
Your iPhone is a superb machine for listening to music, particularly when paired with a decent set of headphones. Nevertheless, there are some occasions while you simply need to flip up the amount and take heed to your music out loud. That is when an AirPlay-compatible speaker may be simply what you want.

What is Apple’s AirPlay? Your complete guide
Apple’s AirPlay can rapidly solid audio and visible content material, and it is out there on most units. Here is the way it works and the best way to make it give you the results you want.
Apple’s AirPlay system lets you wirelessly stream music from an Apple machine equivalent to your iPhone or your Mac to a appropriate speaker. You possibly can nonetheless management the music out of your Apple machine, however you get to benefit from the superior sound high quality that your speaker can supply.
When you take pleasure in listening to your music or podcasts out loud, then there are many nice AirPlay-compatible audio system on the market to select from. How do you discover the appropriate one to your wants? We check out a few of the finest AirPlay-compatible audio system on the market proper now, that can assist you make an knowledgeable alternative.
Finest AirPlay-compatible audio system: Our high decisions

Apple HomePod mini
1. Finest Airplay-compatible speaker general
Nice sound and ideal Apple integration at an honest worth.
When Apple first launched the primary HomePod, it was priced out of the attain of many customers. The HomePod mini introduced the speaker we thought we would be getting, with first rate sound at an inexpensive worth. The combination with different Apple units is seamless.
- Good sound for its dimension
- Nice worth
- Seamless integration with Apple units
- Not supreme for greater rooms
- Does not match the sound high quality of the HomePod
AirPlay was designed to let your Apple units work with any AirPlay-compatible units, but it surely’s no shock that the expertise works finest with one in every of Apple’s personal wi-fi audio system. The HomePod mini is the perfect companion to your different Apple gear, with intelligent options equivalent to the power to start out enjoying music in your iPhone, after which transfer that music to the HomePod mini simply by holding your iPhone subsequent to it.
The sound high quality is excellent too, contemplating the scale and worth of the speaker. It provides a 360-degree sound area, which isn’t shocking given its form, and you may mix two HomePod minis to create a stereo pair. When you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem, then a HomePod mini is a superb alternative of AirPlay-compatible speaker, permitting to you stream out of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or simply stream straight from the speaker itself.

Apple HomePod 2
2. Finest Airplay-compatible speaker for Apple integration
Very good sound high quality that works seamlessly together with your Apple gear.
The unique HomePod was designed to sound unbelievable, and the second-generation mannequin would not shirk from these roots. The sound high quality is spectacular and may fill a decent-sized room. When you’re an Apple consumer, it is an incredible match.
- Glorious sound high quality
- Can fill a bigger room than the HomePod mini
- Easy integration with Apple units
- Dearer
- Siri not the most effective voice assistant
If you’d like all of the compatibility of the HomePod mini, however with even higher sound high quality, then the HomePod (2nd generation) might be what you want. It is loads greater than the HomePod mini (clearly) being greater than twice the peak, and just a little wider, too. It is also a extra cylindrical form than the largely spherical HomePod mini. All that additional actual property implies that the HomePod (2nd technology) can supply really nice sound. The truth is, we have discovered it to be one of many best-sounding good audio system on the market.
Similar to the HomePod mini, the second-generation HomePod works seamlessly together with your different Apple units, too. In addition to supporting AirPlay out of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the HomePod (2nd technology) has Siri inbuilt. When you’ve got your iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod all in shut proximity, saying “Hey Siri” will get a response from the HomePod, whereas Siri in your different units will maintain quiet, so you are not speaking to 4 variations of Siri directly.

Sonos Period 300
3. Finest airplay-compatible speaker for spatial audio
A novel speaker that provides spectacular spatial audio.
Spatial audio can provide the impression of being immersed inside a soundscape, with the completely different devices positioned throughout you. The Sonos Period 300 manages to create this impact from a single speaker, which is the explanation for its uncommon design.
- Spectacular spatial audio from a single speaker
- Nice Sonos sound high quality
- Works properly as a part of a multi-speaker system
- Dearer
- Distinctive seems will not be to all tastes
The Sonos Era 300 is essentially the most unusual-looking speaker on this listing, with its distinctive design that appears like two audio system have been glued collectively. The unusual form is for an excellent cause, nonetheless; it permits the Sonos Period 300 to generate spatial audio from a single speaker. There are six drivers inside to push the audio to all areas of the room and provide you with a way more immersive expertise. The outcomes are spectacular, producing a soundstage that sounds vast and wealthy.
As with all Sonos audio system, the AirPlay compatibility is superb. You possibly can rapidly choose the Sonos Period 300 as your output supply to your music out of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, permitting you to benefit from the music or audio you are streaming in spectacular sound high quality. It even outguns the HomePod (2nd technology), giving a fuller sound with extra backside finish.

Sonos Period 100
4. Finest worth Sonos Airplay appropriate speaker
A fantastic Sonos speaker at an affordable worth level.
Sonos has a confirmed observe document for audio system of this dimension, and the Sonos Period 100 is the most effective one to this point. It improves upon its predecessors by including stereo sound, line-in help, and higher sound high quality. It really works properly as a rear encompass speaker, too.
- Nice sound high quality
- Improves upon the wonderful Sonos One
- Provides wired connections
- Not an enormous improve should you personal a Sonos One
- No Google Assistant baked in
If you’d like the audio high quality that Sonos is legendary for, however do not need to splash out for the costlier Sonos Period 300, then the Sonos Era 100 is price a glance. It is the most recent in a protracted line of wonderful equally sized audio system from Sonos that features the unique Play:1 and the newer Sonos One. The Sonos Period 100 makes some enhancements on the already wonderful Sonos One, equivalent to improved sound high quality because of the marginally bigger dimension, additional tweeter, and bigger mid-woofer. There’s additionally a USB-C aux port for direct connection to a turntable, pc, or different machine, though you may want an adapter.
In addition to utilizing the aux port, the Sonos Period 100 helps Bluetooth streaming, and, in fact, AirPlay 2, permitting you to stream your music straight out of your Apple machine to your Sonos Period 100. You may as well arrange two Sonos Period 100 audio system as a stereo pair, and even use them as rear audio system for a encompass sound setup.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (2021)
5. Finest AirPlay appropriate speaker for bigger rooms
An announcement speaker that boasts spectacular sound high quality.
$704 $799 Save $95
A remake of an iconic iPod dock, the Zeppelin is a speaker with a whole lot of energy and spectacular sound high quality. You may want a good quantity of room for it, however it could possibly simply fill bigger rooms with stereo audio.
- Room-filling sound
- Broad stereo
- Traditional look
- Wants a whole lot of area
- No wired inputs
The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin is tough to overlook. Not solely does it have an iconic zeppelin-shaped design, but it surely’s additionally a reasonably first rate dimension too, at 65cm vast. The unique Zeppelin speaker was launched in 2007 as an iPod dock, permitting you to take pleasure in music out of your iPod in high-quality sound. This up to date model does the identical to your units, letting you wirelessly stream your favourite tunes by a speaker that may do the music justice.
The truth is, wi-fi streaming is your solely possibility as there isn’t any possibility to make use of a wired supply in any respect. AirPlay 2 help, nonetheless, implies that this is not an enormous downside. The sound high quality is attractive, with highly effective bass and a large stereo soundstage. It is also a lot loud sufficient, too, with 240W complete amplified energy output. It might probably do to your iPhone or Mac what the unique Zeppelin did to your iPod.

Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd technology
6. Finest AirPlay appropriate speaker for greater budgets
Gorgeous seems and sound that come at a major worth.
When you’re keen to pay for gorgeous audio high quality, then this speaker has it in spades. Not solely does it supply unbelievable sound, however seems the half, too. There could also be cheaper audio system on the market, however few that may supply this degree of high quality.
- Gorgeous sound
- Beauty
- Trendy controls
- Very costly
- Bass may very well be higher
If cash isn’t any object and also you’re in search of an AirPlay-compatible speaker that each seems and sounds unbelievable then you definitely would possibly need to take into account the Naim Mu-so Qb (2nd generation). It actually would not come low-cost, with a price ticket that is pushing 4 figures; sufficient to purchase your self a complete multi-speaker setup from another well-known manufacturers.
As you’d count on for the worth, the sound high quality is nothing in need of gorgeous. Whether or not you are listening to acoustic songs or banging dance tracks, you get a crisp, clear sound with some first rate bass for a speaker of this dimension. The controls are additionally extremely trendy, with an infinitely-spinning dial on the highest which can be utilized to regulate the amount or tweak settings, and solely prompts while you attain out for it. And with AirPlay 2 on board, you’ll be able to take pleasure in music from any of your Apple units with the sensational sound the Naim Mu-so Qb 2ndGeneration can supply.

Audio Professional Addon C10 MKII
7. Most trendy AirPlay-compatible speaker
A classy speaker that sounds nearly as good because it seems.
Audio system aren’t simply meant to be heard; they’re a part of your furnishings, too. Many audio system neglect this and go for perform over kind. The Audio Professional Addon C10 MkII provides each, with high-quality sound, and attractiveness to match. It additionally contains RCA inputs so you’ll be able to join a turntable, too.
- Stunning design
- Nice sound
- Good readability
- Lacks the leather-based strap of the earlier mannequin
- Not the most affordable possibility
If you’d like a speaker that does not simply sound nice however seems nice too, then look no additional than the Audio Pro C10 MkII. The fashionable magnetic grille seems nice, but it surely will also be eliminated for an excellent bolder look. There is a metallic management panel on high that appears and feels stunning and is available in grey, black, or white.
The sound high quality is balanced and heat and is exact sufficient to provide nice sound whether or not you are listening to a lightweight acoustic piece or extra bass-driven beats. You will have the choice of wired playback because of the RCA line-in ports, however the Audio Professional C10 MkII additionally helps Bluetooth and Wi-Fi playback, with help for AirPlay 2. Your iPhone music has by no means seemed or sounded so good.
The underside line: What’s the finest AirPlay-compatible speaker?
When you’re in search of an AirPlay-compatible speaker that has nice integration together with your different Apple units, provides first rate sound, and will not break the financial institution, then you’ll be able to’t go far mistaken with the Apple HomePod mini. It has surprisingly good sound for its dimension and works seamlessly together with your iPhone or Mac. It will not take up an enormous quantity of area, both.
When you’re in search of a speaker from a model with an incredible repute for sound however do not need to must splash an enormous amount of money, then the Sonos Period 100 is a wonderful speaker that provides good compatibility with AirPlay.

Apple HomePod Mini
Editor’s Selection
How I selected the most effective AirPlay-compatible audio system
When compiling this listing, there have been a number of issues I needed to bear in mind. Firstly, I needed to incorporate audio system that will cowl a variety of use circumstances, from a speaker to your work desk to at least one that may fill a big room with sound.
Secondly, I needed to incorporate a variety of worth choices, so that there have been choices to go well with most budgets. Not everybody can justify shopping for a Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Era, however for individuals who do have the cash, it is an incredible alternative.
Most significantly, I needed to pick out merchandise that labored properly with AirPlay, making it easy to stream your music out of your Apple machine to your wi-fi speaker.
How to decide on the most effective AirPlay-compatible audio system
Once you’re in search of an AirPlay speaker, there are a few stuff you want to bear in mind.
Is the speaker appropriate with AirPlay 2?
When you’re shopping for new, it is extremely doubtless that if a speaker is AirPlay appropriate in any respect, it is appropriate with the upgraded AirPlay 2. Nevertheless, should you’re shopping for an older mannequin second-hand, make sure you examine if it has AirPlay 2 compatibility. There are some key variations between AirPlay vs AirPlay 2, together with some helpful options equivalent to help for multi-room audio, and help for lossless audio streaming.
What connectivity does the AirPlay speaker supply?
AirPlay lets you stream music wirelessly out of your Apple machine to an AirPlay-compatible speaker. Nevertheless, there could also be occasions when you’ll want to use a distinct kind of connection. Some audio system will supply Bluetooth help, permitting you to stream from any Bluetooth machine. Some can even supply help for wired connections; if you wish to connect a turntable, for instance, then this may very well be a deal-breaker.
Is the AirPlay speaker appropriate for my room?
It is easy to purchase a speaker that is not the proper dimension for the area that you simply need to use it in. A HomePod mini is right for a house workplace, for instance, however would possibly really feel just a little misplaced in a big open-plan residing area. On the flip aspect, a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin can fill a decent-sized room with sound, however is overkill for a small house workplace, and can eat up a whole lot of desk area. Be sure to select a speaker that is appropriate to your wants.
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