Best high-end wireless speakers for 2026
7 luxurious wireless speaker systems that sound as good as they look
In this article: 7 décor-friendly wireless hi-fi speakers...
- Coolest-looking — Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
- Most elegant — Sonus faber Omnia
- Most unique — Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108db
- Best audiophile-grade wireless speaker — McIntosh RS250
- Best for high-res multi-room music — Bluesound PULSE 2i
- Best bang for your buck — Cambridge Audio Evo One
- Best all-around — KEF LS50 Wireless II
...with links to customer reviews.
Wireless speakers are great in places where space is at a premium: bedrooms, offices, kitchens, apartments, and other areas where you want great sound but don’t have room for a full-on stereo system.
The speakers on this list can fill just about any need. They’re different from portable Bluetooth speakers, most notably in that they don’t have built-in rechargeable batteries. And while all of them have Bluetooth, they’re designed to deliver high-res audio via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection to your home network for better sound quality and stability.
High-end wireless speakers offer a range of wired inputs. Some have turntable inputs, and I know of at least one with a built-in CD player. Some models have an HDMI ARC input so you can hook them up to your TV or projector. And they all have convenient apps for setup and control.
If you’re looking for a convenient way to play music that sounds excellent and complements your room's décor, check out my top picks below. I got to audition every one of them, and if you like what you see, I think you'll also be pleased with the sound quality.
Coolest looking — Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro
Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro's elongated elliptical shape is both eye-catching and acoustically optimized to minimize distortion and enhance clarity. The speaker’s aluminum body and seamless fabric grille give it a sculptural presence. In fact, when I had one of these at home for testing, my wife fell in love with it before she even heard it.
Inside, it’s got 240 watts of amplification and five precision-engineered drivers that can deliver rich, room-filling sound. It supports AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and Spotify Connect, so it’s easy to stream from pretty much any device. If you want a speaker that sounds great and looks like a piece of art, the Zeppelin Pro is a conversation-starting choice.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Apple AirPlay 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- works with Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect
- two 1" titanium dome tweeters, two 3-1/2" FST midrange drivers, one 6" powered subwoofer
Most elegant design — Sonus faber Omnia
This Italian company’s name translates to “handcrafted sound.” Sonus faber focuses on using natural materials, like the real-wood top on the Omnia, to make speakers that harmonize with your décor and are generally pleasant to interact with. That was my experience when I set it up at home for some listening. Setup was quick and trouble-free and I was streaming via AirPlay in minutes.
The sound is warm and fluid, with plenty of detail. It’s got 490 watts amplifying seven drivers, plus built-in DSP that helps it projects a wide, lifelike soundstage. The bass you get with its 6-1/2” downward firing woofer is nicely smooth and rich — something that turned my head when I played the Jerry Garcia Band’s “Cats Under the Stars.” It also has an input for a turntable and an HDMI ARC input for great TV sound. It’s the kind of piece that wants to be looked at, touched, and listened to.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- works with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect
- illuminated walnut veneer Senso™ top panel
- seven drivers powered by a 490-watt amplifier
Most unique — Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB
I got to spend a little time at home with Devialet's Phantom Ultimate 108dB (the name refers to its maximum sound pressure level) and I’ll just say that while it costs considerably more than most of the models in this list, I am happy to report that it has correspondingly impressive sound quality.
It was easy to set up and has a really commanding sound and look. As with any of the speakers in this list, you might find yourself looking at it while listening to it and thinking to yourself, "Wow, how is it making such big, beautiful sound?" But with the Phantom Ultimate, you get that to the max.
This one is truly unique and a pleasure to listen to. It’s a statement piece and if you can get one (or two) of them, you can command listener engagement every time you crank it up.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Apple AirPlay 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- free Devialet app lets you control playback and pair two Phantom Ultimate speakers for stereo sound
- 1,100 watts total amplification
- dome tweeter and cospherical full-range driver
Best audiophile-grade wireless speaker — McIntosh RS250
McIntosh's RS250 earns great reviews for its fantastic sound, which one of our customers said “fills the room with pure excitement.” I had the privilege to test one of these out at home for a couple weeks when it first came out and think that’s a pretty good way of putting it. With eight drivers and 650 watts — along with over seven decades of McIntosh know-how — the RS250’s sound hits you in a visceral, substantial way.
The RS250's three-way design with designated tweeters, midrange drivers, and woofers help it deliver one of the more expansive soundstages I’ve heard in a standalone speaker system. And it’s got wired turntable input and an HDMI ARC input for TV sound. If you want classic McIntosh looks and build quality — and, of course, brilliant, engaging sound — this is the one.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- works with Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Spotify HiFi, TIDAL Connect, and Roon (subscription required for some services)
- two 4" x 6" long-throw woofers, four 2" titanium inverted midrange drivers, and two 3/4" titanium dome fluid-filled tweeters
- classic blue McIntosh illuminated front-panel power output meters
Best for high-resolution multi-room music — Bluesound PULSE 2i
If you have a library of high-resolution digital music, the Bluesound PULSE 2i streaming music speaker can do it justice. This high-performance speaker is compatible with high-res files up to 24-bit/192kbps.
You can use the PULSE 2i with high-res services such as TIDAL, and it's compatible with MQA. The PULSE 2i can be part of a Bluesound multi-room audio system — which means you can enjoy high-quality audio all through your home.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Apple AirPlay 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- works with Amazon Alexa compatible voice control assistants
- free BluOS Controller app lets you control playback and group multiple Bluesound speakers or components in a multi-room music system
- two 5-1/4" woofers and two 1" tweeters
Best bang for your buck — Cambridge Audio Evo One
The Evo One from Cambridge Audio has an elegant, industrial look and a remarkable 700 watts of amplification — 50 watts to each of its fourteen drivers — for an effortless, high-fidelity soundstage. I auditioned one of these at home and was picking out harmonic overtones in Julian Bream’s classical guitar and shimmering ambience on Julie London’s 1966 album For the Night People. The Evo One’s hefty 32-pound construction uses high-quality aluminum and beautiful, sustainable walnut wood.
It also has a nice full-color display and integrated front-panel control that lets you navigate any music you have on storage drives on your network or connected to the Evo One via its USB-A input. The StreamMagic app is one of the better control apps out there and in my personal experience using it with Qobuz on the Evo One was a seamless experience. You could absolutely use this as a sound bar via its HDMI eARC input. It even has a phono input for a turntable, plus a second analog input.
It’s very user-friendly for music lovers, and with the extensive control you get right on the front panel, it also invites listeners to poke around and discover new music, which is always a great thing.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- works with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect
- front-panel buttons and 6.8" full-color display allow easy navigation and control
- 14 speakers driven by 50 watts RMS each
Best all-around — KEF LS50 Wireless II
Since 1961, KEF has been producing beautifully styled speakers that deliver beautiful sound. Their LS50 Wireless II powered stereo speakers feature curved front baffles with a modern, stylish look.
KEF placed the tweeter inside the center of the bass/midrange cone. This enlarges the speakers' acoustic "sweet spot," giving you more options for room placement. Two custom-designed amplifiers in each speaker plus an advanced digital-to-analog converter ensure richly detailed natural sound.
Details
- stream wirelessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Apple AirPlay 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- free KEF Connect app lets you control playback and optimize your audio settings
- bi-amped design with separate woofer and tweeter amplifiers for greater headroom and lower distortion
- each speaker has a 5-1/4" aluminum cone woofer (amplifier power: 280 watts) and a 1" vented aluminum dome tweeter (amplifier power: 100 watts)
Need help choosing?
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JustFiona from Toronto
Posted on 11/22/2023
"Sound as good as they look" as long as people are aware that Bluetooth will not deliver the same audio quality as wifi. And Spotify does not yet have the hifi tier that they have been promising for years. I believe they max out at 320 kbps or so.
Craig
Posted on 9/6/2023
Hi, wondering how does the Naim Mu-So 2 compare to these
Helga from Omaha
Posted on 1/2/2019
No prices dude???
Ralph Graves from Crutchfield
on 1/11/2019
John Halloran from Livonia,MI
Posted on 10/15/2018
These must all be free. I see no prices.
Ruben from El Mirage from El Mirage, AZ
Posted on 5/22/2018
Where is the jbl L-16?
Ralph Graves from Crutchfield
on 1/11/2019