The 9 Best Speakers for Music Lovers
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Looking to make a few upgrades? The new year is a great time to think about enhancing your sound system. Whether you’re a strict music lover, a gamer, movie buff, TV binger or a combination of all four, there are plenty of speaker options floating around the web.
But having too many options can be overwhelming. When shopping for a speaker, it’s good to narrow down the style, size and price that best suits your needs. To make the search a little easier, we gathered up nine of the best speakers for music lovers to play all their favorite tunes, podcasts and more.
From portable Bluetooth speakers to wired and freestanding speakers, see below for the best options to enhance your home sound system.
JBL
JBL Flip 6
For those who want to start small, a portable Bluetooth speaker does the trick. The JBL Flip 6 is the latest iteration the brand’s line of speakers that you can take on the go. The Flip 6 has a two-way speaker system that is designed to deliver rich sound and optimized dual passive radiators for deep bass. Measuring nearly 8 inches long, this portable speaker is equipped with a 20-watt sound output and 12 hours of battery life. It’s also waterproof and dust-proof and comes in several colors, including red, blue and black.
Buy: $129.95 at JBL.com.
Bose Soundlink Flex Portable Bluetooth Speaker
You can’t go wrong with Bose Soundlink. These awesome speakers are available in multiple colors, sizes, designs and prices – the cheapest of which is the Bose Soundlink Micro ($119). The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a bit steeper at $400, but the Soundlink Flex portable Bluetooth speaker falls on the more affordable side. The versatile speaker was engineered with a custom transducer that is designed to flood the room with exceptional sound.
Available in black, white or blue, the speaker’s rugged exterior makes it easy to take on the go, and with up to 12 hours of battery life, you can play tons of songs before it’s time to recharge. The accompanying utility loop is great for hanging the speaker on a clip or carrying it around (the Bluetooth range stretches up to 30 feet). The Soundlink Flex is also IP67 certified waterproof and dust-proof.
Buy: $149 at Bose.com and Amazon.com.
Amazon
Marshall Acton II Bluetooth Speaker
If you’re into a more nostalgic look, try the Acton II Bluetooth speaker from Marshall. Combining Marshall’s iconic retro design with contemporary technology, this compact speaker delivers mega-sound in a small package. The speaker has three dedicated class D amplifiers, dual tweeters and subwoofers, Bluetooth 5.0 (up to 30 feet), a frequency range of 50-20,000 Hz, and a 3.5 mm input for wired connectivity. Connecting the speaker to the Marshall App turns your phone into a control panel to control things like volume and playlists.
Buy: $279.99 Marshall.com.
Sonos Move
The Sonos Move lives up to its name. With 10 hours of play time, this mobile speaker will help you stay moving for hours on end. Apart from outstanding sound quality and deep bass, the Bluetooth speaker has a built-in handle for easy mobility, which means it’s perfect for a party or other gatherings (and solo listening sessions). And its IP56 rating means that it can withstand humidity, rain, snow, dust, salt spray, UV rays, extreme heat and cold weather. The Sonos Move stands about 9.5 inches tall, and weighs around 6 pounds. For more options from Sonos, check out the Sonos Roam and the One SL, both of which retail for less than $200. The Sonos Move comes with a larger price tag but it’s worth every penny.
Buy: $399 at Sonos.com.
Klipsch R-51M Bookshelf Speakers
Klipsch is another star in the realm of premium-quality sound. For music lovers who have the square footage to build a robust sound system, Klipsch offers everything from floor standing speakers to bookshelf speakers, computer speakers, home theater speakers, soundbars and subwoofers. Not sure where to start? The R-51M Bookshelf Speakers are perfect for blasting your favorite music. The dynamic speaker duo offers powerful sound, booming bass and award-wining acoustics courtesy of Tractrix horn technology, which mimics the sound, precision and emotion of a live concert. These 13.3-inch speakers are equipped with 1-inch titanium dome tweeters, 5.25-inch copper woofers and a removable magnetic grill.
Buy: $399 at Klipsch.com.
Amazon
Sony SRS-XG500
Sony’s SRS-XG500 Bluetooth speaker is a nice investment for anyone who likes boombox-style devices. An alternative to the JBL Boombox 2, the SRS-XG500 delivers amazingly crisp sound thanks to Sony’s uniquely designed X-Balance speakers that pump out thumping, room-shaking bass. The battery delivers up to 30 hours of play time to keep the party moving all night long (literally). The speaker weighs about 12 pounds, but there’s a built-in handle that makes it easy to carry around, and LED ring lighting for extra flair. Sony’s SRS-XG500 speakers are IP66-certified water- and dust-resistant.
Buy: $448 at Amazon.com.
Amazon
Polk Audio Elite Signature ES60 Tower Speaker
Polk Audio’s Elite Signature ES60 Tower speaker provides an enveloping, true-to-life sound experience that’s especially useful for Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, Spotify and other streaming platforms. The floor-standing loudspeaker provides crystal-clear, hi-resolution sound with bass so incredible you might be able to feel it. It’s powered by Polk’s Patented Power Port Bass Enhancing Technology, which expands the overall bass port to provide a larger surface area for distortion-free, louder bass impact. The sleek ES60 features 1-inch High-Resolution Terylene Tweeters, 2.5-way cascading crossovers, and a trio of 6.5-inch Mica-Fortified Polypropylene Woofers. Speakers in Polk Audio’s Signature Elite Series are designed with quality, timbre-matched components that let you seamlessly mix and match models to build the sound system of your dreams.
Buy: $549 at Amazon.com.
Amazon
Bowers & Wilkinson Zeppelin Wireless Smart Speaker
The Zeppelin is a wireless smart speaker that has been modified for the streaming age with a built-in, upgradable platform so that the technology stays up to date. Bowers & Wilkinson’s football-shaped speaker features five carefully positioned premium drive units, 1-inch tweeters, 3.5-inch midranges with FST (Fixed Suspension Transducers) and dedicated drivers.
The Zeppelin has a total output of 240 watts, a 6-inch subwoofer and five amplification channels for all designed to give you powerful, hi-resolution stereo sound. The Alexa-equipped speaker gives users instant access to music playlists, radio podcasts and other content in up to 24-bit, high-resolution quality. Zeppelin can also stream Apple Airplay 2, Bluetooth aptX adaptive, Spotify Connect and the Bowers & Wilkson app.
Buy: $799 at Amazon.com.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level Portable Wifi Speaker
Speaking of hi-fidelity sound, Bang & Olufsen produces some of the best and most stylish speakers on the market. While the more expensive designs can cost over $10,000, the Beosound Level Portable Wifi Speaker is one of the cheapest, sleekest and most popular speakers from Bang & Olufsen. This minimalist speaker has a five-driver setup for immersive, full-range sound that adapts to its environment. Lay it on its back, sit it up straight or hang it on the wall for hypnotic sound experience with potent bass and unmatched sound clarity. This dynamic speaker weighs about 7 pounds (it measures 34.8 inches x 23 inches) and offers up to 16 hours of battery life. The Beosound Level Portable Wifi Speaker is available in natural dark gray, or a glitzy gold tone with light oak.
Buy: $1,549 at Bang-Olufsen.com.