As oxymoronic as it sounds, even cheap soundbars are expensive. Flagship soundbars? Oof, don't look at the price tag if you're already feeling a bit weepy, because you won't like it. "How many zeros? That has to be a typo, right?"

Nope. No typo. Unfortunately, dropping well over $1,500 for one of the best soundbars is... normal? How can this possibly be normal? Who has that kind of money? Not me, that's for sure, but I'm here to help you make well-informed purchasing decisions.

I recently reviewed the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 and the Samsung Q990H — both the American and Korean behemoths' current flagships. While the JBL option came out in late 2025, it's still the current flagship, hence my referring to it as 2026's flagship. Samsung's was released earlier in 2026.

These two soundbars represent the best of the best. While I'm sure you won't be disappointed by either, I know which one I would buy, and here's why. Let's get into it.

Bass battle

Both the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 and the Samsung Q990H have extremely powerful bass. Both models come with a standalone 300W subwoofer. In real terms, that means hella bass.

In the U.S. model, JBL's sub has a single 12-inch driver, whilst the E.U. and U.K. model equals Samsung's dual 8-inch driver setup. As I'm in the U.K., I tested the dual-driver version, and, unfortunately, I can't confidently say if there's a tangible difference between the models. I can, however, assure you with every fiber of my being that the U.K. sub is Epic. Yes, with a capital 'E'.

I watched "Top Gun: Maverick" with both soundbars. Of the JBL, I wrote in my review, "The first scene, with Maverick flying in hypersonic, rumbled through the subwoofer with immense energy and depth." Even so, "each [high-frequency] siren blare and alarm was clear over the pounding bass", which proves the subwoofer doesn't overpower the rest of the soundstage.

Similarly, Samsung's bass performance was excellent during "The Batman". In my review, I wrote, "I could feel the subwoofer through the chair", and "My colleagues told me they could feel the subwoofer rumbling from downstairs, so I’m sorry, but I was having too much fun to care."

Yep, that's all I really needed to write, isn't it? What else can you ask for from a flagship soundbar?

There's also a bass boost mode on the JBL and Samsung apps, and individual subwoofer volume adjustments, which I set to the max during my testing period. While I wouldn't recommend this if you've got sensitive downstairs neighbors, you can seriously push the subs to their peaks.

Dialogue duel

One of the most important features in a soundbar is its ability to produce clear, intelligible dialogue without losing bass, high-frequency in-scene (diegetic) sound effects, soundtrack, and 360° audio. It's not a tall order, is it?

Both the Samsung and JBL models have a dialogue enhancement in the app. I didn't find the need to use this on the Samsung, not even during radio-ed dialogue scenes. JBL's isn't explicitly called dialogue mode, but Movie mode brings dialogue to the center channel, and the soundbar has something called PureVoice 2.0. In real terms, this means it's better at isolating and pronouncing speech than soundbars without PureVoice 2.0.

I've seen some users online discredit the 1300X MK2's dialogue performance, but I completely disagree. I never struggled to hear dialogue; not during flying scenes in "Top Gun: Maverick", nor the action sequences in "No Time to Die". I heard every word.

The Samsung model is just as clear. In "Top Gun: Maverick"'s near-overwhelming dogfighting scenes, I "could hear every layer of in-scene plane sound effects, each rich guitar chord, and every syllable of dialogue."

I don't think there's a clear winner here. Perhaps I'd recommend the Samsung if you know you have dialogue processing issues personally — due to the explicit dialogue enhancement mode — but I never strained to understand actors in any movie on either soundbar.

Dolby Atmos dalliance

Dolby Atmos is another must-have feature when you're looking at premium, flagship soundbars. Of course, both the JBL and Samsung have DTS:X as well, but as I watched Dolby Atmos-enabled 4K UHD Blu-rays, I need to evaluate Dolby Atmos performance here. If you have DTS:X DVDs, just know both soundbars will play them to their full potential.

Even so, the JBL just took the win here. "Top Gun: Maverick" is the best movie to test Dolby Atmos (I'll fight you on this) thanks to the gorgeous flying scenes. When I watched this movie on the JBL, the planes "raced overhead as if I were truly outside."

On top of that, the OST was "bombastic without overpowering the screeching jet engine sounds, and the radio dialogue was surprisingly clear."

However, I still wanted a little more. Now that I've tested the $3,500 Yamaha True X Surround 90A — the best Dolby Atmos soundbar I've ever used, but way too expensive and with unimpressive dialogue performance — I'm a tough cookie.

Similarly, when I tested the Samsung, I wrote, "width is great, but the Q990H doesn’t sound quite as high as I’d like for $2k."

I could hear the planes around me, but the JBL did a better job of tricking me the planes were flying over me. "I wanted more from the surround speakers," I wrote of the Q990H. "Even on “Surround” mode, I wanted a stronger surround sound."

Although it's close, and although I still thoroughly enjoyed testing the Samsung Q990H, the JBL just cinched this victory.

Feature facedown

New for 2026, Samsung no longer restricts its awesome "SpaceFit Sound Pro" to compatible AI Samsung TVs. I tested the Q990H on both an LG and a TCL and I enabled SpaceFit Sound Pro in SmartThings.

JBL has a similar room configuration tool, but its name is a little less snazzy: audio calibration. Boo! Where's the whimsy? Where's the trademarkeable moniker?

I jest, I jest. As long as the feature works, I really don't care what it's called.

Both Samsung and JBL's room calibration features work perfectly. When I tested the Samsung, the sound before was good enough, but it was a little pinched in the center speaker and a touch diffused on the rear channels. After enabling SpaceFit Sound Pro, the soundbar readjusted itself so the dialogue was more expansive.

Similarly, JBL's audio calibration increased the height, width, and depth of sound, providing a more immersive experience.

If you have an oddly shaped living room or weirdly low ceilings, both these calibration tools will adjust audio output to optimize for your space. I wouldn't buy a premium soundbar without this feature.

Of course, both soundbars have more features than just automatic room calibration. Both have AirPlay, so you can play music from your phone to the devices, and both sound surprisingly great. Soundbars are notorious for making even the best songs sound mediocre, but that's not the case here. Bass is powerful and controlled through both 300W subwoofers, and the soundbars themselves do a fantastic job of separating vocals for maximum musicality.

There's a plethora of playback modes in both soundbars, namely dialogue enhancer and bass boost, which I discussed earlier.

However, there's one key place where the Samsung takes the lead: 4K pass-through at 120Hz. The JBL lags behind at just 60Hz (still — this was one of my major qualms with the original model).

If you're a 4K gamer, this will probably edge your hand towards the Samsung. Personally, though, I would never notice the 60Hz refresh rate, as I don't game. Just something to think about.

My choice

This decision is much trickier right now — both soundbars are massively discounted. The JBL Bar 1300X MK2 is $300 off, down from $1,700 to $1,400. Similarly, Samsung's Q990H is $1,500 down from $2,000. Yes, a huge $500 off.

Before the discount, it's a no-brainer: grab the cheaper JBL if you don't have a Samsung TV. You'd save $400 and get a more immersive experience while you're at it.

I would personally still buy the JBL instead. I'm a famous (or infamous, depending on how you view it) spendthrift. If something is $9 and something else is $8.99, I'm buying the $8.99 one. I get to keep my cent!

Both soundbars have room-filling bass. Samsung and JBL's 300W subwoofers are both forces to be reckoned with, and both the 11-channel soundbars provide unbeatable dialogue clarity. On top of that, both have wireless rears for true Dolby Atmos immersion.

For me, though, the JBL just ekes out the win thanks to the slightly better height and more palatable price tag.

Which one would you buy?

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“What if this milk carton could play music?” is probably what the engineers over at Nothing asked themselves when they designed the CMF Speaker M. The M is Nothing’s budget sub-brand’s venture into the world of portable speakers, and for the most part, it’s a triumph. It’s beautifully (and whimsically) designed, comes with handy features like IP68 waterproofing, and delivers great sound (for the most part).

But few things in life are perfect, and the M isn’t one of them. It struggles with heavy tracks so I can’t, in good conscience, call it udderly delicious (see what I did there?). Battery life isn’t class-leading either, which makes the M’s price a hard pill to swallow.

To find out if this is the best Bluetooth speaker for you, read my full CMF Speaker M review.

CMF Speaker M review: Specs

CMF Speaker M review: What I like

• Whimsical, colorful design
• IP68 waterproof, NFC Fast Pair, and other features
• Great sound (for the most part)

There’s a lot to love about the CMF Speaker M. Its whimsical and colorful design is easily lovable, while its sound quality is great (for the most part). Throw in a user-friendly companion app and useful features, like IP68 waterproofing, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Design

I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth speakers and I have to say, most of them look the same. Black rectangles or squares that don’t look appealing, per se, like the EarFun UBoom L ($79) and the Tribit XSound Go ($39). So when a funky-looking speaker lands on my desk, like the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 ($49) or the Sodapop ($68), I’m over the moon.

The CMF Speaker M is one such gadget, and boy does it look good. Well, it looks like a milk carton, but it’s a good-looking milk carton. There’s a handle on top for easy transport, and a round volume dial that looks like a milk carton’s cap.

If you’re after a speaker that doesn’t just come in black or white, the M is for you. Alongside your run-of-the-mill colors, it comes in Turquoise or Orange, and having tested both, these look fantastic. The front panels can also be removed (by pushing the unlock button on the rear) if you want to mix and match colors.

Measuring 8.6 x 3.4 x 2.1 inches, the M is highly portable and doesn’t take up much space in your day bag. It weighs 1.3lbs so it’s heavier than the EarFun UBoom L (1.4lbs) and the Sodapop (10.6 ounces), but not too heavy that it weighs you down. If you want an ultra-portable speaker, you can’t go wrong with the JBL Go 5 ($54, 8.16 ounces), or the CMF Speaker S ($59), the M’s smaller sibling.

The M is a fairly stripped-back, minimalist speaker. There’s no flashy RGB lighting or loud branding. As CMF’s first portable speaker, it’s an aesthetic home run.

Features & connectivity

One of the CMF Speaker M’s biggest selling points is its rugged design. The speaker is IP68-rated, which is the highest possible rating a consumer-focused gadget can be assigned. That makes it waterproof and dustproof, so you can use it at the beach, in the shower, and even in a sandy desert. This is the same rating you’ll find on the JBL Go 5 and the pricier JBL Xtreme 5 ($399).

The M is well-connected, too. It utilizes Bluetooth 6.0 with support for AAC and SBC codecs, and there’s LC3 for Auracast multi-speaker pairing. There’s a Stereo Mode and a Party Mode. For Stereo Mode, you’ll need two Ms, which pair through the Nothing X app. Party Mode, on the other hand, enables you to connect two or more Auracast-enabled speakers by pressing their respective Auracast buttons. CMF sent me two review units and I found toggling both modes a breeze.

Alongside Google and Microsoft Fast Pair, one of the M’s edges is fitted with an NFC Fast Pair tag. This is a short-range wireless technology that lets electronic devices (so the speaker and your phone) share data when they are placed within a few centimeters of each other. I held my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL against it and within 10 seconds, I got a notification to pair my phone with the speaker.

I haven’t seen this feature on a speaker before, and I love that it simplifies (and speeds up) the pairing process. You can see how this works in the video above, where I tap a Samsung phone against the M's NFC tag.

Sound quality

For the most part, the CMF Speaker M sounds good, especially if you don’t listen much to heavy rock or metal. It’s got a slightly neutral tuning, and its 2.6-inch woofer and 0.6-inch tweeter deliver a 35W power/bass output. To test the speaker, I listened to my array of testing tracks on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Little Simz’s vocals in “Fear No Man” sounded deliciously detailed and textured, with her voice sitting front and center. The different percussion instruments, like the nine-piece bata drum ensemble, sounded bright but never overzealous or fatiguing. Her words didn’t bleed into one another either, making for an enjoyable listening experience.

“Two Suns in the Sunset” by Pink Floyd sounded beautiful, too. The soundstage felt wide and spacious as the saxophone and piano spread around. While the M doesn’t quite recreate the expansive depth of a larger speaker, like the JBL Xtreme 5, it keeps the track feeling engaging.

However, heavy tracks are a struggle. The guitar riffs, bass and percussion in “Unamerican” by Dead Sara blended into one another and fell flat. The low-end sounded suppressed, and Emily Armstrong’s vocals sounded shrill and tinny. Enabling the Ultra Bass EQ preset salvaged some of it, but even so, the track continued sounding like a muddy wall of sound.

For songs that aren’t very heavy and don’t feature rock ‘n’ roll elements, the M is a good shout and warrants a recommendation. But if you want a speaker that can handle anything you throw at it, the JBL Go 5 is the way to go.

Listen along to my review with the CMF Speaker M testing playlist:

App

The CMF Speaker M is accompanied by the Nothing X app which I’m a big fan of — I’ve previously sung its praises in my Nothing Headphone (1) Pro and Nothing Ear (3) reviews. The app sports a clean interface and is extremely intuitive to use.

It enables you to customize the M’s controls, toggle Stereo or Party Mode, choose an EQ preset, and most importantly, customize the equalizer to your liking (something missing from the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2). In a nutshell, the Nothing X app is great and doesn’t give you much to complain about.

CMF Speaker M review: What I don’t like

• Middling battery life
• A little expensive

As I mentioned earlier, the CMF Speaker M’s sound quality is great but it struggles with heavy tracks. Battery life isn’t the best either, and the speaker itself is expensive.

Battery life

The CMF Speaker M’s battery life is neither the best nor the worst. When playing at 50% volume with the Ultra Bass EQ preset enabled, the M is rated for 18 hours. Your mileage will naturally depend on volume, EQ and other playback settings. I left it running, playing at 60% volume, and the speaker promptly died after about 17 hours.

There are quite a few similarly priced or cheaper speakers that last longer than the M, like the Tribit XSound Go (24 hours), the Tribit StormBox Micro 3 ($64, 24 hours), the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 (30 hours), and the Sodapop (30 hours). But there are also speakers that the M upstages, like the Marshall Willen II ($99, 17 hours), the EarFun UBoom L (16 hours), and the JBL Go 5 (10 hours).

Price

With middling battery life and lack of LDAC support, does the CMF Speaker M do enough to justify its price? It retails for $109 at Amazon U.S. / £99 at Nothing U.K., making it pricier than most of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers — though a speaker like the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 ($129) does cost more. At $54, the JBL Go 5 comes in at half the M’s price and is, arguably, the compact speaker to get. If the M had been cheaper with a price tag of, say, $70, it would have made a more compelling case for itself.

CMF Speaker M compared

When it comes to visual aesthetics, there’s no other speaker like the CMF Speaker M. Most of its rivals, like the JBL Go 5 and the EarFun UBoom L, look like plain Janes (no offence to the Janes of the world). It also features NFC Fast Pair one-tap pairing which none of its competitors do, and just like the JBL Go 5, it’s IP68 dustproof and waterproof.

The M sounds better than a lot of its rivals, too, like the Tribit XSound Go, the Sodapop and the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2. But that doesn’t mean its sound quality is peerless — the JBL Go 5 upstages it there as the M struggles with heavy tracks. When it comes to battery life, the M is neither the best nor the worst, as it lasts longer than the JBL Go 5, the Marshall Willen II, and the EarFun UBoom L, but shorter than the likes of the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2.

At the end of the day, if you want full-bodied sound with plenty of low-end impact, I’d recommend the JBL Go 5 if you’re on a budget, or the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 if you can spare an extra $20. But if you’re after a speaker that looks much, much better than most others out there, the M is a no-brainer.

Who should buy the CMF Speaker M?

As with most Nothing products, if you care about owning a gadget that looks otherworldly, then the CMF Speaker M is for you. It’s stylish, sleek, colorful, and whimsical. It’s highly portable and IP68-rated, so if you enjoy taking a speaker to the beach, this is the one to get. As for sound quality, the M sounds great across most genres.

I say “most” because the speaker struggles with heavy rock and metal tracks, which is somewhat salvageable by customizing the EQ via the user-friendly companion app. And while battery life isn’t outright awful at 18 hours, the M’s competitors offer longer playtimes — especially at lower prices. If neither of those are dealbreakers for you, the M deserves a place on your coffee table or bookshelf.

Black Friday is still a month away, but the deals are seemingly already here. I know, I know, I was just as confused as you. I was researching a long-form comparison piece, and randomly discovered both JBL and Samsung's flagship 2026 soundbars are already discounted — and obviously I had to let you know about it.

The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 and the Samsung Q990H are two of my highest-rated soundbars of this year. I adore both of these soundbars — Dolby Atmos performance is truly immersive (but the JBL is better!), dialogue is always perfectly clear, and bass is powerful thanks to the 300W subwoofers.

Are they the best soundbars? 100%. But at $1,699 (JBL) and $1,997 (Samsung), they're not cheap. I find it tricky to recommend soundbars at this price because it's just not accessible for most of us. Even so, it's your lucky day! Right now, the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is just $1,399 on Amazon, and the Samsung Q990H is just $1,497 also at Amazon. Score!

Both the JBL and Samsung models have 23 drivers and 300W subwoofers, and an 11.1.4 channel configuration. In real terms, this means there are 11 channels in the center soundbar, one subwoofer channel, and four rear speaker channels.

If you want genuine Dolby Atmos, you need at least a 3.1.2 channel — so you know 11.1.4 means business. With so many channels, the soundbars can project layers of sound in all directions, providing a genuinely immersive experience.

On top of that, the Samsung soundbar has 4K pass-through at 120Hz, which is great for gamers. While the JBL misses out on this, if you're not a gamer, it probably won't be a huge issue.

I would probably buy the JBL because it's a better-value product than the Samsung. You get better immersion for less money, but there's no dedicated dialogue mode. If you struggle to hear dialogue sometimes, you might need the Samsung's AI dialogue enhancer.

But both flagships discounted at the same time before Black Friday? It's almost too good to be true.

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Flagship soundbars are always exciting to test. Enjoying blockbuster movies with best-of-the-best sound is, most definitely, one of the biggest perks of my job. And that’s exactly how I felt testing the Samsung Q990H. This is a flagship soundbar in (almost) every way — bass, dialogue, width; it’s got it all.

Is that enough to make it one of the best soundbars? It depends on how much you’re happy to spend. $2,000 is a lot of money, especially when soundbars like the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 exist for $300 less. SmartThings integration is a huge plus, especially if you have a Samsung TV, but I can’t tell you if that’s worth $300 over the JBL.

I’ll go through everything in detail, from design to subwoofer quality to Dolby Atmos performance in this Samsung Q990H review.

Samsung Q990H review: Specs

Samsung Q990H review: What I like

There’s so much to like about the Samsung Q990H — it is Samsung’s 2026 flagship, after all.

Supremely clear dialogue

The SmartThings app has a number of dialogue-enhancing settings: “Active Voice Amplifier Pro”, “Voice enhancement”, and individual channel EQs. Even so, I found dialogue sounded more than good enough without any of these additional features.

I test all soundbars with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K UHD Blu-ray, alongside two other UHD Blu-rays, standard TV on streaming services, and music on Spotify and Qobuz.

Dialogue in “Top Gun: Maverick” was extremely clear without additional dialogue features needed. In the busy bar scene, I could hear lead actors speaking clearly over the hubbub of the bar. “Top Gun: Maverick” also features tons of radioed dialogue in flying action sequences. I didn’t miss a single word. The screeching jet engines and soundtrack (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”) melded together nicely underneath the fuzzy dialogue. I could hear every layer of in-scene plane sound effects, each rich guitar chord, and every syllable of dialogue.

In “Super Mario Galaxy Movie”, dialogue was equally as clear. Just to reiterate, this was with zero dialogue enhancement features enabled. I could feel the texture in Bowser Jr.’s gravelly-yet-high-pitched voice.

“The Batman” features moody, mumbled dialogue for the majority of the movie. However, I never struggled to hear anything — neither the processed radio dialogue nor Robert Pattinson’s atmospheric voiceovers. Even in action scenes, I could make out every word. For such a broody, mumbled movie, this performance was excellent.

Even basic streaming services sounded good. Obviously, a basic-level stream will never sound as good as a UHD Blu-ray. I have Now TV’s cheapest tier (HBO for all you across-the-ponders), which uses Stereo audio — not even 5.1.

I’m not going to pretend this would impress any home cinema enthusiasts, but it’s the streaming service’s fault, not the soundbars. The Q990H did the best with what it was given; every word was clear, and I never struggled to understand dialogue.

Powerful bass

As I’d hope from a $2,000, 300-watt subwoofer, bass is great, with no distortion. “The Batman” was a particular standout here. My colleagues told me they could feel the subwoofer rumbling from downstairs, so I’m sorry, but I was having too much fun to care.

The brooding, ominous soundtrack carried a decadent depth to the low-end, bringing body to low-action scenes. High-action scenes were equally as dramatic, especially the iconic car chase and the club scenes. I could feel the subwoofer through the chair. If you long for cinematic lows and clear dialogue, you won’t be disappointed.

Music performance is decent for a soundbar, too. I listened via AirPlay. Bass in Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole” shook the floorboards without overpowering the falsetto vocals. Softer songs fared equally as well; “Kill Me” by Hayley Williams was delicate and controlled, and the texture in Williams’ voice came through.

Wireless subwoofer and rears

Unlike the Samsung QS750F ($899), the Q990H’s rears (and subwoofer) are truly wireless. Each rear speaker and the subwoofer require only a power cable. They sync up automatically as soon as they’re plugged in.

When I set up the Q990H, I only had to connect everything to power — the sub and rears did the hard work for me. I didn’t even have to set them up in Samsung’s SmartThings app, which I was initially expecting to do. This was one of the easiest soundbar setups I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

The rear speakers are excellent in some movies and middling in others: of all the content I watched, by far the best movie for surround was “The Batman”. The car chase scene was immensely immersive. The soundtrack, pouring rain, and screeching cars were controlled deftly, and the speakers separated high-frequency effects with skill.

Design, features, and SmartThings

Samsung soundbars really excel in terms of design. They all look more or less the same (except the Samsung Ultra Slim) — sleek, inconspicuous, and although quite plasticky, this doesn’t detract from the overall appearance.

Setup is also a breeze: I plugged all the elements in, hooked up the soundbar via HDMI, and I was listening in seconds. Samsung also provides a wall mount for the soundbar if that’s your thing. The rears don’t come with stands or mounts, but you can easily find third-party options online.

SmartThings is one of my favorite companion apps, and for good reason. It’s supremely easy to use, looks great, and is replete with genuinely beneficial features. No longer restricted to Samsung TVs, SpaceFit Sound Pro is Samsung’s proprietary room calibration feature. I was able to get this working with both an LG and a TCL TV. SpaceFit Sound Pro analyzes your room space to improve immersion. If you’ve got a bigger room, it will increase audio power to ensure you still get space-filling sound.

Without SpaceFit Sound Pro, “The Batman” still sounded immersive, particularly the rain sounds coming through the rear speakers. However, with SpaceFit Sound Pro enabled, the soundbar adjusted the center channel to make dialogue and OST clearer.

In SmartThings, you can also adjust individual channel volume, sub volume, and treble/bass volume. I adjusted the rears and side-firing channels to the maximum volume, but I didn’t notice a huge difference. More on that in the “What I didn’t like” section below, though.

Wireless listening

Now, this one comes with a caveat. You can use the Q990H wirelessly — if you have a compatible Samsung TV. As I test soundbars with LG and TCL TVs, I was unable to use this feature.

However, it’s still worth mentioning here. If you have a compatible Samsung TV (all Samsung TVs with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), you’ll be able to use the soundbar without an HDMI cable.

Samsung Q990H review: What I don’t like

As much as I enjoyed listening to the Samsung Q990H, it missed out on a perfect 5-star rating for a reason.

Sound not immersive enough for $2,000

Even though I love the Q990H, it’s not perfect. Don’t get me wrong, it sounds fantastic, and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed… unless you’ve just dropped two grand.

At $2,000, there’s very little room for error. Nay, there’s zero room for error. You could spend just a little (!) more on the $2,500 KEF XIO or save money on the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 ($1,799). Honestly, I recommend the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 wholeheartedly. It’s by far the best bang-for-buck soundbar I’ve ever tested.

Anyway, back to the Samsung Q990H. You can adjust individual channel levels in SmartThings, but I didn’t notice this had a tangible difference. Width is great, but the Q990H doesn’t sound quite as high as I’d like for $2k.

As I discussed earlier, bass was a different story — I could feel every rumble of the jet engines in “Top Gun: Maverick” and the ominous soundtrack in “The Batman”. Music playback was also decent — soundbars are never excellent, though — but I wanted more from the surround speakers. Even on “Surround” mode, I wanted a stronger surround sound. The JBL Bar 1300X MK2 excels here.

Consequently, I’m reticent to recommend the Q990H widely unless you find it on sale.

How does the Samsung Q990H compare?

I would recommend the Samsung Q990H over some of the super high-end soundbars I’ve tested. Once you get to a certain price point, it might make a little more sense to invest in a buildable hi-fi setup (like floorstanders and loudspeakers).

For example, the $2,500 KEF XIO and $3,500 Yamaha True X Surround 90A both sound excellent. Don’t get me wrong, you won’t be disappointed by their sound. The Yamaha soundbar is one of the best Dolby Atmos products I’ve ever used. However, they’re both eye-wateringly expensive. $2,000 is the most I would ever recommend spending on a soundbar.

There’s another however here, though. $2,000 is still incredibly expensive for a soundbar. Even though the Q990H sounds fantastic, with expansive width and clear dialogue… $2k is $2k. When you can get more immersive performance from the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 and similar performance with the $999 Samsung QS90H or Sony Bravia Theater 7 ($1,099), I would recommend grabbing the Q990H on sale only.

Should you buy the Samsung Q990H?

It depends on your budget. Is $2,000 an easy amount for you to spend? Then you probably won’t be disappointed by the Samsung Q990H. Dialogue is honey-smooth and clear; bass is propulsive and energetic; Dolby Atmos is immersive and all-encompassing. The only thing missing is height, and that true cinematic experience.

If $2,000 is a lot for you (relatable), then I’d recommend checking out the JBL Bar 1300X MK2. This is by far the best bang-for-buck soundbar I’ve ever tested, with industry-leading audio power and immersion.

Of course, though, the Q990H is a fantastic soundbar in its own right, and well-deserving of the flagship name. It’s just really, really expensive.

I don’t know what I’d do without my Wi-Fi speakers. It’s such an underrated product category — one I can definitely see blowing up in the next few years. Zero wires, play music straight from your phone, and it’s hi-res? Yes, please.

So of course I leapt at the chance to test out the Bluesound Pulse Flex. I tested the 2025 model, which is an upgraded version of the 2018 original Pulse Flex 2i. Seven years later, we’ve got some new features: double the power (25W to 50W), a gorgeous new design, and more streaming integrations.

Is all this newfangled tech enough to make it one of the best speakers? Argh, it came so close to an instant recommendation. While the sound quality is almost perfect and the rounded oblong-style design would look at home in any well-designed space, BluOS issues and a well-priced JBL competitor make it a little hard to recommend. Find out the full story in this Bluesound Pulse Flex review.

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: Specs

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: What I like

As a home speaker, you’d hope the Bluesound Pulse Flex looks and sounds premium — and this is true in both cases.

Fantastic sound quality

As you might expect for $379, the Bluesound Pulse Flex sounds incredible. I listened to a variety of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles, but I’ll just discuss three standouts here.

“flight fm” by Joy Orbison is an energetic electronic track with a heavy bassline and bright synths at the top of the soundstage. Despite its compact size and 50W power, the Pulse Flex delivered the bass with gusto. The floorboards were literally shaking — I felt the vibrations through my desk chair. Even though the low-end took most of the power, the higher-frequency sounds weren’t softened. Each sibilant snare synth held its own, a bite of brightness over top of the propulsive bassline.

Rock and grunge fared well, too. “Violet” by Hole sounded remarkably expansive — Courtney Love’s vocals carried reverb well, isolated even over the guitar-heavy soundscape. Each textured growl of Love’s voice thrashed its way out of the speaker. When I closed my eyes, I could almost convince myself I was at a Hole gig in the ‘90s. The vocals didn’t overpower the instrumentation, though. Cymbals crashed, and the snare drums pounded through the tiny speaker. Speaking of closing your eyes and pretending — you could easily believe this speaker was triple, quadruple, quintuple its size. It’s seriously powerful.

Lastly, I went for a softer track. Hayley Williams’ vocals were the sure-fire standout in “Kill Me.” This track is built over acoustic bass guitars and a prominent snare rhythm. I noticed some struggling in the coda, as if the speaker couldn’t isolate the over-processed guitar sections and Williams’ distorted vocals, so it pushed both layers together. In the second verse, I couldn’t hear Williams’ low harmony as well as through the Denon Home 400, but that’s a much bigger speaker.

While I was a touch disappointed by this performance, for 99/100 songs, the Pulse Flex still does a fantastic job. Treble is bright without erring on the side of tinniness, just as bass is energetic yet controlled. There’s a lovely U-shaped sound curve built into the speaker.

Of course, some genres are handled better than others. If you tend to listen to rock, pop, electronic, hip-hop rather than acoustic singer-songwriter or classical, you’ll likely never even notice that a quiet harmony isn’t as audible as it should be.

Design

You’d never be able to guess the Bluesound Pulse Flex’s size from listening to it. At just 5 inches wide and 7 inches tall, it’s positively adorable, but it packs a major punch.

In terms of appearance, the Pulse Flex is relatively inconspicuous, ideal for nestling on mantlepieces or the corner of a coffee table. I put mine on my TV stand, and its sound filled the living room while taking up just a few inches of space.

Build quality is decent, too. The fabric mesh casing looks sleek, just like the Denon Home 200, and the shiny Bluesound logo is a surprisingly pleasant touch. Buttons on top of the speaker control volume, play/pause, and presets, which you have to configure in the BluOS app — which I’m not a massive fan of, but more on that later.

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: What I don’t like

Even though I love the sound quality, I’m not going to pretend the Bluesound Pulse Cinema is flawless.

Price

At $379 (Amazon U.S.) and £299 (Amazon U.K.), the Bluesound Pulse Flex is not a budget-friendly speaker. While this price is, unfortunately, par for the course in the Wi-Fi category, you can still get much better value for money with a traditional Bluetooth speaker. Of course, these products have different use-cases and mostly different audiences, but if you’re short on cash, I’d wholeheartedly recommend a Bluetooth speaker, like the JBL Flip 7, or bookshelf speakers instead.

Naturally, Bluetooth speakers aren’t capable of playing music at 24-bit 192kHz, but bookshelf speakers are. If you only want to listen at home, I’d recommend saving your money and grabbing something like the Edifier R1280T. These speakers sound much better than their $120 price tag might suggest — and while you need a wired connection for hi-res playback, this is fine if you’re listening in your living room.

There are some Wi-Fi speakers at a more appealing price point. While I’ve not fully tested it yet, I’m working on reviewing the new JBL Cove M1, $229, which sounds awesome for the price. I’d recommend this model for the budget-conscious. The closest competitor, Denon Home 200, is $399, which is even more outrageous than the Bluesound.

Needs some quality-of-life improvements

I’m still waiting for a Wi-Fi speaker that can do it all. The Bluesound Pulse Flex isn’t quite there yet. Most of its issues reside in the BluOS app, like the Denon Home system’s problems are all HEOS-shaped. Sound-quality-wise, the Pulse Flex is awesome.

But when 99.9% of using the speaker is done through BluOS, it’s impossible to overlook. It’s simply not user-friendly at all.

I could only add one music streaming service to the homepage, despite me using both Spotify and Qobuz. Spotify and Qobuz both popped up in the “music sources” tab, but I want both on the homepage, too!

Furthermore, while playing music through the BluOS app, you can’t control it through your phone. You have to go into the app and fiddle with settings like volume manually. This isn’t the case with my Denon Home speaker system — if I’m listening via Qobuz either on the Qobuz app or the BluOS app, the song doesn’t show up on my lock screen. I have to open the respective apps to play/pause, change the song, or adjust the volume.

This was also an issue when I listened to the radio from the BluOS app. I couldn’t control the volume — or even see what I was listening to — from my homescreen. On top of that, I added players to my “Favorites”, but this tab always failed to load.

However, when I listened via Spotify, I could control this from my home screen. I would just skip playing through the app and instead play directly from your streaming service’s app using AirPlay or Google Cast.

If this is a Spotify/Qobuz/TuneIn issue rather than a BluOS issue, then I’m not sure what Bluesound can do about this. However, it does detract from the overall user experience, so it’s still worth noting.

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: How does it compare?

The Bluesound Pulse Flex’s biggest competition here is the Denon Home 200 and the JBL Cove M1. I’ve unfortunately not tested the Home 200, but I have thoroughly tested both the Home 400 and Home 600. And, while I’ve not published my review of the JBL Cove M1 yet, I have listened to it.

Neither the Denon Home line nor the JBL Cove have a proprietary on-board smart assistant — Denon utilizes Siri (when used in tandem with a HomePod) and JBL offers Alexa+. Obviously, none of these brands can hold a candle to Sonos, which has its own on-board smart assistant “Hey Sonos”. Like the Denon and JBL offerings, the Bluesound offers only a third-party smart assistant — Alexa.

I, unfortunately, do not have a HomePod nor Alexa, so I was unable to test this feature. However, if you have Alexa, great!

Just like the Denon Home 200 and the JBL Cove M1 can work as rear speakers for the Denon Home 550 and the JBL Bar 300MK2/500MK2, respectively, the Pulse Flex can be used as rears for the Bluesound Pulse Cinema.

In terms of sound quality, the Bluesound Pulse Flex is closer to the Denon line than the JBL. Again, I’ve not tested the Denon Home 200, but I do use the Home 400 and 600 every day. The Bluesound and Denon are more your hi-res Wi-Fi speakers with more control and finesse across the frequency range. Even so, the JBL M1 doesn’t sound bad — quite the opposite. It’s just a little bassier. If that’s what you want, then I’d recommend saving $$$ for the JBL.

Should you buy the Bluesound Pulse Flex?

If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to buy the $229 JBL Cove M1, the Bluesound Pulse Flex is a decent step up. I’d definitely recommend it over the $399 Denon Home 200. However, because the JBL option is so much cheaper with relatively similar performance, I’m more inclined to recommend that one wholeheartedly for people on a budget.

And $379 doesn’t give you a lot of wiggle room for substandard quality-of-life functionality, hence the 3.5-star rating. I’m sick of brands releasing fantastic audio products with subpar apps, because it makes me feel like Satan himself — marking down frankly excellent speakers for some misfiring 1s and 0s.

However, if you love the premium appearance of the Bluesound Pulse Flex, I can see reasons for buying it. Most importantly, it sounds incredible. Bass is tight yet powerful, and while treble and vocals tend to take center stage, nothing else is pushed back because of it. On top of that, it’s supremely easy to set up.

How do you pack ground-shaking bass, a wide soundstage, and 40 hours of battery life into a portable party speaker? Ask the Marshall Bromley 150. Marshall’s latest party speaker is a triumph, boasting incredible sound and a plethora of features. It’s IP55-rated, so it’s dust-resistant and waterproof, and its long battery life keeps the party going all day long.

With a range of wired and wireless connectivity options, the Bromley 150 is perfect for party hosts and musicians on the move as it doubles as an amp and karaoke machine. Drool-worthy looks, classy LED lighting, and tactile controls make the Bromley 150 one of the best Bluetooth speakers today. Though its app could have been better and LDAC support would have been appreciated, these minor issues are overshadowed by everything else on offer.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Marshall Bromley 150 review.

Marshall Bromley 150 review: Specs

Marshall Bromley 150 review: What I like

• Drool-worthy, amp-like design
• Powerful bass and detailed soundstage
• Chock-full of features, including 360° sound and 40-hour battery
• IP55 waterproof and dustproof

The Marshall Bromley 150 completes the brand’s party speaker lineup, and it gives you little to complain about. Classy looks, a range of useful features, and ground-shaking bass and refined sound quality make it a winner.

Design

There’s no denying that Marshall knows how to make a good-looking speaker, and the same is true for the Marshall Bromley 150. Just like its bigger siblings, the Bromley 450 ($799) and the Bromley 750 ($1,299), the Bromley 150 sports an amp-like design. It comes in black with brass accents, and it looks drool-worthy.

The well-defined front grille houses the integrated and customizable LED stage lights, and the branding on the front looks classy and premium. That extends to the tactile buttons and amp-like knobs, too, which are well-signposted and straightforward to understand. The dials and buttons let you adjust the bass, treble, and swap between sources. You don’t really need the companion app as you can control basically everything via the onboard controls themselves — which bodes well as it’s not very good, but more on that later.

As Marshall’s smallest party speaker, the Bromley 150 is cube-like, measuring 11.69 x 11.42 x 8.19 inches, so it can comfortably sit on your TV stand or even kitchen counter. It’s much smaller and more portable than the Sony ULT Tower 5 ($448), too, as it weighs just 13.9lbs. There’s an integrated and luxurious-feeling handle located on the Bromley 150’s top plate for easy transport — and I haven’t had any issues carrying it from A to B. Overall build quality is phenomenal, and the Bromley 150 doesn’t give you anything to complain about in the design department.

Features & connectivity

There’s no dearth of features on the Marshall Bromley 150. Let’s start with connectivity first. For wireless playback, you get Bluetooth 5.3 with support for AAC, SBC and LC3, as well as Auracast for multi-speaker pairing. Thanks to Auracast, you can daisy-chain an unlimited number of Bromleys together — now it’s a party!

Wired connectivity is in spades, too. There are USB-C and 3.5mm jacks for wired playback. The Bromley 150 doubles (or triples, even) as a karaoke machine and an amplifier as there are two XLR/6.35mm combo jacks for plugging in mics and instruments. There’s no RCA jack, though, for DJ controllers and turntables, like on the bigger Bromley 450 and Bromley 750, and the Sony ULT Tower 5 — but it’s a minor drawback in the grand scheme of things.

Features next. First, the Bromley 150 is IP55-rated, which makes it highly resistant to dust and water, so you can use it on your balcony even when it’s raining, for instance. Marshall’s party speaker is more durable than the Sony ULT Tower 5 which is only IPX4-rated, so it isn’t dustproof. You also get Marshall’s stunning True Stereophonic 360° sound, and its front and rear speakers create an immersive listening experience regardless of where you’re standing.

Sound quality

Though it’s small, it’s mighty. The Marshall Bromley 150 packs a 200W power output, driven by its 6.5-inch 40W woofer, dual 2-inch 6W full-range drivers, and a 7.5-inch passive radiator. It delivers ground-shaking bass, as you’d expect from a party speaker, and its expansive soundstage makes for an immersive listening experience. I tested the speaker by listening to my favorite tunes on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

This is a party speaker, first and foremost, so the first song I listened to was “Von Dutch” by Charli xcx. The Bromley 150 packs a party-ready sound, and the song sounded bold with a lively presentation that captured the atmosphere of a packed club. I could feel the bass vibrating the floorboards under my feet, but it sounded tight and controlled throughout. Other aspects of the soundstage weren’t sacrificed either, as the high-frequency synths remained distinct.

Listening to “Unamerican” by Dead Sara through the Bromley 150 revealed a bold, energetic sound that suited the track’s raw alt-rock character. The overall soundstage felt lively and spacious, with the guitars, vocals and driving rhythm section occupying individual spaces. The guitar riffs were the real highlight as they came through with plenty of bite and grit. The Bromley 150 excelled at giving the power chords a convincing weight, and delivering punchy sound.

The Bromley 150 is suited to detailed listening, too, as I found when playing “Nova” by Four Tet. Individual clicks, taps and repeating patterns sounded well-defined, and the soundstage felt open enough to give each element room to breathe. The Bromley 150 allowed the finer details to emerge without losing sight of the overall hypnotic quality.

Overall, the Bromley 150 is an outstanding, powerful speaker that’s suited to virtually any genre. Whether you’re a low-end fan who wants to feel the bass in their soul, or someone who appreciates subtle details, the Bromley 150 is sure to impress.

Listen along to my review with the Marshall Bromley 150 testing playlist:

Battery life

One of the Marshall Bromley 150’s biggest selling points is its long battery life. Just like the Bromley 450 and the Bromley 750, the Bromley 150 has a 40-hour battery life. For a speaker its size, that’s phenomenal. Your mileage will naturally depend on playback settings, such as volume, Bluetooth codecs, LED lighting and bass/treble tuning, but having tested nearly every modern Marshall product, that 40-hour figure is quite reliable.

The Bromley 150 blows its competition out of the water when it comes to playback time. The Sony ULT Tower 5 is rated for 20 hours, while the JBL PartyBox 130 ($449) lasts just 15 hours. There’s also the JBL Xtreme 5 ($399) which is a little cheaper than the Bromley 150 and lasts only 28 hours.

Similar to the other Bromleys and the Sony ULT Tower 5, the Bromley 150’s battery pack is user-replaceable. You can also use the Bromley 150’s USB Out port to charge your phone, laptop and other devices.

Marshall Bromley 150 review: What I don’t like

• Underwhelming companion app
• No LDAC (even though other Marshall speakers have it)

There are a couple of things I wish the Marshall Bromley 150 had. LDAC support would have been a good addition, and I wish the companion app was more robust.

Underwhelming companion app

This is a complaint I’ve had with both the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Bromley 750, and turns out third time isn’t the charm, as the problem persists with the Bromley 150. The speaker is accompanied by the Marshall Bluetooth app which is quite underbaked and really basic.

The app itself looks good and functions well, with a stripped-back interface and no intrusive pop-ups — but it doesn’t allow you to change much about the Bromley 150. You can tune into an Auracast channel, customize the speaker’s ‘M’ button to toggle strobe lighting, and set a power-off timer. But that’s it, and it’s quite disappointing that there isn’t more functionality.

In comparison, the Sony Sound Connect app for the Sony ULT Tower 5 enables you to customize the speaker’s 10-band EQ, add live audio effects while playing music or singing through the mic, and more. Marshall can easily solve this issue by having the Bromleys use the Marshall app, which its Homeline speakers, like the Acton IV ($299), and soundbars, like the Heston 60 ($699), already do. Oh well.

No LDAC

While not a massive drawback or outright dealbreaker, the Marshall Bromley 150 doesn’t feature support for LDAC, as its codec support is limited to SBC and AAC. LDAC is a proprietary lossy Bluetooth audio codec that handles audio up to 32-bit / 96KHz. It essentially lets you stream hi-res audio over Bluetooth. The Sony ULT Tower 5 features LDAC, but none of the Bromleys do — though Marshall’s home speakers, the Acton IV and the Stanmore IV ($399) do.

Now, the reason why this isn’t a dealbreaker: the Bromley 150 is a party speaker that focuses more on powerful, bass-heavy sound rather than detailed listening. It’s worth considering the Sony ULT Tower 5 if you absolutely need LDAC, but there’s not much in it.

Marshall Bromley 150 compared

The Marshall Bromley 150’s closest competitor is the Sony ULT Tower 5, which is Sony’s smallest party speaker. At $448, it costs a little less than the Bromley 150, and features RCA input for turntables, LDAC support, and a better companion app. The reason to get the Bromley 150 over it? A smaller form factor, more tasteful LED lighting, and classier looks. In terms of sound quality, both speakers are fairly close, though the Tower 5 has a 300W power output as opposed to the Bromley 150’s 200W.

Then there’s the JBL PartyBox 130, which is also $50 cheaper than the Bromley 150. I’m not a massive fan of the PartyBox 130’s design, as the RGB lighting looks garish and loud. It’s also not as portable as the Bromley 150. But the Tower 5, the PartyBox 130 and even the JBL Xtreme 5 don’t last as long as the Bromley 150.

Personally, I’d get the Bromley 150 for the design alone. No other brand comes close to Marshall’s superior design philosophy. And it’s highly portable and easy to carry around — especially compared to the JBL and the Sony.

Who should buy the Marshall Bromley 150?

If you want a supremely good-looking speaker that’s easy to transport and doesn’t compromise on sound quality, the Marshall Bromley 150 is for you. It looks stunning, sporting Marshall’s usual good looks and reactive LED lighting. It’s highly portable thanks to a built-in handle, and it sounds bigger than it looks. Plenty of low-end impact and a spacious soundstage that makes for an immersive listening experience, it’s the quintessential party speaker.

The Bromley 150 is great for gigging musicians, too, given its dual XLR ports. IP55-rated, the speaker is highly waterproof and dustproof. Though the Sony ULT Tower 5 features a more refined companion app and LDAC support, the Bromley 150 excels where it matters most: it delivers room-shaking bass and looks oh-so-good doing it.

Back at High End 2026 in Vienna, deeply fragile after a preceding night of plentiful Austrian lager, I took a trip to Cambridge Audio’s stall — the folks there were rather keen to show me something. After being supplied with a bottle of water and kindly reassured that I would survive, I was ushered into a testing room, beckoned into a chair and asked for a song pick.

I was then treated to a demonstration of the L/R X, the latest, largest and most powerful member of Cambridge’s L/R compact speaker range. And heck: hungover as hell though I was, it was indeed a treat. And that’s saying something — at High End, I heard no shortage of incredible audio gear.

I’ve since spent a couple of months testing the L/R X at home, and I’ve gotta say, I’m actually a huge fan of them all round. Aside from their relatively steep price, I have no major complaints. So could these be some of the best speakers for you? Find out in my full Cambridge Audio L/R X review.

Cambridge Audio L/R X review: Key specs

Cambridge Audio L/R X review: What I like

• Powerful bass and hi-fi sound
• Striking neo-retro design
• Plentiful connectivity & features

Powerful hi-fi sound, a dashing neo-retro aesthetic and bags of connectivity options and customization features — there’s a lot to love about the L/R X.

Sound quality

The L/R X might look like they have a single tweeter and 5-inch woofer, but don’t be deceived: inside the cabinet, Cambridge has squeezed a second 5-inch downfiring woofer. Combined with two 6-inch passive radiators, the result is bags of low-end power.

Now, don’t get me wrong, a second woofer is no replacement for an actual sub. The L/R X response bottoms out at 35Hz, so on any songs straddling that boundary, subbiness tends to come in fits and starts.

Still, for a set of bookshelf speakers these things go impressively low, with ample power low down. The bottom woofer gives you the same sense of upwards swooping bass as a sub, demonstrated perfectly during the enormous wave of sub bass at the end of SOHN’s ‘Antigravity’ (which was truly window-shaking, especially in the bass boost EQ preset). It’s all deftly controlled, though, despite the power — each undulation of bass guitar in Odetta’s ‘Hit Or Miss’ was easy to trace, with no muddying or booming at all.

My only slight issue was a lack of attack in the lower mid-range, especially on busy tracks with heavy basslines. The dual distorted guitar riffs of Melvins’ ‘Honey Bucket’ felt a little smeared into one another, and I had the same problem on other sludgy songs like Metallica’s ‘Seek & Destroy’ and ‘Siva’ by The Smashing Pumpkins. However, this was mostly solved with a tweak to toe angle and some messing around with the software room acoustics settings found in the Cambridge app (more on this later).

Vocals sound absolutely fantastic, with Kelly Jones’ smoky voice carrying beautifully above the kick drums and guitars of Stereophonics’ ‘Just Looking’. And the higher end proved nice and crisp, with the ethereal vocals and delicate percussion of James K’s ‘Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream (Priori remix)’ sounding airy and spacious.

You’ll definitely want these speakers on stands. Obviously, speakers tend to sound better on them anyway, but that downfiring woofer will naturally shake anything underneath it to cause ugly rattles. Cambridge supplied me with a set of prototype stands, so although I can confirm they’re definitely in the works, you can’t buy any at the time of writing.

The stands I was sent were just basic flat-topped stands, atop which the L/R X’s weight keeps the speakers firmly planted — that means a basic set of third party flat-topped stands will do the trick.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz, in our opinion the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Design

Just like their little siblings, the Cambridge L/R S and L/R M, the L/R X utilize a modern and clean design, with a dash of neo-retro from the tweeter housing. I think they look great, and I absolutely love the gentle mood lighting between the cabinet and metal riser. There are also the passive radiators on each side, which visibly vibrate when music is playing — so cool.

Of course, beauty is all in the eye of the beholder, so while I behold the L/R X well, my wife does not, disparaging them each time she enters the room. I guess you could call them divisive at worst, but honestly I think that’s unfair. In hindsight, I probably ought to have asked for a review unit in one of the many other colors Cambridge offers — the dark blue or green to match our lounge decor might’ve been a better shout. Alas.

If I were to rank them, then yeah, I prefer the timeless look of my Ruark Sabre-R, and also the more minimalist, monochromatic look of the Kanto TUK Grand Gen 2. But I much prefer the L/R X styling over the über-futuristic DALI Kupid.

Size-wise, oh they big. If your media unit is already full or you have shallow bookshelves, this could be an issue — the mid-sized L/R M or Ruark Sabre-R might be a better shout. That said, one of the L/R X’s crowning glories is the wireless hookup between speakers, which I’ll cover more later. In short, it gives you a lot of flexibility with placement and could remedy any worries about space.

Connectivity

These are some hooked-up speakers! And not just the normal stuff. Sure, there’s Bluetooth, Qobuz/Tidal/Spotify Connect etc etc. There’s a remote control, app hook-up, yada yada. Most importantly, though, each speaker is individually powered (so no amp or AVR required) and can connect wirelessly to the other with up to 24-bit/192KHz transfer, meaning there’s no need for a connecting cable. As I mentioned above, that gives you lots of flexibility with placement, providing you have each near a power outlet. It was lovely being able to move the L/R X around for the best sound without an annoying cable.

A swanky braided USB-C cable is included for wired pairing, though. The speakers will only pair over the same Wi-Fi network, with the main speaker connected to the StreamMagic app. If your Wi-Fi goes down, just hook up via wire and do things the old-fashioned way.

I/O-wise, you’ve got USB-A and USB-C input, phono AUX in, a phono stage for turntables, an Optical port, and an eARC HDMI slot for hooking up to your TV. There’s also a sub out port if you want even more subbiness. A decent array.

Features

These speakers are dripping with features, settings, tweaks, whatever you need. I’ve already touched on a few throughout this piece, and it all comes down to the extensive capabilities of the StreamMagic companion app. There’s a 10-band equalizer, which, while rather simplistic (I would’ve preferred a parametric EQ) is always handy nonetheless. Cambridge has tuned the L/R X for large rooms, but there’s a dedicated room acoustics panel to account for room length, speaker placement/wall gaps, and furnishings.

Initially I found the L/R X a little too bright and fatiguing, but simply tweaked the furnishings slider to compensate — a super quick fix that stopped me needing to mess around with EQ, placement or furniture. As I mentioned above, I had to play with toe angle and spacing anyway to clean up the mid-range, and used the room acoustics panel to make software refinements as I did.

There’s also a setting called DynamEQ, which boosts bass and treble at quieter volumes. That means you don’t have to sacrifice top and bottom end clarity if you can’t (or aren’t inclined to) blast it.

You can customize lighting, choose the primary speaker positioning, set standby times, and apply volume limiters. It’s an impressive roster of controls, and I’m not sure how I can go back to speakers without all this. It’s worth noting that I haven’t had a single issue with the StreamMagic app, either. It’s slick, polished, and has worked reliably throughout my entire time testing.

Cambridge Audio L/R X review: What I don't like

• Steep price versus rivals

This section’s gonna be pretty thin, as there’s only one thing I don’t like about the L/R, and that’s the price. In the world of high-end hi-fi, though, they aren’t beyond the pale.

Price

The Cambridge Audio L/R X cost $2,399 / £1,799 per pair direct from Cambridge Audio. Alternatively, you can buy them from Cambridge’s authorized retailers, which includes Sweetwater and Upscale Audio in the States; or Richer Sounds in Britain.

Obviously, these will be a considered purchase. $2,399 isn’t an impulse spend for most people. That said, hi-fi gear is simply expensive. And besides, the L/R X pack plenty of low-end power, which could save you buying a subwoofer.

As I'll cover below, though, you can pick up similarly powerful speakers for a lot less than this, like Klipsch's The Nines ($1,599 MSRP).

Cambridge Audio L/R X compared

As I touched on above, the L/R X are pricier than other large bookshelf speakers, but they offer a lot of power and tons of features. If you’re looking to save a little money you could check out the Kanto TUK Grand Gen 2 ($1,199 a pair), or the DALI Kupid ($600 a pair). Both are passive speaker sets so need amplifying. Although they pack plenty of power, bass lovers will probably want a sub.

The L/R X’s fiercest rivals are KEF's LS50 Wireless II and Klipsch’s active speakers, The Sevens and The Nines. The Sevens feature 6.5-inch woofers, while The Nines feature massive 8-inch woofers for excellent bass performance. Even at the $1,599 MSRP, The Nines have the L/R X beat on price, although you can find them for under a grand. The L/R X’s upper hand is their increased wireless connectivity and slicker app, making them a better blend of power and usability.

The KEF LS50 Wireless II are what the L/R X were built to compete with, though. The LS50 also offer wireless speaker connectivity, although data transfer between the two is capped at 24-bit/96KHz versus the L/R X's higher-res 24-bit/192KHz. The LS50 also cost $2,999, so $600 more. As I said, hi-fi simply costs a lot, and the L/R X are neither the best, nor the worst value proposition.

Who should buy the Cambridge Audio L/R X?

If you’re a serious hi-fi enthusiast who wants big sound, yes. That’s especially true if you’re somewhat space constrained or simply want to go without wires as much as possible. The L/R X offer tons of clarity and power, but give you the flexibility to put them wherever you need and tweak the sound easily to whatever room they’re in. They’re pricey, yes, but they’re aimed at people willing to spend for the right sound. And in my eyes, the completeness-of-package offered by the L/R X simply can’t be matched.

Whether you're hosting a dinner party, having a cozy evening playing board games, or you like performing karaoke in the shower, you need one of the best Bluetooth speakers. October Prime Day sales have slashed the prices of many, but given that you're spoiled for choice, it can be difficult to determine which you should buy.

Lucky for you, I've sifted through hundreds of deals to find the ones that are actually worth your money. I test Bluetooth speakers for a living, and I've either personally reviewed or at least spent a good chunk of time listening to the following speakers.

My favorite deal is on the JBL Go 5 which is currently down to its lowest ever price of just $39. I awarded it 4.5-stars in my JBL Go 5 review, and it's a tiny yet powerful speaker for taking on the go. If you want a bigger and classier-looking speaker, the Marshall Emberton III is 44% off right now, and at that price, even I'm tempted to buy it.

Here are the seven best Bluetooth speaker deals I've found this October Prime Day, starting at just $27!

Quick links

• Shop all October Prime Day sales now
• Tribit StormBox Mini+: was $39 now $27
• JBL Go 5: was $54 now $39
• 8BitDo Retro Cube 2: was $49 now $39
• Tribit StormBox Micro 3: was $64 now $47
• Marshall Emberton III: was $179 now $99
• Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen): was $159 now $99
• Marshall Bromley 450: was $799 now $599

Best October Prime Day speaker deals

• shop all October Prime day deals
• YETI sale: deals from $10
• Amazon devices: deals from $12
• Anker Smart Display Charger: was $39 now $23
• Skechers: from $25
• TV sale: deals from $69

Bluetooth speakers are some of the most popular tech products on Amazon Australia, and Prime Big Deal Days has brought sizeable discounts to several of the online retail giant's best-selling models. Whether you're after a rugged speaker for outdoor adventures or something compact for everyday listening, now's a great time to buy.

While there are stacks of Bluetooth speakers on sale right now, the standout deals for me are the JBL Flip 6 and Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen). The former received 4.5 stars in our review, while the latter earned a respectable 4-star rating.

Right now, you can snag the excellent JBL Flip 6 for just AU$169.95 AU$99.95, saving you a cool AU$70 on the RRP, while the Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) is down to AU$249.95 AU$147.25 for Prime members — that's a hefty AU$102.70 discount.

Both speakers combine strong sound quality with rugged waterproof designs, making them easy recommendations for anyone looking for a portable audio upgrade. They're far from the only deals worth considering, though, with Amazon's best-seller rankings also featuring popular options from Soundcore, Harman Kardon and Ultimate Ears across a range of budgets.

That's what makes this year's Prime Big Deal Days speaker deals worth a closer look. I've rounded up the best offers below, but you can also browse Amazon AU's current best-selling speakers to see what's proving most popular with shoppers right now.

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Have you ever wanted to throw an "easy-connect" Wi-Fi speaker across your living room? If your answer's no, I don't believe you. As a tech journalist, I've tested my fair share of even the best smart speakers with severe connectivity issues.

If I had a nickel for how many times I've fantasized about taking a chainsaw to a recalcitrant speaker and giving it a piece of my mind, I'd have enough to buy myself a Wi-Fi speaker that actually worked.

Well, JBL's trying to fix all that with its new "Cove" line. Releasing on October 8, the Cove line includes the entry-level M1 ($199), portable-yet-Wi-Fi P1 ($399), and the flagship X1 ($429). Allegedly, it takes just forty seconds to connect the speaker to your home Wi-Fi. I know, right? It honestly feels too good to be true. I got to try out the new line, so what did I actually think?

No connectivity headaches

I'm just as suspicious as you, but during my three hours using and listening to the JBL Cove M1, Cove P1, and Cove X1, I didn't experience any cuts or restarts. Ever feel like sometimes if you look at a wireless speaker wrong, it'll reset itself? I do. Don't get me wrong, I love my Denon Home 550, but I had to buy an Ethernet cable to stop it disconnecting randomly.

During the stereo demonstration, the paired X1 speakers took about thirty seconds to connect to the example phone, but once they connected, they connected. No issues there. "Money" by Pink Floyd dinged and crashed its way through the 6-drivered speaker.

You can also use the smaller M1 and P1 speakers as rears with the JBL Bar 300XMK2 and the JBL Bar 500XMK2. To test this out, I watched the famous car chase scene from "No Time to Die", and I was nodding along with thinly veiled admiration. The church bells resounded through the living room, and every lick of the tense violin OST felt like a lash of tension darting up my spine.

I know, right? There's got to be something wrong... surely...

Dynamic, punchy sound

In true JBL fashion, the Cove M1, P1, and X1 all sound fantastic. Obviously, the flagship X1 is the most exciting and vivacious, but the M1 holds its own, too. There's a decadence to the bass — just like JBL's Live 780 NC headphone line — and vibrance in the vocals.

"Shiver" by Ed Sheeran filled the open-plan kitchen, particularly effusive in the violin plucks. Although the treble was a touch harsh in "Señorita", the M1 is a small speaker, so naturally isn't going to have the depth of the P1 or X1.

Speaking of the P1 and X1 — boy, am I excited to test them out properly. As already touched upon, the X1 is rich and dynamic, especially during "Birth4000" by Floating Points. The sub-bass was strong without overpowering the hi-hats or high-frequency synth notes, one thing I look out for while testing speakers.

As the portable speaker of the group, the P1 has a 14-hour battery life (but charges while placed on the dock, so should always be full of juice) and sounds rambunctious. When I tested this in the garden, my first thought was, "The neighbors definitely hate me." Let that do all the talking for me.

Problem-solving features

Last, but certainly not least, is the array of problem-solving features across the Cove line. For starters, you can control the speakers without the app, which I like to see. Of course, you need the app for initial Wi-Fi setup and button configuration, but once you've programmed the heart-shaped "Moment" button to Spotify playlists (or podcasts), it can play with one tap.

The speakers also have a "Follow me" feature, where they switch off from one room and start playing instantly from the next. There's also a "break-in" feature, so you can stop a group and start a new group with just an on-speaker button.

Seriously, in a world full of apps, this is a breath of fresh air.

But my favorite part: you don't need a JBL account to do any of this. The JBL One app runs entirely off Wi-Fi, so as long as your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the speakers, you can control the speakers with no JBL account. And you don't miss out on any features. Other members of the household can also control the speakers with just the app (or buttons) — no account setup necessary.

So what's the catch?

Honestly, I don't know. I'll be testing the speakers out properly in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back here for my comprehensive review. Right now, it all sounds too good to be true... My home speaker suspicion senses are tingling.

My hopes are well and truly sky-high.

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• The best waterproof Bluetooth speakers
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• I've tested dozens of mini speakers, and my top pick is already discounted for Prime Big Deal Days

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days kick off next week, running from October 6 through October 7, but there are already deals to be had. I've tested dozens of speakers here at Tom's Guide, and the one I always recommend to my friends is currently on sale.

I've talked about the Tribit PocketGo before, and I won't shut up about it because it's the speaker that can do it all. Whether you listen to rock, rap or country, with a few tweaks to the EQ using the Tribit app, you get awesome, balanced sound.

The speaker has already had its price reduced, so you can get the Tribit PocketGo at Amazon for $22 instead of the usual $29.

• shop all early deals at Amazon

Aside from the portable design, I think the best thing about this speaker is the whopping 20 hours of battery life it holds. I've taken it with me on weekend-long trips without needing to charge it once.

This kind of battery life is pretty hard to come by in this price range since this speaker is what I would call ultra-cheap. You could spend over $100 on a speaker from big-name brands such as Bose or Sonos, but the value for money with the Tribit and its balanced sound is unbeatable.

Shop more deals

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Sony knows how to make a party speaker that doesn’t give you much to complain about — just look at how outstanding the ULT Tower 7 is. This is a fantastic speaker if you want to bring Earth-shaking sound to your next gathering without breaking the bank. The Tower 7 delivers room-filling bass, and packs 30 hours of runtime as well as lovely LED lighting.

Extensive app control, a plethora of party features, and robust input options make the Tower 7 a dream for hosts, DJs, and karaoke lovers alike. But unlike its smaller sibling, the Tower 5, the Tower 7 has a couple of drawbacks. It’s a little awkward to wheel around, and the 360° sound isn’t that immersive. The treble is slightly overzealous too, but this is easily fixable via the app.

Is this still one of the best Bluetooth speakers for you? Read my full Sony ULT Tower 7 review to find out.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Specs

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Price & availability

The Sony ULT Tower 7 is one of three speakers in the second generation of Sony’s party speakers — the Tower 5 ($448) and the Tower Max ($1,499) being the other two. All three speakers were announced in September 2026, and the Tower 7 is the mid-range choice, retailing for $648 / £499 at Amazon. As you’ll soon see, it offers excellent value for money.

There’s no shortage of competition in the Tower 7’s price range. You’ve got heavy hitters like the Marshall Bromley 450 ($799) and the JBL PartyBox 330 ($629), and the Soundboks Mix ($799) is great for those after ground-shaking bass (though it has its flaws). The Tower 7 faces fierce competition from its cheaper sibling, the Tower 5, too, a portable party speaker I awarded 5/5 stars to. While the Tower 7 isn’t as good as the Tower 5, it’s still a standout choice for those after rumbling bass.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Design

All three speakers, the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max, share similar design philosophies. The Tower 7 looks like a taller, chunkier version of the Tower 5. It sports an all-black finish, a stripped-back top panel with basic controls, and sophisticated reactive lighting. The large front grille houses a circular ULT button, located in the top-left corner. One of the biggest visual (and acoustic) differences between the Tower 5 and the Tower 7 is the presence of two rear tweeters on the latter (more on that shortly).

Just like the Tower 5 and Tower Max, the Tower 7 features an LED strip that runs along the length of the front grille, and it produces cyan, blue and purple gradients. It’s also highly customizable via the excellent Sony Sound Connect app, but I’ll discuss that in detail later. The LED lighting might not be to everyone’s taste as it isn’t as lovely to look at as the Marshall Bromley 450’s integrated stage lights, but it’s more tasteful than that on the JBL PartyBox 330.

Like I said before, the Tower 7 is tall and chunky, measuring 27.95 x 16.57 x 13.66 inches, and at 50.26lbs, it weighs a lot more than the Tower 5 — almost double, in fact. To make it easier to transport the Tower 7, you’ll find four integrated handles on the top and bottom, and there are two wheels on the bottom, too.

Annoyingly, though, you have to grasp the top edge above the slit on the rear side of the speaker, and it’s awkward and uncomfortable to roll the speaker around like this. I never managed to get a decent grip on the Tower 7, and neither did my coworkers. I wish Sony had a suitcase-style pull-out handle to make this easier, like on the Marshall Bromley 750 ($1,299).

Weatherproofing

Just like the Tower 5 and the JBL PartyBox 330, the Tower 7 is IPX4-rated, so it’s splash-proof but not protected against dust and dirt (that’s what the ‘X’ in IPX4 means). Also like the Tower 5, the IPX4 protection is active in the vertical position only, as the rear port cover is completely sealed but the sides aren’t. The Marshall Bromley 450 and Soundboks Mix feature better weatherproofing as they’re IP55- and IP65-rated respectively.

Controls

Controls on the Tower 7 are identical to those on the Tower 5. Located on the top are three (self-explanatory) buttons: power, Bluetooth, and playback. There’s a circular ULT button on the front grille — it’s quite big so you can’t miss it — and this lets you swap between EQ presets, or it can be rotated to adjust the volume.

The rest of the buttons are located on the speaker’s rear panel, just under the backward-facing tweeters. These give you control over features like Party Chain (multi-speaker pairing), Light (lighting effects), Key Control (for swapping between flat and sharp keys), and more. Again, these are the same as on the Tower 5 and in that vein, it doesn't take long to get a hang of them.

Connectivity

Like the controls, connectivity options are the same on the Tower 7 and the Tower 5. For wireless playback, there’s Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs, and multipoint connectivity for pairing two devices simultaneously. Party Chain is available, too, which utilizes an Auracast broadcast to connect to 100 compatible Sony speakers. Having listened to 10 of the Tower speakers together, I’ve seen this happen at scale and can confirm this feature certainly works.

There’s no shortage of ports on the Tower 7 either. All ports are protected by a rubber flap for protection against splashes. There’s a USB-C port for playing music directly from your smartphone or phone, and a USB-A port for playing from a USB stick. There’s a 6.3mm mic/instrument jack, RCA line input, and a balanced XLR input and an XLR output for a second device or PA system. That’s more than enough for connecting instruments, mics for karaoke, DJ turntables, and more. You’ll also find a similar level of connectivity on the Marshall Bromley 450.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Sound quality

The Sony ULT Tower 7 has a commendable acoustic configuration and on paper, it sounds like a beast. You get a total power output of 420W, an 11-inch woofer, two 4.7-inch mid-range drivers, and four 2-inch tweeters (two on the front, two on the back for 360° sound). You can use the ULT button to swap between ULT 1 (deep bass), ULT 2 (attack bass), Flat (neutral) and Live sound profiles, too, and there’s a 10-band equalizer available via the app if you want more control.

But how does the speaker sound straight out of the box? I listened to some of my favorite tunes on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles, to test it out. Bass is naturally the Tower 7’s forte as this is, first and foremost, a party speaker, and MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ highlighted the strong, Earth-shaking low-end reproduction. The pulsing synth-bass had impressive weight and depth as the Tower 7’s large woofer gave each note a physical, room-filling quality. Each bass pluck was loud and clear even at the lowest (and highest) volume, and the lowest frequencies added a dark, resonant foundation. The groove felt visceral without completely swallowing the mid-range.

‘Catch These Fists’ by Wet Leg felt expansive and physical through the Tower 7. The driving chunky bassline anchored the soundstage with weight, while the guitars spread across the room at an almost concert-like scale. The vocals remained distinct, whether they were quiet in the verses or loud in the chorus, and they didn't get drowned out by the rhythm section. The Tower 7’s rear-facing tweeters shone here, too, as they made the track sound wider than a conventional forward-firing speaker, like the Soundboks Mix.

While most of the soundstage sounds great, I’ve been disappointed by the Tower 7’s treble. The fast-moving percussion layers, like the snares and claps, in the Afro-tech infused ‘Open Arms’ by Little Simz ft. DEELA sounded overzealous and a little too sharp. While the Tower 7’s multiple tweeters are designed to deliver crisp high frequencies, they make the treble feel edgy rather than smooth.

This was prominent in ‘One Inch Punch’ by Yin Yin, too, where the cymbals felt pushed forward, dominating the soundstage a bit too much and taking away from the track’s otherwise relaxed character. You can salvage this by playing around with the 10-band equalizer, of course, but I wish the Tower 7 sounded just as well-rounded as the Tower 5, straight out of the box.

The Tower 7 features 360° Party Sound, too, which, as the name suggests, is 360° surround sound that’s meant to make songs sound the same regardless of where you’re standing. In theory, this sounds great, but I didn’t find the 360° sound on the Tower 7 as convincing or immersive as on the Marshall Bromley 450. The Tower 7’s rear tweeters deliver clear sound but because there’s no rear woofer, the bass sounds a little thin. I guess Sony had to give you a compelling reason to splurge on the Tower Max which does feature an 11-inch rear woofer.

Listen along to my review with the Sony ULT Tower 7 testing playlist:

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: App

You’ll need to download the Sony Sound Connect app on either iOS or Android if you want to customize your Sony ULT Tower 7. The app is extremely easy to use and everything is signposted clearly. You get extensive control over the Tower 7’s LED lighting and 10-band equalizer, to name a couple.

All three of Sony’s ULT Tower speakers, including the Tower 7, have a Party Pad function within the app. This lets you trigger live audio effects, like a flanger or sampler, while playing music, performing karaoke, or playing live. It lets you add DJ-style effects, like robot, drums, rhythm, audience voices, and more.

The Sony Sound Connect app is much more impressive than the Marshall Bromley 450’s and the Soundboks Mix’s, as their companion apps don’t give you a lot of control of their settings and features.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Battery life

A compelling reason to buy the Sony ULT Tower 7 over the Tower 5 is the longer battery life. The Tower 7 runs on either a power supply from an AC outlet or on its built-in rechargeable battery, which is rated for up to 30 hours. That’s 10 more hours over the Tower 5. The Tower 7 trumps the JBL PartyBox 330 which is rated for just 18 hours, but it falls short of the Marshall Bromley 450’s and the Soundboks Mix’s 40-hour playback times.

Of course, how much power the speaker consumes depends on the Tower 7’s settings and features, like the LED lighting, EQ presets and volume. I listened at varying volume levels with different presets toggled, and after four hours of testing, I had 80% battery left. Like on the Tower 5 and Tower Max, Stamina mode can be activated via the dedicated button at the back, and this disables power-hungry features to prolong battery life.

Similar to the Tower 5, the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix, you can use the Tower 7’s USB-C or USB-A ports to charge your smartphone, laptop or other devices.

Sony ULT Tower 7 review: Verdict

The Sony ULT Tower 7 is an absolute blast of a party speaker. Is it perfect? Not quite, as it’s awkward to wheel around and the 360° sound isn’t that immersive. But the ground-shaking bass, distortion-free sound at all volume levels, and massive audio scale make those minor grievances fade into the background.

You also get 30 hours of battery life with the Tower 7, as well as extensive connectivity options for mics, instruments and DJ turntables. It’s a two-in-one karaoke machine and party speaker. For just under $650, the Tower 7 is on par with its pricier rivals, and in some cases, it even outshines a few of them, like the Soundboks Mix. If you want high-energy, impactful sound that keeps the party alive all weekend, the Tower 7 is a standout choice.

Sony is back on top of the party speakers game with the ULT Tower 5 — and the audio giant hit a home run with this one. Compact and portable thanks to four handles, the Tower 5 is an excellent speaker for on-the-go musicians, karaoke enthusiasts, and everyone in between. The speaker features an array of ports for hooking up instruments and mics, as well as Bluetooth connectivity that also enables you to sync up 100 speakers together.

Sound quality is where the Tower 5 comes into its own. Room-filling and ground-shaking bass, airy and refined treble, and an expansive soundstage make it a standout choice. For just under $450, the Tower 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy today, and Sony takes the fight to Marshall and JBL and emerges victorious.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Sony ULT Tower 5 review.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Specs

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Price & availability

Announced in September 2026, the Sony ULT Tower 5 is part of the brand’s second generation of party speakers which also includes the Tower 7 ($648) and the Tower Max ($1,499). The Tower 5 is the cheapest of the three, retailing for $448 / £349 at Amazon. It’s actually only a smidge pricier than the JBL Xtreme 5 ($399)!

The Tower 5 is priced similarly to the JBL PartyBox 130 ($449), and is cheaper than the Soundboks Mix ($799) and the Marshall Bromley 450 ($799). Frankly speaking, the Tower 5 is ridiculously good value for money given its compact form factor, mahoosive 300W power output, great design, and wide range of connectivity.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Design

Sony has redesigned its Tower lineup and the second gen speakers, including the Tower 5, look more sophisticated with classier reactive lighting, cleaner top panels, and easily understandable controls. The Tower 5 features a large front grille that houses a circular ULT button in the top-left corner, and the speaker has a lovely matte black finish.

An LED strip frames the front grille, producing cyan, blue and purple gradients, and it looks fantastic. This is what gives the speaker its distinctly neon, party aesthetic. Though I still prefer the Marshall Bromley 450’s integrated stage lights, the Tower 5’s lighting is tasteful and doesn’t look as garish as on the JBL PartyBox 130.

The Tower 5 is the smallest and most portable of Sony’s ULT speakers, measuring 21 x 14.1 x 11 inches. It’s still quite heavy, though, weighing 28lbs. Sony has happily installed four carry handles so you can pick it up and carry it around. I’ve found these handles useful when moving the Tower 5 up and down the stairs. In comparison, both the JBL PartyBox 130 and the Marshall Bromley 450 feature single handles.

Weatherproofing

The Tower 5 is IPX4-rated (in the vertical orientation only), which means it’s splash-proof, but the ‘X’ in that rating means it doesn’t have an official rating for dust protection. This is the same level of waterproofing as the JBL PartyBox 130, but it’s worse than the Marshall Bromley 450’s IP55 and the Soundboks Mix’s IP65 ratings. Both the Bromley 450 and the Mix are, then, better for outdoor use.

Controls

The Tower 5 features a stripped-back, minimal control scheme. On the top, you’ll find buttons for turning the speaker on and off, Bluetooth, and playback. The circular ULT button on the front grille is customizable via the companion app and can be used to swap between EQ presets, and it can be rotated to adjust the volume.

More buttons are located on the speaker’s rear, and they give you control over features like Party Chain (for multi-speaker pairing), Key Control (for swapping between flat and sharp keys), and Stamina (to reduce power consumption). There are a few other buttons but they’re all easy to understand and get a hang of.

The buttons and dials on the Tower 5 give you ample control over the speaker’s settings, and you don’t really need the companion app, which is excellent. The controls give good tactile feedback, and I found them responsive in my testing.

Connectivity

There’s no dearth of ports or connectivity options on the Tower 5. If you want wireless playback, the Tower 5 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC and LDAC codecs. It features multipoint connectivity, too, so you can pair it with two devices simultaneously, and the speaker will automatically switch between them when you start playback on either device.

All three speakers in the ULT Tower range — the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max — feature Party Chain, which essentially utilizes an Auracast broadcast to connect the speakers with compatible Sony speakers. Pressing the Party Chain button on the Tower 5 pairs it with… wait for it… up to 100 speakers. One hundred! I don’t know who might own 100 of the Towers, but I’ve listened to 10 of them together, so I know this feature works well at scale.

Then there’s wired connectivity. On the Tower 5’s rear panel, you’ll find a USB-C port for playing music directly from your smartphone or phone, and a USB-A port for playing from a USB stick. There’s also a 6.3mm mic/instrument jack, RCA line input, and a balanced XLR input and an XLR output for a second device or PA system. That’s a lot! There are more than enough ports for hooking up your instruments, mics for karaoke, and other devices. This is a similar level of wired connectivity you’ll find on the Marshall Bromley 450.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Sound quality

Let’s talk details first. Though the Sony ULT Tower 5 is small-ish, it packs a lot of power. It’s got a total power output of 300W, powered by one 9-inch woofer, two mid-range drivers, and dual 2.3-inch tweeters. The ULT Tower speakers have been tuned to deliver ground-shaking bass, and that’s exactly what the Tower 5 does.

As this is a bass-first speaker, I listened to a few hip-hop, electronic and heavy rock tracks on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles — starting with ‘Come Around’ by 070 Shake. Through the Tower 5, the rumbling synths hit me with force as soon as the song started, and the low-end was deep, heavy and physical. The sub-bass felt weighty, and the Tower 5 ensured that each note felt punchy and room-filling. I could feel the ground rumbling under me, even when the speaker was playing at just 50% volume. Even with the volume pushed close to 100%, the bass felt tactile and controlled, never muddy.

This was with the ULT 1 sound profile enabled, which delivers deep bass that you can feel, and it maintains clarity at even high volumes. You can swap to ULT 2 by pressing the ULT button on the front grille if you want extra energy and drive. I listened to ‘Von Dutch’ by Charli xcx, and ULT 2 made the electronic beat feel bold and aggressive, and the Tower 5 laid the bass on thick. The club-like reproduction felt immersive, vibrating through the room without overwhelming the vocals. I couldn’t help but bob my head along!

Heavy rock tracks, like ‘Two Faced’ by Linkin Park, are handled with precision by the Tower 5, too. The Flat sound profile (also toggled via the ULT button) makes songs sound neutral and close to the original production, but it still packs plenty of punch. ‘Two Faced’ highlighted the speaker’s wide, energetic soundstage, as the guitars spread across the room with strong separation, while the drums sat firmly in the centre with impressive weight. Vocals sounded expansive and expressive, and Emily Armstrong’s screams didn’t overwhelm the speaker either, and they didn't pierce through the soundscape.

Finally, treble. ‘Life Itself’ by Glass Animals is driven by layered snappy percussion, including crisp hi-hats and tambourines. The Tower 5 reproduced these textures brilliantly, and the treble sounded airy and lively. The speaker kept up with the song’s energetic beat, and the overall sound didn’t feel thin or pushed back.

I’ve been extremely impressed with the Tower 5’s performance. Don’t let its tiny stature fool you: this thing is an absolute beast when it comes to raw performance.

Listen along to my review with the Sony ULT Tower 5 testing playlist:

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: App

Sony Sound Connect is your one-stop shop for customizing your headphones, earbuds and the ULT Tower speakers, too, including the Tower 5. Available for free on iOS and Android, the app sports a clean interface, and gives you extensive control over the Tower 5’s settings. You can customize the 10-band equalizer as well as the LED lighting’s colors.

You also get access to Party Pad which lets you trigger live audio effects, like a flanger or sampler, while playing music. Live musicians and even karaoke enthusiasts will surely appreciate this feature as it lets you add DJ-style effects, and I had a lot of fun playing around with it. There are effects for almost everything — drums, rhythm, robot, you name it.

Compared to the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix whose companion apps don’t give you a lot of control over the speakers’ settings, the Tower 5 (and the Tower lineup) sets a new standard for what a party speaker can really do.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Battery life

The Sony ULT Tower 5 is capable of running on either a power supply from an AC outlet, or on its built-in rechargeable battery. On a single charge, the Tower 5 can last up to 20 hours, according to Sony. It upstages the JBL PartyBox 130’s 15-hour battery life, though it pales in comparison to the Marshall Bromley 450’s massive 40-hour playback time — but the Bromley 450 is also pricier than the Tower 5.

Your mileage will naturally depend on the LED lighting, EQ presets, volume level, and other speaker settings. I listened at varying volume levels with different presets toggled, and after five hours of playback, I had 70% battery remaining. If you want to extend the battery life, you can toggle Stamina mode via the dedicated button on the back. This turns off energy-hungry features like the LED lighting. Bass naturally loses its power, but it’s handy if you’re in a pinch.

Similar to the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Soundboks Mix, you can use the Tower 5’s USB-C or USB-A ports to charge your smartphone, laptop or other devices.

Sony ULT Tower 5 review: Verdict

There isn’t a lot wrong with the Sony ULT Tower 5. In fact, the only drawback I can think of is that it’s IPX4 waterproof only, but that’s about it. The Tower 5 nails every aspect, and it’s a well-rounded party speaker that delivers where it matters most: meaty bass that you feel in your soul; crisp, airy treble that doesn’t become fatiguing; and an expansive soundstage that makes every genre sing.

The Tower 5 sports a visually pleasing design, too, utilizing tasteful LED lighting and an all-black matte finish. It’s portable, and can be carried easily thanks to the integrated handles. There’s a plethora of ports and connectivity options. What more could you ask for? Pound for pound, the Tower 5 is the best portable party speaker of 2026.

A quartet of unannounced Apple products was reportedly discovered in a company code that revealed images of a new iPad mini 8, iPad 12, HomePod mini 2, and the long-awaited Apple TV 4K refresh.

The images were found by Aaron Perris, a regular contributor to MacRumors. It's not clear what code Perris dug through to find the images, though usually it's one of the major operating systems like iOS or macOS.

Per MacRumors, where the images were discovered indicates that these devices could launch very soon.

Here's what we know about the four products.

Apple TV 4K

The image Perris discovered appears to be labeled "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)." Based on this image, the fourth generation will look pretty much exactly the same as gen three.

The upgrades should all be inside, including a new chip, anything from an A17 Pro all the way up to the A20, based on rumors. The newer chip will come with more RAM and the ability to run Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI.

It's also rumored to get an Apple-designed N1 chip (possibly the N2) and WiFi 7 support, plus an updated Remote.

iPad 12

Not every leaked image comes with potential technical specifications, but the iPad 12 apparently did. According to the code, Apple's updated entry-level iPad 12 will feature an A19 chip, an Apple-built C1X modem, an N1 chip and 8GB of RAM.

In all, those are expected updates based on previous rumors. Like the Apple TV, more RAM and a more recent chip will enable the iPad 12 to support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, which the current iPad 11 can't run.

iPad mini 8

Interestingly, the leaked code of the iPad mini 8 doesn't seem to discuss the rumored OLED display. Instead, MacRumors found that it will have an A20 Pro chip, a new landscape front-facing camera, and an updated speaker system.

Many previous rumors have suggested that the next mini tablet will be the iPad mini with OLED, meant to launch this October. Just because OLED doesn't appear in the code doesn't mean that it won't launch this fall though.

That said, the iPad mini running the A20 Pro chip is new and should make Apple's smallest tablet quite powerful. For instance, the iPad mini 7, released two years ago features an A17 Pro chipset.

HomePod mini 2

It appears that new version of the HomePod mini will be released in five colors which appear to include white, black, green, blue and a pinkish variant. The current models come in blue, yellow, orange, midnight and white.

We've tracked the HomePod mini 2 on our rumor radar since at least 2023. It should be a simple update including a new chip that will likely let it run Apple Intelligence and Siri AI as with every other device listed above. It's also expected to have improved audio.

We expect all four devices to launch before the end of October alongside the HomePad smart home hub, and new M6 Macbooks.

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I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth speakers, and I’m always impressed when it comes to Bose. I personally love the sound its speakers make, and the Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is no exception to that fact.

It delivers a balanced sound that can be turned up without distortion, is compact and lightweight for easy portability, and is waterproof and dust-resistant for any outdoor activities. There are loads of color choices too, and the useful connectivity options mean you can pair multiple speakers for a bigger sound.

However, there are far cheaper options on the market that can save you half the price and give you comparable sound and better battery life. To find out more about what I think about the speaker, you can keep reading this full Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Specs

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Price & availability

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is available to purchase from Best Buy in the U.S. for $129, but can frequently be found on sale for as low as $79. In the U.K., you can purchase the speaker for £119 from Amazon. You can purchase the speaker in a variety of colors, including Sunset Peach, Sandstone, Black, Petal Pink, Blue Dusk, Dewdrop Mint and Twilight Blue.

Bose also offers the bigger SoundLink Flex, which is only $20 more at $149, offering the same durability specs in a slightly less portable package. The SoundLink Micro 2, by contrast, fits in the palm of your hand, making it better for travelling.

When it comes to small, portable speakers, you can certainly pick up cheaper options, but you won’t be getting the full-bodied sound you get with the Bose. The$39 Tozo PE1 is a decent option if you’re on a very tight budget, but the battery drains fast, and the sound becomes tinny at higher volumes.

Staying on the micro side, the $64 Tribit StomBox Micro 3 is around the same size as the SoundLink Micro, but has a higher IP68 durability rating. I love the sound you get from the Tribit, and I find myself reaching for it regularly. It’s half the price of the Bose and, in my opinion, performs just as well.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Design

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 is a devilishly handsome speaker that comes in a variety of colors. The wide range of colors means you can choose one that complements your style, but I prefer the understated black variant.

Micro-sized speakers are very portable, and this one is about the size of my hand at 4.1 x 4.1 x 1.7 inches. It only weighs 11.2 ounces, so it didn’t add any noticeable weight to my bag when taking it out and about. The Tozo PE1 is lighter at just 8 ounces.

Bose says this speaker is built to bounce, so I obviously had to put it to the test. I dropped it from chest height (I’m 5’2”), and it quickly rebounded off the ground with no marks in sight, so it is very sturdy. This speaker has an IP67 durability rating, meaning it is fully protected against dust and can be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. Since I mostly use Bluetooth speakers when I’m out in the garden, it’s great to know that the SoundLink Micro 2 is protected. I took the speaker on vacation with me and had it poolside where it was subject to splashes from the pool, and it was completely unfazed.

Controls

The Bose SoundLink Micro uses button controls, which are very responsive. On the right, there is a shortcut button. This is programmable through the Bose app. I decided to set it so that it would play music from my Spotify account without me selecting it on my phone. This was useful as I could leave my phone inside, minimizing distractions.

Connectivity

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 uses Bluetooth version 5.4. The Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 uses Bluetooth 6.0, a more advanced version, but for everyday listening I don’t think it makes much of a difference. The Bose speaker supports multipoint connectivity for up to two devices, which allowed me to easily transition between two phones. This worked well for my family when we couldn’t decide who should be in charge of the music.

Bose’s Party Mode is supported by the speaker too, so you can connect two of their SoundLink speakers and sync up the audio for an even bigger sound. You can also enable stereo mode here and turn them into left and right speakers to immerse yourself in the sound.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Sound quality

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 was the perfect way to soundtrack my vacation as it gave me great volume with total balance over the bass, mids and treble. Though it may be small in stature, don’t let that fool you when it comes to the sound capabilities.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Let’s Go Crazy by Prince. This track has a lot going on in the high end, so when I listen just using my phone speakers, the driving bass line is often lost in a sea of synth effects. However, when listening with the SoundLink Micro 3, I was impressed by how clear the bass guitar was, and it allowed the song to perform to its full potential.

When evaluating the mid-range performance, I listened to Graceland Too by Phoebe Bridgers, which is an acoustic track filled with strings and a delicate vocal performance. The plucking of the string instruments was clear, but you could still hear the vocal harmonies clearly, showing strong tonal separation.

Finally, to test out the treble, I listened to It’s Amazing To Be Young by Fontaines D.C. for its leading drum riffs and lead guitar. The speaker replicated these tones with ease, and I didn't experience any tinniness. Again, I was impressed by the instrument separation across guitar and drums.

You certainly get the classic Bose sound here and I prefer the sound profile to the Tozo PE1, which sounds a lot cheaper, but I would say it’s on par with the Tribit StormBox Micro 3.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: App

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 speaker is compatible with the Bose app, which you can use to customize the sound or simply control it. It’s easy to navigate, and I felt like I had a lot of control. I prefer using this to the Tribit app for the StormBox Micro 3.

There are custom EQ adjusters to fine-tune the bass, mid-range and treble, or you can use the EQ presets in the app. I like the default EQ of this speaker, but increasing the bass makes it pretty ground-shaking.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a shortcut button on the speaker that can be altered on the speaker and used to launch Spotify Tap, or sync with other Bose speakers to activate Party Mode. The app is certainly a helping hand throughout the listening process, and it’s not at all complicated.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Battery life

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 comes with a USB-C to A cable for charging, which takes around three hours. The speaker holds 12 hours of battery life, which lasted me around three days before I needed to juice up again.

I would have liked a little more battery life for longer trips since rivals prove it can be done, even in such a small package. The Tribit StormBox Micro 3, for example, has 24 hours of battery life, and the Tribit PocketGo (which is even smaller) holds 20 hours of battery.

Bose SoundLink Micro 2 review: Verdict

The Bose SoundLink Micro 2 impressed me by delivering clear and balanced sound with zero distortion, even at louder volumes. It’s very lightweight and compact, making it a great option for taking with you on trips, as I did. There are loads of color options to choose from, so it can certainly be a style-minded purchase, and the connectivity features unlock ways to get an even bigger sound. Meanwhile, the IP67 durability rating makes it a good option for anyone who likes to listen to music outdoors.

As much as I like the speaker, there are cheaper options on the market that also provide great sound and even have stronger battery life. But if you’re a fan of the classic Bose sound, this speaker is a no-brainer.

After years of delays, Siri AI is finally available for everyone bringing an Apple-supported AI experience to most of your devices. One of the few things that hasn't been graced with Siri Ai just yet to the HomePod smart speaker — but that might be changing soon.

Details related to Siri AI have been uncovered by pdfu in HomePod's audio OS 27 software. The code contains references to "Linwood," which is apparently the system that will power Siri AI on Apple's speaker. However, the downside is that it may not be available unless you buy a brand new HomePod first.

There are more updates than just which version of Siri you'll have access to. The light and sound effects on the HomePod seem to be changing, much like they do on other devices. The comparison pdfu posted shows the standard Siri with a simple "bing" chime and the classic rainbow light effects. Meanwhile Siri AI uses a lighter tone, with more yellows and blues, as well as a longer chime with an echo-effect.

Obviously audioOS 27 is already available and Siri AI is non-functional. This leads pdfu to speculate it may be limited to newer HomePod devices. However, they do note HomePod is "accepted as a Siri AI-capable device" and "activation is separately blocked in current versions."

That could mean that Apple is simply not ready to roll out Siri AI to HomePod yet, even if there's no hardware reason for it not to work.

We're not expecting a new version of the large HomePod anytime soon, but there have been rumors suggesting two different devices could be on the way. That includes the HomePod mini 2, which is supposedly coming with a newer chip, as well as the long-awaited Apple smart display — often referred to as a HomePad.

Considering the HomePad was reportedly delayed because Siri AI wasn't ready, we can certainly expect it to come equipped with the full range of Apple AI tools. As for other models, we're not so sure. However, it would be bizarre for Apple to restrict which devices can use Siri AI unless there are hardware incompatibility issues.

I would personally hope Apple is just holding off on releasing Siri AI to HomePods until the newer devices have been formally revealed. Sadly we'd need Apple to clarify what the deal is, otherwise all we can do is wildly speculate until an official announcement is made.

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Jabees PEACE Duo Speaker: Review in brief

I'm someone who can't sleep without listening to something in order to drown out the distracting sound of my noisy street. After months of wearing earbuds every night I began to experience a level of irritation that left my ear canals too sore to wear even the best sleep headphones to bed.

Instead of earbuds, I've been getting my noise masking from white noise machines, the bedtime sound setting on my sunrise alarms, and even a tabletop fan cranked up to the highest speed. However, one thing that I never considered was an under-the-pillow speaker — until I came across the Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker, now $49.99 (was $59.99) at Jabees.

The Jabees PEACE Duo Speaker is designed for side sleepers like me who need to listen sound in order to fall asleep, but don't want to wear earbuds or disturb anyone else. Does it work? After three weeks of testing, here's what I think...

Jabees PEACE Duo Speaker review: Cheat sheet

What is it? An under-the-pillow speaker that relies on bone conduction technology to deliver private nighttime listening.
Who is it for? Side sleepers who want to listen to sleep sounds without disturbing a partner or roommate and find earbuds uncomfortable.
What does it cost? $59.99 at full price, but it's often $10 off at Jabees and Amazon.
What do we like? Side-sleeper friendly design, portability, private sound, intuitive controls, choose between wireless streaming or phone-free Micro SD soundscapes.
What don’t we like? Too muffled to listen to guided meditation or sleep stories; incompatibility with foam pillow and poor sound quality for back sleepers.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: Price and deals

• The PEACE Duo is $59.99 at MSRP but is usually $10 off
• Jabees offers a 1-year warranty and free shipping on orders over $50
• Free delivery and 30-day returns at Amazon

The Jabees Pillow Duo Speaker may cost $59.99 at full price, but I've yet to see it on sale without a $10 discount. At Jabees, the sale price is $49.99 (a little crafty considering that you need to spend at least $50 for free shipping), and comes with a one-year warranty. The return window is really narrow at just one week from delivery.

Over at Amazon, you'll find the PEACE Duo with the same discount. While Jabees's one-year warranty isn't guaranteed at a third-party seller, the return window stretches to one month instead of a week. Plus, shipping is free.

The Jabees Pillow Duo Speaker isn't a budget option, especially when you consider the prices of its rivals. For instance, the Sangean PS-300 Pillow Speaker, now $29.96 (was $39.99) at Amazon, and the Kinglucky Upgraded X50 Pillow Speaker, now $22.49 (was $24.99) at Amazon, are two of the most popular pillow speakers in America and are both under $30 when on sale.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: Design and features

• Bluetooth streaming and SD card playback available
• Timer options allow speaker to turn off while asleep
• Cordless, portable design has two compact speakers

The PEACE Dup Speaker gets its name from it's dual design, featuring two speakers for left and right stereo separation. These two speakers are joined by a single flexible strip, and you can snap the two speakers together to turn the device off (and pull them apart to turn it back on).

The control panel is located on the right-hand speaker, and features just three buttons, two of which are volume buttons.

On the underside of the left speaker, there's a switch that let's you toggle between Bluetooth Mode and Micro SD mode. The latter allows you to go phone free and access hours of preloaded, soundscapes (including ocean wave sounds and wind ambience).

In Bluetooth mode, simply pair up your speaker with your phone for wireless streaming. This mode allows you to listen to podcasts, sleep apps, and any other sounds you want to access.

If you need sounds to help you drift off but don't want the speaker to play all night, you can set a timer by clicking the + volume button three times to switch between a 30-minute timer, a 1-hour timer, or a 2-hour timer.

As for portability, the PEACE Duo has a light, cordless design that can pretty much be taken anywhere, making it a great travel companion (and a much better alternative to bulky nightstand sound machines).

The Peace DUO speaker comes in two colors: sunshine yellow or mist green, and you can also add touch of customization with the PEACE Duo Personalized Faceplates, now $15.99 at Jabees.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: Performance

• Side sleepers won't feel the speaker through the pillow
• Inaudible to others for private listening
• Great for ambient sounds but not for guided meditation

I used the Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker under the Helix Down and Feather Pillow for over three weeks. The PEACE DUO isn't compatible with thick foam pillows (especially memory foam pillows) as they tend to absorb sound more than other pillow types.

Luckily, Feather and Down pillows are compatible with the PEACE Duo, as are polyester fill and cotton fill pillows. However, my pillow has a high loft, so I was initially sceptical that the sound could penetrate though the thick material.

I needn't of worried, as I could hear clearly as soon as I placed my head against the pillow. For the first week of use, I stuck to ambient soundscapes from both the Micro SD card and my BetterSleep app.

I found the speaker to be a great option for listening to background noises like wind sounds and colored noises like brown and white noise. If, like me, you're the type of person who finds sounds like whale calls or ceiling fans soothing, you'll enjoy it.

However, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who likes to listen to guided meditation, breathwork instruction, or sleep stories. The sound quality is just too muffled for clear instructions or following a bedtime story.

However, I will say that if you like to fall asleep with the TV on in in the background, then the PEACE Duo Speaker is a great alternative. I listened to the intentionally boring Sleep With Me podcast one night, and the slightly muffled voices replicated the comforting feeling of falling asleep on the sofa. It put me to sleep within 10 minutes.

As for the "private nighttime listening" claim, the PEACE Duo lives up to its promise. I couldn't hear a single thing as soon as my head left the pillow, and I didn't have to worry about waking up my light-sleeping roommates.

Finally, I want to talk about sleep comfort. The whole point of a pillow speaker is to eliminate the discomfort of earplugs, and I think the PEACE DUO succeeds in doing so. I never felt the speaker through my pillow when side sleeping or back sleeping, though it bares repeating that back sleepers that they won't hear the audio as well as side sleepers.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: Battery life

• Lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge
• A USB-C cable comes with the PEACE Duo
• Takes around 2 hours for a full charge

The Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker has a similar battery life to most of the leading pillow speakers, including the Kinglucky Upgraded X50 Pillow Speaker.

The PEACE Duo has a battery life of up to 10 hours, which means it will last an entire night and then some. With this battery life, the speaker will last more than a week on a single charge if you set the timer to switch the audio off after and hour of playback or streaming.

To go from 0% to 10%, you would have to charge the speaker for two hours, which is a relatively short time. It uses a simple USB-C cable the type that the iPhone 15 and later models use.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: User reviews

• Reviews at Jabees and Amazon are mostly positive
• Users praise the clear audio and travel-friendly design
• Complaints mostly come from foam pillow owners

Currently, the PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker holds a 3.9/5 overall star rating based on over 20 reviews at Jabees's website. Over at Amazon, it holds an overall star rating of 41/5 based on over 25 reviews.

Positive feedback (which is the majority) praises the PEACE Duo's sound quality, with customers saying they could hear the audio clear and loud enough. Users also praise the lightweight, travel-friendly design and how it's a less intrusive alternative to earbuds.

Criticism mostly comes from those who own foam pillows, which the brand explicitly states the speaker is unsuitable for. Aside from that, some users find the volume too low and soft for podcasts and stories, which reflects my experience.

Jabees PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker review: Should you buy?

The PEACE Duo Pillow Speaker is a great sound machine for side sleepers who want to listen to ambient sleep soundscapes without disturbing others or wearing uncomfortable earbuds.

I recommend it to couples, co-sleepers, or college students sharing a dorm. It allows you to create your own private sound at home or on the go, thanks to its travel-friendly, cordless design. Plus, its build is non-obtrusive so you won't feel it through your pillow.

That said, I have to deduct some points for the fairly wide range of people who I wouldn't recommend the PEACE Duo to. For instance, I don't think back sleepers will get as much mileage out of the speaker as side sleepers, and the same goes for those who sleep on memory foam pillows.

Also, if you're planning on listening to guided sleep meditation or bedtime stories, the audio isn't clear enough. Listening to pink noise or rainfall, however? The PEACE Duo is a great option.

At $49.99 on sale, there are cheaper options out there. However, the set-up is easy, the controls are intuitive, and the you can choose between wireless streaming and screen-free SD playback.

Tribit has made some of the best cheap portable speakers in recent years, and I bet it was hoping for a homerun with the XSound Go. Sadly, it falls just short of greatness — but it’s not all bad. The XSound Go sports a humble, inconspicuous design and boasts up to 24 hours of battery life. Treble is vibrant, while vocals sound loud and clear, making the speaker good for acoustic tracks.

But the non-existent bass is a chink in the XSound Go’s armor. There’s no companion app or custom EQ to salvage it either, and the speaker isn’t dustproof. Oh, and it's prone to scratches and fingerprints. Even though it costs just $39, I think it’s worth spending a little extra on a more competent speaker, like the JBL Go 5.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Tribit XSound Go review.

Tribit XSound Go review: Specs

Tribit XSound Go review: Price & availability

The Tribit XSound Go first came out in August 2017, and since then, Tribit has released upgraded versions with internal hardware improvements. The 2026 version features Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C connectivity. The price has remained the same, and the latest version costs just $39 / £39 at Amazon. We’ve also seen it drop to as low as $24 / £31 in the past.

This makes the XSound Go one of the cheapest Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested. It’s priced similarly to the Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($39) and the Tozo PE1 ($36). It’s also cheaper than the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 ($49), the JBL Go 5 ($54), and the Sodapop ($68). There's also the pricier version of this speaker, the Tribit XSound Plus ($69).

Pound for pound, I’d recommend the JBL Go 5 above all else — yes, including the XSound Go. Let me tell you why.

Tribit XSound Go review: Design

The Tribit XSound Go sports a simple, humble, generic pill-shaped design. The speaker is available in black, blue and beige colors. I tested the black model and it looks… fine. It fits right into most spaces, and doesn’t look out of place on a coffee table. Branding is minimal, with ‘Tribit’ written across the front metal grille in off-white on the black version. If you want a more eye-catching speaker, the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 takes the cake.

The outer shell features a matte, rubberized coating that gives the XSound Go a soft-touch, grippy feel. Frustratingly, though, this coating is prone to picking up fingerprints, marks and smudges. After unboxing the XSound Go and playing around with it a bit, I noticed my fingerprints were all over it. I put the speaker in my backpack to take it home, and the speaker looked scuffed. Quite annoying. I’d recommend picking up the JBL Go 5 instead if cosmetic wear-and-tear bothers you.

Aesthetics aside, the XSound Go is a highly portable speaker, measuring 6.7 x 2.3 x 2.2 inches and weighing 13.44oz. I’ve had no trouble carrying it in my day bag, and if you’re wearing a winter coat, you should be able to slip it into your pocket, too. The XSound Go is certainly more pocket-friendly than the bulbous Tribit StormBox Mini+.

Weatherproofing

The XSound Go is IPX7-rated which means it’s waterproof and can be submerged in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. This means that you can use it poolside without any worries. That’s decent waterproofing but the XSound Go isn’t dustproof, so I’d advise against using it on dusty hikes or in the desert.

This is the same waterproofing as the Tribit StormBox Mini+ and the Tribit StormBox 2 ($67). If you want a dustproof speaker that can even withstand tumbles and falls, I’d recommend spending more on the IP68-rated JBL Go 5 or the IP67-rated EarFun UBoom L ($79).

Controls

Controls on the XSound Go are extremely straightforward. The physical buttons are located on the top, and are self-explanatory. You can use these to play/pause music, initiate Bluetooth pairing, swap between input sources, and of course, power the speaker on and off. I found them responsive in my testing, and all my commands were registered instantaneously.

Connectivity

As I mentioned earlier, the XSound Go utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the SBC codec. There’s no AAC, like on the Tribit StormBox Mini+, or LC3 like on the JBL Go 5. LC3 is a more advanced codec that streams high-quality sound at lower bitrates, making the JBL Go 5 the better choice. You get multipoint connectivity, at the very least, which enables you to connect up to two devices to the XSound Go at the same time.

If you buy two XSound Gos, you can pair them together to create stereo sound. It works exactly as it does on the Tribit StormBox Mini+ and Tribit XSound Plus. If you buy directly from Tribit, you can get two speakers for $71 / £71, saving you $9 / £9.

There’s also a 3.5mm port located around the back and protected by a rubber flap, and this can be used for wired playback.

Tribit XSound Go review: Sound quality

The Tribit XSound Go is fitted with two 40mm drivers and a passive radiator, and it’s got a total power output of 16W. That’s enough for listening in a small room, or at an intimate picnic or dinner party. Treble and mids are the XSound Go’s strong suits, and as I’ll discuss below, bass is severely lacking. To test the speaker, I listened to my favorite testing songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles.

Good things first. ‘Open Arms’ by Little Simz ft. DEELA proved to be a great track to test the XSound Go’s ability to handle treble. The Afro-tech infused track features fast-moving percussion layers, and the XSound Go handled the sharp snares and claps extremely well. Each element sounded clean, and didn’t muddle together into a hiss. The aggressive hi-hats that maintain the track’s fast-paced energy didn’t sound too harsh, and they didn’t pierce through the rest of the soundstage either. The treble didn’t sound fatiguing at all.

I then listened to ‘Ice In My OJ’ by Hayley Williams, and was impressed with the speaker’s wide dynamic range. Hayley’s vocals sat front and center. Instead of becoming a messy blur with the frantic backing instrumentation, they sounded adequately separated. Her “I’m in a band” screams in the chorus didn’t sound harsh or painfully sibilant either.

Now let’s talk about the area the XSound Go really struggles in — and that’s bass. The speaker has a frequency response range of 80Hz to 20KHz, so it isn’t surprising that it fails to produce deep, rumbling sub-bass. But I felt like the easier bass was non-existent, too, which is disappointing. The distorted alternative R&B electronic bassline in ‘Baby Driver’ by 070 Shake lacked the low-end impact and oomph that drives the song. Through the JBL Go 5, for instance, the bassline sounds powerful and meaty, but I could barely hear or feel it through the XSound Go.

Similarly, the propulsive and consistent bassline in ‘One Inch Punch’ by Yin Yin sounded like it was pushed into the background. It sounded muddy, suppressed and like it was bleeding into the lower-mids, rather than tight and controlled. The otherwise crisp, rhythmic definition was lost, and this made the track lose its agility and groove. It’s surprising that the XSound Go struggles so much, when its sibling, the Tribit StormBox Mini+, doesn’t.

If you want a speaker that doesn’t sacrifice any aspect of the soundstage, I really can’t recommend the JBL Go 5 enough. It breezes past the XSound Go with its overall refined sound.

Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz, our favorite music streaming service for audiophiles.

Tribit XSound Go review: App

Though the Tribit app exists on iOS and Android, the XSound Go isn’t compatible with it. This means that you don’t get access to a custom equalizer or EQ presets. If you want a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker with custom EQ, I’d recommend the Tribit StormBox Mini+, the JBL Go 5 or the Tribit StormBox Micro 3 ($64).

Tribit XSound Go review: Battery life

Tribit says the XSound Go can last up to 24 hours on a single charge and while playing on a “moderate” volume. This is the same as the pricier XSound Plus. Under typical use, the XSound Go should last you between 18 and 20 hours, according to the brand. To test the XSound Go’s battery life, I played music at 50% volume and after about 20 hours, I was prompted to charge it.

The XSound Go, then, trumps its competition when it comes to sheer mileage. In our testing, the JBL Go 5 lasted nine hours; the Tribit StormBox Mini+ died after 13 hours; and the Tozo PE1 netted 15 hours of playback time. The 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 outperforms the XSound Go with its 30-hour battery life, but you’d be sacrificing waterproofing if you went with the 8BitDo.

Tribit XSound Go review: Verdict

The Tribit XSound Go isn’t the worst speaker I’ve tested… but it’s also not the best. Don’t get me wrong: the speaker gets a few things right. The inconspicuous design helps it fit into most spaces, and it packs up to 24 hours of playtime. It doesn’t make treble sound fatiguing, and vocal-heavy tracks are a piece of cake for the XSound Go.

But the XSound Go sacrifices the bass. Lows feel non-existent or like they’ve been pushed into the background. Annoyingly, there’s no custom equalizer (as there’s no companion app) to fix it. The speaker isn’t dustproof either, when many of its competitors are, and it’s a fingerprint magnet.

If you want a better, fuller sound, I’d recommend its sibling, the Tribit StormBox Mini+. If you can swing a few extra dollars, the JBL Go 5 is a no-brainer as it’s better in nearly every aspect.

If you’re looking for some of the best computer speakers to upgrade your desk setup, then look no further than the Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers. Though compact they may be, quiet they are not, with a room-filling sound that excellently replicates mids and treble.

The controls are simple to get to grips with, and the diverse range of connectivity options means you can use them for everything. From wirelessly streaming from your phone to connecting to a turntable, these speakers are incredibly versatile.

On their own, the speakers struggle to replicate bass and have a narrow soundstage, but these issues can be fixed with additional purchases of a sub and speaker stands. To find out more, you can keep reading this full Kanto UKI review.

Kanto UKI review: Specs

Kanto UKI review: Price & availability

The Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers are available for $269 from Amazon U.S. and £262 from Amazon U.K. The speakers come in five different colors, including Onyx, Chalk, Cornflower, Pumice and Sage, which I tested.

Kanto also offers the Kanto Ora bookshelf speakers for the higher price of $349. These speakers only come in black, but they offer a wider soundstage and studio sound for music production or mixing. There are also the Kanto Ora4 for $399, which are the same as the Ora but powered.

A cheaper way to upgrade your desk setup is the JBL 104-BT speakers for $199. They have a wide sound but struggle in the low end. I personally don’t think they look as good as the Kanto speakers, but they do the job just fine.

If you’re short on space and need to save some space (and money), the Creative Pebble Pro speakers cost just $69. The speakers have powerful bass, but I prefer the soundstage of the Kanto UKI speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Design

The Kanto UKI speakers are an undeniably stylish duo that has brightened up my desk. I tested the Sage colorway of the speakers, and since my room is decorated with a lot of green furniture, they fit right in.

Each of the speakers measures 6.5 x 4.4 x 4.3 inches, so they’re very compact. They’re smaller than the Edifier R1280T speakers ($149), which measure 9.2 x 7.7 x 5.7 inches. If you’re short on space, the Kanto speakers are a no-brainer.

They are made from partially recycled hard plastic and feel very sturdy. The front of each speaker has an exposed tweeter and woofer.

At the back of each speaker, there’s a thread for mounting it to the Kanto SU2 speaker stands, which are available for $29. This addition will lift the speakers off the desk, giving you more space and reducing surface reflections, enhancing the quality of your playback. Adding these stands made the listening experience ten times better, and I recommend this addition to anyone who buys these speakers.

Controls

The controls on the speakers are very minimal and simplistic, but that makes the experience straightforward. They remind me of the ones I had with my family PC in the 2000s. There's one knob on the front of the main speaker that you press to switch connectivity options and turn to adjust volume.

At the back of the main speaker, you’ll find the Bluetooth button and a small left/right switch. By toggling this switch, you can switch between the left and right output speakers, meaning you can arrange them however you like on your desk. This made it easy for me to arrange my setup according to where the power outlets in the room are.

Connectivity

At the back of the main speaker, you’ll see all of the ports for the different connectivity options. You can listen to music using Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C or RCA inputs, giving you versatility to use them with computers, phone streaming, or hooked up to a record player. There is also a 3.5mm headphone output port at the front of the speaker.

The speakers need to be connected to power when in use. There’s a six-foot four-pin speaker connector included in the box to connect the left and right speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Sound quality

I listened using the Kanto UKI speakers connected to my computer via USB-C. I’ve enjoyed listening to my music with the bookshelf speakers every day. Overall, the sound from these speakers is very warm, and the reproduction feels very natural. On their own, they’re perfect for casual listening but lack a wide soundstage; however, when I added the Kanto SU2 Desktop Stands to the setup, the sound was transformed.

When speakers are placed directly onto a surface like your desk, the sound can be subject to reflection. This means that they begin to sound muffled. But with the addition of speaker stands that can direct the sound upwards, this muffled sound is reduced, and sound reflection diminishes. These stands are a saving grace for these speakers.

To test the bass performance, I listened to Nightmare Tripping by Don Broco. This song relies heavily on the deep bassline, but that wasn’t replicated very well here. Some of the depth was lost, with more focus being put on the vocals. But this is to be expected with these speakers as they bottom out at 80Hz and are primarily designed for detailed listening, prioritizing the mids performance. But a deep bass performance is still achievable if that’s what you’re looking for, as you can pair the speakers with a small sub offered by Kanto, such as the Sub6 for $299.

The mid-performance was impressive. I listened to Wheels by the Foo Fighters. This song is country-esque (for the Foos) and features powerful drums and a bright electric guitar. The drums were well defined throughout the song, and the electric guitar also sounded very clean.

Finally, I listened to Next To Me by Kingfishr to test the treble and vocal performance. This song is soft and acoustic, lending itself to showcasing the more delicate performance of the speakers.

The vocals and harmonies throughout the song were clear with good separation. The guitar and harmonica also showed off the bright sound of the speakers and the warmth they can replicate.

I also used the speakers while watching Invincible, an action TV show, and was impressed by the level of detail and how the sound effects moved between the speakers.

Kanto UKI review: Verdict

The Kanto UKI bookshelf speakers have been a great addition to my desk setup. I can listen to them all day and know I’ll get an enjoyable, consistent sound. The simple controls make it easy to make quick volume adjustments or switch over connectivity.

The diverse selection of connectivity options is ideal if you want to use the speakers connected to a PC, wirelessly to your phone, or with a more bespoke setup with a turntable. The small size means they’re easy to store, and the cute design and color options are the cherry on top.

Unfortunately, these speakers struggle with deep bass tracks, but you could spend a little extra on the Kanto Ora instead if that bothers you. The narrow soundstage also won’t be ideal for anyone looking for desktop speakers to support music production or mixing. With that said, these speakers are ideal for casual, everyday listening while working.

Today, on 1 September 2026, Sony introduced three new party speakers: Sony ULT Tower 5, Sony ULT Tower 7, and Sony ULT Tower Max. They build on the success of the previous generation of ULT Tower speakers, like the Tower 10, while introducing new, fun features that bring parties, DJ sets, and karaoke sessions to life.

The second generation features a new design philosophy and more sophisticated reactive lighting, a new ULT button on the front of each speaker (for changing EQ presets), 360° sound, and better, more powerful drivers. Battery life has been improved across all three speakers, too, as has durability and portability.

I love testing party speakers because I love headbanging to my favorite tunes. Could the ULT Towers make me love them more than I adore the Marshall Bromley 750 and the Marshall Bromley 450? While I haven't had time to do full reviews of the new speakers, I've spent just under an hour listening to them at a pre-launch event. In fact, I listened to 10 of them together. My first impressions? Quite positive, so allow me to share with you what I think of the Tower 5, Tower 7 and Tower Max.

Meet the ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5

The Sony ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 are bass-first party speakers that, according to Sony, deliver the most powerful bass yet in the brand's ULT Power Sound series. All three speakers are designed for music lovers, and they combine deep bass, high sound pressure, and party features for an unforgettable experience.

Regardless of the speaker you buy, you'll be getting XLR, RCA, USB-C and USB-A connectivity for hooking up mics for karaoke, DJ mixers, as well as instruments — making the ULT Towers perfect for nearly every occasion. Each speaker is also fitted with four handles and wheels for easy transport... though you may still need another pair of hands to help with the gargantuan Max.

The Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 are IPX4-rated so they're splash-proof. I'm surprised that they aren't more water-resistant, like the IP54-rated Marshall Bromley 750. That will limit the speakers' use outdoors — but really, you shouldn't be using electronic devices in the pouring rain anyway.

Sony has worked with four acclaimed (and Grammy-nominated) hip-hop sound creators — Dot Da Genius, Daru Jones, DJ Dready, and Dennis "ROC.am" Jones — to fine-tune the ULT Towers' driver setup and sound profile. As a result, the speakers deliver distortion-free sound across the volume scale.

The Tower Max packs three 280mm woofers, two mid-range drivers, and four tweeters, so you're getting a lot of power. The Tower 7 is fitted with a single 280mm woofer, two mid-range drivers, and four tweeters, too. Lastly, the Tower 5 features a 230mm woofer, two mid-range drivers, and two tweeters. That's a lot for the lineup's smallest speaker!

You also get a customizable 10-band equalizer with all three speakers, and the new ULT button on the front grille now lets you swap between EQ presets. These include ULT1 (deep bass, low frequency sound), ULT2 (rumbling bass), Flat (true-to-source), and Live (spacious).

There's really no dearth of features, which is excellent. And the ULT Towers sound like great value for money, too, as they aren't that expensive. I was personally quite surprised when the Sony representatives shared the retail prices with me. The Tower Max is the most expensive of the lot, at $1,499 / ~ £1,300; the Tower 7 is the mid-range option, at $649 / ~ £600; and the Tower 5 is the cheapest option, at $449 / ~ £400.

So, what do they sound like?

Driver sizes and specifications are all for naught if the speakers don't sound great — and in my short time with the Sony ULT Towers, I thought they sounded fantastic. At the pre-launch event, the Sony representatives played songs from different genres to show what the Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 were capable of.

Regardless of the song they played, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. All three speakers sounded beautiful. The bass sounded rich and meaty with plenty of low-end impact, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ULT2 EQ preset which made me feel the bass in my chest, temples and deep within my soul.

The Sony representatives played a song by Dua Lipa, too, and though I'm personally not a huge fan of hers, I couldn't help but tap my feet and bob my head along to the tune. I believe that's a true sign of a competent party speaker. If it can make you dance to artists you don't care for, it's done its job.

I also listened to two Tower 7s together in stereo mode with left and right channels. When 'Money' by Pink Floyd started playing and the sound of cash registers and coins traveled between the speakers, I was left extremely impressed. The high-pitched coins didn't sound like they were piercing through the soundstage. The treble sounded shiny and vibrant but not overzealous or fatiguing.

Finally, I listened to an electronic track on 10 ULT Towers all at once. It's not everyday you get to do something like that — how many of us have such extravagant setups in our basements, eh? The wall of speakers sounded phenomenal. The room-shaking bass made me feel like I was at a gig or a music festival.

Looking ahead...

So, Sony's latest generation of party speakers sounds excellent — on paper and in real-world use. The Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 offer something for everyone, and given how affordable they are (especially the Tower 5), they offer bang for your buck. That's based on my first impressions, of course, and it's subject to change when I do my in-depth testing.

Speaking of, I'm really looking forward to putting the Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 through their paces. Do these party speakers sound like they'd be up your street? Let me know in the comments below!

The Sony ULT Tower Max, Tower 7 and Tower 5 will be available to buy from Amazon U.S. and U.K., Best Buy, or directly from Sony.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the Marshall Bromley 450 and the Marshall Bromley 750 party speakers — and the winner surprised me
• There's no better party speaker on the planet than the brand-new Marshall Bromley 450
• As a guitarist and an audiophile, this is the all-in-one speaker I’ve been waiting for

Sonos is giving its audio operating system a huge update that adds several AI tools and a speaker sensing tool that could change how you use your speakers: Dubbed Sonos 27 and announced at an event in NYC, this is the latest version of the company's control app and promises to be open and adaptable.

"We built our system around a shared love of music and the belief that nothing sets the mood like great sound," CEO Tom Conrad said in a press release. "Sonos 27 takes that further, bringing acoustic engineering, adaptable software, intelligence and design together in a way only Sonos can."

The last time Sonos attempted an overhaul, the controversial redesign cost CEO Patrick Spence his job. After public outcry, it took nearly a year for Sonos to bring the app back to an acceptable state. Here's hoping history isn't about to repeat itself with Sonos 27.

What's new with Sonos 27?

Sonos 27 comes with two AI features, Sonos 27voice and Sonos 27mcp, both of which utilize AI to change how controlling Sonos systems works.

Voice is a Sonos-built assistant for music and mood curation. The company is also introducing Sonos Custom Agents, which would allow users to create their own AI agents through the system, "each with its own model, persona and voice." Mcp lets you connect an outside AI chatbot to your Sonos system, including OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Sonos claims you could ask ChatGPT to play music anywhere in your home without leaving your AI chat.

Sonos didn't provide many details in its press release on how Custom Agents or AI assistant integration will actually work or how you'll connect them to your system, but these details are likely to be discussed during the event in New York City.

Other more interesting features

One of the more interesting features Sonos announced is called Sonos Fabric, a system capability that is supposed to enable Sonos devices to "sense each other" and then adapt to positioning.

According to Sonos, the positioning technology uses high-frequency sound to sense a speaker's location and then adapt its role in the system based on that.

Why is this necessary? It specifically enables portable surround sound features that let the Move 2 or Sonos Play become rear surrounds when they're moved into position. (It's unclear whether this will be added to non-portable speakers.)

Another new feature launching in Sonos 27 will allow linking the Sonos Ace Ultra (also unveiled today) directly to your speaker system, letting you push or pull sound to and from speakers and your headphones. This is launching in early access to start, so you'll need to sign up for that.

Finally, Sonos is adding new features that are supposed to make the app "more intuitive to navigate." Sonos claims these new features were shaped and tested by the Sonos community; hopefully it doesn't break the app like the last update.

So when will it be available?

Sonos 27 will be available for all Sonos S2 products, though some features are only available on certain devices. (More details to come soon.)

The new app navigation features rolls out on September 8, and Sonos 27mcp launches in early access at the same time.

This will all roughly align with the launch of two new Sonos products — the Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar and Sonos Ace Ultra headphones — that launch on September 29. The Beam Ultra is an updated version of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 mid-sized soundbar that will come in at $699, while the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones are a sequel to the original Sonos Ace that will cost $449 at launch.

Both are available for pre-order now.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested Noble's high-end IEMs and they boast an unbelievably wide soundstage — but are the Iris worth $699?
• I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + subwoofer — and recommending it is a no-brainer
• Before you buy your next pair of speakers, make sure you know this one essential difference

Sonos is no stranger to the world of soundbars. The Sonos Arc Ultra is widely regarded as one of the best soundbars on the market — but its $1,100 sticker price makes it a tough sell when wallets are stretched thin.

That’s where the new Sonos Beam Ultra coms in. Announced early at an event in New York City on September 1, the new mid-range soundbar sports two dedicated up-firing drivers and a redesigned center channel that deliver clearer dialogue.

From everything I've seen on it, the Beam Ultra is a compact 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar that fits everything I love about its more-expensive sibling into a $700 price point. Here’s what makes it the soundbar to watch when it becomes available on September 29.

Big sound, small package

The current-generation Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) does a great job with its 5.0-channel configuration — but the Beam Ultra uses nine speakers, including the two additional up-firing drivers, that are going to make a world of difference for surround sound movie soundtracks.

While the new Beam Ultra won’t ship with any satellite speakers or subwoofers, the Beam Ultra is compatible with the whole Sonos ecosystem including, of course, the Sonos Sub and Sonos Sub Mini that can be used for a meatier low-end.

Sonos says the newly designed center channel driver enables clearer dialogue and can tap into four levels of AI Speech Enhancement for even more pronounced mids, as well as a Night Sound mode when you want to cut back on any wall-rattling frequencies.

Last but not least, Sonos says the new Beam Ultra will support the brand’s Trueplay technology that takes an aural image of the room and adjusts the output of the sound accordingly. It’s a handy feature, though one that never quite matches the effects of proper sound dampening in my experience.

The Beam Ultra offers both brains and brawn

In addition to its revamped internals, the Sonos Beam Ultra will leverage the company’s new Sonos 27 smart platform. Those words might scare you considering that the last time the company launched a new smart platform, it went so poorly that it cost the CEO his job — but Sonos 27 feels like it could actually make the platform better overall.

Key features in the latest platform are Sonos 27voice and Sonos 27mcp. The former is Sonos’ new voice assistant that will live (I assume) alongside Alexa, while the latter allows you to connect your Sonos ecosystem to any outside AI assistant or agent.

Eventually, Sonos will allow users to design their own custom agents — with a matching persona and voice — but details on that are relatively slim at the moment.

Finally, anyone who uses Sonos portable speakers like the Move 2 or Sonos Play will be able to use them in a future update as surround sound speakers for the Beam Ultra. This feature, dubbed Sonos Fabric, uses high-frequency sound that enables Sonos products to “sense each other” and “adapt to the moment.”

We'll certainly test that ourselves when the feature becomes available at some point in the future.

Sony, eat your heart out

Sonos isn't the only one going after the more modest soundbar market — this is Sony, Samsung and LG's bread and butter.

Each year, the trio of TV-makers deliver a half dozen of sub-$1,000 soundbars into the market, and every year they get gobbled up during sales events like Black Friday and, to a lesser extent, Super Bowl Sunday.

On paper, the Sonos Beam Ultra delivers a lot of value — potentially a whole lot more than what the competition offers — but $700 is still a pretty hefty chunk of change.

Is it worth the scratch? We'll know more after we hear it for ourselves at the New York event and bring it into our own homes for comparison testing sometime around its September 29 launch date.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested Noble's high-end IEMs and they boast an unbelievably wide soundstage — but are the Iris worth $699?
• I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + subwoofer — and recommending it is a no-brainer
• Before you buy your next pair of speakers, make sure you know this one essential difference

The Labor Day weekend is almost upon us and the sales have already started. Best Buy is running a wide-range of offers at the moment including one focused on Sonos speakers and soundbars. If you've been planning to upgrade your home entertainment setup, now is a great time to do so.

Amid the items on offer are Sonos Era 300 Smart Speaker, which we rated 4.5 stars out of 5, as well as the Sonos Sub Mini Wireless Subwoofer, which we gave the full 5 stars. These are great devices that will bring high quality audio to your TV and movie-viewing experience, as well as making music really pop. Check out all nine of the available Sonos deals below.

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is Sony’s mid-range soundbar with true Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. If you’ve got a compatible Bravia TV, you even get access to IMAX Enhanced sound. Of course, it’s also a stellar “smart”(ish) home product, with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth streaming from various music streaming services.

As typical with the Theater Bar line, you can get the 7 with or without the subwoofer. I tested the model with the subwoofer. If you want a Sony Bravia experience for less than $1,099, you could check out the $349 Sony Bravia Theater Bar 5, but this isn’t compatible with Sony’s wireless subs.

With crystal-clear dialogue, powerful bass, and impressive surround sound, could the Bravia Theater Bar 7 be one of the best soundbars of 2026? You bet. For the full story, keep reading this Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Specs

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Price & availability

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + Sub is $1,099 from Amazon U.S. Without the sub, you’re looking at $869 from Amazon U.S. I tested the subwoofer version, so that’s the model I’ll be discussing today.

In the U.K, the soundbar alone is £699 from Amazon U.K. You can’t buy the soundbar and subwoofer in one bundle in the U.K., but the overall price would be £948 — the sub is £249.

If you change your mind post-purchase and decide you want the subwoofer, you can buy it for $329/£249 at Amazon. This subwoofer is compatible with: Bravia Theater 7, 8, and 9, as well as the Bravia Theater Trio and Quad, and the HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000, and STR-AN1000 amps. Theoretically, you could get the Bravia Bar 7 and use the Subwoofer 9 ($898). Sony also offers the Theater Bar 5, 6, 8, and 9, which range from $349 to $1,498.

In comparison, this is a pretty average soundbar price. It’s not particularly good value or poor value. You can get the Samsung QS90H, an all-in-one soundbar (yes, including a built-in sub that’s actually powerful), for $999, or the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar for $1,099.

If you want something a little cheaper but still good, I’d recommend the $449 Polk Audio Signa S4 or the $699 Samsung Q600F.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Design

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is relatively compact, making it ideal for TVs 55 inches and under. I tested it with a 55-inch LG G6, and it looked divine. Like most high-end soundbars, the Theater Bar 7 is effectively a long rectangle covered in a fine dark gray mesh. There’s no logo on the front, only a soft white light on the bottom right. No, you can’t tell it’s an expensive Sony soundbar from one glance, but you don’t buy a soundbar for the branding. You buy it for the sound.

Thankfully, as you’ll soon discover, it sounds great.

Controls

In terms of controls, there’s a physical remote with a few basic commands. You can increase or decrease volume, turn it on and off, and toggle night, sound field, and voice modes. Of course, you can also control inputs.

This is effectively the same as the phone app, but the phone app, of course, has more advanced settings, which I’ll get into soon.

Features

Like Samsung soundbars, most of the Theater Bar 7’s USPs reside within compatible Bravia TVs. Unfortunately, I had to test with an LG G6 (boo-hoo me, I got to use one of the best TVs of 2026, right?)

As any soundbar worth its salt should have, the Theater Bar 7 has a night mode and voice mode. Night mode reduces bass so you can watch blockbusters at 3am without receiving a noise complaint from your neighbors, while voice mode accentuates dialogue without making it sound unnatural.

There’s also a sound field mode. This effectively widens and raises the sound, which majorly improved my overall experience while watching movies.

The Bravia Connect app has a litany of advanced features, which I’ll dive into now.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: App

The Theater Bar 7 uses Sony’s Bravia Connect app. While the app looks incredibly basic, almost bordering on careless, it boasts a range of advanced features.

As you can see, there’s a room calibration setting, much like on the JBL Bar 1300X MK2 and the Samsung QS90H. This sends out a pulse of sound and calibrates the audio based on your watching space.

You can also adjust the sound field height. I set mine to the max, which benefited the flying scenes in “Top Gun: Maverick” massively.

Of course, you can also play music directly through Spotify or Qobuz Connect. You can also turn on DSEE Ultimate, an AI-assisted upscaler. If you’re an audio nerd, there’s no shortage of fun things to play with in Bravia Connect.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar in the same room, with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-ray, various other Blu-rays, TV on basic Netflix, and music.

Movies

As always, I started with “Top Gun: Maverick”. I customized the sound field height to max, upped the bass to 10, and turned on sound field and voice mode. The soundbar balanced in-scene sounds like jet engines with the soundtrack well.

However, some, but not all, high-frequency sounds were lost in the bass-heavy “Danger Zone” soundtrack. Despite this, louder details like whooshing steam and engine takeoff sounds were clear. Only the softer whipping of ropes melted into the background.

Even so, the bass on “Danger Zone” was excellent, and the vocals sauntered across the soundstage with unbelievable clarity.

In the first dog-fighting scene, I could feel the planes flying overhead and around me. The screeching jet engines rumbled through the soundbar without overpowering the soundtrack, which flitted underneath the fighter jets with grace. Even the radioed dialogue was perfectly audible.

Throughout the movie, I never struggled to hear dialogue, even in flying scenes. Every word was perfectly clear. Every note in the piano-led soundtrack twinkled across the soundscape like a beacon. Ocean waves and whistling wind sound effects were woven underneath dialogue beautifully. This was a fantastic viewing experience — just like the movie theater.

Next, I watched “Michael”. I needed to evaluate how the soundbar handled both dialogue and in-movie music beyond the soundtrack. Again, dialogue was crystal clear; perhaps this is TMI for some, but I could even make out the sound of saliva in the actors’ mouths.

The soundbar handled this movie excellently. Every performance was rich and immersive, with powerful yet controlled bass and exceptional clarity across the guitars, percussion, and vocals. Switching back to quiet, introspective scenes felt natural.

Finally, I watched “Oppenheimer”. The sound effects during the space dust clips (I’m not sure how else to describe them) glimmered and glitched in a way that made me feel like I was floating in the aether. The string-heavy soundtrack took control of the scenes and held tight, making me feel like I was also a physicist spinning out of control.

The softer detail sound effects like chirping birds and quacking ducks, as well as the crinkling of fabrics brushing together, also came through strongly.

TV

To test TV performance, I watched “Interview with the Vampire” on basic Netflix, as you’re not always going to be watching 4K Blu-rays.

Even on basic Netflix, I could still hear soft in-scene sounds like the fluttering of wings or the subtle intake of breath. Dialogue, again, was clear and never overpowered the soundtrack. Action scenes, such as when Lestat transfixes his human prey in the speakeasy, were clear.

Diegetic (in-scene) sound effects like chirping crickets and crackling fires were audible over dialogue, no matter how softly spoken.

Overall, this performance was excellent. I really have no issues with this soundbar at all, except the slight muffling of high-frequency details in “Top Gun: Maverick”.

Music

Music performance is okay. It’s neither the worst soundbar I’ve ever heard or the best — the best is still the Bose Smart Soundbar (2024). Vocals had a tendency to feel quite pinchy, and bass was strangely lackluster. But, I digress — soundbars aren’t made to play music. They’re designed to be the center of your home cinema.

I listened to “Knocking at the Sky” by The Last Dinner Party. While the soft “la la” notes right at the end sounded great, the bombastic chorus was muddled and the vocals pinched in my ears. There was a disappointing amount of tinniness in the percussion, too.

Electronic music fared a little better. “If you wanna party, come over to my house (Eli Escobar remix)” by Fcukers was clearer and didn’t hurt my ears. The pulsing synth and warbling synth details were both full-bodied and confident, but the bass synth fell flat for me. There just wasn’t any intensity, likely due to the lack of bass.

Lastly, I switched to something heavier: “Red40” by Die Spitz. This guitar-led metal-punk-indie track is usually propulsive and insistent, but the vocals were squashed into the guitars and the kick drum didn’t carry any weight.

I was disappointed by this music performance because of how utterly excellent the movie and TV experience was, but you can’t win them all, and this is a soundbar — not a speaker.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Verdict

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 is a fantastic soundbar. With the subwoofer, you get powerful, controlled, and immersive bass, and the soundbar itself has a knack for delivering crystal-clear dialogue balanced perfectly over top of a dramatic OST. In terms of movie and TV performance, I really have nothing bad to say. Other than the tiny suppression of some high-frequency sounds in “Top Gun: Maverick”, the Bar 7 gets applause all round from me.

Sure, the app could look a little nicer — it’s nothing compared to the aesthetic of SmartThings — but are you going to be spending that much time simply looking at it? It works well and is reliable, with zero connectivity issues, and for me, that’s enough.

Whether you buy the subwoofer or not, I’m sure you’ll be incredibly pleased with the Theater Bar 7. It’s reliable, powerful, and immersive. For me, that’s all I want from a soundbar.

I wish I had bought myself better speakers growing up. For the better part of my late teens, I used a hand-me-down portable boombox that I used to play burned CDs from friends. It's not like these days where you can just pick up one of the best Bluetooth speakers and be done with it.

Still, had I known about better audio products — and the differences between active and passive speakers — I would’ve traded out that boombox in a heartbeat.

So let’s break down the differences between speakers, starting with the most obvious distinction: How do speakers get power and information to play your favorite music?

Passive vs Active Speakers: Major differences

If you’re just encountering these terms for the first time, the words “passive” and “active” might bring to mind two very different-sounding pairs of speakers — one pair that’s loud and aggressive, and another that’s quieter and muffled.

Thankfully, 'passive' and 'active' doesn’t refer to how the speakers sound, but rather how their internal components work and whether or not they require external amplification. That, in a nutshell, is the biggest difference between the two: Passive speakers require external amplification whereas active speakers come with an amplifier built in.

When it’s framed like this, you might immediately be drawn to active speakers — they sure sound like a lot less work — and you wouldn’t be wrong.

Since a manufacturer has done all the hard work of pairing the drivers to an amplifier, you don’t have to spend the time looking at specs sheets to make sure you’re not overdriving or under-driving them. However, by choosing to go with active speakers, you’re missing out on the secret advantage of passive speakers. (Hint: Changing out amplifiers at the drop of a hat is actually a benefit, not a curse.)

The other major difference is how these speakers actually get the sonic information passed over to them. On active speakers, information is obtained wirelessly, over optical audio or via a set of phono cables. Passive speakers use traditional speaker wire. We’ll get into the pros and cons of each in just a minute.

Active speakers: Pros, cons and sound quality

The main advantage of active speakers is that they work right out of the box without any additional hardware. These days, most active speakers come with a number of wireless connectivity options built in like AirPlay, Chromecast Built-in, Spotify and Tidal Connect, alongside many more.

On the backside of the main speaker (we call this the lead speaker or, in some cases, the master speaker) are a plethora of ports. Here you’ll find your standard phono inputs, usually a sub-out if you want to connect a separate subwoofer, optical in and, if you’re lucky, an HDMI port that allows you to connect the speakers to your TV without an AV receiver.

Active speakers are connectivity rich and easy to set up, so what’s the downside? The downside is that the speakers will always sound the same — which isn’t bad if you’re the kind of person who likes to set it and forget it. Tinkerers, however, won’t love this.

Sound quality will vary from speaker to speaker, obviously, and it's hard to give a broad sweeping generalization about the technology. However, if I had to give one, I'd say the majority of active speakers I've heard follow a v-shaped curve with big, bold bass response and sparkling highs. It's not that the mid-band frequencies are lost entirely; I just feel like they're less prominent in the active speakers I've owned.

Passive speakers: Pros, cons and sound quality

This is going to sound like some wine-swilling non-sense, but different components impart different sonic signatures — and that includes speakers themselves. This comes down to a number of factors including the amplification technology, the digital-to-analog conversion and the DSP (digital signal processing), all of which vary from device to device.

When talking about speakers and their sound signatures, we sometimes shorthand this chain as tuning, and herein lies the true joy of buying passive speakers: You’re able to tinker the tuning to your exact specifications. In the audio world we have plenty of default tunings, but not everyone’s ears are shaped the same, nor are our music preferences the same. Being able to tailor the sound to your liking is a huge benefit for folks with specific preferences.

The bad news is that not all music components aren’t interchangeable — and it is possible to cause damage to your audio equipment by mismatching it. This is a lot of fun for some folks, and a very stressful situation for others.

As far as sound quality is concerned, it will again vary between speakers and the components used to drive them. The difference between one system and another can be extreme. Still, I've found properly crafted passive systems to be more nuanced than their active counterparts.

When I listen to my passive speaker setup, I find new aural details I hadn't heard before in my favorite songs. (Billie Eilish's "WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?" is filled with small details that are totally lost on some speaker systems.)

Passive vs Active Speakers: Recommended models

If you just want easy, plug-and-play speakers with lots of features built right in, you should go for a pair of active speakers. There are plenty to choose from, but some of my recent favorites are the affordable Edifier S880DB MKII and the pricier — but much more powerful — Klipsch The Nines II. You can also go for floorstanding models like the Fluance Ai81 Elite.

If you want to build out a modular system piecemeal to allow for upgrading down the road, then you want some good passive speakers. As mentioned earlier, picking out a pair is a lot harder because it will depend entirely on the receiver or amplifier you decide to pair them with.

If the idea sounds daunting, you can always buy a system in a box that pairs passive speakers with a receiver for you, like the Yamaha YHT-4970U 5.1-Channel Home Theater System. This is an affordable way to get started with home theater audio.

For music aficionados wanting a good starter package, pick up the Bluesound Powernode and a pair of KEF LS50 Meta speakers. This way you’re getting both the modularity to upgrade down the line and the convenience of a streaming setup in one package.

Recommending systems can be difficult as tastes vary so much from person to person, but building the reference system of your dreams is a lifelong pursuit that many folks — myself included — wholeheartedly enjoy.

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Over the weekend, Amazon quietly raised prices for nearly all of the devices the company makes, including the Echo Dot, Kindle Paperwhite and Fire TV Stick HD. It's the latest in a series of price increases that have hit nearly every company. You can guess what's to blame.

Amazon's new prices vary in amount, with at least one device seeing a 60% increase; the company cited the ongoing RAM crisis and component inflation. First spotted by Fortune, some of the company's cheaper devices appear to be the most affected.

Here's what the new prices look like:

The Echo Dot saw the largest increase up 60% and $30, from $49 to $79, while the higher-tier Echo Show 11 is also getting a $30 hike from $219 to $249.

Additionally, the 16GB Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite saw hikes, going from $109 to $149 and $159 to $199, respectively. The Fire TV Stick HD only saw a $5 hike from $34 to $39 and the 4K Max rose from $59 to $84.

Surprisingly, the Amazon-owned Ring lineup of doorbells and security cameras didn't get more expensive.

An Amazon spokesperson told Tom's Guide, "After absorbing these increases for as long as we could, we recently adjusted pricing across our product lines." She noted that "significant" increases in memory and component costs led to the decision.

Still a cheaper option

In some cases, despite the price hikes, Amazon's devices might still be the cheaper option. Unfortunately, that's because everything else also got more expensive this year.

In July, Roku bumped prices on its streaming devices, with the Roku hitting $150 and the entry-level Roku Streaming Stick now at $40, up from $30.

Kindles might be more expensive than similar rival options like the Nook GlowLight 4, which comes with 32GB of memory for $149.

The Echo Dot, though, remains cheaper than the Google Home Speaker, which starts at $99, though the gap is only $20 now.

Amazon Devices: Outlook

At the moment, only the Fire tablets seem to be unaffected — in fact, they’re the only devices currently on sale, but this could be due largely to the fact that it’s back to school season.

For years, Amazon’s Echo smart home speakers have been the company’s trojan horse to get its voice assistant in homes across the world. Given that Alexa+ is available on virtually every Amazon Echo device, the company may have calculated that it’s saturated the market enough so that adoption of Alexa+ wouldn’t be affected by any potential loss in sales.

Still, the timing is curious, as the company also announced last week that Alexa+ would be available, free of charge, to its newest Fire TV devices. That means if you have a current-generation Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Fire TV Cube, or Amazon Ember smart TV, you can get the full version of Amazon’s AI-enabled assistant without needing a Prime account, or paying $19.99 per month.

Regardless of whether you want Alexa+, more than ever it’s worth waiting until Black Friday or Prime Day to purchase one of Amazon’s devices (sadly, the new sale price may be the old regular price). If you don’t want to wait that long, some third-party retailers are still offering the original price. For example, you can still find the Amazon Echo Dot for $49 at Target and Home Depot.

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Marshall has been on a roll in 2026, adding to its lineups of headphones, home speakers, and now, portable Bluetooth speakers. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been testing the Marshall Stockwell III which succeeds the seven-year-old Stockwell II — and it has quickly become my go-to speaker for almost everything.

The Stockwell III improves on its predecessor by doubling the battery life (over 40 hours now), being more waterproof thanks to its IP55 rating, and delivering punchier bass, brighter treble, and incredible 360° sound. Though a little expensive and slightly heavy for a portable speaker, those feel like minor issues in an otherwise compelling (and beautiful) package.

So, is this the best portable Bluetooth speaker for you? Read my full Marshall Stockwell III review to find out.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Specs

Marshall Stockwell III review: Price & availability

The Marshall Stockwell III was first announced on 9 June, 2026, over seven years after its predecessor, the Marshall Stockwell II. Available to buy from 18 August, the Stockwell III has a retail price of $249 / £199 — same as the second-gen model at launch in 2019. The Stockwell III comes in Black or Cream, and both have brass accents.

This is a premium portable Bluetooth speaker, and it finds itself competing with the likes of the Ultimate Ears Everboom ($249) and the Sonos Play ($299). Though a little expensive, it’s still cheaper than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen which costs a whopping $399. The Stockwell III is worth the investment if you want 40+ hours of battery and beautiful sound stuffed into a compact (and stunning) package.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Design

The Marshall Stockwell III is, in a nutshell, a ridiculously sexy speaker, and the portable speaker to get if you care about aesthetics above all else. Not much has changed between the Stockwell III and its predecessor when it comes to portability. The third-gen model measures 7.1 x 6.4 x 2.9 inches and weighs 2.9lbs. To make it easier to carry around, Marshall has included a guitar-esque, velvet carry strap in the box, which can be attached to the Stockwell III’s sides.

Given its hefty weight, the Stockwell III isn’t the most portable speaker around. The Ultimate Ears Everboom is lighter at 2.1lbs, as is the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen which weighs 1.27lbs. The Stockwell III’s strap makes it slightly easier to carry around, but if you want an even lighter speaker but with Marshall’s looks, the Emberton III ($149, 1.5lbs) is a standout choice.

The Stockwell III looks more premium compared to its predecessor, too. While the Stockwell II featured white accents, the Stockwell III now features brass branding (on either black or cream), keeping in line with the brand’s other current-gen speakers — and headphones, too, like the Milton ANC ($229) and the Monitor III ($349). I much prefer this look as the black/cream and gold combo makes the speaker stand out in a crowded market.

Build quality is solid, thanks to metal mesh grilles and the textured silicone outer sleeve. You’re getting bang for your buck with the Stockwell III.

But why should you buy the Stockwell III instead of Marshall’s other more portable (ergo, lightweight) speakers? The Stockwell III is a mid-sized, premium Bluetooth speaker that’s clearly designed for both home (given the Placement Compensation feature within the app) and light outdoor use (given its IP55 rating).

It’s got a more luxurious feel to it than the ultra-portable Emberton III, for instance, but it’s smaller than a massive party speaker, like the Bromley 450 ($799). If you want a small speaker to travel with, and one that can withstand the elements, get the IP67-rated Emberton III. But if you want a mid-sized speaker that isn’t as expensive or bulky as the Kilburn III ($379), get the Stockwell III.

Weatherproofing

Marshall has made significant improvements to the Stockwell III’s durability as the third-gen model is now IP55-rated — the Stockwell II was only IPX4-rated. IP55 means the Stockwell III is protected from dust and is fairly water resistant, though you can’t submerge it underwater like you can the IP67-rated Ultimate Ears Everboom.

IP55 should suffice for most scenarios, but be mindful of using it in wet conditions repeatedly as any gadget’s waterproofing wears down over time.

Controls

All the buttons and dials are located on the Stockwell III’s top plate, and you’ll be familiar with them if you’ve used any of Marshall’s other speakers, like the Acton IV ($299). Even if you aren’t, getting to grips with the controls is quick and easy. All the buttons and dials give great tactile feedback when pressed or turned.

There’s a Source button for swapping between Bluetooth and AUX, and a customizable ‘M’ button that, by default, activates Spotify Tap so you can start playing music without opening the app on your phone; playback joystick; and three amp-like knobs for adjusting volume, treble and bass. Alongside these, Marshall has also added a handy battery indicator.

Connectivity

The Stockwell III features a 3.5mm jack and a USB-C port for wired playback, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Over Bluetooth, you get support for SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs — the latter delivers high efficiency and better sound quality at low bitrates. This also gives it a leg-up over the Ultimate Ears Everboom which supports SBC and AAC only.

While the Stockwell II featured traditional multi-speaker pairing with other Stockwell IIs, the Stockwell III is Auracast-enabled — and that’s better as it enables multiple devices to connect to a single audio source without pairing. The third-gen model utilizes Bluetooth LE to essentially connect to an unlimited number of other Auracast-enabled Marshall speakers, such as the Emberton III or other Stockwell IIIs.

You also get multipoint connectivity, which means that you can connect two different Bluetooth devices to the Stockwell III simultaneously. I did this with my MacBook Air M2 and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and it worked seamlessly.

Marshall Stockwell III review: Sound quality

The Marshall Stockwell III is very loud for its size — it’s one of the best-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers around. Under the hood, the Stockwell III is fitted with a 65W Class D amplifier to power its 3-inch woofer, and two 31W Class D amplifiers for its dual 1.75-inch wide-band drivers (versus two 5W tweeters and a single 10W woofer on the Stockwell II). The speaker covers a frequency response range of 54Hz to 20KHz.

Marshall has clearly spared no expense when it comes to stuffing the Stockwell III to the brim — and the result is simply outstanding sound. To test the speaker, I listened to a range of songs on Qobuz, the best music streaming service for audiophiles. ‘2515’ by Wasia Project, which has a strong, pulsating bassline acting as the track’s backbone throughout, sounded sublime. The song’s dark electronic pulse came through with real weight, while the bass remained tight and controlled, and never became muddy — even at high volumes.

This is where Marshall’s ‘Dynamic Loudness’ comes into play. The Stockwell III borrows this from the Stanmore IV ($399) and the Acton IV, and it basically ensures that sound remains balanced and distortion-free regardless of the volume. Playing ‘2515’ at 80% volume didn’t overwhelm the speaker, as the lows maintained their warmth and richness.

I then listened to ‘Mariners Apartment Complex’ by Lana Del Rey to test the soundstage — and sure enough, the Stockwell III didn’t falter. Lana’s vocals sat front and center, with her words remaining clear and never bleeding into one another. There was a great balance between her remarkable vocals and the acoustic guitar and piano, and the strings sounded textured and defined. Also, the True Stereophonic 360° — found on the Bromley 750 ($1,299) and Bromley 450 party speakers — filled the room and the song sounded consistent when I moved around, giving the track an effortless sense of space and depth.