 audio system are solidly constructed, with a horny wooden end, which additionally helps to scale back vibrations which may have an effect on the sound high quality. They stand 7.8 x 13.6 x 11.6 inches (345 x 198 x 295mm), in order that they want a pretty big desk or shelf, however we had been in a position to stand them on both aspect of our workplace iMac’s display with out an excessive amount of hassle, in order that they’re properly fitted to audio work for musicians or different content material creators.

All of the controls are situated on the right-hand speaker, which incorporates a powerful variety of each wired and wi-fi enter choices. There are 3.5mm, RCA, optical, and coaxial connectors for units reminiscent of CD gamers or turntables, and you may shortly swap between inputs utilizing the distant management included within the field. And, for wi-fi audio, the S1000W additionally helps Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 for streaming from Apple units. The S1000W gives a thumping 120W complete output, and I used to be solely in a position to set the amount stage to round 50% earlier than I began to fret about annoying the neighbors. And it’s not simply loud – the sound high quality is nice too, with the sturdy audio system offering a agency, rhythmic bass when enjoying Billie Elish’s Dangerous Man, mixed with clear, exact vocals and better frequencies.

Apple may be very eager on getting individuals to purchase two of the second-gen HomePods in an effort to use them for stereo music, or for watching movies and movies which have a soundtrack that makes use of the Dolby Atmos encompass sound format. That’s not the one possibility for movie buffs, although, and there are many soundbars that assist each AirPlay 2 and Dolby Atmos, together with the Denon House 550.

The House 550 prices $649 within the US, which is barely dearer than a pair of HomePods ($598), but it surely’s much more versatile in relation to connecting to non-Apple units and becoming into a bigger house leisure system. And, within the UK, the worth is £599 (in comparison with £598 for 2 HomePods).

As talked about, the House 550 helps dual-band wi-fi with assist for AirPlay 2, but additionally contains Ethernet for wired networks too, together with Bluetooth and an ordinary 3.5mm connector for non-Apple units. It has two 4K HDMI ports for connecting to a TV, and an optical audio connector for older TVs that don’t assist HDMI.

The Denon app lets you join the House 550 to your community for AirPlay streaming, or you should use the distant management that’s included within the field to shortly swap between AirPlay, Bluetooth and different audio sources.

The massive soundbar – 25.95 x 2.95 x 4.72 inches (650 x 120 x 75mm) – produces an equally giant sound, with deep, pulsing bass on The Orb’s Prime Evil, and a nervous, manic vitality on the rattling percussion. And, switching into Dolby Atmos mode, it really works a deal with on the opening scene of Blade Runner, with a dramatic bass rumble on the bursts of flame that leap throughout the Los Angeles skyline. It additionally creates an actual sense of motion as Harrison Ford’s hover-car zooms ahead out of the display and the sound pans easily over to my left-hand aspect.

Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin was a landmark product for Mac customers – and it’s nice to see it again once more.

Initially launched in 2007, the Zeppelin was the primary Hello-Fi-quality speaker system for the iPod, and actually helped to spice up that machine’s credibility amongst audiophile music followers. A couple of years later an up to date Zeppelin was additionally one of many first audio system to assist Apple’s AirPlay software program for streaming audio over Wi-Fi. Nonetheless, the Zeppelin was left behind when Apple launched AirPlay 2 – with its new assist for multi-room music – so it was discontinued just a few years in the past. However now, with little or no fanfare, B&W has launched a brand new model of the Zeppelin that provides assist for AirPlay 2, together with a lot of different new options too.

Obtainable in both Midnight Gray or a silvery Pearl Gray, the brand new Zeppelin initially seems similar to its predecessors, with the eye-catching oval design that offers the speaker its title. However on the within, the Zeppelin has been utterly redesigned, with a pair of high-frequency tweeters and mid-range woofers situated on all sides of a central sub-woofer, whereas your complete unit is powered by a roof-rattling 240W amplifier.

As talked about, the brand new Zeppelin now helps AirPlay 2, together with Bluetooth and Apple’s AAC codec and the AptX Adaptive codec that’s used on many Android units, and Spotify Join too. My solely minor complaints are that the Zeppelin solely appears to work with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and it’s utterly reliant on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for streaming, with no wired inputs for connecting to units reminiscent of a CD participant, or possibly even an outdated iPod.

The sound high quality, although, is terrific, with the massed harmonies of Queen’s Any person To Love ringing out vivid and clear, and a full of life, ringing tone on Roger Taylor’s shrieking falsetto and crashing cymbals. On the different finish of the spectrum, the Zeppelin delivers the bouncing bass on Dangerous Man by Billie Eilish with a agency, taut sound that instantly will get you tapping your foot. It simply fills the room with sound even at simply 40% of most quantity, so the Zeppelin can be nice for getting the occasion going over Christmas and the New Yr.

It’s a little expensive, at $799/£699, however that’s solely barely dearer than Apple’s AirPods Max, and the Zeppelin is actually higher worth for cash. What’s extra, its room-filling sound and AirPlay 2 assist imply you may share its glorious sound high quality with everybody in your house.