Greatest AirPlay audio system for iPhones & Apple Music 2025 (plus Black Friday offers)

We’re placing the HomePod mini within the prime spot on the premise of its low price ticket, wonderful sound high quality and deep integration with Apple’s software program ecosystem – so long as you don’t thoughts being tied to Siri.

The HomePod mini can’t match the bass punch of the full-size HomePod, however the output remains to be much better than we’ve any proper to anticipate at this measurement and worth. (Simply to reiterate, it’s a 3rd of the worth and a seventh of the burden of its bigger sibling.)

For jazz, rock and classical we had been blown away by its clear, wealthy sound. And whereas it’s not fairly bought the welly to deafen your neighbors with home music at 3 am, and also you received’t fill a village corridor with sound, nevertheless it does fill a room superbly – particularly when teamed with a second mannequin as a stereo pair.

For those who’re deep within the Apple ecosystem and also you recognize high quality audio, that is the good speaker for you: it is going to play your music superbly and make TV watching a delight.

As with the HomePod mini, ease of setup is one in all its strongest options–plug within the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its route and an onscreen popup (on the cellphone) will invite you to set it up. If there’s one other HomePod of the identical mannequin within the chosen room, you’ll be given the choice to affix them as a stereo pair.

It sounds nice whether or not used as a single unit, or as a stereo pair, and it’s an incredible accompaniment to your Apple TV because it helps Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To search out out extra, learn extra about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini.

The primary disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the excessive worth (thrice that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations related to being reliant on Siri to regulate it. We actually need a HomePod with a display screen.

The Audio Professional C10 MKII W has a minimalist design, consisting of a easy rectangular field measuring 166mm excessive, 320mm extensive, and 180mm deep. Regardless of its small measurement, it’s sturdy, weighing over 4kg.

The entrance panel incorporates a good cloth grille that may be eliminated for a retro look with uncovered drivers. Eradicating the grille reveals a big woofer within the centre for deep, full sound, with smaller tweeters on both facet for larger frequencies.

The C10 MKII W has a complete output of 80W, making it appropriate as a primary speaker system in the lounge. Nonetheless, it requires mains energy and is probably going for use in a single room at dwelling attributable to its weight. 

The C10 MKII W helps Bluetooth, Apple’s AAC codec, and dual-band Wi-Fi. The up to date Audio Professional app works with varied streaming providers, together with Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. It additionally helps AirPlay 2, permitting audio streaming from Apple units and integration with multi-room music programs. Android customers could also be dissatisfied that there’s no aptX help with Bluetooth, however the C10 MKII W helps Google Forged.

The speaker has RCA connectors for wired connections, however no audio cables are included.

The C10 MKII W delivers good sound high quality. The lossless model of Madonna’s Frozen on Apple Music through AirPlay revealed delicate string touches and mild digital chimes, adopted by a pointy percussion crack that led into the refrain.

The C10 MKII W handles more durable rock sounds properly. Sing Alongside by Sturgill Simpson, captured the thick, fuzzy guitar sound and the wailing keyboards, making a vigorous ambiance. The deep bass could possibly be firmer, however an additional RCA connector permits for an exterior sub-woofer for enhanced bass.

Whereas it’s dearer than Apple’s HomePod, the C10 MKII W excels in readability and precision, particularly with high-res music on Apple Music and different streaming providers. It additionally presents higher connectivity.

Audio Professional’s mannequin numbers are inconsistent, with some older fashions nonetheless on sale, so ensure to purchase the proper mannequin.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin vary of audio system first appeared again in 2007. The  Zeppelin Professional Version launched on the finish of 2024 and appears virtually equivalent to the Zeppelin launched, so watch out to examine which mannequin you might be contemplating shopping for. 

At $799/£699, it’s one of many dearer AirPlay audio system at present obtainable, nevertheless it actually does ship the products when it comes to sound high quality.

The Zeppelin Professional Version measures 210 x 650 x 194mm and weighs 6.6kg. It’s obtainable in a darkish ‘house gray’ or ‘photo voltaic gold’. 

Not like many one-piece speaker programs – together with Apple’s HomePod – the Zeppelin Professional Version offers a full stereo system, with separate left and proper audio channels, in addition to a devoted sub-woofer for dealing with decrease frequencies. That’s an identical set-up to earlier Zeppelin fashions, however Bowers & Wilkins says the woofers and tweeters have been redesigned for the Zeppelin Professional Version for even higher sound high quality.

Like earlier fashions, the Zeppelin Professional Version helps Bluetooth with AAC for Apple units, and aptX Adaptive for Android. There’s additionally Wi-Fi with help for AirPlay 2, which lets you stream wi-fi audio (and Apple Music) over your own home community out of your Apple gadget. Utilizing AirPlay with Apple units offers extra bandwidth for high-quality audio recordsdata. The Zeppelin Professional additionally helps Spotify Join, and Tidal and Amazon Music through an app. 

Our solely criticism is that the Zeppelin Professional doesn’t supply wired inputs, so you possibly can’t join it to a CD participant or Hello-Fi.

The Zeppelin Professional Version is likely one of the bigger and dearer AirPlay audio system. If you would like a robust, high-quality stereo speaker that helps AirPlay 2 it is a nice choice. 

Roku is well-known for its vary of streaming media units, which supply an reasonably priced different to Apple’s personal Apple TV field. Nonetheless, the Roku Streambar goes a step additional by combining streaming options with a compact soundbar speaker and help for Apple’s AirPlay 2 – and all for a extremely aggressive $129.99/£129.99.

The AirPlay help and built-in dual-band Wi-Fi imply that you could merely use the Streambar as a traditional AirPlay speaker, utilizing AirPlay to stream music through Wi-Fi from any Apple gadget. It’s surprisingly highly effective for such a compact speaker, and greater than loud sufficient for enjoying music at dwelling or watching a couple of Hollywood blockbusters. It even offers fairly good bass too, touchdown the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Large Sky with actual affect (and Roku has not too long ago introduced a brand new vary of wi-fi audio system that additionally help AirPlay 2, though we’ve not had the prospect to check these but).

Going past primary speaker mode, you can too use the HDMI port on the again of the Streambar to attach it to a TV or laptop show, and this lets you stream video at as much as 4K decision out of your Apple units as properly. You’ll be able to even do away with your Apple units altogether, and simply use the Streambar’s built-in streaming options to attach your TV or laptop monitor to a variety of video providers–together with Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so forth. It additionally helps numerous music streaming providers too, akin to Apple Music and Spotify.

Admittedly, the low price of the Streambar signifies that it does lack a couple of superior options, akin to help for Dolby Atmos, which you may get from Apple’s HomePod and likewise the Apple TV 4K. However, in fact, the Apple TV field doesn’t embrace a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost mixture of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming options makes it an absolute cut price at this worth.

In 2024 Roku launched the Streambar SE, which is a less expensive model of the Streambar reviewed right here. The bigger Streambar Professional has been discontinued, however for now Roku appears to be persevering with to promote the Streambar.

When Sonos first launched the Period 100 it was positioned as a mid-range choice that sat between the entry-level Sonos One and the imposing Period 300 with Dolby Atmos on the prime quality. Nonetheless, the veteran Sonos One quietly light away a couple of months in the past and the Period 100 has taken over as the brand new entry level for the Sonos vary of multi-room audio system, with a $249/£249 price ticket that makes it a superb different to the Apple HomePod at £299/$299.

At first look, the Period 100 does look similar to the unique Sonos One, with an upright cylindrical design that’s obtainable in black or white. It’s barely bigger than the Sonos One, although, standing 182.5mm excessive, 120mm extensive and 130mm deep. This enables the Period 100 to squeeze in an extra high-frequency tweeter, in order that it now homes two tweeters which can be angled out to the suitable and left to unfold sound extra broadly than the Sonos One. It additionally features a bigger woofer than the Sonos One, to deal with the mid-range and bass and add somewhat further energy as properly.

This new design works a deal with and the Period 100 offers superb sound high quality for a comparatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Circulate have a lightweight, shimmering sound, however the compact speaker has bought some muscle too, and is definitely in a position to fill the room round me with Enya’s swirling cloud of sound. The dual tweeters present a crisp, clear sound for the digital loops that fly by way of the air, however that bigger woofer can even attain down and embrace the gradual bass pulse and rumbling drums that enter as Enya’s multi-tracked vocals chant – “flip it up, flip it up”.

The one minor disappointment is that the Period 100 doesn’t help Dolby Atmos or spatial audio. For those who’re a house cinema fan who actually desires Atmos you then’ll have to pay somewhat extra for alternate options such because the Apple HomePod or the high-end Period 300. However, when you’re simply searching for a compact, high-quality speaker with wi-fi and help for AirPlay, then the Period 100 delivers the products at a cheaper price than most of its AirPlay rivals.

Sonos’ Roam needs to be the smallest and most moveable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen to date.

Sonos’s authentic Roam good speaker was launched again in 2021, and it was top-of-the-line moveable audio system we’ve ever seen, offering superb sound high quality in a extremely compact design that additionally managed to squeeze in helpful options akin to wi-fi charging and even help for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple units. The Roam 2 fine-tunes numerous options akin to its set-up and tuning course of, and offers extra easy controls.

Obtainable in a wide range of colours–together with purple, inexperienced, blue and plain outdated black and white–the Roam 2 seems to be equivalent to its predecessor. It’s 168mm tall, 62mm extensive and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, however it is going to match right into a backpack. It has a IP67 ranking water and dirt resistance, so it’s suited to the outside.

There’s no room for a big battery within the compact design, nevertheless it ought to final for as much as 10 hours with music at 50% quantity. It wants to face upright for wi-fi charging and the quantity, playback and microphone controls sit on the highest, however you possibly can flip the speaker onto its facet and lay it flat. A USB-C port on the again can be utilized for charging too. 

Roam 2 helps Bluetooth 5.2 and now has separate buttons for Energy and Bluetooth pairing, that are simpler to make use of than the fiddly multi-function button on the unique Roam. You’ll be able to press the Bluetooth button to pair through Bluetooth, however it’s essential obtain the Sonos app for iOS to be able to set the speaker up correctly. We encountered issues getting the speaker related to our Wi-Fi community and needed to spend time altering the Wi-Fi settings. However, as soon as that was executed, the Roam 2 labored rather well. Fortunate its help for AirPlay made connecting it to extra Apple units easy.

The Roam 2 presents nice sound high quality for such a compact speaker, particularly over a Wi-Fi connection. It did a superb job with Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Alongside, laying down the grinding, fuzzy guitars that kind the bedrock of the sound. On Billie Eilish’s Unhealthy Man it achieved a fairly respectable bass beat for such a small speaker.

Switching to Bluetooth brought about the sound to lose somewhat readability–however that’s a limitation of Bluetooth fairly than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any moveable speaker of this measurement and weight. The Roam 2 actually punches above its weight on the subject of sound high quality and its sturdy and light-weight design is nice for outside use. 

Apple has been banging the drum for spatial audio for a couple of years now, however Sonos actually took a step ahead with that expertise when it launched the Period 300 in 2023. Appropriately sufficient, it additionally marked a brand new period for the Sonos vary of multi-room audio system, with a wholly new design that was at the very least eye-catching even when it wasn’t maybe as elegant as Sonos claimed.

Obtainable in black or white, the cumbersome, hourglass design of the Period 300 could be very a lot designed for spatial audio, housing a minimum of six separate speaker drivers, with help for Dolby Atmos when watching movies and video, or listening to spatial audio on Apple Music. There’s one woofer and one tweeter on both sides of the unit, which give a large stereo soundstage, whereas one other tweeter on the entrance highlights vocals and dialogue, or lead devices. There’s another tweeter on the highest, which is designed to fireside hold forth the ceiling to assist create a way of top and house when listening to music or video that makes use of Atmos.

Like most Sonos audio system, the Period 300 makes use of dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5.0GHz) to hook up with your own home community, and likewise helps AirPlay 2 to be used with Apple units and different AirPlay-compatible audio system. However, in contrast to earlier Sonos audio system, the Period now helps Bluetooth as properly, in order that it could possibly present a fast and straightforward wi-fi connection for cell units and computer systems when required. You may also purchase an adaptor that gives a wired connection (though it’s annoying that this prices an additional $19/£19, given the speaker’s hefty $449/£449 price ticket).

The Period 300 can earn its hold, although. The Dolby Atmos help works rather well on the opening scene of Blade Runner, creating an actual sense of motion because the hovercar flies over the Los Angeles skyline, and there’s a satisfying bass rumble to the bursts of steam and flame that erupts into the air.

It does a superb job with spatial audio on Apple Music too, particularly with Ringo’s deft percussion on the Atmos mixture of Come Collectively by the Beatles. The bongos skip flippantly by way of the air and the bass guitar glides ahead with a swaying, sinuous rhythm. There’s actual weight behind the guitar riff that leads into the refrain, however the Period 300 can nonetheless pick gentler particulars such because the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of many dearer AirPlay audio system at present obtainable, however the highly effective and atmospheric sound of the Period 300, and help for Dolby Atmos, make it a superb different to dearer soundbar programs for music and watching video.

It sounds higher than most moveable audio system this measurement, however nonetheless sounds clipped at excessive volumes and a few controls are somewhat opaque.

The Beats Capsule is way improved over earlier variations, nevertheless it has a couple of faults that we’d like to see addressed within the subsequent revision.

Beats’ iconic “capsule” form is useful to hold round, suits anyplace a water bottle would go, and sits properly on a desk or equally flat floor. You will get one in traditional Beats colours—black, purple, or champagne.

When at relaxation the audio system are tilted 20 levels upward, which is an effective way to challenge the sound extra straight at you. 

The Capsule is IP67-rated, so is needs to be protected on the seashore, beside a pool, or within the rain. A silicone outer wrap helps forestall bumps and dings, whereas including weatherproofing.

Alongside the highest, you’ll discover quantity buttons, a middle multi-function button, and an influence button. They’re far sufficient aside and labeled clearly sufficient that it’s straightforward to hit the suitable one with out paying shut consideration.

Within the again is a single USB-C port that can be utilized for charging or as an audio enter, with help for lossless audio (not that the Capsule has the sound high quality to do it justice). It even reverse-charges with a triple-tap of the ability button so it may be a type of energy financial institution on your cellphone.

Beats says the battery will final 24 hours. We are able to affirm it could possibly simply run all day with out recharging.

With a single woofer able to 90 % extra air displacement than the woofer within the Beats Capsule+ and a paired tweeter, the brand new Beats Capsule sounds OK. Like all moveable audio system with a cylindrical design it lacks low-end oomph. There’s extra bass than you’d anticipate, however nonetheless lower than you want. It does get fairly loud, however at excessive volumes, there’s a clipped or restricted really feel.

There’s a microphone to allow speakerphone or voice assistants, nevertheless it doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of noise discount to guard from robust wind or close by freeway noise.

The weatherproofing, comparatively loud quantity, and implausible battery life all make this a very nice reasonably priced speaker for hanging out by the pool. The $149.99/£149.99price is cheap, too. You simply have to handle your expectations for getting nice sound high quality out of somewhat moveable speaker like this.

We’ve seemed on the JBL Flip 7, which launched in spring 2025, and they’re good, however they lack AirPlay. Tucked away in a quiet nook of the JBL web site the corporate has a variety of good audio system, known as Authentics, which embrace each Wi-Fi and help for Apple’s AirPlay.

There are three audio system within the vary, beginning at $349.99/£238.99 for the entry-level Authentics 200, going as much as $699.99/£529.99 for the top-of-the-range Authentics 500. Nonetheless, the candy spot for us is the mid-range Authentics 300, which has probably the most versatile design and prices $449.99/£249.99, though you will discover them cheaper.

The Authentics 300 is attractively designed, with a sturdy wood cupboard and a giant, chunky grille on the entrance that offers it an deliberately retro look. It’s pretty massive, standing 195mm excessive, 342mm extensive and 180mm deep, and it weighs in at a hefty 4.9kg. Even so, it’s nonetheless meant to be a conveyable speaker and – in contrast to the opposite Authentics audio system – it features a rechargeable battery that lasts for round eight hours. There’s additionally a sturdy metallic carrying deal with, so it’s straightforward to choose the speaker up and carry it from room to room at dwelling, or out into the backyard when the summer season finally arrives.

Contained in the speaker are two 25mm tweeters, and a beefy 133mm woofer, together with a big passive bass radiator on the underside of the speaker to assist in giving the bass a little bit of a lift. There’s a quantity dial on the highest panel, together with separate controls for adjusting Treble and Bass, however the inclusion of wi-fi and help for AirPlay means that you could additionally simply management the speaker from any Apple units, and the JBL One app additionally contains an eight-band Equalizer that gives extra exact management over the sound.

Getting began is a bit of cake, because the JBL One app initially makes use of Bluetooth to hook up with the speaker after which guides you thru the method of connecting to your own home community, utilizing both wi-fi or the Ethernet port situated on the again of the speaker. There are two microphones constructed into the speaker, though these solely work with Alexa and the Google Assistant, however there’s a Mute button that permits you to flip the mics off when you desire to maintain issues non-public.

Sound high quality is nice, and the Authentics 300 lets the bass guitar on Blondie’s Rapture bounce together with a relaxed, infectious power. There’s a vibrant, clear tone on the chopping rhythm guitar, and the drums and percussion of the late, nice Clem Burke are as taut and exact as ever. And, with 100W output, the speaker has greater than sufficient energy to get issues going at a BBQ or house-party. Our solely minor criticism is that the USB-C port on the again of the speaker doesn’t present a wired audio enter – though there’s a 3.5mm connector on the again of the speaker when you want a wired connection.