Greatest AirPlay audio system for iPhones and Apple Music 2025

We’re placing the HomePod mini within the prime spot on the idea of its low price ticket, glorious 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 continues to be much better than we’ve any proper to count on at this measurement and value. (Simply to reiterate, it’s a 3rd of the worth and a seventh of the load of its bigger sibling.)

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

When you’re deep within the Apple ecosystem and also you admire high quality audio, that is the sensible speaker for you: it’s 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 course 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 hitch 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 excellent accompaniment to your Apple TV because it helps Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio (the HomePod mini doesn’t). To seek out out extra, learn extra about how the HomePod compares to the HomePod mini.

The primary disadvantages of the 2023 HomePod are the excessive value (3 times that of the HomePod mini) and the frustrations related to being reliant on Siri to manage it. We actually desire a HomePod with a display.

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 similar to the Zeppelin launched, so watch out to test which mannequin you might be contemplating shopping for. 

At $799/£699, it’s one of many dearer AirPlay audio system presently accessible, but it surely actually does ship the products by way of sound high quality.

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

In contrast to many one-piece speaker techniques – together with Apple’s HomePod – the Zeppelin Professional Version gives 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 the same 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 gadgets, 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 system. Utilizing AirPlay with Apple gadgets gives 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 provide wired inputs, so you may’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 need a strong, high-quality stereo speaker that helps AirPlay 2 it is a nice choice. 

Roku is well-known for its vary of streaming media gadgets, which supply an reasonably priced various to Apple’s personal Apple TV field. Nevertheless, 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 which you can merely use the Streambar as a standard AirPlay speaker, utilizing AirPlay to stream music through Wi-Fi from any Apple system. It’s surprisingly highly effective for such a compact speaker, and greater than loud sufficient for taking part in music at dwelling or watching a number of Hollywood blockbusters. It even gives fairly good bass too, touchdown the bass guitar and crashing drums on Kate Bush’s The Massive Sky with actual influence (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 possibility to check these but).

Going past primary speaker mode, it’s also possible to use the HDMI port on the again of the Streambar to attach it to a TV or pc show, and this lets you stream video at as much as 4K decision out of your Apple gadgets as effectively. You possibly can even eliminate your Apple gadgets altogether, and simply use the Streambar’s built-in streaming options to attach your TV or pc monitor to a variety of video companies–together with Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ and so forth. It additionally helps quite a few music streaming companies too, comparable to Apple Music and Spotify.

Admittedly, the low price of the Streambar implies that it does lack a number of superior options, comparable to help for Dolby Atmos, which you will get from Apple’s HomePod and in addition the Apple TV 4K. However, in fact, the Apple TV field doesn’t embody a speaker, and the Streambar’s low-cost mixture of AirPlay speaker and music and video streaming options makes it an absolute discount at this value.

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 top quality. Nevertheless, the veteran Sonos One quietly light away a number 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 various 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 accessible in black or white. It’s barely bigger than the Sonos One, although, standing 182.5mm excessive, 120mm extensive and 130mm deep. This permits the Period 100 to squeeze in an extra high-frequency tweeter, in order that it now homes two tweeters which might be angled out to the suitable and left to unfold sound extra extensively than the Sonos One. It additionally features a bigger woofer than the Sonos One, to deal with the mid-range and bass and add slightly additional energy as effectively.

This new design works a deal with and the Period 100 gives excellent sound high quality for a comparatively compact speaker. The atmospheric harmonies of Enya’s Orinoco Stream have a lightweight, shimmering sound, however the compact speaker has received some muscle too, and is well capable of 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 also can 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. When you’re a house cinema fan who actually needs Atmos you then’ll must pay slightly extra for options such because the Apple HomePod or the high-end Period 300. However, when you’re simply in search of 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 must be the smallest and most transportable AirPlay 2 speaker we’ve seen to date.

Sonos’s authentic Roam sensible speaker was launched again in 2021, and it was the most effective transportable audio system we’ve ever seen, offering excellent sound high quality in a extremely compact design that additionally managed to squeeze in helpful options comparable to wi-fi charging and even help for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple gadgets. The Roam 2 fine-tunes quite a few options comparable to its set-up and tuning course of, and gives extra easy controls.

Obtainable in quite a lot of colours–together with pink, inexperienced, blue and plain previous black and white–the Roam 2 appears to be like similar to its predecessor. It’s 168mm tall, 62mm extensive and 60mm deep, and weighs 0.43kg. It’s not pocket-size, however it’s going to match right into a backpack. It has a IP67 ranking water and mud resistance, so it’s suited to the outside.

There’s no room for a big battery within the compact design, but it surely 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 amount, playback and microphone controls sit on the highest, however you may flip the speaker onto its aspect 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 possibly can press the Bluetooth button to pair through Bluetooth, however you should obtain the Sonos app for iOS as a way 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 gadgets easy.

The Roam 2 presents nice sound high quality for such a compact speaker, particularly over a Wi-Fi connection. It did 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 prompted the sound to lose slightly readability–however that’s a limitation of Bluetooth slightly than the speaker itself, and the Roam 2 can go head-to-head with any transportable 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 number of years now, however Sonos actually took a step ahead with that know-how 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 completely new design that was not less than 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 may 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 either side 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 yet 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 connect with your own home community, and in addition helps AirPlay 2 to be used with Apple gadgets and different AirPlay-compatible audio system. However, not like earlier Sonos audio system, the Period now helps Bluetooth as effectively, in order that it might present a fast and simple wi-fi connection for cell gadgets 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 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 select gentler particulars such because the shimmering cymbals and rhythmic keyboards. Admittedly, it’s one of many dearer AirPlay audio system presently accessible, however the highly effective and atmospheric sound of the Period 300, and help for Dolby Atmos, make it various to dearer soundbar techniques for music and watching video.

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

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

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

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

The Capsule is IP67-rated, so is must be secure on the seashore, beside a pool, or within the rain. A silicone outer wrap helps stop 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 simple 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 in your cellphone.

Beats says the battery will final 24 hours. We will verify it might 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 transportable audio system with a cylindrical design it lacks low-end oomph. There’s extra bass than you’d count on, 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, but it surely 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 incredible battery life all make this a extremely nice reasonably priced speaker for hanging out by the pool. The $149.99/£149.99price is cheap, too. You simply must handle your expectations for getting nice sound high quality out of slightly transportable 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 spread of sensible audio system, known as Authentics, which embody 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. Nevertheless, the candy spot for us is the mid-range Authentics 300, which has essentially the most versatile design and prices $449.99/£249.99, though yow will discover them cheaper.

The Authentics 300 is attractively designed, with a sturdy picket cupboard and a giant, chunky grille on the entrance that provides it an deliberately retro look. It’s pretty giant, standing 195mm excessive, 342mm extensive and 180mm deep, and it weighs in at a hefty 4.9kg. Even so, it’s nonetheless supposed to be a transportable speaker and – not like the opposite Authentics audio system – it features a rechargeable battery that lasts for round eight hours. There’s additionally a sturdy steel carrying deal with, so it’s simple to select the speaker up and carry it from room to room at dwelling, or out into the backyard when the summer time 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 which you can additionally simply management the speaker from any Apple gadgets, and the JBL One app additionally contains an eight-band Equalizer that gives extra exact management over the sound.

Getting began is a chunk of cake, because the JBL One app initially makes use of Bluetooth to connect 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 positioned 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 personal.

Sound high quality is nice, and the Authentics 300 lets the bass guitar on Blondie’s Rapture bounce together with a relaxed, infectious vitality. There’s a brilliant, 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.

We point out the brand new for 2024 Zeppelin Professional above, however for now Bowers & Wilkins continues to promote the 2021 Zeppelin so you might discover it at low cost. Simply remember that whereas we celebrated this fashions terrific sound high quality when it got here out, the newer mannequin boasts even higher sound.

Obtainable in both Midnight Gray or a silvery Pearl Gray, this Zeppelin appears to be like similar to the 2024 Zeppelin Professional and its predecessors, with the eye-catching oval design that provides the speaker its identify.

On the within, this Zeppelin has a pair of high-frequency tweeters and mid-range woofers positioned on either side of a central sub-woofer, whereas your complete unit is powered by a roof-rattling 240W amplifier.

The Zeppelin helps AirPlay 2, together with Bluetooth and Apple’s AAC codec and the AptX Adaptive codec that’s used on many Android gadgets, and Spotify Join too.

At $799/£699 this mannequin has the identical (excessive) value because it’s predecessor, however as it’s phased out it’s more likely to see value drops.