The best speakers
The best speakers overall
The best Bluetooth speaker
Sonos has been building some incredible Wi-Fi speakers over the past few years, but now it has finally entered the portable Bluetooth speaker game with the Sonos Move. Like other Sonos smart speakers, the Sonos Move offers integrated access to Alexa and Google Assistant, boasts an awesome design, and allows you to integrate it with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem.
On top of all that, the Move also offers two features that you won't find on other typical Sonos models: Bluetooth and a battery. Like its name suggests, the speaker is specifically designed to be used both at home and on the move. The unit has a charging dock, which is where you can use it when you're at home. For portable use, you can then take it off the dock and bring the Move outside wherever you go. The speaker is rated for 10 hours of battery life, so it should easily get you through a full day of use.
Perhaps the best thing about the Sonos Move is how great it sounds. The speaker offers plenty of bass response, along with a well-tuned mid range, and solid detail in the high end. The speaker offers Sonos' awesome Trueplay tech, which automatically tweaks the frequency response based on your environment.
The Sonos Move isn't perfect. For example, it is a little expensive for a Bluetooth speaker, and it's a bit bulky for on-the-go use. Not only that, but you can't use Google Assistant or Alexa in Bluetooth mode, since they require Wi-Fi connectivity. Still, despite those downsides, the speaker has gotten some great reviews — TechRadar gave the speaker an impressive 4.5/5, while CNET gave it a still great 4/5.
Pros: Great sound, good for portable and home use, built-in support for Google Assistant and Alexa
Cons: Expensive, smart features missing in Bluetooth mode, size limits portability
The best smart speaker
The Amazon Echo lineup is well known for its reliable digital assistant and smart home performance, and the new Echo is the company's best model so far. The third-generation smart speaker is a little bigger than its predecessor, but that extra size enables significantly improved audio quality.
With integrated Alexa support and voice recognition, the Amazon Echo is a fully featured digital assistant with over 100,000 skills worldwide. You can ask Alexa questions, order products from Amazon, set timers, receive weather forecasts, get news updates, and more — all through spoken commands. Alexa also supports voice controls for connected smart home devices and music playback.
When it comes to sound quality, the third-generation Echo features notably improved performance compared to the previous generation model. The new model incorporates a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 3-inch woofer versus the second generation Echo's 0.6-inch tweeter and 2.5-inch woofer. This new, larger design is now more in line with the more expensive Echo Plus, and allows the Echo to produce much better bass.
Of course, there are more expensive smart speakers, like the Sonos One, that sound better than the Echo. In this price range, however, the Echo does the best job of balancing convenient digital assistant support with solid audio performance. You can check out our full review of the Amazon Echo (Third Generation) for more detailed impressions.
Pros: Improved sound quality compared to previous models, Alexa digital assistant, extensive smart home support with over 100,000 skills, affordable pricing
Cons: Audio performance isn't on par with more expensive smart speaker models
The best bookshelf speakers
For some, finding speakers that can simply be placed on a shelf or table and used when needed is the way to go, and for those people, the Q Acoustics 3020 speakers are an excellent choice. The speakers boast a simple look coupled with great sound quality that's sure to impress most listeners.
The speakers may feature a relatively simple design, but we definitely don't consider that a bad thing. They're also available in a few colors, including Black, White, American Walnut, and Graphite.
It's important to note that you won't be able to simply plug your phone or media player into these speakers like you can some others. Like the Klipsch RP-8000F, you'll need a separate receiver or amplifier to power the Q Acoustics 3020 speakers.
When it comes to sound quality, the Q Acoustics 3020 speakers sound good. Sure, they could use a little more bass, but there's solid clarity in the high-end and plenty of detail for those who want it.
The speakers have been pretty well-reviewed, too. CNET gave them 8.6/10, while What HiFi stepped things up to a 5/5.
Pros: Great sound quality, inexpensive, well-designed
Cons: Could use a little more bass, requires a separate receiver or amp
The best computer speakers
Looking for some speakers you can plug into your computer? After all, computers almost never have great sound built into them. If you're looking for some speakers to seriously improve the audio from your computer, then we think the Audioengine A2+ speakers are an excellent option for you.
There are a few things that make the Audioengine A2+ speakers great. For starters, they're versatile. That's to say, you can connect them through traditional audio connectors, or through a USB port that connects directly to your computer. When connected through USB, they boast uncompressed audio through the built-in digital-to-analog converter, making them an excellent choice.
The speakers sound excellent, especially for the price. While those who want ultra-deep bass will need to invest in a subwoofer to use with the speakers, the bass built-in is still pretty good. The detailed high-end, however, is where these speakers really shine. It's well-tuned and clear, which is great news for audiophiles on a budget.
The speakers are available in three colors — black, white, and red — and have been very well-received. CNET and PCMag both gave them a 4/5 in their reviews.
Pros: Inexpensive, compact, great sound
Cons: Could use a little more bass
Check out our other great speaker buying guides
Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. The Sonos Move is our top pick because it has excellent sound quality, an integrated battery for portable use, and support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Here are our top picks for the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy.
- Best Bluetooth speaker overall: Sonos Move
- Best portable Bluetooth speaker: Bose SoundLink Revolve+
- Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker: UE Boom 3
- Best cheap Bluetooth speaker: Anker Soundcore Flare Mini
- Best small Bluetooth speaker: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay P2
- Best Alexa smart speaker with Bluetooth: Amazon Echo (3rd Gen)
- Best smart Bluetooth speaker with Google Assistant: JBL Link 20
- Best affordable Bluetooth speaker: JBL Flip 4
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The best portable speakers you can buyA great portable speaker should sound good, offer decent battery life, and have features like water-resistance for added durability on the go. We think the Riva Turbo X is the best portable speaker you can buy because it checks all the boxes.
You should also consider the UE Roll 2, the JBL Link 10, the Creative Muvo 2c, and the UE Boom 2.
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The best multi-room speakers you can buyGreat multi-room speakers are easy to use, well-designed, and sound great. The Sonos One is the best multi-room speaker system you can buy because it sounds great, works flawlessly, and has the smarts of Amazon's Alexa.
You might also like the JBL Link series, the Sonos Play:5, the Bose SoundTouch, and the Google Home Mini.
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