The wi-fi speaker market has remodeled and advanced in leaps and bounds in recent times. The totally different varieties, shapes and varieties of wi-fi streaming on supply are extra diversified than earlier than, and nowhere is that extra evident than in the very best wi-fi audio system class at this 12 months’s What Hello-Fi? 2023 Awards.
Our wi-fi speaker Greatest Purchase winners are divided into two classes: dwelling (for mains-powered items) and transportable (battery-powered, on-the-go choices), and 6 merchandise in complete that received trophies this 12 months. Nevertheless it was two new 2023 merchandise from two tech giants – Apple HomePod 2 and Sonos Period 300 – that ousted outdated favourites to shake issues up.
Each new audio system impressed us once we reviewed them (each 5 stars, naturally), delivering ease of use, sensible voice management (Siri in HomePod, Alexa and Sonos’s personal in Period 300) and glorious sound high quality for the cash. The HomePod 2 (Greatest dwelling wi-fi speaker £100-£300) is a refined, smarter and brilliantly well-made speaker that is an irresistible selection for Apple customers – we’re keen on its pure, energetic sound and delicate manner with voices (which we most well-liked over the similarly-priced Sonos Period 100).
Each audio system, by the way, additionally function spatial audio. It is with the distinctive Period 300 that we have been genuinely wowed by spatial audio tracks for the primary time. At double the cash of the HomePod 2, it delivers a convincingly immersive, engulfing sound that’s worthy of reward and bagging the Greatest dwelling wi-fi speaker £300-£500 class win. You additionally get way more versatile selections of streaming options with the Sonos for the upper value, too.
Of their value brackets, the brand new Apple and Sonos audio system knock out the earlier favourites at this value: the a number of Award-winning Audio Professional Addon C10 MkII and the Addon C3. Whereas the Audio Professionals are fulfilling, musical performers, we discovered the brand new Apple and Sonos audio system provided brisker design, newer options and delivered extra expansive, expressive and fascinating sound total. Worthy winners, certainly.
At both ends of the worth scale, nevertheless, we see repeat winners. On the funds finish, the JBL Cost 5 Bluetooth speaker and the Apple HomePod Mini sensible speaker retain their wins within the transportable and residential classes respectively, regardless of loads of new competitors. The Cost 5 (finest transportable wi-fi speaker beneath £200) delivers the right mixture of rugged portability, sturdy primary options and clear, punchy, organised sound high quality that also entertains above all – it presents the very best worth for its £130-£160 value.
Apple sees each present HomePods take wins this 12 months, with the smaller, cheaper, HomePod Mini (Greatest dwelling wi-fi speaker beneath £100) nonetheless impressing us. It may appear restrictive (Siri works finest with an Apple Music subscription), however this tiny, mighty speaker is not only for iOS customers, and we stay amazed on the stable, delicate sound and glorious total tonal stability and quantity you get from this dinky speaker that prices beneath £99 – Apple’s least expensive product by miles.
The Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Gen and Dali Katch G2 stay worthy winners on the premium finish, exhibiting that wi-fi audio system can ship elevated audio efficiency that is a shade away from conventional hi-fi set-ups. Regardless of stiff competitors from the likes of the brand new JBL Cost 5 Wi-Fi, Sonos Transfer 2 and Final Ears Epicboom, the Dali Katch G2 – the very best transportable wi-fi speaker over £200 for an additional 12 months working – stays unbeaten for pure audio constancy. For a Bluetooth-only speaker at £349, its clear, insightful, deftly dynamic and musical prowess is unmatched. Whereas others would possibly shout about extra options and a much bigger scale of sound, the Katch G2 is a fantastically made transportable speaker that retains issues easy and targeted on the music.
The Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Era stays the very best dwelling high-end choice over £500, and except you are taking a look at stereo speaker techniques (such because the KEF LSX II) there is not a single unit that performs at such a excessive stage. A a number of Award winner that retains its crown for yet one more 12 months, it is filled with streaming options and presents a richly textured, large-scaled sound that is filled with drive, power and layers of element that is far past what you’d count on from a comparatively compact one-box speaker.
Our Awards season would not finish right here. Out of those six Greatest Purchase winners, just one will take away the coveted Product of the Yr prize for the wi-fi speaker class – this might be revealed on November fifteenth. Keep tuned to whathifi.com throughout the night (GMT) to seek out out whether or not we’ll see a repeat winner within the Naim or a model new contender to the throne.
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