Best Speakers for Music Lovers and Entertainers

Sonos Move Speaker outdoors — Photo: Courtesy Sonos

The right speakers can do more than supply superior sound quality: A great speaker can actually upgrade the music you're listening to. "High-quality speakers can pick up more detail and enhance the musical listening experience, by providing full range sound and reproducing the content as it was intended to be heard," says Lynne Jaeger of Audio Experts.

Whether you're an audiophile or a serial host (or will be, pending the pandemic's end), good speakers are essential when playing music at home. "Speakers can absolutely make (or break) the vibe you're going for, whether that's hosting friends for dinner, having a dance party, or listening to music solo," says Brian Beck, the Global Head of Music at Sonos. "You want to make sure the speakers in your home not only deliver incredible sound, but are easy to use, and, most importantly, help to bring more joy into your space." In the market for a quality speakers that don't scrimp on style? From sophisticated stand-mounted styles to outdoor-friendly options, here are several of the best speakers for music lovers and home entertainers.

Top Picks

User-Friendly Home Speakers: DALI Spektor 2 in Walnut
Outdoor Speakers: Bose Free Space 51 Environmental Speakers in Green
Bluetooth Speaker: Crosley Octave Bluetooth Speaker
Light-Producing Glass Speaker: Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker with NFC and Bluetooth
Luxury Speakers: Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance in Beige

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Solid Standalone

For a user-friendly speaker that doesn't scrimp on sound quality, consider a hi-fi producing bookshelf speaker. "A quality standalone speaker can fill an entire room with sound," notes Ryan Rumer, the Sales and System Designer at World Wide Stereo in Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania.

Shop Now: DALI Spektor 2 in Walnut, $349, amazon.com.

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Wide-Reaching Glass

This powerful speaker supplies both ambient sound and lighting. Portable and Bluetooth-enabled, the glass appliance fills every corner of your room with sound—and it was also designed with a built-in light that flickers per your choice of 32 illumination levels.

Shop Now: Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker with NFC and Bluetooth, $449.07, amazon.com.

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Weatherproof and Portable

For a pair of outdoor-friendly speakers that supply 360-degree sound coverage, you can't go wrong with this option from Bose. Engineered to withstand snow, sun, rain, ice, and saltwater spray, these earthy green speakers are designed to blend in with backyard greenery—and can be installed in the ground or simply placed on hard surfaces.

Shop Now: Bose Free Space 51 Environmental Speakers in Green, $449 per pair, bose.com.

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Victrola-Inspired

Love the look of antique speakers but don't want to sacrifice the user-friendliness of one powered by Wi-Fi? This small Victrola-style options provides 89 watts of dynamic stereo sound and wirelessly streams music from any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Shop Now: Victrola VS-140-WLN Bluetooth Wood Speaker Stand with Dual USB Ports, $191.62, amazon.com.

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Mighty Mobile

This portable iteration sounds just as good inside as it does outdoors. "We designed the Move to seamlessly fit into your home with a discreet charging base and built-in handle so you can place it on your kitchen counter or take it to your backyard without looking out of place," Beck explains. "And because it works on Wi-Fi (in addition to Bluetooth), you'll never have an interrupted stream due to an incoming call or text message, which can totally kill the mood."

Shop Now: Sonos Move Speaker, $399, sonos.com.

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Updated Classic

For a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a décor accent, consider this one from Crosley. Inspired by clean lines and organic materials used in mid-century architecture, the portable option boasts a walnut finish and gold metal dials.

Shop Now: Crosley Octave Bluetooth Speaker, $150, westelm.com.

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Showstopper Speaker

Consider this speaker from Bang & Olufsen the Rolls Royce of wireless options. Composed of aluminum and wood, the 20-inch-tall appliance provides powerful acoustics and can be positioned up against a wall on a shelf or on a side table in your home. This is a major bonus: "Real estate is expensive today and people don't always want to use their precious floor space for speakers," notes Eyal Akler, the founder of ATTYWON.

Shop Now: Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance in Beige, $2,250, bergdorfgoodman.com.

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Petite Powerhouse

Don't let this pint-sized, portable speaker fool you: It packs plenty of punch. Both Bluetooth and Alexa-enabled, the vintage-inspired smart speaker produces clean and precise audio that you can take anywhere.

Shop Now: Marshall Uxbridge Black Speaker, $199, cb2.com.

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On the Shelf

For a cutting-edge pair of speakers that are small enough to squeeze onto your bookshelf, nothing beats these from Polk; they clock in at 15 inches tall and connect to your home theater system, so you can listen to everything from music to movies with surround sound.

Shop Now: Polk S20 Signature Series Home Theater Bookshelf Speakers, $299 per pair, polkaudio.com.

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Totally Tubular

A small, tube-shaped speaker can supply ample amounts of style without compromising sound quality. Available in a steel, brass, or matte black finish, this sleek portable option can connect to a Bluetooth device from up to 24 feet away and supplies at least 12 hours of play time.

Shop Now: LEFF Tube Audio, $129, 2modern.com.

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Sophisticated Stand-Mount

For a sleek pair of stand-mount-style speakers that stand the test of time, look no further than this pair from Bowers & Wilkins. Designed with a two-way vented box system, the state-of-the-art set was engineered to create an accurate and immersive reproduction of your favorite tunes.

Shop Now: Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition Standmount Loudspeaker, $899.99 per pair, bowerswilkins.com.

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