Best Wi-Fi Wireless Speaker of 2024 – CNET [CNET]

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

Reviews ethics statement

Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.

Prakhar writes and updates all kinds of articles on CNET. When not tinkering with gadgets, he can be found napping. Contact: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com Twitter: @ParkyPrakhar

John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site’s buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He’s been a CNET editor since 2003.

$140 at Ikea

View details

Amazon Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility the Era 100 is a more flexible streaming speaker than ever before.

” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” collapse-on-page-load=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{“id”:”2a73264d-1cba-46db-bc5a-5ee59e3cc2f7″,”label”:”Sonos Era 100″,”slug”:”sonos-era-100″,”edition”:[“US”,”ES”],”imageId”:”25b003bc-6259-4cf0-9158-526a09404a77″,”imgUrl”:”/content/image/redirect/25b003bc-6259-4cf0-9158-526a09404a77/resize/75×56″,”typeLabel”:”Series”,”objectType”:”content_product_series”,”icon”:”type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small”}” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”2a73264d-1cba-46db-bc5a-5ee59e3cc2f7″,”name”:”Sonos Era 100″,”slug”:”sonos-era-100″,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”PRISM”,”mod”:1684428476897,”displayDate”:”Thu May 18 2023 17:47:56 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)”}” overridecredit=”Ty Pendlebury/CNET” overridecaption=”

” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”306ca18b-9f6f-4de1-acb1-5e1077dc6aa6″,”alt”:”sonos-era-100-2″,”caption”:”

“,”credits”:”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”306ca18b-9f6f-4de1-acb1-5e1077dc6aa6″,”filename”:”sonos-era-100-2.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/5650b22cd2a3f6744e0e2b26f44a573a19c505a3/hub/2023/03/24/306ca18b-9f6f-4de1-acb1-5e1077dc6aa6/sonos-era-100-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2023-03-24 20:47:15.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/5650b22cd2a3f6744e0e2b26f44a573a19c505a3/hub/2023/03/24/306ca18b-9f6f-4de1-acb1-5e1077dc6aa6/sonos-era-100-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”sonos-era-100-2″,”imageFilename”:”sonos-era-100-2.jpg”,”imageWidth”:3999,”imageHeight”:2662,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2023-03-24″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”0ui4we1t3f94bnr”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__39eb0855-9157-4dc5-a38a-972b9bb4ce03″ index=”1″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Ad-Heavy Listicle” tagslugs=”google-assistant,hv28,alexa,amazon,bluetooth,bose,wi-fi,google,pandora,sony,spotify,siri,apple,sonos” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”>

Amazon Echo, Nest Audio and HomePod Mini, but the Symfonisk is bigger than all of them. Bigger cabinets usually mean a bigger sound. While this speaker is best as part of a Sonos surround sound system, it also makes a great kids’ room or garage speaker.

” page-position linktext=”Read the Ikea Symfonisk review” linkurl=”https://www.cnet.com/reviews/ikea-symfonisk-bookshelf-wifi-speaker-review/” can-collapse=”true” collapse-on-page-load=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer techobjectinfo overridecredit=”Sarah Tew/CNET” overridecaption=”

” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”de23ee79-1826-4c18-b2de-94f02e80d90a”,”alt”:”Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf”,”caption”:”

“,”credits”:”Sarah Tew/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”de23ee79-1826-4c18-b2de-94f02e80d90a”,”filename”:”08-ikea-symfonisk-bookshelf.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/6d77558658f721b3f852a12806ba4ad465a40716/hub/2019/07/19/de23ee79-1826-4c18-b2de-94f02e80d90a/08-ikea-symfonisk-bookshelf.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2019-07-19 21:43:22.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/6d77558658f721b3f852a12806ba4ad465a40716/hub/2019/07/19/de23ee79-1826-4c18-b2de-94f02e80d90a/08-ikea-symfonisk-bookshelf.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”Sarah Tew/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf”,”imageFilename”:”08-ikea-symfonisk-bookshelf.jpg”,”imageWidth”:3000,”imageHeight”:1688,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2019-07-19″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”r3e90fo2lez2ouw”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__9ea6c3bb-f5ac-4bef-a3f1-ed17efe791c5″ index=”2″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Ad-Heavy Listicle” tagslugs=”google-assistant,hv28,alexa,amazon,bluetooth,bose,wi-fi,google,pandora,sony,spotify,siri,apple,sonos” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Sarah Tew/CNET”>

For $140 there’s several excellent smart speakers to choose from, including the Amazon Echo, Nest Audio and HomePod Mini, but the Symfonisk is bigger than all of them. Bigger cabinets usually mean a bigger sound. While this speaker is best as part of a Sonos surround sound system, it also makes a great kids’ room or garage speaker.

Watch this: Sonos Era 100 and Era 300 Are Here: See the Next Gen of Wireless Streaming Speakers

03:38

Nest Audio, but the one that was truly great with music — the Home Max — has been discontinued. It’s surprising then that the list of affordable-yet-good-sounding Chromecast built-in speakers can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Of those, the JBL Playlist is the best I’ve tested, with a generously sized speaker and enough volume to fill a typical room. It also has Bluetooth and an auxiliary input to expand its flexibility. It may not be “smart”, but if you want a system that can be controlled via an existing Google Assistant speaker, this is the one to get.

” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” collapse-on-page-load=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{“id”:”94dde57d-3569-4239-9330-d70f516a2953″,”label”:”JBL Playlist”,”slug”:”jbl-playlist”,”edition”:[“US”,”ES”],”imageId”:”8316e5b1-0ab6-458b-b514-372ee948b8ce”,”imgUrl”:”/content/image/redirect/8316e5b1-0ab6-458b-b514-372ee948b8ce/resize/75×56″,”typeLabel”:”Series”,”objectType”:”content_product_series”,”icon”:”type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small”}” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”94dde57d-3569-4239-9330-d70f516a2953″,”slug”:”jbl-playlist”,”name”:”JBL Playlist”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”PRISM”,”mod”:1708954697961}” overridecredit=”Sarah Tew/CNET” overridecaption=”

” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”90336de9-8de2-4c45-b50c-9a0cd79fe77b”,”alt”:”A black JBL Playlist Capsule speaker on a pink table against a green background.”,”caption”:”

“,”credits”:”Sarah Tew/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”90336de9-8de2-4c45-b50c-9a0cd79fe77b”,”filename”:”jbl-playlist-capsule-review-02.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/ec6eb346a35e596a7d02dd2779b31b6085da1f23/hub/2017/07/26/90336de9-8de2-4c45-b50c-9a0cd79fe77b/jbl-playlist-capsule-review-02.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2017-07-26 21:27:48.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/ec6eb346a35e596a7d02dd2779b31b6085da1f23/hub/2017/07/26/90336de9-8de2-4c45-b50c-9a0cd79fe77b/jbl-playlist-capsule-review-02.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”Sarah Tew/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”A black JBL Playlist Capsule speaker on a pink table against a green background.”,”imageFilename”:”jbl-playlist-capsule-review-02.jpg”,”imageWidth”:3960,”imageHeight”:2640,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2017-07-26″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”7pd4uxexmnohl5h”,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__40b680ff-407d-4af6-9b77-f46033217c77″ index=”3″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Ad-Heavy Listicle” tagslugs=”google-assistant,hv28,alexa,amazon,bluetooth,bose,wi-fi,google,pandora,sony,spotify,siri,apple,sonos” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Sarah Tew/CNET”>

Google may offer a lot of speakers, including the Nest Audio, but the one that was truly great with music — the Home Max — has been discontinued. It’s surprising then that the list of affordable-yet-good-sounding Chromecast built-in speakers can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Of those, the JBL Playlist is the best I’ve tested, with a generously sized speaker and enough volume to fill a typical room. It also has Bluetooth and an auxiliary input to expand its flexibility. It may not be “smart”, but if you want a system that can be controlled via an existing Google Assistant speaker, this is the one to get.

Fluance F170 — and you want to be able to add Wi-Fi streaming to it. The WiiM Pro offers the best sound and streaming support of any other dongle I can think of — and it’s only $149. The app makes it easy to set up and use, and it will integrate with many multi-room systems too.

” page-position linktext linkurl can-collapse=”true” collapse-on-page-load=”true” can-truncate=”true” truncate-on-page-load=”true” offer=”{“id”:”9fbdb492-ce9c-4689-99c7-bc1a4ff1a230″,”label”:”Linkplay WiiM Pro”,”slug”:”linkplay-wiim-pro”,”edition”:[“US”,”ES”],”imageId”:””,”imgUrl”:null,”typeLabel”:”Series”,”objectType”:”content_product_series”,”icon”:”type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product-series ct-small”}” techobjectinfo=”{“uuid”:”9fbdb492-ce9c-4689-99c7-bc1a4ff1a230″,”name”:”Linkplay WiiM Pro”,”slug”:”linkplay-wiim-pro”,”productType”:”SERIES”,”updateType”:”PRISM”,”mod”:1684270404009,”displayDate”:”Tue May 16 2023 21:53:24 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)”}” overridecredit=”Ty Pendlebury/CNET” overridecaption=”

” imagegroup=”{“uuid”:”6c76cb0a-01b6-4ad3-b16f-c7f21ea68254″,”alt”:”wiim-pro-1″,”caption”:”

“,”credits”:”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”6c76cb0a-01b6-4ad3-b16f-c7f21ea68254″,”filename”:”wiim-pro-1.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/bcdc86912d3f96279b803674442cc65d5c3ec736/hub/2023/05/04/6c76cb0a-01b6-4ad3-b16f-c7f21ea68254/wiim-pro-1.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2023-05-04 20:04:05.000000″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false},”size”:””,”float”:””,”lightbox”:false,”imageUrl”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/bcdc86912d3f96279b803674442cc65d5c3ec736/hub/2023/05/04/6c76cb0a-01b6-4ad3-b16f-c7f21ea68254/wiim-pro-1.jpg?auto=webp&height=500″,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”,”imageAltText”:”wiim-pro-1″,”imageFilename”:”wiim-pro-1.jpg”,”imageWidth”:1920,”imageHeight”:1174,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageDateCreated”:”2023-05-04″,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” usepricing=”true” ng-block=”{“id”:”ihndsbjoq1dd9r7″,”type”:”listicle”}” edition=”us” data-key=”cnetlisticle__d67adbd7-3cdb-4360-a28b-0e940e76968c” index=”7″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Ad-Heavy Listicle” tagslugs=”google-assistant,hv28,alexa,amazon,bluetooth,bose,wi-fi,google,pandora,sony,spotify,siri,apple,sonos” isbestlistredesign=”true” imagecredit=”Ty Pendlebury/CNET”>

Not a speaker as such, but it’s a great option for people who don’t want to buy a whole new one. Say you’ve got a stereo system — or even an old Bluetooth speaker like the Fluance F170 — and you want to be able to add Wi-Fi streaming to it. The WiiM Pro offers the best sound and streaming support of any other dongle I can think of — and it’s only $149. The app makes it easy to set up and use, and it will integrate with many multi-room systems too.

($180): The Link Portable is a larger-size competitor to the Sonos, being both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible, and it can play louder and with weightier bass. In his , reviewer David Carnoy says he preferred the sound and build quality of the Sonos and would buy it over the JBL, though the Link Portable is currently $100 off, making it a much more competitive pick. 

($264): If you’re after a responsive smart speaker, the Bose Home Speaker 300 is both snappy in operation and lovely to look at. In terms of audio quality, it doesn’t measure up to its competitor, the cheaper Sonos One. In addition, the onboard Bose Music multiroom system is not compatible with existing SoundTouch products. The 300 appears to be out of production but it can still be found in new condition at select retailers. There are also plenty of refurbished models available for even less. Read CNET’s review of the Bose Home Speaker 300.

 ($299): The new HomePod is a refined take on Apple’s first smart speaker with better sound and more features. Despite new-found support for Dolby Atmos, it’s the temperature and humidity sensors that are the most palpable changes. Yet, at $300 most people are better off buying the HomePod mini which has an almost identical set of features. 

($500): A smaller brother to the flashy Formation Wedge, the Flex is still quite stylish and boasts an open-hearted sonic signature. There’s plenty of competition at this level though, including the Sonos Five, which is capable of a much bigger, party-ready performance.

($399): If you want a wireless speaker model that’s (kinda) portable and water resistant, the Sonos Move offers great sound in a very large box. If you need to power a tailgate or large party this would be great, but for most people, the Sonos Roam is both cheaper and more pocketable. Read CNET’s review of the Sonos Move.

($798): Where are people supposed to put large speakers like the Sony SRS-RA5000 and the McIntosh RS150? A dressing table — like, a really big one? The Sony is over a foot tall but adding to its potential awkwardness is its 360-degree playback, making the “best” place to put it at the center of a room. The sound is fine, but if you want to hear 3D audio, the Amazon Echo Studio is a quarter of the price. .

($1,200): The massive McIntosh RS150 has some great things going for it — namely Chromecast built-in, Roon Ready and Spotify Connect. Nonetheless, the sound wasn’t as clear as I’d expected and the unit offers no EQ controls to compensate. In addition, while the previous RS100 had the fabled McIntosh blue meter this update misses a trick by replacing it with LEDs. The competitive   is more compact and offers excellent performance for the same price.

” primary-topic-slug=”wireless-bluetooth-speakers” tocid=”toc-2692fe78-7289-473e-98b6-18cf22c6e342-item-1″>

• Apple HomePod (2023) ($299): The new HomePod is a refined take on Apple’s first smart speaker with better sound and more features. Despite new-found support for Dolby Atmos, it’s the temperature and humidity sensors that are the most palpable changes. Yet, at $300 most people are better off buying the HomePod mini which has an almost identical set of features. Read CNET’s review of the Apple HomePod (2023)
• Bowers and Wilkins Formation Flex ($500): A smaller brother to the flashy Formation Wedge, the Flex is still quite stylish and boasts an open-hearted sonic signature. There’s plenty of competition at this level though, including the Sonos Five, which is capable of a much bigger, party-ready performance. Read CNET’s first take on the Formation range.