Our concise best multi room speakers buying guide sifts through the clutter of fake reviews and insufficient expert analysis by diving deep into data and real-world testing. We scrutinized 346,580+ reviews (customer & expert) from 109+ Bluetooth speakers, evaluating essential performance aspects like maximum volume, battery life and low end roll-off. Our research revealed that 92% of experts fall short in their testing, but we’ve identified the credible few. This meticulous process has allowed us to curate a list of top-performing 3 best multi room speakers, providing you with the confidence to make an informed decision based on reliable test data and genuine insights.
Check out our list below of the 3 best multi room speakers from $199-$699 for any budget and use. For even more excellent options, read our best speakers guide.
How Did We Rank the Best Multi-Room Speakers?
We’ve redefined Bluetooth speaker buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach leverages a comprehensive dataset from 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics (2 required, 1 nice to have) to rank the top-rated multi-room speakers and ensure our recommendations meet your specific needs. Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
🧪 Test Criteria
- Low-End Roll-Off: Implementing a low-frequency roll-off below 60 Hz ensures the presence of subtle rumble in the bass, enhancing the immersive quality of your music or movie-watching experience.
- Volume Output: Provides a dynamic and immersive sound experience, achieving volume output levels exceeding 92 decibels, delivering powerful audio performance.
👍 “Nice To Haves”
- Battery Life: 9 hours is the length of time this Bluetooth speaker can play before the battery goes flat.
Latest Updates
- 04/14/2024: Published the list of best multi-room speakers based on our True Score system.
Top Multi Room Speakers For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
For a multi-room speakers to earn its place on our list, it must adhere to our strict standards for audio performance and quality. Any model that fails to meet these criteria will not be on the list!.
Our Approach to Evaluating Multi-Room Speakers
We’ve redefined Bluetooth speaker buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach uses a comprehensive dataset from trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like battery life, volume output and low end roll-off.
We aggregate and analyze this data, ensuring our recommendations meet the specific needs. Specifically, when it comes to multi-room speakers, this involves selecting models that deliver optimal sound quality and great battery life. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable Bluetooth speaker recommendations.
Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Multi-Room Speakers?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required, 1 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these Bluetooth speakers and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a speaker that is right for you.
CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
---|---|---|---|
Low End Roll Off (Hz) | < 60 Hz | Yes | The point at which bass response starts to fall sharply, causing it to rapidly become inaudible. |
Volume Output (dB) | > 92 dB | Yes | The maximum volume that a Bluetooth speaker is able to output when turned to max. |
Battery Life (Hours) | > 9 Hr | No (nice to have) | The length of time a Bluetooth speaker can play before the battery goes flat. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 133+ Bluetooth speaker reviewers and while 9 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Score), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Score above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.
- Becca Fischer – Rtings, MuckRack
- Michelle Powell – TechGearLab, MuckRack
- Brent Butterworth – Wirecutter, MuckRack, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every Bluetooth speaker review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Scores from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Bluetooth Speaker Test Data & Results
1. Low End Roll Off Test Results
The low-end roll off is key in determining how deep the bass on your Bluetooth speaker will sound. A Bluetooth speaker with a roll off that doesn’t start at a sufficiently low frequency leads to bass that sounds weak or is missing entirely, which makes music sound weak. Essentially, the deeper the bass can extend before rolling off, the more robust the sound.
For the majority of Bluetooth speakers and typical usage scenarios, aiming for a roll off that begins no higher than 60 Hz is advisable. However, the lower the frequency where roll off begins, the better the bass experience. It’s important to understand that there’s a limit to how low the roll off can go, so expecting Bluetooth speakers to achieve roll off points in the teens might be unrealistic. It’s also important to remember that Bluetooth speakers don’t have subwoofers and are also generally small, which limits how deep their bass can get.
Low End Roll Off
< 60 Hz
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: The point at which bass begins to sharply decline and becomes rapidly inaudible.
Units of Measurement: Hz (Hertz)
Tools to Measure: Oscilloscope
Why It’s Important:
If bass takes longer to start rolling off, it’ll generally be more present in your speaker’s output, which will give music much more “punch” and depth.
Low End Roll Off (in Hz; lower is better)
2. Volume Output Test Results
Maximum volume is the most straightforward test to grasp when it comes to Bluetooth speakers: it simply refers to the loudest level at which the speaker can play. However, the importance of having a high maximum volume might not be immediately obvious. Beyond the ability to fill rooms with sound or serve as party speakers, higher maximum volumes play a crucial role in ensuring audio clarity at typical listening volumes.
This concept is known as “headroom.” Adequate headroom in a Bluetooth speaker means it can reproduce sounds at a level that is both loud enough and clear enough, ensuring that your usual listening levels for music or podcasts are crisp and free from distortion. Your Bluetooth speaker should have a minimum of 92 dB of maximum volume. The higher the maximum volume, the better the speaker is at delivering sound that can fill increasingly large spaces without sacrificing sound quality.
Volume Output
>92 dB
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: The maximum volume that a Bluetooth speaker can hit at 100%.
Units of Measurement: dB (Decibels)
Tools to Measure: Sound level or decibel meter
Why It’s Important:
Max volume is how you ensure you’ve got enough volume to hear your music at a party without audio becoming heavily distorted.
Volume Output (in dB; higher is better)
3. Battery Life Test Results
Your Bluetooth speakers are more than likely going to be battery powered. They might not run solely on battery power, but it is more common than not for Bluetooth speakers to be able to play without being plugged into a wall. That means, you’ll want your speaker to be able to play for as long as possible without having to be plugged in to charge, so even if you forget your charging cable, you’re not shackled to 4 hours of play time.
It’s for this reason that we recommend that Bluetooth speakers have at least 9 hours of playtime – enough to get you through a full day of playing your speakers. That said, there’s no upper limit to battery life – the more you can get “under your belt”, the better. If your speaker can deliver more than 17 hours of battery life on a single charge, you’ve got more than enough for two days and change, which is plenty of time to remember you need to plug the speaker in.
Battery Life
> 9 Hours
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: The amount of time speakers can play before the battery dies.
Units of Measurement: Hours
Tools to Measure: Timer
Why It’s Important:
Battery life is what keeps your speaker going when you’re out and about, otherwise your speaker can’t survive heavy usage in a day or a weekend.
Battery Life (in hours; higher is better)
Best Multi-Room Speakers: Mistakes To Avoid
- Neglecting Compatibility: Ensure that the multi-room speakers you choose are compatible with your existing audio devices and streaming services. Not all speakers work seamlessly with every streaming platform or smart home ecosystem.
- Ignoring Audio Quality: Don’t sacrifice sound quality for the sake of multi-room functionality. Look for speakers that offer excellent audio performance, with clear highs, detailed mids, and deep bass, to enjoy high-quality audio throughout your home. Incorporating the best studio monitors into your setup can provide enhanced clarity and accuracy for those who also engage in music production or critical listening, making them a complementary choice alongside your multi-room system.
- Not Considering Room Size: Different speakers are suited to different room sizes. Make sure you choose speakers that are appropriately sized and powered to fill the rooms where they’ll be placed with rich, immersive sound. Similarly, when selecting the best Bluetooth speaker, consider both its size and its sound output capabilities to ensure it meets the acoustic demands of your intended space effectively.
- Overlooking Multi-Room Setup Complexity: Some multi-room speaker systems can be complicated to set up and manage. Avoid systems that require overly technical installation or have a steep learning curve if you prefer a straightforward setup process. For those using Apple devices, opting for the best AirPlay speakers can simplify the setup and integration process, as they are designed to seamlessly connect with iOS and macOS systems, ensuring a user-friendly experience.
The Best Multi-Room Speakers Tests Compared
Product | True Score
|
Battery Life
|
Volume Output
|
Low End Roll Off
|
High End Roll Off
| |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 |
|
|
|
| $199.99 |
| 85 |
|
|
|
| $699.00 |
| 84 |
|
|
|
| $449.95 $550 $100 |