Holiday Gift Guide: 12 Wireless Speakers We Want This Year

The holidays always bring about several end-of-year festivities. And truth be told, every dope office party, Christmas get-together, or New Year's Eve bash is backed by a dope sound system that keeps the celebration pumping till the break of dawn. So in prepping the next (or possibly last) major event this year, it's only smart to put your budget towards a wireless audio solution—Airplay, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi-enabled—built to blast detailed, sonorous, and tantalizing sonics. The market is flooded with a variety of portable and household-centric receivers made to please audiophiles of all kinds. So we advise stepping up your audio game by checking out the Best Wireless Speakers available this season.

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Price: $200

The most affordable offering in Sonos collection of hi-fi wireless receivers is the company’s best and most impressive option to date. Ideal for the bedroom and any bookshelf, the Play:1 comes equipped with one of the smoothest soundscapes backed by impressive bass response, as well as solid mids and highs. Of course that's to be expected from a speaker carrying a 3.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweet, each powered by class-D amps. An user-friendly ecosystem, simplistic setup process, and wide variety of playback features add to its unbeatable value.

Price: $450

Airplay conformists need look no further than B&W’s wireless dock to satisfy their satiable hunger for high-quality audio. The Z2 is an elegantly designed and engineered speaker suited for the luxury crowd desiring style and substance. A 20 watt-per-channel stereo amplifier mated with 3.5-inch full range drivers ensures crisp acoustics, solid bass response, and vivid clarity.

Price: $200

Combine the stellar wireless technology of Motorola with unprecedented portable features and the stylish appeal of Sol Republic's fashion-forward headphones—the end product is the DECK. Colorful in appearance and performance, the receiver lets users have fun by thiefing the playlist from others via Heist Mode, while backed by class-leading Bluetooth technology that offers control up to 300 feet. NFC tap-top-pair support and 10-hour battery run time rounds out its premiums.

Price: $300

Cutting-edge design meets modern resonance—HK’s translucent orbs feature sculptural enclosures that compliment the system’s amazing sound stage. Performance-tuned 2.5-inch drivers and 1.25-inch tweeters help generate extended bass response and richer acoustics. The touch-sensitive volume controls located at the top are executed remarkably and work flawlessly. In addition, analog and optical inputs open the lane for HDTV or set-top box support, plus the Nova doubles as stereo monitors for you laptop or PC.

Price: $200

Ultimate Ears cylindrical blaster lives up to its moniker with a 360-degree layout optimized to produce ridiculously loud and sharp noise. Bass levels are strong enough to rattle any desktop or make your mountain bike feel like it’s equipped with hydraulics. Double up by syncing the device with another to create a fuller listening experience; also use the accompanying app to change EQ settings and set up alarms with music playback.

Price: $298

Think the speakers on your HDTV suck? Don’t feel ashamed, we all do. Vizio gives your home theater an audio facelift with its immersive sound bar system and wireless subwoofer bundle. The inclusion of rear satellite speakers only intensifies the sound reproduction traveling across your living room, working in unison with the entire system to dish out remarkable stereo imaging and striking hi-fi results.

Price: $300

After revamping its popular Studio headphone line, Beats goes on to upgrade its micro-wireless speaker with a built-in charger for portable device charging, 15 hours of battery life, and NFC technology. Tapping two Pills together will connect each one to play the same track, where as tapping them twice assigns left and right stereo channels. The XL is also programmed to turn off automatically after 10 minutes without a signal.

Price: $700

Bose takes a shot at Sonos with its own home audio-streaming device, which connects directly to any wireless network and features built-in music services right out of the box. The audio pioneer integrates a new driver unit and signature waveguide technology into the SoundTouch 30, allowing the system to occupy large spaces with monstrous sound output. Bose also makes it possible to pair multiple speakers and offers a proprietary app compatible with most platforms (Android, iOS, Mac, Windows) to adjust the six preset channels and control playback.

Price: $200

The coolest wireless speaker on the block, the JBL Pulse breathes life into any party environment by putting on an alluring LED light show and promoting unadulterated sound. Configure it to show five different lighting modes, two programmed to react in real-time with your music catalog. Two 40mm speaker drivers and a passive built-in bass port warrants impactful sonics.

Price: $500

Impressing us last year with the dynamic-functioning Zipp speaker, Libratone offers up another upscale audio solution designed to be the centerpiece of your living room. The company's patented PlayDirect technology lets you stream music without the need of a Wi-Fi access point, while outfitted with AirPlay and DLNA funtionality to accommodate multi-platform support (iOS, Andorid, and Windows Phone 8). Powered by two ribbon-style tweeter drivers and a subwoofer, the Loop flaunts a soundscape sharper than its upscale appearance.

Price: $180

This lighter and thinner model of the popular Bluetooth speaker packs effectively loud sonics and unique command features into a more portable, sleeker package available in multiple flavors. Expect detailed mids and highs, along with good sound at moderate volumes.

Price: $250

Furnished with a distinctive walnut-paneled enclosure, the Kickstarter-originated PWS features Grammy Award winning sound processing technology that plays music at nearly 50 percent greater volumes than any other portable speaker. Embrace the austere clarity and mids/highs emitted through its dual two-inch drivers, which are powerful enough to fill an entire room.