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If you're a fan of Apple's eccentric ecosystem, we've got some good news: AirPlay is back in the headlines.
Sure, the feature became a side note as people started to care more about Sonos, Spotify Connect and Google Cast, but the Cupertino-based hardware and software maker is ready to make some waves. How so Apple is about to release AirPlay 2 - the next generation of its cutting-edge proprietary wireless platform. AirPlay 2 turns the streaming standard into a proper multi-room platform - that even Sonos itself plans to integrate into its Play:1, Sonos One and Play:5 speakers.To prepare you for the world of Apple-friendly wireless speakers that's about to enter a renaissance, here are the best Apple AirPlay speakers on the market.
1.
Naim Mu-so QbBig sound and stylish looks in a petite AirPlay-ready packageStylish looksSmall form factor Full and vibrant soundSetup can be painfulNaim 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 simplest terms, it’s a speaker cube that adds style to just about any room.
And yes, these are our words, not Naim’s.
The fabric grille on its sides is curved and a glass-like acrylic block at its bottom makes the Qb look like it’s floating.
(Sort of.)It also has a striking control wheel up top, and lit touch buttons that control playback away from your phone. The Naim Muso Qb sound is lively, with great bass for its size, and good soundstage separation for a wireless speaker.
It uses tilted drivers to make dispersal as wide and stereo-like as possible.
This isn’t just an AirPlay speaker, either: It has Bluetooth, multi-room using the Naim app, a USB port for direct playback and a digital connector that lets you plug in your TV or AV receiver.
Performance, portability and versatility It doesn't get much better than this.Read the full review:Naim Mu-so Qb2.
Orbitsound Dock E30A small speaker that uses Airsound magic to fill larger roomsWide sound dispersal Lots of lifestyle features Good looks Airsound feature has issuesThe Orbitsound Dock E30 has a lot going for it: This is a speaker with quite a few extra features, and while it might not match everyone's home decor, it certainly tries its best to avoid looking like a plain plastic speaker. Some highlights of the design are the groove in which you can rest your tablet or phone and you can also wirelessly charge your phone using a Qi panel on the top.
Check online to see if your phone supports this standard.
It doesn’t There’s also a USB port on the front to let you plug-in your charge cable. The Orbitsound Dock E30 has a different approach to sound too.
It uses clever side-firing speakers that separate out the ambient parts of a song’s mix to increase the width of the sound.
This occasionally gets confused with some songs but for the most part the sound is great for a fairly low-profile speaker. Read the full review:Orbitsound Dock E303.
Riva ArenaA flexible AirPlay-capable speaker, but one that makes some big compromisesExcellent sound quality Splash-proofMore flexible with Android than iOS Expensive battery packThe Riva Arena is about as close as you can get to a Sonos One with AirPlay on-board.
To that point, sound quality is the best feature here. Like other Riva speakers, the Arena has carefully crafted mids that make vocals sound well-textured and warm.
It doesn’t throw out as wide a soundstage as some, but you can pair two Arenas together, like smart bookshelf speakers. This is also a speaker that wants to let you connect anything.
It has Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi/AirPlay, and Spotify Connect too.
A 3.5mm aux input on the back lets other devices get involved. There’s no battery in the Arena as standard, but you can buy a battery pack that slots onto the bottom for 20 hours of adapter-free use.
It’s not cheap, though.
And that’s the issue with the Arena: no part of it screams value. It’s more expensive than the Sonos One, which may be less flexible without Apple AirPlay, but makes up for it with voice assistant support. Read the full review:Riva Arena4.
Apple HomePodSuperb sound.
Excellent AirPlay support.
So-so smart speakerAmazing sound quality Attractive, understated designApple Music subscription required No Bluetooth streamingApple’s official AirPlay and Siri speaker is the HomePod. As you might expect from Apple, it’s one of the most impressively engineered wireless speakers ever.
It’s only 142mm in diameter and 170mm tall, but is home to seven tweeters and one 4-inch woofer/bass driver. This array delivers not just 360-degree sound but incredibly deep bass for its size, reaching down to the kind of frequencies many wireless speakers don’t touch.
It is almost certainly 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 neat little display on the top that animates as you interact with Siri. On the debit side, the HomePod doesn’t have Bluetooth and doesn’t work with Android phones.
And while it has the voice control most other speakers here lack, it only works with Apple Music, not Spotify.
If you don't mind being locked in to Apple's ecosystem for the rest of time, consider the HomePod the best option out there.Read the full review:Apple HomePod5.
Libratone ZippAn excellent sounding home speaker you can also take on the goWi-Fi and Bluetooth support Balanced and clear soundShort battery life Buggy smartphone softwareThe Libratone Zipp is one of the few good battery-powered AirPlay speakers, in part because Wi-Fi (which powers AirPlay) sucks more battery than Bluetooth.
It lasts for up to 10 hours between charges, making it a decent pick if you're looking to take your AirPlay powered show on the road. And the zip part isn’t just a cute design gag.
Unzip the zipper and you can remove the wool cover and replace it with a different one. Sound is great for a relatively small, battery powered speaker, too.
It has enough bass power to make nearby objects rattle and goes very loud without tilting the sound toward one end of the audio spectrum or the other. You might not initially think you need a portable AirPlay speaker, but being able to move the Zipp from the living room to the kitchen is a big plus.
And stops you from having to buy a full multi-room setup.
Libratone does offer multi-room control through the less-than-stellar app, if you feel up to the challenge. Read the full review:Libratone Zipp6.
BO BeoPlay M3A sleek and simple multi-room, AirPlay-capable speakerSpotify Connect, Google Cast, AirPlay and Bluetooth supportMono onlyIf you want an AirPlay speaker that will fit into a bookshelf or even a bedside table, the BO BeoPlay M3 is worth considering.
It's the entry-level model in BO’s multi-room speaker series and despite its small stature, is fully loaded.Take the drivers, for instance.
It packs both a 3.75-inch bass driver and a 0.75-inch tweeter, instead of doing the clever driver-juggling some others use to squeeze stereo sound out of a small box.
As such, though, sound is quite directional so you’ll need to position the BeoPlay M3 carefully. Overall, though, this speaker sounds good, capable of pushing room-filling audio with a fair amount of presence and attack.
The bass level does drop a bit at higher volumes but keep it at low to mid volume levels and you'll be fine. Like other BeoPlay speakers, the M3 is not killer value and is in the same league as the cheaper Sonos Play:1.
However, it does have AirPlay and looks great.
And sounding just a little better than the Play:1 is no insult.Read the full review:BO BeoPlay M3QvdFezUpPVCCNDNpdkBAf6.jpg#
