SPEAKERS’ CORNER
The wireless home audio market is booming. So how to choose?
This Christmas, Apple launches its first-ever wireless speaker joining a market that’s up by 62 per cent this year. There’s a lot of choice out there: so how can you be sure you’re buying the right streaming kit for your home? We ask
Richard Jones, Selfridges’ technology buyer, for some sound advice, while revealing
Esquire’s four top picks.
PRICIER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER
“Audio means different things to different people,” says Jones. “The type of music you want to play is something to consider. Someone who has a predilection for heavy basslines might favour Monster or Pioneer. Those after a more balanced output might prefer Bang & Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins or Kef.”
REQUEST A DEMO
“Established brands like Bose and Sonos are a good starting point as they provide well-rounded, easy-to-use, scalable propositions. But it’s always best to get a demonstration. At Selfridges, we have dedicated spaces for a number of brands.”
PIMP YOUR SOUND
“Sound quality is lost with digitalised music. One way to enhance your music on the go is using hi-res audio players and digital-to-analogue converters [DAC] like those made by Shure and Chord to enhance the listening experience.”
1 | Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2
Compact and powerful, good for laptops, TVs and phone streaming.
£330; ruarkaudio.com
2 | Bose Soundlink Micro
Tiny, and waterproofed from the inside out, this holds out against salt, chlorinated and soapy water. £100; bose.co.uk
3 | Denon Heos 3 HS2
Up to 32 Heos units can be set up at one time, so even if you live in a castle, you’re sorted. £300; denon.co.uk
4 | Bang & Olufsen Beolab 19
Subwoofer and design objet in one, its inspiration comes from a jet engine.
£2,750; selfridges.com