David Bridges
For those who’re trying to fill your life with extra sound, there’s nothing like a superb speaker. After thorough testing, now we have a dependable checklist of the perfect audio system you should purchase in 2024. Our checklist consists of every part from $60 transportable ones to $450 lounge audio system. It additionally covers a wide range of use instances — from music manufacturing to straightforward listening within the bathe.
The editorial workers of Gizmodo independently assessments and opinions every product present in our Purchaser’s Guides. If you buy one thing utilizing our affiliate hyperlinks, G/O Media could earn a fee. Affiliate linking doesn’t affect our editorial content material.
Finest Transportable Audio system — Sonos Roam
For those who’re new to Sonos and not sure about committing to this dear speaker ecosystem, I’d say the Roam is the best choice to see if the entire Sonos factor is your vibe. The $169 Roam would be the least expensive Sonos speaker. Not solely is it comparatively reasonably priced, however even when the good options aren’t your jam, at the least you continue to have a terrific transportable Bluetooth speaker.
At 6.6 inches lengthy and a pair of.4 inches broad, the Roam is sufficiently small to slot in your hand simply. Its triangular form and matte end additionally really feel pure whenever you’re toting it round. It weighs in at barely lower than a pound, which feels substantial sufficient in your grip, however it’s not so heavy that you just’re tempted to depart it at residence. Once you’re not shifting round, you’ll be able to stack it both vertically to save lots of room or horizontally for extra stability.
When it comes to sturdiness, the Roam is rated IP67 for mud and water resistance. I caught it in a bowl of water for half-hour, and whereas it sprayed water throughout my kitchen counter, it nonetheless labored afterward. It’ll be positive in the event you get caught in a downpour or by chance knock it right into a pool. Simply don’t dilly dally when retrieving it. Learn Extra — Victoria Track
Finest Finances Audio system — Sony SRS-XB13
The factors for transportable Bluetooth audio system usually are not difficult. They’ve bought to be straightforward to hold, sound first rate, and never get trashed if in case you have butterfingers or get caught within the rain. The Sony SRS-XB13 ticks off all these containers. It’s not with out flaws, and also you’ll must compromise. However contemplating it’s solely $60? It’s straightforward to forgive its shortcomings.
The XB13 is truly transportable. It’s a tiny, squat lil man, measuring 3.43 by 3.43 by 4.41 inches. In-person, the speaker is means tinier than I assumed it might be when Sony initially despatched over the official photos. It additionally weighs a mere 11.7 ounces, which is noticeably lighter than the Sonos Roam (15 ounces). It additionally has a detachable strap so you’ll be able to simply hook it onto a bag or off a tree department—no matter, I’m not judging. Additionally, it matches in a cup holder for street journeys!
It has an IP67 ranking and didn’t die once I purposefully dropped it right into a pool. So there’s that. Lengthy story quick, this speaker is right in the event you’re on a funds, spend a number of time exterior, or are significantly clumsy. Learn Extra — Victoria Track
Finest Sensible Lounge Audio system — JBL Authentics 300
Contemplating that is the first-ever speaker to function each Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s in all probability the neatest speaker you will get your fingers on. Not solely does it function each assistants, it does it extremely nicely. It’s spectacular how seamlessly the Authentics 300 manages to juggle each whereas some audio system battle to get even a single assistant to work flawlessly.
This speaker is attractive and justifies its $450 price ticket. You get a premium leather-coated physique with delicate golden accents on the entrance. There’s additionally a useful deal with for simple portability. Although, at round 11 lbs, it’s higher suited as a lounge speaker that lives in a single place. It lasts round 8 hours on a full cost, although, so in the event you ever want to maneuver it for an occasion briefly, you are able to do that with out having an unsightly cable protruding of it.
This speaker means it when it claims that it’ll fill your area with music. Its sound carries immense energy and is all the time greater than sufficient for my two-bedroom residence. It by no means sounds muddy, even at increased volumes, and retains that power no matter how a lot strain you place it in.
I saved the perfect for the final. You may (low-key) DJ on this by tweaking your music in actual time. Due to a pair of big bass and Treble dials on the highest of this speaker, you’ll be able to customise precisely how a lot high and low finish you need and on which observe. My pals and I typically prefer to continuously mess around with them throughout tracks for a enjoyable and hands-on listening expertise. I can promise you that the dials work and aren’t only a advertising and marketing gimmick. In truth, maxing out the bass will make your complete flooring vibrate.
Finest Studio Audio system — Pioneer DJ VM-80
These audio system scream that they’re studio screens. They’ve an 8-inch woofer and customary tweeter ensconced inside an uncommon oval cone that works to form the sound. Bass response is superb and the ensuing stereo projection of getting two of those in a detailed place to your mixing desk or laptop is superb. They’re huge at 15.5 inches excessive and 13 inches deep and weigh a hefty 21.38 lb.
I examined it utilizing quite a few track genres, from techno to jazz. Enjoying these songs via the VM-80 was like working a DJ sales space in my attic workplace. I had glorious replica via most quantity ranges, and even at max quantity, the sound wasn’t muddy or confused. Learn Extra — John Biggs
Finest Speaker for Apple Households — Sonos Period 300
The Sonos Period 300 is a powerful speaker, even at its eye-popping worth level. However don’t give it some thought except you’re in an Apple-dominant family.
It has one forward-firing tweeter routed via what the corporate calls a “customized waveguide” and one tweeter firing upward in order that sound bounces off the ceiling. There are additionally two side-firing tweeters, one on all sides, plus two woofers beneath these. I used to be impressed by the speaker’s means to thump via deep bass whereas listening to techno with the quantity up excessive.
I in contrast the Sonos Period 300 to the discontinued Google Dwelling Max. I additionally listened to it in opposition to the second-gen Apple HomePod, which isn’t as loud because the Period 300, although it has related specs (5 tweeters and one woofer vs 4 tweeters and two woofers). In virtually all instances, I most well-liked the way in which the Period 300 sounded to the growing older Dwelling Max and the second-gen HomePod.
However with no Google Forged integration, this speaker doesn’t make a number of sense in a Google-led family. I must rebuild my complete good ecosystem to combine the Sonos Period 300—and even then, it might solely work with the few AirPlay-capable gadgets reasonably than the mass of Google forged gadgets I’ve all through my abode. Learn Extra — Florence Ion
Finest Bathe Audio system — Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wi-fi Speaker
Suppose you’re keen to splurge just a bit bit or can cut up the price with roommates/a major different. In that case, the Kohler Moxie is definitely a handy option to get a nicer showerhead and a superb high quality bathe speaker in a single simply put in package deal.
Initially, I used to be nervous about set up, however it was really easy that even a disaster-prone klutz might do it. All you need to do is unscrew your present showerhead and screw this one on. That’s it!
The speaker’s sound high quality was additionally fairly good, which, on reflection, shouldn’t have been tremendous shocking because it’s the results of a partnership with Harman Kardon. As soon as I enabled Amazon Alexa, asking Alexa to play a sure artist or playlist was very straightforward. Typically, it struggled with much less widespread names, however for essentially the most half, Alexa bought the job finished. It was additionally good that I might ask what occasions had been on my calendar or go for just a little information replace.
Nonetheless, if it creeps you out that some Amazon stooge is listening to you within the bathe, know you should utilize this speaker with out ever enabling Alexa. Learn Extra — Victoria Track
This checklist is up to date often with new suggestions and product forecasts.
Need extra of Gizmodo’s newest shopper electronics picks? Take a look at our guides to the finest laptops, finest TVs, and finest headphones. If you wish to study in regards to the subsequent huge factor, see our information to every part we all know in regards to the iPhone 16.
