Best Wireless Speakers Guide | Top Rated Wireless Speakers

Are you looking for the best wireless speakers 2018 has in store for us? Check out our well researched top ten wireless speakers list and buyer's guide
In this article, we are going to be discussing about some of the best options for the wireless speakers 2018 has to offer and is currently in store for us.

We have done some extensive research on all best wireless speakers for 2018 that are available to the users, and from them, we have handpicked the very best to be displayed here in this article. We have divided up our research about the speakers based on their wide variety of specifications which would lead to them being better or worse in quality.

Earlier we used to have some problems with range, sound quality, and battery but now all those issues have been catered for and most have been sorted and made better. That is why we bring you the list of the best wireless speakers of 2018 up till now. We are sure that you are going to love some of these choices that we have handpicked for you.

Here’s the list for some of the wireless speakers that 2018 has in store for you.
Wireless speakers are devices that almost all of us are familiar with. They are merely speakers but with Bluetooth connectivity, it adds a lot to the user experience. Earlier we didn’t use to have better connectivity through Bluetooth and the speakers were also not up to the mark. Since then the times have changed and with that, technology has also evolved and now we have the wireless Bluetooth speakers as one of the major audio devices in our houses and any other place of use. The earlier problems with range, battery life, sound quality which were one of the major issues have been resolved and now there have been some models of the speakers that are notably the best wireless speakers out there.
With the help of our team of experts, we have devised a list of best wireless speakers 2018 has to offer to satisfy your daily audio need. There are some companies that are famous for the products like the JBL, Bose and soundlink etc. The sound quality that these companies are producing is almost on par with each other. The main thing that ranks their devices are basically the little features that they offer. Those features can go a long way in the long run and hence improve the productivity and the experience that the devices are offering us.

Whether you are an audiophile or a casual music listener, these wireless speakers are really a must have for anyone. At times it’s less about the volume of the speakers and more about the quality of the sound that they are producing. Then again there are some nifty features like water proofing the speakers, having voice recognition commands on the speakers for better control and connectivity and many other features as well that help in the long run. Therefore making the experience of the users a great one. One by one these features add weight to the products and the becomes overall the best In ranking for the best wireless speakers 2018.

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts on the subject of wireless audio.  Our objective is to simplify what to the average music lover is a complicated and confusing subject.  We will publish a new installment about every two weeks, so please check back again.   As always, we welcome your comments and participation.
This is the fourth in a series of blog posts on the subject of wireless audio. Our objective is to simplify what to the average music lover is a complicated and confusing subject. We will publish a new installment about every two weeks, so please check back again. As always, we welcome your comments and participation.

–Mike Giffin

When shopping for a wireless audio system, a number of key criteria will determine if a particular system is the right one for you. That may sound intimidating, and your choices are important for your satisfaction with your system; but the choices are relatively straightforward. For example, we need to determine whether the system will be compatible with your other devices and whether it has sufficient range to satisfy your needs. Let’s consider those and other factors.

Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the method with which the audio source communicates with the wireless speaker. This determines the compatibility of the system, as well as its range of operation. You might choose Bluetooth or WiFi. But which one is best for you?

Most wireless audio systems communicate with either Bluetooth or WiFi. (Some wireless subwoofers use another method). Each has advantages. Bluetooth is an almost ubiquitous technology and universally compatible; a wide variety of devices employ it. In fact, it’s possible that many of your devices (and your car) have Bluetooth wireless technology, and you may not even know it. For example, most phones, tablets and laptops have Bluetooth capability, though you usually have to find a menu to enable the feature.

On the downside, Bluetooth transmissions have a limited range; a manufacturer might claim 30 feet, but the real-world range might be 15 feet. This range is adequate for a room or maybe a small apartment, but would not cover an entire house. A “line of sight” between transmitter and receiver is not needed, but be aware that walls and partitions will decrease the range.

Not all Bluetooth hardware is equal. Some chips can provide significantly more range than others, and are less sensitive to interference from devices such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc. It’s also important to note that Bluetooth has evolved over the years and not all versions will support the transmission of stereo music. The key technology to look for is A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile); this is a type of Bluetooth that permits streaming of stereo audio. Although the sound quality of audio conveyed via Bluetooth can be very good, it may not attain audiophile status. In particular, to accommodate stereo audio, data compression is used to reduce the bit rate of the audio signal. This may slightly degrade audio fidelity.

WiFi is almost as ubiquitous as Bluetooth, but not quite. WiFi is sometimes referred to by its technical label, IEEE 802.11. Most smartphones, tablets and laptops have WiFi onboard. WiFi has a greater range than Bluetooth – perhaps as much as 120 feet indoors, but the actual range may be less. With some planning, WiFi can cover an entire house.

One way to assure maximum coverage is to locate the WiFi router in the center of a house, or where its coverage is most useful. For example, if you want to use wireless speakers mainly in a bedroom and on a patio, place the router central to those locations. If needed, a WiFi bridge can be added to further extend the range. Although a “line of sight” is not needed, walls and partitions will decrease the range. As with Bluetooth, there are differences in WiFi hardware. Some chips can provide more range than others, and are less sensitive to interference. However, WiFi signals can experience interference from devices such as microwave ovens. As with Bluetooth, WiFi has evolved. Version “n” is currently the fastest and has the greatest range, but all types of WiFi can convey audio signals.

Importantly, audio signals can be conveyed via WiFi using a lossless codec; with this method, there is absolutely no loss of audio fidelity as the data signal travels across the WiFi network. The digital bits at the receiver are identical to the bits at the source. One downside is that different wireless systems, while they may all use WiFi, use incompatible data formatting. So, the systems are incompatible; for example, Apple and Android run into this problem. We’ll discuss this in a later installment.

Setting up a WiFi based system can sometimes be tricky. For example, you might need to enter a security password. Some WiFi routers have a WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) feature; this allows secure connection without needing a password. One of the most important considerations when buying a WiFi-based wireless system is to make sure that setup and operation is clearly defined.

The choice of Bluetooth or WiFi is clear. Bluetooth is a universal standard and easy to use. But, its range is quite limited and sound quality is restricted. WiFi systems have a wider range and can offer excellent fidelity. But, different systems that use WiFi are incompatible, and setup may be difficult.

There are several additional technical issues to consider while evaluating wireless speaker options. We’ll take those up in our next installment.

The Need for Wireless Speakers A common complaint against home audio systems has been the cables that interconnect the speakers to the audio receiver, tuner, cd
The Need for Wireless Speakers
A common complaint against home audio systems has been the cables that interconnect the speakers to the audio receiver, tuner, cd player, or stereo units. As more and more channels are added to modern home audio equipment the problem of connecting the speakers to the audio sources has exacerbated. Running cables through the house walls is messy and time consuming. Cables running over the carpet are a tripping hazard. Running cables along the ceiling or walls are just an eyesore. Modern digital surround systems can have 7 speakers and a subwoofer. That is 7 cables that has to be run throughout your room, with at least 4 of the speakers expected to be no less than 10 foot away toward the center or rear of your listening room.

Some homes have a nice deck, patio or gazebo in the yard that is a common relaxation area for meeting and entertaining guests. Playing soft or popular music has a tendency to relax people, and help with awkward gaps in communications, as well as provide a topic of discussion when one isn't forthcoming.

Wireless Speaker Implementations
There are two common wireless speaker implementations, both having a similar design, but using different signal transport media. A transmitter device is attached to the speaker connections on the audio source, and a receiving device is attached to, or included in the speakers to be placed remotely. Most wireless speakers are sold as a package with the transmitter, receiver, and speakers themselves included for ease of use. Setting up wireless speakers is a pretty simple activity, but there are some caveats to consider:

Most wireless speaker systems do not have the bandwidth that can be provided with their wired counterparts, so the wireless systems have a tendency to be less accurate to the sound played. Some people consider wireless speaker solutions to be "tinny" or lack "base". It is always prudent to listen to the speakers you are considering with the music you normally play to see if the result is acceptable. Some expensive wireless speaker systems tout that this situation does not occur with their designs.
The further away the speaker receivers are from the transmitters, the more likely you will have distortion. This is a matter of the laws of physics, and is unavoidable. Amplifiers are available to assist the transmitters, but they tend to introduce additional noise into the system. Speaker receivers could include better antenna systems, but I found no aftermarket systems tailored directly for wireless speakers. It may be helpful to seek assistance at a local ham radio shop, as they would know what might suit your solution best. Make sure you know what communication frequencies and types of equipment you are using so that they can pick the proper antenna system for your speakers.
Two types of transmission media
There are two types of transmission media for wireless speakers found on the commercial market today, RF signal based systems, and infrared signal based systems. These systems have different benefits and limitations, so consider them when you choose which system you will purchase.

How Wireless Speakers Works

RF, or radio frequency based systems use radio signals to transmit data, in this case music, to the remote receiver. RF systems commonly use radio frequencies between 300Mhz and 1000Mhz, with 900Mhz being the most common frequency. Transaction rates range up to 40,000 bits per second. This technology does well for speaker systems that will not have direct LOS (line of sight) from the receiver to the transmitter. Some barriers, such as cement, metal, electronic devices, some plastics, and other materials interrupt or absorb RF signals. You can test your speaker placement by moving your speakers around slightly to see where you have the best reception and audio quality. Often this solution is common for outdoor speaker systems, systems that are located in a different room that the audio source, or home wide audio systems. I the location you would like to place your speakers is limited to areas of bad coverage, RF repeaters can be purchased to assist transmissions around barriers that are causing transmission problems. You can usually hide RF repeaters on small shelves, in cabinets, or in other containers, as line of sight does not need to be maintained. Just test your various locations until you find one that suits you. These systems are susceptible to radio interference from microwaves, cordless phones, radios, and other electronic devices, although new technologies in shielding and spread spectrum solutions are making this less of an issue. RF systems tend to transmit more data, communicate further, are more reliable and are more expensive than the infrared alternative.

IR, or infrared based systems use light transmissions to transmit data to the remote receiver. Infrared systems generally use light wavelengths between 870nm and 950nm, and can transmit data at a rate between 50 and 2000 bps (bits per second). This technology works best for systems that are located in a small area where the transmitter and the speaker receivers are less than 20 feet apart. There can be no visible obstruction between the transmitter and the receivers, or the wireless transmissions do not get received. Almost all physical solid materials will block IR communications, with the exception of glass, Plexiglas, and other transparent or translucent materials. Tinted glass, or colored translucent materials may also block IR transmissions. For systems that communicate outside of line of sight, there are IR repeaters available that allow you to extend your communications. Unfortunately, line of sight must be maintained between the transmitters and the repeaters, as well as between the repeaters and the speaker receivers. Chaining multiple repeaters generally hurts signal strength and will lower the quality of your music output.

Wireless speakers operate in essentially the same way regular speakers do but with the small addition of a transmitter, as opposed to wires, that carries a signal from the source...
Wireless speakers operate in essentially the same way regular speakers do but with the small addition of a transmitter, as opposed to wires, that carries a signal from the source to the speakers. Wireless speakers tend to have a range of no less than 150 feet of the transmitter, which is often much farther than you'll ever need. The signal broadcasts the same way an FM radio does and can travel through walls and furniture. Due to the "wireless" nature of the speakers, they're often powered by batteries or an optional AC adapter. Battery power enables you to move them around wherever you want--even into alternate rooms or outdoors--and still be able to hear the source signal.

Transmission
When you start to play music or a DVD on your computer, the computer sends a signal to a transmitter. The transmitter then converts the signal into one similar to that of an FM radio--it's broadcast on a specific frequency to avoid interference from other objects. The signal is broadcast in a circular radius within the specified range, so any device that can pick up that kind of signal will pick up the sound from the computer. The speakers themselves have little receivers built into them that decode the signal into standard audio information for playing. The entire process happens in real time, so there's no delay between the time you hit "Play" on your computer to the time you hear sound coming from your speakers.

Home Theaters
Wireless speakers also have the ability to decode discrete audio information like a standard home theater. This means that if your computer knows that a certain bit of sound should come out of the front right speaker, then it can broadcast it directly to that speaker. This is typically used when playing DVD movies. As long as the sound card on your computer supports discrete audio, you can get it from your wireless speakers.

Your iPhone has a built-in speaker that’s used to hear the person you’re speaking with when you hold your smartphone up to your ear and you engage in a phone conversation. Meanwhile, both the iPhone and iPad have a built-in speaker (near the bottom of the device) that’s used for listening to all other types of audio, such as music, audiobooks, audio from TV shows and movies, as well as audio generated by various apps.

The speaker that’s built into your iOS mobile device is decent and offers good quality audio, especially if you’re in an otherwise quiet area and you’re within close physical proximity to the iPhone or iPad.

However, you can also connect loader and more powerful external speakers to your mobile device using a cord that plugs into the headphone jack, or you can connect your iPhone or iPad to speakers using its built in Dock Connector port or Lighting port (depending on which model iOS device you use). Other, more convenient alternatives are to connect compatible speakers to your device wirelessly using Bluetooth or AirPlay, or to stream audio from your mobile device to your television set/home theater system using AirPlay with an Apple TV device.

Each of these options for connecting external speakers to your mobile device has pros and cons. Which option is best for you depends on what you want to accomplish and what type of external speaker(s) you plan to use.

Both Bluetooth and AirPlay wireless speakers, as well as all other speakers that can be used with an iPhone or iPad are fully compatible with apps that stream audio content from the Internet, such as Pandora, Spotify, Rhapsody, or TuneIn, which are available from the App Store. The external speakers also work with iTunes Radio, available with the release of iOS 7.

The Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Option
Using the Bluetooth feature that’s built into your iOS mobile device, you can wirelessly transmit all audio that would otherwise be played by the iPhone or iPad’s internal speaker to a compatible external speaker. Using this method, the external speaker must offer Bluetooth connectivity, and you need to keep your iPhone or iPad, as well as the wireless speaker(s) within the Bluetooth signal radius (which is approximately 32 feet).

As you can discover, different types of wireless Bluetooth speakers serve vastly different purposes. These speakers, however, should not be confused with wireless Bluetooth headsets that include a built-in microphone and fit within one ear, enabling hands-free communication when using an iPhone for phone calls or an iPhone or iPad for video conferencing.

Wireless Bluetooth headphones, such as the Parrot Zik Touch-Activated Bluetooth Headphones ($399.95, http://www.parrot.com/zik/usa), enable the iPhone or iPad to transmit stereo sound from the device to cordless, high-end battery-powered headphones that fit over both of your ears. Wireless Bluetooth headphones enable private listening in stereo. Many other companies offer similar wireless headphones that are compatible with the iPhone for $100.00 to $400.00.

You can use another type of wireless Bluetooth speaker to play audio from a mobile device in a way that fills a room with clear, vibrant sound. These types of speakers are readily available from consumer electronics stores, such as Best Buy, Brookstone, or Radio Shack, and range in price from under $25.00 to several hundred dollars each.

Virtually all the popular speaker manufacturers, such as Sony, Beats by Dr. Dre, Cambridge Audio, JBL, Bose, Tivoli, Yamaha, iHome, Samsung, Onkyo, and LG, offer Bluetooth speakers in different sizes and wattages. Some are battery-powered, whereas others plug into normal AC outlets for power.

The benefit to using a Bluetooth wireless speaker is that audio generated by your iPhone or iPad can be streamed to the speaker from within a 32-foot radius within a home or office, with no cables required. Then, depending on the power of the speaker (in terms of its wattage), that audio can be heard throughout a room or an entire home.

From companies such as Brookstone (www.brookstone.com) or Amazon.com, you can also discover wireless Bluetooth speakers that are waterproof, so they can be taken into a shower, used near or within a swimming pool, or brought aboard a boat, enabling you to keep your iOS mobile device safe and dry, while listening to the music stored within it remotely.

Many companies, such as JBL, Eton, Bose, and Jawbone, offer small, portable, but high-quality, battery-powered external speakers that are ideal for use with an iPhone or iPad while sitting at a desk or in a bedroom, for example. They offer much better audio quality than the speaker built into the iOS mobile devices.

The good news is that any Bluetooth-compatible external speaker can work out-of-the-box with your iPhone or iPad, whether it runs iOS 6 or iOS 7. All you need to do is turn on the Bluetooth feature when using your mobile device, and then pair the speaker(s) once. Then, anytime the iOS mobile device is turned on and emitting audio and the Bluetooth speakers are also powered on, the audio can be streamed to those speakers automatically.

To turn on and manage Bluetooth on your iOS mobile device, launch Settings, and tap the Bluetooth option from the main Settings menu. Turn on the virtual switch associated with this feature, and then initially “pair” the speaker(s) using the directions provided by the speaker manufacturer. This pairing process takes approximately 15 to 30 seconds.

When you upgrade your iPhone or iPad to iOS 7, you can turn on and off the Bluetooth feature and manage Bluetooth devices from within the new Control Center. To access the Control Center, swipe your finger in an upward direction, starting at the bottom of the screen when the device is turned on. Then, tap the Bluetooth icon.

After you establish a connection between an iPhone or iPad and the Bluetooth speaker(s), as you listen to audio generated by the iOS mobile device using an app such as Music or Videos, tap the AirPlay menu icon to choose whether you want to use the iOS device’s internal speaker or stream the audio to the Bluetooth speaker(s) that are wirelessly linked to the device.

When applicable, after tapping the AirPlay icon, compatible Bluetooth and/or AirPlay devices display. Simply tap the option for the speaker(s) you want to utilize. You can switch speakers at anytime. The AirPlay icon is also accessible from the Control Center when running iOS 7.

AirPlay Offers Another Wireless Speaker Option
AirPlay is a wireless technology developed by Apple that’s built into all Macs, iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and the Apple TV device. It works very much like Bluetooth, but to function, the mobile device and the AirPlay-compatible speakers need to be linked to the same wireless home network (via Wi-Fi).

Thus, the signal radius of AirPlay is the same as the radius of the Wi-Fi hotspot the devices are connected to, which is typically up to 65 feet. Apple has teamed up with a handful of speaker manufacturers, including Bowers & Wilkins, Altec, iHome, JBL, Samsung, and Logitech, to offer a wide section of optional AirPlay-compatible speakers that come in different shapes, sizes, and wattages. AirPlay-compatible speakers are sold at Apple Stores, Apple.com, and a handful of consumer electronics stores.

The price of AirPlay-compatible speakers tends to be a bit higher than wireless Bluetooth speakers. When the speakers are set up, turned on, and within the signal radius of a wireless home network, for them to work with an iPhone or iPad, simply launch Settings, turn on the Wi-Fi option, and connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the speakers. No pairing is required between devices.

When using an AirPlay compatible app, such as Music or Videos, the AirPlay icon appears, and you can divert the audio being played by that app from the device’s built-in speaker to the external AirPlay-compatible speaker with a single tap on the screen. When you upgrade your mobile device to iOS 7, the AirPlay icon is also accessible from Control Center.

AirPlay is also compatible with all Macs, so music from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch can be streamed to the speakers built into or connected to your iMac, Mac Pro, or MacBook. Likewise, Apple TV is also compatible with AirPlay. Thus, when the Apple TV device is connected to an HD television set or home theater system, audio, digital photos, and video from the iOS mobile device can be wirelessly streamed to the television set. Visit www.apple.com/appletv for more information on the features of Apple TV.

Putting your smartphone in a bowl not cutting it for playing your favorite tunes to friends? We know. View the benefits of bluetooth speakers here.
Today nearly everybody has a smartphone and that means that everybody carries their music with them wherever they go. Since you have the music, you also want to be able to listen to it wherever you are. While this often means bringing along a set of headphones, you don’t always need to keep the music to yourself, and often you’ll want to share it with more people, this is where a nice Bluetooth speaker comes in.

WHY BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS ARE GREAT
beneficial bluetooth speaker in a car

View Klipsch Portable Bluetooth Speakers Here

The benefits of Bluetooth speakers are numerous and varied. They connect wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet, or other device, so there’s no additional wires, or anything else, that you need to make them work. Most are also fairly portable, making them easy to take them to the park, the beach, or anyplace else that a group of people may want to listen to music together.

The fact that Bluetooth speakers can be taken nearly anywhere also means that they’re usually pretty sturdy, designed to be used in environment where other speakers could be easily damaged. Drop them in the sand, let them get covered in dust in the garage, it doesn’t matter, most Bluetooth speakers will keep going in nearly any environment. A Bluetooth speaker like the Klipsch Groove is even water resistant so that it can take a splash of water from a swimming pool or a spilled drink, and still keep going.

USING BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS AT HOME
Of course, it can also be much simpler than all that. maybe you just need music in a room of your house that doesn’t have a stereo system. Maybe it’s a small room and there isn’t space for anything larger or maybe you’re not ready to spend as much. Bluetooth speakers can bring full range audio into any room in your home for not a lot of money, and without taking up much space.

A Bluetooth speaker is quite simply the most versatile speaker that you can own. Any time and any place that you need music you’ve got a simple and effective way to make it happen.