In this new era of wireless speakers, where Wi-Fi-connected speakers can play music while you’re on the phone (with no interruption), connect to other speakers in a multi-room setup and be controlled by a voice assistant, it seems like the traditional Bluetooth connection has been lost… or at least reserved for cheaper, portable speakers. Well, that’s not exactly true.
Many of today’s high-end wireless speakers also have Bluetooth connectivity, which, specifically with Bluetooth aptX, can stream high-resolution audio tracks. And compared to speakers that just stream over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth speakers are straightforward and simple to use; instead of wondering if the speaker supports AirPlay, Chromecast, DTS Play-Fi or Sonos, you just open up the Settings app on your smartphone, connect and boom, you’re jamming out.
It’s true that connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi opens up a lot more abilities for a speaker, but a standard Bluetooth speaker can still be great for the home. In fact, many people might prefer one. It can fill a large room with sound and, with advances in Bluetooth technology, multiple people can connect to a single Bluetooth speaker at the same time. Also, Bluetooth doesn’t discriminate; whether you’re streaming something on YouTube or listening to music on Apple Music, Spotify or a lossless streaming service like Tidal — a Bluetooth speaker will play it all.
We've rounded up the best Bluetooth speakers for the home. They come in a wide variety, admittedly, as some also support Wi-Fi streaming and others are portable, so you can move them around your house or take the music on the road with you. Just make sure you pick the one that works best for you.
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam is essentially a much smaller — about 1/6th the size — and more affordable version of the Move. It has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can use it as portable Bluetooth speaker or integrate it into a larger Sonos multi-room system. It has Automatic Trueplay when streaming via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, too. Unlike the Move, Sonos combined the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas inside of Roam so that it more easily switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. Additionally, the Roam has a IP67 ratings, making it a little more rugged and water-resistant than the Move.
Portable: Yes
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Bose Smart Speaker 500
You can think of the Bose Smart Speaker 500 as a direct competitor (albeit slight more expensive) to the Sonos One. It can connect to Wi-Fi be integrated with either Google Assistant or Alexa voice assistants, and it also has a display to show things like song title and album artwork. The speaker has two custom drivers pointing in opposite directions so that, despite its compact size, it's able to deliver a very wide soundstage. You can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker — there are controls on the top of the speaker — so that anybody can play music, not just people connected to a home's Wi-Fi.
Portable: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm jack
Klipsch The Three II
Klipsch's second-generation The Three is a tabletop Bluetooth speaker that delivers solid stereo sound. It has retro style with real wood, metal knobs and a fabric grille that make it look like it's straight out of the '60s or '70s. And while it's primarily a Bluetooth speaker, the Three II offers couple different connectivity options, including a 3.5mm jack and USB port, in case you want to play music directly from your smartphone or computer. It also has a switchable phono preamp for those who might want to hook it up to their turntable.
Portable: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth, 3.5 mm jack, phono stage, RCA, USB
Marshall Stanmore II Bluetooth
The Stanmore II is a tabletop Bluetooth speaker that's designed to look like one of Marshall's famed amps. It has a leather grain exterior, vinyl grill and brushed aluminum accents. The knobs on the top of the speaker allow you to control the volume, bass and treble, but there's also a companion that allows you to adjust the EQ even further. Lastly, its Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity means that multiple people can connect to the speaker at one time. You can even create a stereo pair with another Stanmore II Bluetooth.
Portable: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth, RCA or 3.5 mm jack
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
This is Bose's main competitor to the Sonos Move. It's a portable speaker that has both built-in Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can use it as a wireless multi-room speaker (as long as you link it up with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars) or a portable Bluetooth speaker, in case you want to take it outside. When at home and connected to Wi-Fi, it can be used as smart speaker; you can talk to either Google Assistant or Alexa and control the music with your voice. It's also able to deliver 360-degrees of sound, which is something the Sonos Move does not.
Portable: Yes
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Sonos Move
The Move is one of Sonos's two portable speakers (along with the smaller Roam) that has both built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. When connected to Wi-Fi, it works almost exactly like a Sonos One: it can play in a Sonos multi-room system and respond to either Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. When connected to Wi-Fi it will optimize its sound for the space it’s in thanks to automatic Trueplay technology. There's a button on its back that switches it to Bluetooth, where the move works like a traditional portable speaker. (Yes, it's drop-resistant and IP56-rated.)
Portable: Yes
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Sony SRS-RA5000
The Sony SRS-RA5000 isn't your average tabletop speaker and it won't be for everybody. It's a speaker optimized to play tracks that have been mixed for Sony's 360 Reality Audio technology, which is an immersive sound technology (similar to Dolby Atmos) that makes it sound like you're at a live concert. However, you can only play these 360 Reality Audio over Wi-Fi (Chromecast) and only a few services, like Tidal HiFi and Deezer, actually over them. As a Bluetooth speaker, the SRS-RA5000 still sounds superb as it seven drivers and it can calibrate itself for the room it's in.
Portable: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm jack
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Flex
The Flex is the smallest speaker in Bowers & Wilkins' line of high-end wireless speakers; but despite it's size, it's one of the best-sounding compact wireless speakers you'll find. It supports a range of other Wi-Fi connectivity options, including Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect (and it's also Roon ready), but it can just as easily play high-resolution tracks over Bluetooth aptX. It can also be integrated into multi-room audio system with other B&W Formation speakers (although not over Bluetooth).
Portable: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level
The Beosound Level is a unique take of the portable home speaker because, well, Bang & Olufsen expects that it will last you a really long time. Like many many years. It has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, similar to the Sonos Move, but it also has what B&O is calling a "modular design." Basically, it's designed so that it can be taken apart and that its various components can be replaced, like the chipset or the battery, when they become antiquated in the future. It's also designed to sound and look great for years and years.
Portable: Yes
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
