Best Wireless Speakers of 2023

Speakers are all about sound. That’s why our testing protocol places more emphasis on sound quality than any other single factor. And Edifier has not one, but two standout models in our wireless speaker ratings (available to CR members).

Like the earlier Edifier S1000DB, the Edifier S1000MKII—a reasonably priced Bluetooth speaker system sold in a stereo pair—excels sonically. It features smooth trebles but lets you hear the delicate shimmer of a cymbal, too. The musical low frequencies allow you to differentiate between an acoustic doghouse bass and a Fender Jazz bass cranking through an Ampeg amp. The all-important midrange, where most vocals and solo instruments live, is free of the distortions and colorations that can make lesser speakers tiring to listen to after a while.

And with its classic stereo configuration, the Edifier provides a truly convincing illusion that the musicians are in the room with you. Want to hear for yourself? Listen to Pink Floyd’s epic "Dark Side of the Moon" on the Edifier. Or even pop music tracks from the year’s best music from artists like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bad Bunny and Bruce Springsteen.

The Edifier speakers don’t offer multiroom functionality, unlike models from Sonos and Denon, but they do provide a full array of physical connections

The Sonos Five sounds great, but just as important, it plays well with others . . . as long as those others are Sonos-compatible speakers.

Almost identical in sound and functionality to the manufacturer’s venerable Sonos Play:5, the Sonos Five is a large stereo speaker in a single enclosure. Its powerful bass, shimmering trebles, and sparkling clear midrange earn it a spot near the very top of our sound-quality rankings. If you’re willing to spend $1,000 to pair two Sonos Fives in stereo, the sound quality jumps a notch, to our highest ranking, a distinction shared with the Edifier S1000MKII and Edifier S1000DB.

If you’re looking for a great-sounding speaker that can be moved (including outdoors) as needed but doesn’t have to be small enough to fit it in a backpack, the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is a great choice.

Our testers commend its robust bass and clean midrange, and report that the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is plenty loud indoors and out. They also find the large controls to be easy to use, which helps the model earn good grades for versatility. The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom features an optical input, so it can double as a TV soundbar or upgrade the sound of a game console.

Remember that thing called a radio? A box that allowed you to listen to the news or sports talk shows, not to mention your favorite DJ playing tunes destined to become classics? The Como Solo hasn’t forgotten.

This compact, retro-cool Bluetooth speaker has what’s now quite a unique feature: an AM/FM tuner. Further boosting its best-in-class versatility score is an impressive array of inputs, including an optical port for connecting a TV, a USB port that allows you to play music on a stick, a headphone jack for personal listening, and a couple of additional auxiliary-in jacks.

The Como Solo is also a looker. Designed by Tom DeVesto, who created similarly stylish devices for Tivoli, it features a real wood cabinet (available in Walnut, Hickory, Piano White, or Piano Black) and a screen that displays a vintage-style analog clock when not in use. All in all, the Como Solo is a handsome companion for a nightstand.

The $120 Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker is sold by Ikea but its sound and its brains are all Sonos. The model works like Sonos’s other multiroom options; you can control it from your smartphone, and integrate it into a system that allows you to listen to the London Symphony in the den and London Calling in the kitchen. Like other Sonos home speakers, the Symfonisk Bookshelf lacks Bluetooth capability; it needs WiFi to function.

Our testers report that this second-generation model sounds almost identical to the earlier one. The Symfonisk Bookshelf bears a strong sonic resemblance to its Sonos brethren, with clear trebles, a balanced and detailed midrange, and bass that’s tuneful although not especially deep. The sound-quality ranking falls just a bit below more expensive models like the Sonos One and Sonos One SL, but the gap is small enough that most casual listeners won’t notice the difference. Our testers noted that a stereo pair of Symfonisk speakers sounds significantly better than a single unit, especially when it comes to capturing that you-are-there factor on a good recording.

The JBL Flip 5 is a bargain. It lists for $100 and often sells for significantly less. But don’t be fooled by the low price: It’s a lot of speaker for the money.

The classic cylindrical design takes up relatively little space in a beach bag or on a picnic table. And the JBL Flip 5 comes in six fun colors, all the better to coordinate with a favorite pair of sunglasses. (If you’d like a speaker that’s even more special, you can personalize the colors and even print your photo on the grill cloth for a small fee.)

Do you know the difference between good speakers and excellent speakers? On the "Consumer 101" TV show, Consumer Reports expert Elias Arias explains to host Jack Rico the art of identifying high-quality devices.