If you've already bought Apple products in the Apple ecosystem, AirPlay is the wireless streaming standard you probably already use. But for that you need speakers: we also have a fantastic AirPlay speaker for you.
AirPlay (and AirPlay speakers) are back in the headlines, with the protocol appearing on more devices, and AirPlay 2, the next generation of Apple's proprietary wireless platform, is now available.
AirPlay 2 turns the streaming standard into a platform suitable for multiple rooms, and even adds Siri integration to speakers that never would have had it before.
To prepare for this impending renaissance of Apple-compatible wireless speakers, here are the best Apple AirPlay speakers on the market.
- Black Friday 2019 is almost here and a number of retailers, including Amazon and Currys in the UK, are already rolling out their Black Friday discounts. We can't guarantee that the best AirPlay speakers below will be on sale, but you're sure to find a good speaker deal before Black Friday if you regularly check out our best Black Friday 2019 deals guide.
The best AirPlay speakers in 2019 at a glance:
The best AirPlay speakers in 2019:
(Image credit: Sonos)
1. SonosOne
Combine the intelligence of Alexa with the sound quality of Sonos.
It is rich and full-bodied.
Combine the best of Alexa and Sonos.
Play music while Alexa is muted
AirPlay 2 support
Google Assistant helper
No Hi-Res Audio support
Sonos One has launched a revolution. It is the first smart speaker that does not allow users to choose between intelligence and sound quality (it has both).
Since this is a Sonos speaker, you won't be surprised to learn that the Sonos One is truly fantastic. Throw Elegie's mouse over the speaker keys and the sound has punch and energy. The song's eardrum... well... it has a kick and feeds the energy of the song. That's an incredible amount of power from such a small speaker.
The speaker even handles more complicated pieces of music wonderfully. Silent Earthling by three trapped tigers has a crisp, clear sound, despite the multiple layers of instruments that flow throughout the song.
Of course, much of what was written above could also have been said about the original version of Play:1 when it was first released in 2013. The real story here is how voice control is integrated - it's just beautifully executed.
If that wasn't enough, the Sonos One received an update earlier this year, which added AirPlay 2 to what was already a winning speaker. Now you can play any sound from any iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer — including YouTube videos and Netflix movies — on Sonos One. You can also ask any Siri-enabled device to control Apple Music on Sonos speakers.
Read the full review: Sonos One Review
(Image credit: Libratone)
2.Libratone Zipp 2
Scandi design meets Amazon Alexa
built-in battery
Wealth of connectivity options
your whole body
Dear
No support for Google Assistant
The app may have bugs
While some devices may outperform the Zipp 2 in terms of fidelity and definition, there's no performance hitch to expect.
Instead, the Zipp 2 manages to achieve an impressive and uncomfortable output level all the way through, without any distortion, but perhaps lacks a bit of mid-low definition to make it the best in its category.
The Danish design philosophy is minor, it doesn't really apply to the Zipp 2 with a connectivity list that will envy most other smart speakers. This makes it virtually platform-independent, allowing it to easily integrate with many existing multi-room designs (people using AirPlay 2-enabled Sonos systems or Apple AirPods seem to be). more likely to benefit from these benefits).
Factor in this, the flexibility of the battery and the resulting sound quality, and you have the smartest multi-currency speaker on the market.
Read the full test here: Libratone Zipp 2 review
Image Credit: Bowers & Wilkins
(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
3. Bowers & Wilkins Training Corners
A pick up corner where the Zeppelin stopped
Unique looks
smart engineering
Great soundstage
Its eminently listenable
Limited connectivity
This may seem more dynamic.
Caro
It will divide people by its looks and exclude some people by its price, but Wedge Training is Bowers & Wilkins doing what it does best, delivering a bold look and a more powerful sound.
Wedge's sound is pervasive, without being vague or off-focus, and the power in place is enough to blast through large rooms. Although the origin of the music is obvious, there is much less of a "sweet spot" that some less powerful wireless speakers don't generate and the Wedge is an enjoyable listening experience no matter where you are.
Bluetooth (aptX HD Bluetooth, among others) is available, as well as Spotify Connect. And of course Apple AirPlay 2.
Read the full review: Bowers & Wilkins Training Wedge Reviews
Best AirPlay speakers: Sonos Beam
(Image credit: Sonos)
4. Sonos Beam
That's the AirPlay soundbar we've been waiting for
Great compact design.
ARC ARC Compliant
Excellent sound
Not Dolby Atmos
If you're looking for an AirPlay speaker capable of streaming music, but also capturing audio from TV, the Sonos Beam is the best option you can buy.
It's a fantastic soundbar for the price, one that takes full advantage of the Sonos and Apple ecosystem, and is a joy to use (and set up, if your TV has HDMI ARC). Its small size means it's a device that will sit comfortably next to a 32-inch TV, but its footprint is enough not to be dwarfed by a much larger set.
If you're an Apple enthusiast looking for extra features (like Amazon Alexa support and the ability to multi-room audio through Sonos products), you can't do better than AirPlay Speaker.
Read the full review: Sonos Beam
Best AirPlay speakers: Naim Mu-so Qb
5. Naim Mu-so Qb
Big sound and stylish looks in a compact AirPlay-enabled package
elegant looks
small form factor
It is full and vibrant
Installation can be painful.
Naim makes some of the most stylish wireless speakers available and the Naim Mu-so Qb, a smaller version of the Mu-so soundbar released in 2014, is no exception.
In simple terms, it's an AirPlay-enabled speaker cube that adds style to almost any room. And yes, these are our words, not Naim's. The cloth grille on the sides is curved and a glass-like acrylic block on the bottom gives the impression that the Qb is floating. (Kind of.)
It also has a percussion control wheel on top and illuminated touch buttons that control playback outside of your phone.
The sound of the Naim Muso Qb is lively, with notable bass for its size and good soundstage separation for a wireless speaker. It uses tilted drivers to make the dispersion as wide and stereo as possible. It's not just an AirPlay speaker: Bluetooth, multi-room with the Naim app, a USB port for direct playback, and a digital jack that lets you connect to your TV or AV receiver.
Performance, portability and versatility? It doesn't get much better than that.
Read the full review: Naim Mu-so Qb
Best AirPlay Speakers: Orbitsound Dock E30
6. Orbitsound Dock E30
A small speaker that uses Airsound magic to fill large rooms
wide sound dispersion
Many lifestyle features
Good rhythm
The Airsound function has problems.
The Orbitsound Dock E30 has many advantages: it is an AirPlay speaker with many additional features. Although it may not match everyone's decor, it does its best to avoid looking like a plastic speaker.
Design highlights include the slot you can rest your tablet or phone in and how you can also wirelessly charge your phone using a Qi panel on top. Check online if your phone supports this standard. If this is not the case, a USB port on the front will allow you to connect your charging cable.
The Orbitsound E30 base also takes a different approach to sound. It uses smart side speakers that separate the ambient parts of a song mix to increase the width of the sound. This can sometimes be confused with some songs, but the sound is usually great for a fairly inconspicuous speaker.
Read the full review: Orbitsound Dock E30
Best AirPlay Speaker: Riva Arena
7. Sand Riva
A flexible AirPlay-compatible speaker, but that makes big compromises
Excellent sound quality
Splash resistant
More flexible with Android than iOS
expensive battery
The Riva Arena is as close as you can get to a Sonos One with AirPlay on board. At this point, sound quality is the best feature here.
Like other Riva loudspeakers, the Arena has been specially designed to make vocals appear textured and warm. It doesn't throw off as wide a soundscape as some, but it can pair two arenas together, like smart library speakers.
It's also a speaker that wants to let you plug in anything. It has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi/AirPlay, and Spotify Connect too. A 3.5mm auxiliary input on the back allows input from other peripherals.
There's no battery on the stock Arena, but you can buy a battery that mounts to the bottom for 20 hours of use without an adapter. However, it is not cheap. And that's Arena's problem: no game screams of value.
It's more expensive than the Sonos One, which may be less flexible without Apple AirPlay, but it makes up for it with voice assistant support.
Read the full review: Riva Arena
Best AirPlay speaker: Apple HomePod
8.Apple HomePod
Excelent sound. Excellent AirPlay support. so smart speaker
Incredible sound quality
Attractive and discreet design.
Apple Music subscription required
No Bluetooth streaming
Apple's official AirPlay and Siri speaker is the HomePod.
As you'd expect from Apple, it's one of the most impressive wireless speakers ever built. It measures just 142mm in diameter and 170mm in height, but has seven tweeters and a 4-inch woofer/bass driver.
This array delivers not only 360-degree sound, but also incredibly deep bass for its size, hitting the kind of frequencies many wireless speakers don't touch. It is without a doubt the best sounding wireless speaker of its size.
It looks good too. A seamless fabric grille covers most of its exterior, and there's a small screen on top that comes to life when you interact with Siri.
On the streaming side, the HomePod doesn't have Bluetooth and doesn't work with Android phones. And while it does have control over vocals that most other speakers here lack, it only works on Apple Music, not Spotify. If you don't mind being locked into the Apple ecosystem for the rest of your life, consider the HomePod as the best option.
Read the full review: Apple HomePod
Best AirPlay Speaker: Libratone Zipp
9. Libratone Zipp
A great speaker for the house that you can also take with you
WiFi and Bluetooth support
It is clear and balanced
Short battery life
Buggy smartphone software
The Zipp Libratone is one of the few good AirPlay battery-powered speakers, in part because Wi-Fi (which powers AirPlay) uses more battery power than Bluetooth. It lasts up to 10 hours between charges, making it a decent option if you want to take your AirPlay show on the go.
And Zipp Party isn't just a cutely designed gag: unzip the zipper so you can remove the fleece cover and replace it with another.
Sound is excellent for a relatively small battery-powered speaker. It has enough bass punch to vibrate nearby objects and gets very loud without tilting the sound towards one end of the audio spectrum.
You may not have initially thought you needed a portable AirPlay speaker, but being able to move the Zipp from the living room to the kitchen is a big plus. And you avoid having to buy an entire multi-room setup. Libratone offers less-than-remarkable multi-room control via the app, if you like.
Read the full review: Libratone Zipp