What Hi-Fi (UK)

WIRELESS SPEAKERS

FREE YOUR MUSIC WITH ONE OF THESE STREAMING WONDERS

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Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 £90

Best portable wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2019 ★★★★★ If you want a travelling companion you can rely on, this portable, rugged and durable speaker is a great-sounding option.

Size (hw) 10.5 x 9.5cm Battery 13 hours

Apple Homepod Mini £99

Best home wireless speaker under £100, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

It’s much smaller and more affordable than expected, but the most surprising thing about the Homepod Mini is its superb sound. Size (hw) 4 x 14cm Battery No

JBL Flip 6 £1320

May 2022 ★★★★★

Another resounding­ly five-star product, with sonic upgrades in terms of clarity and breadth across the frequencie­s over its Award-winning forebear. Size (hwd) 17.8 x 6.8 x 7.2cm Battery 12 hours

Sonos One SL £149

March 2020 ★★★★★

A Sonos One without the smarts, the SL (unlike the Play:1) will pair with a One to make a stereo pair – but it sounds great as a standalone as well. Size (hwd) 16 x 12 x 12cm Battery No

JBL Charge 5 £160

Best portable wireless speaker under £200, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

The Charge 5 is as good a sound as you can get in a portable speaker for under £200. It improves sonically and aesthetica­lly over its predecesso­r. Size (hwd) 9.6 x 22 x9.4cm Battery 20 hours

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 £170

Reviewed online, 2018 ★★★★★

The rugged, weather-proof Megaboom 3’s sleek design and improved sound are worth your time, especially at under £200. Size (hwd) 23 x 9 x 9cm Battery 20 hours

Audio Pro A10 £180

February 2019 ★★★★★

A brand-new cylindrica­l design, but underneath that trendy outfit is the hugely enjoyable sonic character that we love from Audio Pro. Size (hwd) 19 x 14 x 14cm Battery No

Audio Pro Addon C3 £180

Best home wireless speaker £100-£250, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

A smaller version of the talented and similarly-featured C5, this petite Audio Pro sets itself apart by being battery-powered and portable. Size (hwd) 12 x 22 x 14cm Battery 15 hours

JBL Xtreme 3 £300

November 2021 ★★★★★

A solid and sturdy product that should cope with anything you throw at it – but it also harbours a surprising level of sophistica­tion and sound quality. Size (hwd) 14 x 30 x 14cm Battery 15 hours

Audiopro Addon C10MKII £359

Best home wireless speaker £250-£500, Awards 2021 ★★★★★ The update to the three-time Award-winning Audio Pro C10 gets Airplay 2 and Google Cast to complete a multi-room home run. Size (hwd) 17 x 32 x 18cm Battery No

Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation £749

Best home wireless speaker over £500, Awards 2021 ★★★★★

The greatest value here is not found in the features or design, but in a sonic performanc­e that will effortless­ly dispense of any one-box rival near this price. Size (hd) 17 x 14cm Battery No Voice assistant Siri

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Wedge £899

November 2019 ★★★★★

The B&W Formation Wedge offers the kind of detailed, balanced, cohesive sound that cannot be ignored – making it a class-leader in its category. Size (hwd) 26 x 28 x 26cm Battery No

Naim Mu-so 2 £1299

September 2019 ★★★★★

We’re surprised just how much sonic progressio­n the Naim Mu-so 2 brings over the original – Naim says that 95 per cent of the Mu-so 2 is new.

Size (hwd) 12 x 63 x 26cm Battery No

Sonus Faber Omnia £1599

May 2022 ★★★★★

If you value openness and clarity, the Omnia is one of the finest of its kind you could hand over music duties to. And one of the best looking too, to our eyes. Size (hwd) 13 x 65 x 28cm Battery No

Linn Series 3 £2950

April 2020 ★★★★★

The most expensive wireless speaker we’ve ever tested also happens to be the best. It’s hardly a bargain, but we are left convinced of its appeal. Size (hwd) 30 x 25 x 21cm Battery No

Amazon Echo Plus (2018) £140

January 2019 ★★★★★

The 2nd-gen Plus is Amazon’s flagship smart speaker, and it finally has the sonic talents to match its smarts – especially at this price. Size (hwd) 15 x 10 x 10cm Battery No Voice assistant Alexa

Sonos One £199

Awards 2017 ★★★★★

Essentiall­y a Play:1 with Alexa. The odd software niggle at launch, but one of the best wireless speakers around just got smarter. Size (hwd) 16 x 12 x 12cm Battery No Voice assistant Alexa

Ultimate Ears Megablast £270

February 2018 ★★★★★

Featuring Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant in a portable speaker, the Megablast is Ultimate Ears’ most energetic and controlled speaker yet. Size (hwd) 24 x 9 x 9cm Battery 16 hours Voice assistant Alexa

Apple Homepod £319

April 2018 ★★★★★

It works best if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, but neverthele­ss it’s the best-sounding, most music-orientated smart speaker available. Size (hd) 17 x 14cm Battery No Voice assistant Siri

 ?? ?? “For a nominal price hike over the launch price of the Flip 5, there’s certainly more detail here, too”
“For a nominal price hike over the launch price of the Flip 5, there’s certainly more detail here, too”
 ?? ?? “When it comes to rugged, portable, no-nonsense Bluetooth speakers, some product lines have consistent­ly impressed us”
“When it comes to rugged, portable, no-nonsense Bluetooth speakers, some product lines have consistent­ly impressed us”
 ?? ?? “It’s clear that the Homepod Mini comfortabl­y outperform­s its size and price”
“It’s clear that the Homepod Mini comfortabl­y outperform­s its size and price”
 ?? ?? “The sonic performanc­e, streaming options and app support are among the best we’ve tested at this level”
“The sonic performanc­e, streaming options and app support are among the best we’ve tested at this level”
 ?? ?? “By multi-room speaker standards, this is a remarkably refined performanc­e”
“By multi-room speaker standards, this is a remarkably refined performanc­e”
 ?? ?? “It snaps along with that same intensity and intelligen­t organisati­on we’ve come to expect”
“It snaps along with that same intensity and intelligen­t organisati­on we’ve come to expect”
 ?? ?? “The Wonderboom 2 delivers a sound as cohesive and detailed as we could hope for at the price”
“The Wonderboom 2 delivers a sound as cohesive and detailed as we could hope for at the price”
 ?? ?? “An enthusiast­ic sound that favours excitement while still keeping an eye on balance”
“An enthusiast­ic sound that favours excitement while still keeping an eye on balance”
 ?? ?? “The Xtreme 3 proves to be careful and considerat­e from the lowest of lows to the highest highs”
“The Xtreme 3 proves to be careful and considerat­e from the lowest of lows to the highest highs”
 ?? ?? “Close your eyes and you don’t need to stretch your imaginatio­n to believe the sound is coming out of a pair of standmount­ers”
“Close your eyes and you don’t need to stretch your imaginatio­n to believe the sound is coming out of a pair of standmount­ers”
 ?? ?? “The Wedge isn’t afraid to let you hear the truth. Vocals are clear, textured and emotive”
“The Wedge isn’t afraid to let you hear the truth. Vocals are clear, textured and emotive”
 ?? ?? “We notice sonic gains through the low end afforded by the updated bass port design”
“We notice sonic gains through the low end afforded by the updated bass port design”
 ?? ?? “The overall presentati­on is muscular but lean; there’s plenty of bass weight, but balance is never skewed”
“The overall presentati­on is muscular but lean; there’s plenty of bass weight, but balance is never skewed”
 ?? ?? “Its sonic performanc­e makes it worthy in isolation”
“Its sonic performanc­e makes it worthy in isolation”
 ?? ?? “The Series 3 may not look like it, but make no mistake, this is proper hi-fi”
“The Series 3 may not look like it, but make no mistake, this is proper hi-fi”
 ?? ?? “The Megablast has no problem filling up our medium-sized listening room with a sound that demands your attention.”
“The Megablast has no problem filling up our medium-sized listening room with a sound that demands your attention.”
 ?? ?? “It’s capable of going loud, and remains composed, clear and unflustere­d, even at maximum volume”
“It’s capable of going loud, and remains composed, clear and unflustere­d, even at maximum volume”
 ?? ?? “The soundstage is spacious and impressive­ly organised, with vocals given plenty of breathing room”
“The soundstage is spacious and impressive­ly organised, with vocals given plenty of breathing room”
 ?? ?? “Musicality is still at the heart of the Mu-so 2’s performanc­e as a soundbar”
“Musicality is still at the heart of the Mu-so 2’s performanc­e as a soundbar”

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