The 10 Best Airplay Speaker, Tested by Experts

Top Picks

• Best Overall:  Sonos One (Gen 1) - Voice Controlled Smart Speaker 

You probably aren't shocked to learn that the Sonos One has excellent sound quality, given that it is a Sonos speaker. The music comes alive when you play Elegie by Mouse on the Keys via a powerful speaker. The kick drum really gives this tune some oomph and serves as the song's motor. How much such a little speaker can produce volume is remarkable. This AirPlay speaker performs wonderfully with even the most intricate compositions. Even though there are a lot of instruments going on in Three Trapped Tigers' Silent Earthling, it all comes through loud and clear.

• Best High-Quality: Sonos Play:5 - Ultimate Wireless Smart Speaker  

In the words of the legendary pop trio Five: "Get up, everyone!" The number five means it's time to go on the floor. This huge Sonos speaker doesn't skimp when it comes to loudness, easily filling even sizable spaces. It's the newest version of Sonos's high-quality Play:5 system, and although it doesn't change much from its predecessors, it does include some welcome upgrades, such as a little sleeker design, more memory, and a more powerful CPU. While its predecessors were already impressive in terms of audio quality, the next generation is considerably better.

• Best HiFi Speaker System: KEF LSX II Wireless HiFi Speaker System 

These bookshelf speakers have a hefty price tag, but they're not your standard set. With features like AirPlay 2, HDMI ARC, USB-C, Ethernet, analog and digital inputs, a pre-out for a subwoofer, and CAT 5 for connecting a pair, these speakers provide a plethora of connectivity options. They can achieve up to 24-bit/384KHz and DSD256, but a wireless connection will only achieve 24-bit/48KHz. If you need even more low-end wallop, you can always plug in that subwoofer since the sound quality is amazing, with rich mids, clear highs, and incredibly powerful bass for such little speakers.

• Best For Streaming Music: Sonos Roam 

With its robust sound, durable construction, outstanding connection capabilities, and smart home management, the Sonos Roam is our top selection as the finest Bluetooth speaker in the world. While its bass-heavy audio output makes it best suited for usage outside, its ingenious Automatic Switching function makes it just as at home indoors, while purists of the audiophile kind may find the device's handling of rhythm and tempo grating. Like the Sonos Move before it, the Sonos Roam supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay so that it may function as a standalone speaker or as part of a larger multi-room Sonos setup; it also has Google Assistant and Alexa built-in, making it a smart speaker as well.

• Best with Dobly Atmos: Echo Studio 

Like Apple but not Siri? When considering your options, the Amazon Echo Studio, with its smarts and AirPlay 2 compatibility, may be the best choice. It mixes stereo sources into a type of spatial audio, making it a viable solution for anybody who is short on space and cannot afford an up-firing soundbar or multi-speaker configuration. It's a great and easy way to improve your home theater setup, whether you're coming from the TV's built-in speakers or a cheap stereo soundbar. You'll receive a louder and more powerful sound with greater depth than you'd get from a soundbar in the same price range.