![]() Given that Apple AirPlay 2 is a relatively open ecosystem, it has a lot going for it. Being able to pick up another speaker from a major retailer and add it yourself when you want to expand is a much easier solution. Ability to add more speakers or zones on your own: Lots of advanced custom-install options are available, but every time you want to expand one of those, you need to have your dealer come back out and set it up.Bluetooth or AirPlay as a fallback option: This is useful when a streaming service isn’t supported.This arrangement is also more prone to dropouts and other issues. Streaming from the source directly, not through a computer or phone: Some multiroom music systems require your phone or tablet to be the source, which means the music won’t play if you take your phone out of range.Ability to group speakers together: Your system should be able to stream the same music around the whole house or allow you to combine two speakers into a stereo pair for a more dedicated listening experience.Easy control of the speaker system via apps or voice control: An audio system that requires you to physically adjust the volume or skip tracks on the speaker itself is not as useful as one that lets you do those things from anywhere in the home.A wide selection of models at a wide range of prices: Having a model that works for each situation in your house, without being too expensive, allows you to integrate your whole home into the music system.Support for the widest selection of online streaming music services: A speaker is no good-no matter how great it sounds-if it can’t play your music.Sound quality: A decade ago, it may have been unrealistic to expect these speakers to sound great, but since so many of today’s wireless speakers deliver excellent performance, there’s simply no excuse for those that don’t. ![]() ![]() On its own, the Dot’s sound quality is pretty solid for a $50 speaker, but its small size and lack of bass mean you probably only want to use it for the most casual music listening or for podcasts and audiobooks. You could also add the more affordable Echo Dot to the mix if you have Bluetooth speakers in and around the house that you want to add to your multiroom music system. The standard Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and the larger Echo Studio are both great picks, and the latter in particular offers something that no other compact wireless speakers do: Dolby Atmos support (which adds a height element to make the sound even more immersive). Using voice commands to operate a synchronized multiroom music system requires a little more in the way of setup-and isn’t quite as intuitive as Sonos’s app control-but the Echo system’s configuration and operation don’t require an unreasonable amount of effort. Although none of the Echo speakers sound as good as anything in the Sonos lineup, the latest generation of Amazon speakers is a big improvement over earlier Echo devices. If you’re looking for a more affordable multiroom wireless music system that still sounds great-or if advanced voice control is especially important to you-Amazon’s Echo family of smart speakers is a good alternative to Sonos. The main drawbacks to the Sonos ecosystem are that it is a closed system (so you have to use Sonos products) and, though many Sonos speakers have both Alexa and Google Assistant built in, the system’s voice-control capabilities are not as advanced as those platforms’ own smart speakers. And you can even add Sonos to your TV using the company’s Arc, Beam, or Ray smart soundbar, all of which can pair with two other Sonos speakers to form a surround system. There’s also the wireless Sonos Sub, which you can pair with any existing Sonos speaker to add some oomph. For better sound or bigger rooms, the higher-end Sonos Five creates a large soundstage on its own, and a pair can compete with similarly priced midrange bookshelf speakers-without the need for a separate amplifier. It costs less than most high-end Bluetooth speakers, yet its audio performance measures as accurately as that of speakers costing several times as much. Sonos’s tight control of its ecosystem means you’re limited in terms of the speaker brands you can add to your setup (unless you buy Sonos devices specifically designed for you to add your own speakers), but the company’s offerings come at a variety of prices and all sound excellent. The mobile and desktop apps are among the most polished available and offer unified search across every service you subscribe to-including Apple Music. ![]() Sonos has made these systems for longer than anyone, and its experience shows at every level. ![]() If sound quality, easy setup, and intuitive operation are your top priorities in a multiroom wireless speaker system, Sonos is our recommendation. ![]()
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