The 14 Best Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speakers

Wharfedale DS-2

One of the best speakers under $200, the Wharfedale DS-2 are compact Bluetooth speakers that will have no problem fitting on your small desk. But despite their size, they deliver excellent sound quality for the price, with good bass performance. They support aptX wireless technology for superior wireless output when paired with compatible devices.

Featuring a well-built cabinet with a leatherette finish, the Wharfedale DS-2 are being offered in black and white color options. The master speaker (the right unit) includes a basic control panel on the side, which includes the volume control and the Bluetooth pairing button. Manually setting up the Bluetooth connection is straightforward. The power switch is at the back of the unit, with a lone indicator light out front for the power.

If you want to switch to a wired connection, there is also a standard 3.5-millimeter audio input port. But instead of at the back like with most speakers, the port is on the side, located in the aforementioned control panel. While they are not the most suitable for house parties, the Wharfedale DS-2 are excellent wireless speakers overall, offering good value for the money. Getting them can be difficult for those living stateside, though, as they are not always available at popular online stores.

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Marshall Kilburn II

England-based Marshall offers a good selection of wireless speakers, from large speakers for home use to portable speakers. If you are interested in the best hi-fi speakers but prefer a travel-friendly unit, check out the Marshall Kilburn II, which sells for less than $300. It’s a compact Bluetooth speaker with long battery life and aptX support.

The Marshall Kilburn II features a durable cabinet, with a sturdy metal grille covering the drivers and corner caps for added protection against bumps and minor falls. It has IPX2 protection, which means it offers basic water resistance. It’s not as impressive as that of other portable speakers such as the JBL Charge 4 and the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3, but it’s better than not having any form of water protection at all.

Capable of connecting with two devices at once with easy switching between them, the Marshall Kilburn II has good sound quality for portable speakers. As mentioned, it has a long battery life, boasting more than 20 hours of playtime on a single charge. The battery charges fast as well, with a 20-minute charge giving you two hours of playtime. The controls – which include separate knobs for the volume, bass, and treble – are on the top panel, along with the battery indicator.

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Fender Monterey

If you are a big fan of old-school audio equipment, check out the Fender Monterey. It’s inspired by classic Fender amplifiers, featuring a classic look complete with witch hat knobs and an amp jewel. The protective grille – which covers a quad-driver system composed of two woofers and two tweeters – also has that classic look. You can get this Bluetooth speaker for about the same price as the Marshall Kilburn II, but unlike the Marshall speaker, it’s not designed to be portable.

The Fender Monterey is very easy to set up and connect to a compatible Bluetooth device. Like the other products on this list, it supports aptX wireless technology. The control panel is on the top side while the power connector is at the back. The unit includes separate control knobs for the volume, bass, and treble. In addition to the 3.5-millimeter audio input port, the Fender Monterey also features RCA ports at the back, giving you more connectivity options. There is also a built-in microphone with echo cancellation, which is beneficial for some people.

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Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2

The Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 are versatile wireless speakers suitable for streaming music from your smartphone or computer and boosting your TV audio. They are compact speakers, with each unit measuring around 6.7 inches tall and 5.1 inches wide. You can choose between rich walnut veneer and soft gray lacquer finishes, both of which will look great right next to your computer or TV.

Compatible with voice-controlled devices such as the Amazon Echo Dot, the Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 are well-designed speakers with a simple control panel on the right speaker. Instead of on the side, the control panel is at the top. If you want to control things from afar, there is a basic remote control included in the package, which is convenient. In addition to the Bluetooth connectivity, the Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 also includes wired connection options, featuring both analog and digital input options, along with an output port for an active subwoofer.

While not primarily designed as portable speakers, the Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2 – which support aptX wireless technology – can be converted into travel speakers running on battery power. You can pack the master speaker for travel and use it in mono mode. But you’ll need to purchase the optional battery pack – called the “BackPack II” – to complete the portable setup. The battery pack offers up to 12 hours of playtime. The unit also has a power-saving functionality, automatically switching to standby mode when inactive for a few minutes.

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Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17

If rugged, tube-shaped portable Bluetooth speakers like the JBL Charge 4 are not your cup of tea, check out the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17, which looks more like a lunchbox than a speaker system. It’s a high-end portable speaker selling for almost $500, but it’s definitely worth the money, especially with its excellent sound quality. There are three color options for this product: Stone Grey, Pink, and Natural, with the latter being the only one with a carry handle in a contrasting color.

Made of high-quality materials inside and out, the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17 looks and feels like a premium product. The control panel, composed of five buttons including the customizable “Connect” button, is on the roof. The top has a concave design, which means you can safely place your smartphone on it without worrying about it slipping out while on the move. The USB-C charging port and the 3.5-millimeter audio input port, on the other hand, are located at the bottom of the unit.

This omnidirectional speaker includes one full-range driver, two passive bass radiators, and three tweeters. It can last up to 24 hours on a single charge, which is very impressive, with a full charge taking only two and a half hours. While not as ruggedly protected as some portable Bluetooth speakers, the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17 is an excellent option if you want accurate sound reproduction in a mobile form.

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Klipsch The Three

One of the Klipsch Heritage Wireless sound systems, the Klipsch The Three is a gorgeous speaker with a cabinet made of real wood veneer (walnut or ebony). It’s a versatile speaker, featuring multiple wired and wireless connection options. It supports aptX wireless technology and works with Amazon Alexa devices. The product listed here is the original Klipsch The Three released in 2016. The newer 2019 model, which sells for a similar price, is less versatile and does not support aptX.

Measuring around 13.7 inches wide and 7 inches tall, the Klipsch The Three is an excellent tabletop speaker for different devices. You can connect to it using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is notable since many wireless speakers only include one of the two. There are a number of ports at the back. For analog input, there are RCA and 3.5-millimeter audio input ports. For digital, there is a USB-B port (the USB-A port is just a service port and can’t be used to play music from a USB thumb drive).

The controls are on the top panel. The copper toggle switch and knobs don’t feel flimsy while the indicator lights are convenient. Overall, the Klipsch The Three is one of the best hi-fi Bluetooth speakers out on the market, combining elegant design with great sound quality. You can use it as a standalone unit or as part of a multi-room sound system together with other compatible Klipsch wireless audio systems.

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DALI Katch

The DALI Katch is another great option if you are in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker that can last an entire day. Like the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17, it comes from a Danish company and sells for almost $500, which is a tough pill to swallow for most consumers. There are different color options for the unit – including Jet Black, Grape Leaf, and Cloud Gray – allowing you to get something that matches well with your personal style.

Encased in a sturdy frame, the DALI Katch is easier to pack than the Bang & Olufsen Beolit 17, due in large part to its slimmer profile – it measures just 1.9 inches thin. It has a leather carry handle on the left side and covered connection ports on the other side. The physical ports include a 3.5-millimeter audio input port for a wired connection and a USB-A output port for charging your smartphone. The built-in battery can last up to 24 hours on a single charge under normal volume levels. The battery charges fast, fully loading up in just two hours.

Located on the top panel, the controls are straightforward. The Bluetooth pairing button can be used for quickly switching between wired and wireless connections if there is a device connected to the analog port. Meanwhile, the button to the far right (the one with the equalizer icon) is for switching between the two sound profiles. If you can pop around $500 for a high-end portable speaker, the DALI Katch is worth looking into. It can easily fill a medium-sized room with music and features NFC pairing for seamless wireless connectivity.

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Marshall Woburn II

You can think of the Marshall Woburn II as a larger and less portable version of the Marshall Kilburn II, which sells for around $200 less. It has the same textured vinyl cover (minus the corner caps) and offers a similar set of wireless features – including aptX support. While it can’t connect using Wi-Fi, the speaker can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, with easy switching between the input sources, provided the devices are within 30 feet.

The wooden cabinet is well-built, with no hints of Marshall cutting corners in the design. The top panel houses the controls, along with the 3.5-millimeter audio input port. There are separate knobs for the volume, bass, and treble, with tiny red lights to indicate the level instead of the usual numbers. If you want to change the settings from afar, you can use the Marshall Bluetooth app. The Marshall Woburn II also includes RCA analog connectors, which are not found on the Marshall Kilburn II.

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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin

Of the products listed here, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin easily stands out due to its sleek oval frame. Inside the fancy enclosure is a five-driver system composed of two 1-inch double dome tweeters, two 3.5-inch mid-range drivers, and one 6-inch subwoofer. It’s one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers out there, but it’s far from the most affordable, selling for around $600-700.

Featuring Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect support, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin has a minimalist cabinet with very few physical buttons. The volume control and play/pause buttons are on the top side while the power button and physical ports are at the base. The ports include an Ethernet port for connecting to your home network and a standard 3.5-millimeter audio input port. There is a USB port, but it’s for software updates only. You can also connect using Wi-Fi, but there is no option to connect to other units for a multi-room setup.

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin also has a discreet control panel out front in the form of a small plate protruding from the bottom of the unit (the one with the “Bowers & Wilkins” text). The touch-sensitive plate can be used for switching between input sources by tapping either side. Setting up the unit with a wireless connection is very easy, whether you are using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

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Naim Mu-so Qb

The Naim Mu-so Qb is a compact Bluetooth speaker that packs a punch, offering great sound quality and a host of wireless features. It supports aptX wireless technology, Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal and can also connect to a home network using either Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. It offers multiple connection options – both wired and wireless – and can connect with other units to form a multi-room sound system. It’s not the most affordable Bluetooth speaker, though, which isn’t really surprising considering UK-based Naim Audio is known for its high-end audio systems.

Unlike the larger (and more expensive) Naim Mu-so, the Naim Mu-so Qb is cube-shaped, but it has the same minimalist design. The controls are at the top of the unit, with the large dial serving as the volume control. The dial’s top is a touch-sensitive control panel with illuminated icons. You can manage the playback and input sources on the control panel, with the Naim app being an alternative if you want to control things from afar. For non-wireless input, this multi-room speaker has both analog and digital ports, along with a USB-A port, all of which are located at the bottom of the unit.

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KEF LSX

If you can spend about a grand on bookshelf speakers, consider the KEF LSX. They are high-end speakers with premium construction and outstanding sound quality, which makes them well worth the money. They are compatible with Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal and support aptX wireless technology.

Available in different colors – including black, red, and blue – the KEF LSX are luxuriously designed bookshelf speakers. Along with the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing buttons, all physical ports are at the back of the master speaker. The ports include analog and digital input, Ethernet, USB output, and a subwoofer output, along with the power connector.

You can control the speakers using the KEF app, but the app is decent at best, with many other wireless speaker apps offering a better experience. There is also a basic remote control included in the package, but unlike the speakers themselves, the remote control feels cheaply implemented. Overall, the KEF LSX are fantastic wireless speakers. The only things keeping them from being perfect are the subpar app and the unimpressive remote control.

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Devialet Classic Phantom

Like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin, the Devialet Classic Phantom is a one-piece sound system that easily stands out due to its frame design. But compared to the oval-shaped Bowers & Wilkins speaker, it looks more futuristic. It’s also a lot more expensive, selling for almost triple the price, which is an eye-popping amount for a one-piece wireless speaker.

Compatible with Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect, the Devialet Classic Phantom can establish a wireless connection using either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You can connect multiple units for a multi-room sound system. But for that kind of setup, you’ll need to purchase the Devialet Dialog, an optional connection hub for Devialet Phantom speakers. If you want a stereo speaker system, you’ll need to spend at least $3,000, with the total price being much higher if you opt for the more powerful Silver and Gold Phantom models.

While the Devialet Classic Phantom appears to be travel-friendly due to its form factor, it’s not a recommended speaker for travel. It’s on the heavy side, weighing around 28 pounds, not to mention its odd shape can make it difficult to pack. If you want a more portable hi-fi wireless speaker, there are much better options on this list.

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KEF LS50 Wireless

The big brother of the KEF LSX, the KEF LS50 Wireless are outstanding Bluetooth speakers, boasting excellent sound quality and seamless wireless connectivity. They are compatible with Spotify and Tidal and can connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. While they are extremely expensive speakers, the KEF LS50 Wireless are some of the best wireless bookshelf speakers out there and are recommended for audiophiles.

In appearance, the KEF LS50 Wireless are similar to the KEF LSX. There is a touch-sensitive control panel at the top of the master speaker, with an indicator for the input source. Speaking of which, these wireless speakers offer a good selection of both wired and wireless input options for versatility. The physical ports at the back include RCA analog connectors, an optical port, a USB port for computers, and an Ethernet port. There is also an output port for a subwoofer and a USB port for firmware updates.

Like the KEF LSX, the KEF LS50 Wireless out-of-box setup is not as straightforward as you might hope. You need to download and install not one but two KEF apps – the KEF Control and the KEF Stream – before you can start playing music from Spotify and Tidal. But outside of the initial setup minor issue, there are no other notable downsides to these high-end wireless speakers (not counting the expensive price).

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Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo

A part of the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Suite, the Formation Duo are high-end wireless speakers selling for around $4,000 per pair. They are sophisticated-looking speakers built with premium materials and offering fantastic sound quality. They can connect using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and are compatible with Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, and Roon.

The Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo wireless speakers don’t include a full-fledged onboard control panel like most of the best hi-fi Bluetooth speakers on this list; there are only basic playback buttons out front. And while Bowers & Wilkins offers an app for the Formation Suite, the app is subpar, with limited options.

Regarding wired connection options, the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo are also limited, only offering an Ethernet port for connecting to your home network. While there is also a USB port, it’s meant for software updates only. On the plus side, the speakers synchronize seamlessly with other products in the Formation Suite, which is great for a multi-room sound system.

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