The 4 best choices for a first multi-room speaker
Sonos One SL
- You can stream music wirelessly via WiFi or AirPlay 2.
- If you want to create a stereo pair, choose 2 One SL speakers.
- Thanks to the water-resistant design, this speaker is suitable for the bathroom.
- The speaker doesn't have a built-in voice assistant.
- To use TruePlay, you need an iOS device such as an iPhone.
Sonos One SL
Thanks to the small size and splash-proof design of the Sonos One SL, you can easily place this speaker in any room. You can adjust the sound to the room via the app. The small speaker produces a clear sound. The speaker also supports AirPlay. In addition to the One SL, Sonos has larger speaker and soundbar sizes, subwoofers, and WiFi speakers. You can easily connect all these speakers to each other via a WiFi connection and the Sonos app. This allows you to create a home cinema set or multi-room setup.
Harman Kardon Citation One
- You can easily connect the speaker to your Apple devices thanks to AirPlay 2.
- With the built-in Google Assistant, you can control the speaker with voice commands.
- Unlike the Citation 500, this speaker doesn't have a built-in screen to read useful information on.
- You can't use the WiFi speaker as a rear speaker for a 5.0 or 5.1 surround setup.
Harman Kardon Citation One
The Harman Kardon Citation One has a built-in voice assistant, which is the Google Assistant. You can easily control the speaker with voice commands. Turn the volume up or down or ask the speaker to play your favorite song. In addition, you can also control other smart devices in the house and ask questions about your digital calendar, weather, and traffic jams. You can place multiple Citation speakers in your home and connect them via WiFi for a multi-room sound setup. Or, connect 2 speakers in the same room for stereo sound.
Denon Home 150
- With extra Denon speakers, you can easily create a multi-room setup or stereo set and stream music in the entire house.
- With the touch controls, you can control the music without using your smartphone or tablet.
- To control your TV or other speakers with voice commands, you need a Chromecast or Chromecast Audio.
Denon Home 150
The Denon Home 150 is a compact WiFi speaker. The fabric design with glass control panel gives the speaker an elegant look. And the sound leaves nothing to the imagination either. The bass and volume are amazing for such a small device. Do you prefer a larger speaker that's recommended for larger rooms, for example? Look at the Denon Home 250 or 350. But as an entry-level WiFi speaker, this is certainly a good choice.
Bose Home Speaker 500
- You can connect the speaker to the Bose smart multi-room system and stream music in the entire house.
- The compact design allows you to place the speaker in any desired location.
- Thanks to SimpleSync, you can connect the WiFi speaker to a Bose Bluetooth speaker to create a stereo set or multi-room setup.
- This speaker doesn't support AirPlay.
- Only the connection to the speaker is wireless, you do have to plug the speakers into the socket.
Bose Home Speaker 500
With the Bose Home Speaker 500, you get an easy-to-use WiFi speaker. The speaker has speed dial buttons, an app, and a color display. Thanks to the round design, you can listen to a 360-degree sound reproduction. This way, the sound comes from all sides. No matter how you place it. Simply connect the speaker to other Bose speakers via the Bose Music App and enjoy a stereo, surround, or multi-room setup.
Still not sure which one to get?
When choosing a multi-room speaker, you should take the following things into account:
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The use of the speaker: in what kind of room are you going to use the speaker in terms of size and humidity? And do you want to use it separately, or in a multi-room or home cinema setup?
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The sound: Do you want the best sound or is the price-quality ratio enough for you?
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Smart speaker: Do you want a speaker that you can control with voice commands?
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The connectivity: Should the speaker have multiple connection options for an MP3 player or headphones, for example? And should the speaker support AirPlay or Spotify Connect?
