Best multi-room speakers 2024: whole-home wireless speakers tried and tested

Sonos Era 300 on a stand in a home environment
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Why should you opt for a multi-room speaker over a traditional one? Let us count the reasons...

Firstly, and most obviously, they can bring music to every corner of your home, whether it's a different playlist in each room to create 'zones' with distinct ambiences, or the same one house-wide in party mode.

They do all this without wires – apart from a power cable – so they won't leave your home looking like the end of Superman III. They don't require controllers either – you do it all from an app on your phone. And they connect over your home wi-fi network, making it a doddle to stream and share music.

Lastly, they can sound pretty great. We've chosen all of the below based on numerous factors like ease of use, compatibility and design, but sound quality always comes top of our list. All of the below have scored very well in our reviews, so you know they're great-sounding first, while also being superb for multi-room use.

How to choose the right multi-room speaker

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

You might have your eye on a complete multi-room system, but you don't have to buy it all at once. You can start with one or two speakers and expand from room to room, spreading the cost over months or even years. You don't even have stick to one brand of speaker, but if you do mix and match, check that the speakers have the same streaming tech built in (AirPlay 2 or Google's Chromecast, for example).

Most systems are now compatible with voice assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. You can opt to listen to the same song in every room, or a different song in each room, ensuring a harmonious home in more ways than one.

Sonos' multi-room speakers are the most recognisable, and with good reason. They're intuitive and generally sound fantastic. But there are plenty of rivals, too, all serving tempting features such as support for hi-res audio files or your favourite streaming service, Bluetooth connectivity and more. Read on to discover the best multi-room speakers we've tested. 

Sonos Era 300 on a stand in a home environment

The Sonos Era 300 incorporates spatial audio with ease and without compromise. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. The five-star Era 300 lives up to the hype, with fantastic sound quality and a classy spatial audio experience.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 5.0 (SBC, AAC)
Connections: USB-C line-in (separate adapters required)
Features: AirPlay 2, wi-fi 6, Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, stereo pairing, Sonos voice control, Alexa voice control, Trueplay tuning, adjustable EQ
Dimensions (hwd): 16 x 26 x 18.5cm

Reasons to buy

+
Immense scale of sound 
+
Great with spatial audio tracks 
+
Wide streaming support

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey 
-
Wired connection needs adapter
-
Divisive design

It seems that it isn't enough for the best multi-room speakers to just deliver great sound and a decent array of features anymore. Ever since Apple's mighty HomePod 2 landed early in 2023 with the ability to deliver the immersive spatial audio experience, the race has been on to see who could challenge the biggest dog on the block when it came to integrating the much-vaunted tech into their own speaker designs.

Enter the Era 300, Sonos’ more expensive rival to the HomePod 2 that looks to beat Apple at its own game. With its unique, “cinched hourglass” shape, there’s no question that the Era 300 is a bit more of an acquired taste than most of the brand’s rather more conservative designs, but what isn't up for debate is how superbly the five-star Era 300 manages to perform. In short, it is absolutely excellent. 

Throw whatever you like at the Era 300, chances are it has it covered, filling our testing rooms with cohesive, spacious sound without a hint of a struggle. Big choral numbers feel broad and immersive when playing spatial audio with Dolby Atmos tracks, but the Era 300 excels with all genres. Hip-hop, classic rock, soundtracks, it’s all covered with ease.

Yes, it’s expensive and yes, it smacks of a rip-off having to pay 20 quid extra for a wired connector, but the Era 300 has earned the right to be cheeky. It comes with all the bells and whistles of Sonos's exhaustive app, making multi-room playback a doddle if you have multiple Sonos speakers or soundbars around your home.

A truly five-star performer, and one of the best multi-room speakers we’ve tested in a good while.

Read the full Sonos Era 300 review

Apple HomePod 2 on the floor in front of a potted plant

Apple's latest HomePod takes everything we loved about the original and updates it. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. The best-sounding multi-room speaker for Apple fans.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 5.0
Connections: None
Features: Siri, AirPlay 2, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, stereo pairing
Dimensions (hwd): 17 x 14 x 14cm

Reasons to buy

+
Natural, solid and energetic sound
+
Spacious and three-dimensional, particularly with Atmos
+
Brilliantly well made

Reasons to avoid

-
Still only suitable for dedicated Apple users
-
No Siri control for Spotify, Tidal etc
-
Some rivals have a more direct sound

The HomePod 2 might look identical to its predecessor, but under the hood it's all change.

Sonically, it's a real improvement on the original, especially in the bass notes – they hit with a greater degree of precision than the first HomePod's. It's better elsewhere too, with a more organised presentation in terms of both soundscape and rhythms, more solidity and greater tightness. All of which makes it a more fun speaker to listen to.

And that's all before we get to the multi-room element.  It's beautifully simple to set up and manage, but as with most Apple devices, there's a caveat: you have to be deeply ensconced within Apple's ecosystem in order to reap all the benefits. For example, its primary wireless connection needs Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol, the only music streaming service it natively supports is Apple Music, and Siri is the only virtual assistant you can use. If you're not an Apple fan, look elsewhere.

If you are an Apple fan, however, you're in for a treat. Especially when you experience its real-time, surroundings-based sound optimisation – move it to another room, and you can hear it adjusting its output to match the new layout. Very smart.

Read the full Apple HomePod 2 review

Sonos Era 100 on a cabinet

Sonos' smaller half of the Era duo is almost as mighty, boasting great sound, excellent build quality and a veritable host of streaming features. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
A vast array of features, generous sound and excellent usability make it one of the best multi-room speakers money can buy.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 5.0 (SBC, AAC)
Connections: USB-C line-in (separate adapter required)
Features: AirPlay 2, wi-fi 6, Stereo pairing, Sonos voice control, Amazon Alexa voice control, Trueplay tuning, Adjustable EQ
Dimensions (hwd) : 18.25 x 12 x 13.05cm

Reasons to buy

+
Large, detailed sound 
+
Vast catalogue of streaming features 
+
Simple-to-use app

Reasons to avoid

-
Adapter costs extra 
-
Could have more natural voices

The Sonos Era 100 succeeds the Sonos One below – the new model sounds better and adds USB-C and Bluetooth connections, but is more expensive. Still, it's a lot cheaper than the Era 300 (which it launched alongside). The main difference between the two Eras? This one isn't built for spatial audio. On the plus side, it's more recognisable as a speaker than the Era 300.

Just like its bigger brother, it delivers on the sound front. The audio is surprisingly large for a speaker of this size – it's open with a fine sense of space, and plenty of detail and precision. It also has enough rhythmic drive to keep your toes tapping.

Like all Sonos products, it's quality through and through, with a sturdy yet elegant design, fantastic app and plenty of streaming options.

If you can't afford – or don't need – the Era 300, but want a step up from the Sonos One, the Era 100 is a fantastic multi-room speaker. And because it's made by Sonos, it'll work seamlessly with the multi-room king's other models, which you can also slot into your set-up.

Read the full Sonos Era 100 review

Sonos One on a marble kitchen worktop

Is the Sonos One the One for you? Quite possibly, based on this performance. (Image credit: Sonos)
Still a great Sonos multi-room speaker, with great sound and Alexa/Google voice control.

Specifications

Bluetooth: No
Connections: Ethernet
Features: Alexa and Google voice assistant, wi-fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, stereo pairing
Dimensions (hwd): 16 x 12 x 12cm

Reasons to buy

+
Stylish and unobtrusive
+
Solid, sophisticated sound
+
Alexa and Google Assistant
+
Vast streaming features

Reasons to avoid

-
No hi-res audio support
-
Now succeeded by Sonos Era 100

Sonos has ruled the multi-room roost for over a decade now, and with good reason. The Sonos One is one of the best-sounding multi-room speakers on the market, combining room-filling sound with both Alexa and Google smart assistant voice controls. It was recently replaced by the Sonos Era 100 (see above), but while it's still around, it's definitely worth considering.

The Sonos One is still a winning combination, offering voice control and multi-room smarts alongside its musical talents. A vast array of music streaming services are built into the app, but there's no Bluetooth on board. However, it does feature Apple AirPlay 2 tech built in, so you can stream music, podcasts and radio stations directly from your iPhone or iPad. 

It delivers a weighty, full-bodied and loud sound, which is not what you would expect from a speaker this size. The soundstage is spacious and impressively organised, with vocals given plenty of breathing room, making them more engaging. The Sonos Era 100 offers stereo sound and even more detail, dynamics and weight, but the One still offers a charming performance.

Looking for an affordable, feature-packed multi-room speaker? This is the One to go for.

Read the full Sonos One review

Audio Pro Addon C3 being carried up the stairs by a man

The C3 is the perfect Addon for your multi-room setup. (Image credit: Audio Pro)
One of the key members of Audio Pro’s family of talented multi-room speakers.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 4.0 (SBC, AAC)
Connections: 3.5mm, Ethernet, Aux
Features: Wi-fi, AirPlay, 15hr battery life
Dimensions (hwd): 11.5 x 21.5 x 13.5cm

Reasons to buy

+
Mature, refined sound
+
Impressive timing
+
Tight, textured bass

Reasons to avoid

-
Control app could be slicker

The Addon C3 is basically the wi-fi-enabled, multi-room version of Audio Pro's Addon T3. It has the same minimalist looks that the Scandinavian company is known for, complete with textured surfaces and an embossed leather carry handle, but the wireless tech adds a whole new dimension to your listening. 

The Audio Pro Addon C3 supports all the main streaming services, including TidalSpotifyQobuz and Apple Music, with playback controlled via the Audio Pro Control app for iOS and Android. It’s not quite the seamless experience offered by Sonos’ equivalent app, but neither is it seriously flawed.

Set-up is a painless process whether you choose a Bluetooth or wi-fi connection. When setting up a multi-room system, the app searches for other Audio Pro speakers in the vicinity on the same network, and you can then drag-and-drop from here to group or separate speakers, either in stereo pairs or multi-room zones, or else make manual adjustments to bass and treble.

Sonically, it's a belter of a speaker and a fine addition to any home set-up. The sound offered is mature, refined and textured, with an open, detailed delivery backed by a really impressive sense of rhythmic drive. At this price, the only thing we could really find to gripe about was a slightly clunky control app, but that's hardly a fatal flaw.

Read the full Audio Pro Addon C3 review

Audio Pro Addon C10 Mark II on a living room cabinet

The C10 MkII builds on the original C10's already stellar feature set. (Image credit: Audio Pro)
Audio Pro adds Google Cast and AirPlay 2 to a winning recipe.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 4.2 (SBC, AAC)
Connections: RCA, subwoofer
Features: Wi-fi, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast
Dimensions (hwd): 16.6 x 32 x 18cm

Reasons to buy

+
Levelled-up streaming support
+
Greater clarity
+
Cleaner and tighter bass

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks the fun of the original

The Audio Pro Addon C10 was one of our favourite wireless speakers – a multi-Award-winner, no less. The C10 MkII adds to its feature set with the addition of Apple's AirPlay 2 and Google Cast streaming skills. Considering the original boasted Bluetooth, the previous format of AirPlay and RCA inputs, that's quite some skill set.

Undoubtedly some will miss the original C10's 3.5mm aux input, and Amazon fans will lament the loss of Alexa (in favour of Google Assistant). Some will also question why Audio Pro got rid of the carry handle. But one listen should quiet their concerns.

The low end has significantly more impact than the original's, thanks to the redesigned bass port. It's tighter and cleaner, and more expansive, particularly through the lower registers. The impeccable timing remains, and the presentation is a little more even. It's not quite as fun as its predecessor though – we wouldn't go so far as to say it's clinical, but it is definitely more refined, and in smoothing off the rough edges, Audio Pro has blunted some of the enthusiasm of the original.

Still, it remains one of the best multi-room speakers around, especially at the money – it's currently available for around half its £500 / $500 launch price.

Read the full Audio Pro Addon C10 MkII review

Naim Mu-so Qb lifestyle shot with foliage and a mirror

New colours, along with upgraded midrange and bass drive units make for a superb proposition. (Image credit: Naim)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. Just a few tweaks make for a superb second version.

Specifications

Bluetooth: Yes (SBC, AAC)
Connections: 3.5mm aux, USB, optical, Ethernet
Features: Wi-fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Roon Ready, Hi-res up to 24-bit/384kHz
Dimensions (hwd): 21 x 22 x 21cm

Reasons to buy

+
Open, detailed and expressive
+
Loads of streaming options
+
Multi-room ready

Reasons to avoid

-
Can be a pricey option

At What Hi-Fi?, we know full well the value of revisions. Yet still, it was quite the surprise when first we heard about one made by Naim with its second generation of the Mu-so Qb wireless speaker. The previous iteration was great, earning five stars when it was first reviewed. This version, however, is truly phenomenal. 

You can now choose between an Olive, Terracotta or Peacock grille alongside the standard black, but the best tweaks Naim has made go far deeper. Remove whatever colour grille you've gone for and you'll be rewarded with upgraded and optimised midrange and bass drive units, all powered by a total of 300W of amplification. 

This is peak Naim, so the sound is exactly as rich and pleasing as you'd expect. The tweaks might not have been extensive, but they make a noticeable difference when you fire your Mu-so Qb up and really let it loose. Treble response is lively and open, with a satisfyingly meaty bass delivered with punch, precision and panache. The second generation also improves markedly on its predecessor’s timing and dynamic range, thriving when delivering snappy rhythmic patterns and sparky numbers.

Belying its box-like dimensions to deliver a truly satisfying experience, the Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation scooped up a What Hi-Fi? Award for the best home wireless speaker over £500 – for the second year running – and was our overall Product of the Year in 2022. Not bad at all.

Read the full Naim Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation review 

Apple HomePod Mini on a cabinet with an iPhone

Mini it might be, but this HomePod's presence is anything but small. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
What Hi-Fi? Awards winner. Apple’s Siri-powered smart speaker is tiny and mighty.

Specifications

Bluetooth: No
Connections: None
Features: Siri, AirPlay 2, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, stereo pairing
Dimensions (hwd): 8.4 x 9.8 x 9.8cm

Reasons to buy

+
Sophisticated, engaging sound
+
Substantial smart skills
+
Impressive music discovery

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited third-party service support
-
No physical inputs

If the HomePod 2 is too big for your living space but you still want a smart speaker to integrate into your Apple ecosystem, the HomePod Mini is your next best bet. 

At just 8.4cm tall and 9.8cm wide, it’s quite a bit smaller than the similarly spherical Amazon Echo (5th gen). But there's nothing small about its performance – it goes loud. Really loud. For the size and price, it's really quite an amazingly sophisticated sonic performer. Listen to it next to its rivals, and the competition starts to look a little unfair.

It's also sophisticated when it comes to recommendations. We're not overly enamoured with the Siri voice assistant, but you can't help but be impressed by its powers of prediction. Ask it for music you might like – after a period of use so it can learn your tastes, of course – and it'll find songs that you are unlikely to have heard before, and that you are very likely to love. Consider that most smart speakers will respond to the same request by playing your most-played tracks, and it's clear that Apple is streets ahead.

Of course you will need an Apple Music subscription for this feature, and therein lies the rub – you need Apple devices and services to get the most from the HomePod Mini. Apple acolytes will need no convincing, but those unwilling to port their whole digital life over to Apple might be better served elsewhere.

Read the full Apple HomePod Mini review 

Naim Mu-so Wood Edition on a marble work surface

This hi-res unit isn't cheap, but it is worth every penny. (Image credit: Naim)
A stunning, high-end, all-in-one speaker with multi-room capability.

Specifications

Bluetooth: Yes (SBC, AAC)
Connections: 3.5mm stereo, optical, Ethernet, HDMI ARC
Features: Wi-fi, UPnP, Spotify, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Tidal
Dimensions (hwd): 12 x 63 x 26cm

Reasons to buy

+
Sensational detail and dynamics
+
Convincing bass
+
Loads of wireless and streaming features

Reasons to avoid

-
That high price tag

Multi-room speakers don't have to cost the earth, as this list shows. But if you want stunning design and audiophile sound, you can't go far wrong with the impressive Naim Mu-so 2, which sits more towards the top end of the price spectrum. Though rest assured it more than justifies its price.

It streams hi-res music up to 32-bit and offers direct streaming from Spotify Connect and Tidal. Throw in Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, and you have access to yet more internet radio stations, plus Deezer, Qobuz and Google Play Music. 

The Mu-so 2 connects to its smaller siblings, the Mu-so Qb speakers, via AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Naim's own software. Building a multi-room system around the Mu-so 2 won't be cheap, but you'll be rewarded with premium build quality, rich sound and plenty of bass. Dig deep into those pockets, and you'll have the beginnings of a stunning multi-room system.

Read the full Naim Mu-so 2 review

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) on a cabinet

Amazon’s entry-level smart device gives you far more from a tiny speaker than you could possibly hope for.   (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
The exceptionally affordable Echo Dot is the most compelling case for choosing Alexa yet.

Specifications

Bluetooth: Yes
Connections: Wi-fi
Features: Smart-device compatible, on-surface touch control, snooze alarm
Dimensions (hwd): 10 x 10 x 8.9cm

Reasons to buy

+
Impressively expansive sound
+
Great Alexa integration 
+
Compact, understated aesthetic 

Reasons to avoid

-
Sound distortion at the higher ranges
-
No physical inputs

Amazon's smart speaker range has become big business in the past decade or so, with Alexa becoming almost synonymous with the whole concept of integrated, domestic AI. The latest addition to this wildly popular series of affordable smart speakers is the Echo Dot (5th Generation), a tempting performer that practically gives itself away thanks to its meagre asking price and five-star quality.

Not that the Dot feels cheap. Whereas once Alexa was a one-note performer capable of answering basic questions about the weather and or what the capital of France is, now she's as filled to the brim with skills and knowledge as Keanu Reeves after he's been uploaded with various handy computer programs (although she doesn't, as of yet, "know Kung fu"). The Dot's cybernetic assistant is more helpful than ever before, stuffed with so many tricks and quirks that you will often find yourself falling into the trap of speaking to Alexa as though it, or rather she, were a real person.

Audio has come a long way, too. We weren't hugely keen on the sound of Amazon's early Echo models, but the trajectory has been very much one of continual improvement courtesy of Jeff Bezos' tireless team of audio tinkerers. Amazon's so-called “best-sounding Echo Dot yet” lives up to its billing thanks to a single 44mm front-firing speaker (4mm larger than the previous gen’s 40mm), offering sound that feels, for the size, weighty, listenable and surprisingly versatile.

Read the full Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) review

Sonos Roam on a wooden chair outside

Sonos' first proper portable speaker also slots right into the firm's multi-room ecosystem. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
The Sonos entry to the portable outdoor speaker market does a decent job.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 5.0 (SBC, AAC)
Connections: USB-C
Features: Wi-fi, AirPlay 2, 10hr battery life
Dimensions (hwd): 16.8 x 6.2 x 6cm

Reasons to buy

+
Full-bodied sound
+
Lots of features
+
Portable 

Reasons to avoid

-
Could sound clearer
-
Average dynamics

The Sonos Roam is the firm's cheapest speaker. Portable, with Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity, the Toblerone-shaped Roam is a great alternative to the company's first Bluetooth speaker, the much larger, heavier and more expensive, Sonos Move (and now Move 2). 

Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the Roam is rated IP67 waterproof and boasts a 10-hour battery life – despite being a sixth of the size of the Move.

It comes with an excellent bag of tricks, too. Sonos Swap lets you 'hand off' whatever music the Roam is playing to another Sonos speaker nearby, while improved Auto TruePlay uses the speaker's microphones to optimise the sound according to the speaker's surroundings.

And thanks to its wi-fi ability, it can still be included in your wider Sonos multi-room system as the smallest speaker in the range. Sound quality is seriously full-bodied, but it's fair to say other Bluetooth speakers offer a slightly more dynamic performance. Does that matter? Not when you factor in the Roam's nomadic abilities, AirPlay 2 support and robust build quality. All in all, a great Sonos starter speaker.

Read the full Sonos Roam review

Two Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo speakers flanking an expensive-looking cabinet

Deadly precision, excellent clarity, unique looks... these B&W speakers have it all. (Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
Got the cash? The Duo are wonderfully accomplished, sophisticated and expensive wireless speakers.

Specifications

Bluetooth: 4.1 (SBC, AAC, aptX HD)
Connections: USB, Ethernet
Features: Wi-fi, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2
Dimensions (hwd): 39.5 x 19.7 x 30.5cm

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent multi-room features
+
Snappy timing
+
Tight, authoritative bass
+
Transparent performance

Reasons to avoid

-
No fully featured app
-
Some buyers will be priced out

They are not cheap and their aesthetic might not appeal to everyone, but if you want a wireless pair of standmount speakers that sound fantastic and have multi-room powers, you have found them. The Duo are deadly precise speakers with excellent clarity and speed of performance that make you want to dig out tune after tune just to hear what they can do. 

The multi-room feature set, while not perfect (we would prefer a single app to handle every function), is more than made up for by the superb audio performance. Bowers & Wilkins may have been late to the multi-room party, but boy it arrived with a bang – more fashionably late than annoyingly so.

The speakers bristle with raw energy, and the stereo imaging is completely on-point. They deliver a huge amount of power when called for, while serving up a delicate beauty in the quieter passages.

The downside? They will expose any flaws in recordings, so make sure your source material is up to scratch.

Read the full Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo review 

How we test multi-room speakers

At What Hi-Fi? we comprehensively test and review every product we recommend, from soundbars to speakers, headphones and TVs. And it's no different for multi-room speakers. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers, test all of the speakers we review. 

What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, listening to one set of speakers up against the next, to figure out exactly how they differ and what each one does best. We keep class-leading products in our stockrooms so we can compare new products to ones we know and love.

We are always impartial and do our best to make sure we're hearing every product - including multi-room speakers - at their very best. So we'll use different partnering products, experiment with speaker positioning, try plenty of different types of music, and give them plenty of listening time (and time to run in).

Alongside sound quality, multi-room speaker systems are also tested for their various features, ease of set-up and use, including using voice assistants where included. We aim to test multiple products in each family as well to gauge how it operates in a genuine multi-room experience, usually involving at least two wireless speakers and a soundbar, but this will vary depending on each system's product line-up.

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, with What Hi-Fi? having decades of delivering honest, unbiased reviews.

MORE:

Sonos: everything you need to know

Here are the best wireless speakers for every budget 

Bag a bargain: best speaker deals

Harry McKerrell
Staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. He studied law and history at university before working as a freelance journalist covering TV and gaming for numerous platforms both online and in print. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or forcing himself to go long-distance running.

With contributions from
  • RodimusPrime
    Disappointing review. No inclusion of Edifier or the S1000W for this category, even though the price-performance ratio is the best of all those speakers!
    Reply