We tested the best speakers and soundbars, and here’s what we thought

We all want to hear your favorite artist (Kate Bush, who?) in the highest quality.

However, with such a variety of audio players currently available, it can be difficult to choose the best one.

We tested several popular brands of speakers, soundbars, and vinyl players to see how they perform.

To listen to music on the go, check out the best headphones, earphones, and portable players below.

speaker

My trusty pair of Sonos Ones (£199 each) boast lovely sound quality. My only complaint is that I can’t connect my music directly via Bluetooth, so I have to take extra steps to do everything via the Sonos app over Wi-Fi.

However, the new Sonos Move (£349) offers this and other features. This more compact and powerful speaker is a portable device that connects to a discreet charging ring.

In this mode, it looks like a larger version of the networked Sonos One cousin. But it is another beast.

Equipped with an 18Wh rechargeable battery and with up to 10 hours of playtime on a full charge, it can be easily moved from room to room or outdoors to function as a portable speaker. It’s not always within Wi-Fi, so you can even connect your music directly via Bluetooth.

It’s well designed, has a hidden handle on the back, and is IP56 rated. This means that it has decent protection against dust and water.

It also has great bass appeal, and its automatic Trueplay feature means that built-in software adjusts the sound output to suit your environment.

A new entry into the Amazon ecosystem could challenge my love of everything Sonos. The Echo Studio smart speaker (£189.99) weighs in at around 5 liters and houses five versatile speakers under a fabric cover.

When Dolby Atmos is enabled, it delivers different sounds to different areas of 3D space for an immersive listening experience.

Because it uses auto-adaptive technology, it analyzes the sound of the room it’s installed in and produces the optimal sound. Alexa is enabled and you can also use Bluetooth content from your mobile phone.

luxury option

If you’re on a budget, the Ruark R5 Wireless Music System (£1,099) is for you. I have been crazy about the devices made by this British company for a long time.

Its stylish and low-priced products are aesthetically pleasing objects of domestic desire. It’s no wonder they often make their way from the tech and music presses to the pages of luxury interior magazines.

The R5 has all the features of most wireless speakers compatible with streaming music services like Spotify, Amazon, Tidal and Deezer.

The AptX HD receiver also reduces the signal-to-noise ratio. This means less distortion and clearer sound when using a Bluetooth connection.

It also has a multi-format CD player for internet radio and old school music fans who remember it. Do you remember the record? Yes. It’s strange how old they are now.

The R5 is easy to use, looks beautiful, and has excellent sound quality, balance, and texture.

This is probably the best I have tried. Unfortunately, such brilliance doesn’t come cheap. But I’m going to spend money.

Sound bar

I’m a fan of the second-gen Sonos Beam (£449). You can easily connect via the included HDMI cable, the Sonos app, or the TV itself. Setup took 10 minutes.

For fairly compact devices that allow you to sit comfortably in front of most TVs without disturbing your photos, the Dolby Atmos feature delivers impressive 3D sound.

A cheaper option for adding acoustic wonders to your TV is the Polk Audio Signa S4 soundbar (£249).

This discreet device is more sophisticated and durable than the Sonos Beam and also comes with a separate wireless subwoofer.

The setup connects both devices to the network, connects the bar to the TV with an HDMI cable, and then makes sure the TV outputs sound through the appropriate output. It is easy.

When Dolby Atmos is enabled you get great surround sound and the subwoofer means real bass. It also comes with a controller so users can easily turn up the volume and bass levels and switch between different sound modes.

Polk Voice Tuning means users can expect clear, lifelike conversation, and Night Mode reduces bass for late-night viewing. This is a class product.

vinyl lovers

For those of you who like nostalgia, I must be the perfect candidate for a devoted member of the Vinyl Revival Church.

But the immediacy of wireless music distribution means you don’t really care about those oldies, any more than remember whooping cough.

House Of Marley stirs up the turntable and puts together a Duo speaker pack (£322.48), which may tempt me in the past.

With a solid bamboo base and aluminum hardware, the turntable is a great looking piece of kit.

The arms are a bit difficult to balance and the anti-slip is a bit clunky, but that’s about the only time it takes to set it up.

One with power supply and the other with rechargeable Get Together speaker can be easily connected via Bluetooth.

The turntable’s built-in preamp means users avoid the extra cost of buying an amp and extra wiring. The turntable’s USB port also offers the ability to convert vinyl to digital files.

The sound is pretty solid and the product is made with a strong sustainability ethic.

EastThis article contains affiliate links. You will receive a small fee for purchases made through any of these links, but this will not affect the opinion of the experts. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.