Cut the Cord

1. Best Wireless Speakers For Mac Mini
2. Best Wireless Speakers For Mac Laptop

Find great deals on eBay for apple wireless speakers. Shop with confidence. Best Speakers Buying Guide: Welcome to TechRadar's round-up of the best wireless, connected speakers and speaker systems in 2018. Portable Bluetooth speakers are one of the best ways to listen to your favorite tunes, podcasts, and other audio everywhere you go. As long as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is around, your music can ring out loud and proud.

Wireless speakers are everywhere these days. Big, small, portable, expensive, cheap, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.. the sheer amount of choice can seem overwhelming. But our top picks are sure to have at least one speaker that's right for you. Before anything else, though, you need to decide how you want to go wireless.

Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi Speakers

Bluetooth is the most common wireless music streaming standard, but it isn't the only one. Bluetooth is a point-to-point wireless system, pairing a transmitter (your phone or computer) with a receiver (your speaker) to play music. It's very direct and easy to set up, and can stream pretty high-quality music thanks to technological advancements that have greatly improved audio fidelity over what it was a few years ago. Bluetooth generally doesn't have any multi-room tricks in itself, though some speakers can set up stereo pairs with the help of an app, while others can create a wireless mesh among multiple speakers for multi-room audio. It isn't quite as high-fidelity or as powerful as Wi-Fi multi-room audio, however.

Wi-Fi audio includes standards like Apple AirPlay and Google Cast, along with various manufacturers' own Wi-Fi streaming platforms, like Sonos (which now includes Ikea's Symfonisk line). Wi-Fi can handle more bandwidth than Bluetooth, so it can support higher fidelity audio. It can also integrate into your home network, so you can easily play audio from any device connected to your Wi-Fi without pairing anything. The trade-off is that Wi-Fi music systems generally require a Wi-Fi network to connect to, so they can't be used portably with your smartphone like Bluetooth speakers. The different Wi-Fi standards also mean various services might or might not be available to stream over the device, though this is less of a problem than it has been in the past thanks to Google Cast and Sonos' lengthy lists of supported third-party services.

Most new speakers available feature some kind of wireless support, whether they're clip-on bike speakers or big soundbars. With some exceptions, any speaker you pick up at an electronics store will be able to stream audio either over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Your speaker might even be able to handle both wireless methods. Check if your Wi-Fi speaker has a Bluetooth mode for using it on the go.

What Kind of Speaker Do You Want?

Besides the type of wireless connection, you need to think about what style of speaker you want. Smaller, battery-powered speakers (usually Bluetooth) are useful because you can take them anywhere, but they don't get particularly loud. Larger speakers generally offer fuller sound and richer bass, but they can be more expensive and are often not portable.

Besides single speakers, you can also find stereo pairs designed for desktop computers and home theater speaker systems like soundbars, soundplates, and home-theaters-in-a-box. These speakers are obviously not portable at all, but if you want a centerpiece sound system for your living room or office they're likely your best choice.

Bluetooth Speaker Portability

For a speaker to be portable, it needs to both be small and light enough to easily carry around, and be equipped with a battery so it can run without being plugged in. Of course, 'small' and 'light' are relative; tiny speakers with carabiners let you clip them to your backpack and take them on hikes, while much bigger and heavier speakers might be intended only to be taken from room to room in your home.

Bluetooth speakers are usually portable, but they don't have to be. If a Bluetooth speaker is too big to easily carry around, or doesn't have a battery, it won't be portable.

Since Wi-Fi speakers rely on a separate network to enable multi-speaker and multi-room audio playback, they're rarely portable. After all, portability doesn't matter if you need to be connected to your home's hotspot. There are exceptions, though, and Wi-Fi speakers can still be portable if they have batteries, and ideally can create an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network with your phone.

Durability

Not all portable speakers are built to be carried around outdoors, or used by the pool. Rugged speakers can handle splashes, dunks, drops, and gunk and keep running. If you try that with the non-rugged speakers on this list, however, you'll find yourself with a brick instead of an audio device. Look for speakers with IPX ratings and guarantees of water and shock resistance if you want to carry them around to the beach, the lake, the slopes, or the sewers. Our guide to IP ratings explains what those numbers mean, so you can know whether your speaker can handle getting dunked in the pool, or if it simply will stay intact in a light drizzle.

For more, see our list of the best outdoor speakers.

Bluetooth Audio Quality

Unless portability is at the top of your priority list, sound quality is paramount. Plenty of speakers don't offer much in the way of features, but produce top-notch audio. Big bass isn't for everyone, but unless your speaker is downright tiny, it should be able to reproduce low frequencies accurately without distorting at high volumes. Clarity is more important than sheer power, and a balanced, clean sound should be your goal when shopping for a speaker. If you want a sound system that can drive a whole party instead of just fill a small room, keep the size of the speaker in mind; generally, the bigger a speaker is, the louder it can get while still sounding good.

See How We Test Speakers

As mentioned earlier, in the early days of wireless audio Bluetooth was far inferior to Wi-Fi standards because of limited bandwidth and audio compression. Those problems have been largely solved, and Bluetooth 4.0 (not to mention 5.0) and its relevant audio codecs can transmit excellent quality audio. Wi-Fi can still get an edge purely due to the available bandwidth, and if you want to listen to lossless music on services like Tidal you should probably go with Wi-Fi over Bluetooth. Of course, a wired connection can be better than both thanks to either faster data speeds for digital signals or simply the fact that the wire is carrying the analog sound without any conversion. But this guide is for wireless speakers.

Voice Assistants

Voice assistants let you simply tell your speaker what to play instead of looking through your smartphone. They were initially very limited, closed systems only available on first-party devices, like Alexa on the Amazon Echo and Google Assistant on the Google Home, but that's steadily changing. More and more third-party speakers are integrating some form of voice assistant, either Google Assistant or Alexa.

These voice assistants are useful for more than just playing music. You can ask them for weather forecasts, sports scores, unit conversions, and even language translation. They also generally support third-party skills that let you do anything from order pizza to play trivia games. If you have other smart home devices, you might even be able to integrate them as well, letting you control the lights and thermostat with your voice.

Voice assistant speakers have one universal requirement: Wi-Fi. They need an internet connection, and without one voice recognition and all of the processing needed to find your music, answer your questions, and control your smart home devices simply won't work. These speakers can still be portable, and even offer Bluetooth connectivity when you're away from your network, but those features aren't certain. The most prominent first-party voice assistant speakers like the Amazon Echo and the Google Home don't have batteries.

For more, see our picks for the best smart speakers.

Price

Speakers come in a wide range of prices. Don't assume, however, that the most money always buys the best overall product. Generally speaking, higher-end models do sound better, but sometimes they lack the features you might expect for the price. The trick is to get the best sound, along with the features you want, at a price you can afford. And, of course, if you want to know about all of those things, you can read our reviews of each speaker.

The easiest way to get the best price: Shop around online. You'll often find prices well below list if you do a little bargain hunting on the web. Don't be afraid to look for similar speakers to the ones on this list, either; a number of the options included here have solid predecessors that you can now find for much less since they've been replaced. We've also rounded up our favorite Bluetooth speakers under $100.

For more, see the latest speaker reviews in our speakers product guide. And if you want to cut the cord without waking the neighbors, check out our favorite wireless headphones.

Best Wireless and Bluetooth Speakers Featured in this Roundup:

• Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) Review

  
  MSRP: $49.99
  

  Pros: Much better sound than previous model. Still the best inexpensive Alexa speaker. 3.5mm jack for more powerful speakers. Alexa remains the best voice ecosystem for smart home control.

  Cons: Alexa isn't up to Google Assistant's level at answering broad information queries.

  Bottom Line: The new Amazon Echo Dot delivers dramatically improved sound, making it an even better buy for an entry-level Alexa speaker.

  Read Review

• Ikea Sonos Symfonisk WiFi Bookshelf Speaker Review

  
  MSRP: $99.00
  

  Pros: Affordable. Powerful audio with rich bass and bright, sculpted highs. Attractive design. Doubles as a shelf.

  Cons: Can distort on deep bass at high volumes. No Bluetooth.

  Bottom Line: The Ikea Symfonisk WiFi Bookshelf Speaker works within the Sonos ecosystem and delivers robust audio for its size and price.

  Read Review

• JBL Charge 4 Review

  
  MSRP: $149.95
  

  Pros: Powerful audio performance with rich bass and crisp, clear highs. Gets quite loud for its size. Waterproof.

  Cons: No speakerphone function. Mono audio output.

  Bottom Line: The JBL Charge 4 is an excellent option for those who want a waterproof, powerful-sounding portable Bluetooth speaker in a moderately sized frame.

  Read Review

• Marshall Woburn II Bluetooth Review

  
  MSRP: $499.99
  

  Pros: Excellent audio performance with powerful bass depth and solid clarity in the highs. In-app EQ and adjustable bass and treble knobs. Handsome design.

  Cons: No included audio cables or accessories. Unattractive back panel.

  Bottom Line: The Marshall Woburn II Bluetooth speaker delivers rich, powerful audio befitting its size and price.

  Read Review

• Sonos Beam Review

  
  MSRP: $399.00
  

  Pros: Powerful sound for its size. Built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant. Easily expanded with additional Sonos speakers.

  Cons: No Bluetooth. Optional subwoofer is expensive.

  Bottom Line: The Sonos Beam packs multi-room, multi-service audio streaming and Amazon's Alexa voice assistant into a deceptively small soundbar.

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• Sonos One (Gen 2) Review

  
  MSRP: $199.00
  

  Pros: Multi-room audio with flexible stereo and surround configurations. Powerful sound for its size. Offers both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants. Supports AirPlay.

  Cons: Sound can distort at top volumes. No Bluetooth or wired audio connections.

  Bottom Line: The second-generation Sonos One is a versatile wireless speaker with excellent sound quality, support for multi-room audio, and your choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control.

  Read Review

• Bose Home Speaker 300 Review

  
  MSRP: $259.95
  

  Pros: Powerful audio output with rich bass depth and sculpted, crisp highs. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

  Cons: Sometimes distorts on deep bass. Play/Pause can have a minor delay.

  Bottom Line: The Bose Home Speaker 300 offers Alexa and Google Assistant voice control in a small, powerful package.

  Read Review

• Denon Envaya DSB-250BT Review

  
  MSRP: $199.00
  

  Pros: Powerful audio output with rich bass depth and bright highs. Fully waterproof. Solid mic clarity.

  Cons: Not for purists seeking accurate sound signature. No track navigation controls.

  Bottom Line: The Denon Envaya DSB-250BT speaker delivers a strong Bluetooth audio experience in a rugged, waterproof design.

  Read Review

• Fluance Ai60 Review

  
  MSRP: $299.99
  

  Pros: True stereo separation. Includes aux input and optical connections. Output for optional subwoofer.

  Cons: Not for those seeking serious sub-bass (unless you plan to install a subwoofer).

  Bottom Line: The Fluance Ai60 speakers integrate Bluetooth in a traditional bookshelf design that delivers a rich, bright sound signature.

  Read Review

• Urbanears Ralis Review

  
  MSRP: $199.99
  

  Pros: Powerful audio performance with excellent bass depth for its size. Cool, understated design. Comprehensive onboard controls are easy to operate.

  Cons: No speakerphone functionality. Not a sound signature for purists.

  Bottom Line: The wireless Urbanears Ralis speaker delivers excellent value for its price, with bass depth that rivals some much more expensive models.

  Read Review

BestComputer Speakers for MaciMore2019

A great set of speakers can turn your Mac from a squeaking mouse to a roaring lion. While super simple to install, external speakers can make your favorite movies, music, video games, podcasts, and more come to life. But which Mac speakers should you get? I've rounded up some of my favorites, so strap yourself in, hold onto your hats, and ride the waves!

Affordable Bose sound: Bose Companion 2 Series III

Staff Favorite

The Bose Companion 2 Series III gives you the classic, well-balanced sound you would expect from Bose speakers for an affordable price. The low-end tones are warm and consistent and never seem to fight with the high-end sounds. Much like Bose's other computer speakers, the Companion 2 is meant to be simple in every way. Controlled by a single volume knob on the front of the right speaker, it's effortless to set up and start using. Plus, they are quite small and compact, making them perfect for tight spaces.

$99 at Amazon

Stylish and balanced: Bose Companion 20

Bose Companion 20 speakers are simple and stylish. Their sleek metal exteriors — which have no buttons or knobs — give the speakers a sleek aesthetic that will look great beside your Mac. The control pod can be placed closer to you. Even if the speakers are some distance away, you can still start, stop, and adjust them conveniently. The control pod also has an AUX input, allowing you to connect your iPhone, iPad, or any other device to play its audio through the Companion 20.

Best Wireless Speakers For Mac Mini

$249 at Amazon

Highly rated: Audioengine A5+

Audioengine A5+ are small in stature, standing slightly taller than a soft drink can. It has a sleek design with no buttons or knobs on the front; that makes them ideal for tight spaces. On the back, they include standard AUX input and USB, so you can connect your computer the way that works best for you. Plus, they can connect to plain old speaker wires so you can use the Audioengine A5+ to play music from your old stereo if you want.

$400 at Amazon

Decent bass with no sub: M-Audio AV42

The M-Audio AV42 provides fantastic sound quality at a great price. These speakers have two drivers each, a one-inch driver for treble and a four-inch driver for bass. That gives you enough bass to go without a dedicated subwoofer while providing clear and crisp high-end tones. There's also an AUX port on the front, making it convenient to play music right from your iPhone or iPad if you so choose.

$150 at Amazon

Fantastic Bluetooth speakers: Fluance Ai40

If you want the option to go wireless with the sound from your Mac, there is no better bookshelf speaker than the Fluance Ai40. The real beauty of these speakers isn't that they sound amazing out of the box (which they do); it's the ability to customize their sound to your liking that really sets these speakers apart.

Best Wireless Speakers For Mac Laptop

$200 at Amazon

Great value: Logitech Speaker System Z313

The Z313 system comes with a powered subwoofer and two satellite speakers to deliver 25 watts of total power. That's enough to fill your room and then some. While the full range sounds excellent at normal volumes, the highest of the high-end does fall a bit flat and can get pretty tinny at very high volumes. However, fiddling with the equalizer sorts this issue out.

$33 at Amazon

Great connectivity: Edifier Luna Eclipse

These large egg-shaped speakers are perfect to use with your Mac with either a wired or wireless connection — thanks to the addition of Bluetooth — and offer some very impressive sound all controllable from the custom remote. The Edifier Luna Eclipse even has a Digital Optical connection so you could use it with your TV or other home entertainment devices if you choose.

From $178 at Amazon

Unique design: Harman Kardon Soundsticks III

Don't let the bizarre design of the Harman Kardon Soundsticks III fool you; these speakers put out a lot of great sound. The downward-firing subwoofer provides a wonderfully rich bass while the satellite speakers take care of delivering crisp high-end tones. Rather than any remote control or knob, the satellite speakers feature touch volume and mute controls and can be placed at different angles.

$150 at Amazon

Upgrade your sound

Your Mac is going to sound better and be louder if you connect a dedicated set of speakers to it, rather than relying on the internal speakers. Any of these speakers listed above are going to help you turn your Mac up to 11!

It's hard not to love the Bose Companion 2 Series III because they sound great, look great, super easy to set up, and the price tag makes them pretty affordable. If you don't feel you need a dedicated subwoofer taking up some room by your computer, they're an excellent option for any Mac user.

Even though they look a little weird, the Harman Kardon Soundsticks III are perfect for those that prefer a dedicated subwoofer to ensure that your bass and low-end is rich and warm. The touch controls on the satellite speakers are slightly minimal in function, but the sound quality and the price tag makes them a sweet spot for most people.

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