Bluetooth speakers that bring music to ears all around the house

LINK your phone or tablet to these bluetooth devices and your music library is available in every room.

Jongo wireless multi-room speakers, $199-$599, pure.com.au for Shop Smart

Bluesound

Best for Sound quality

Bluesound’s wireless networked speakers are expensive but they’re also the best­sounding on test, whether they’re streaming from Spotify Premium or playing high­ resolution digital files from a computer. The baby of the range, the Pulse ($999), is the standout all­ in ­one speaker on this page, offering superb dynamic range, power and detail. It works as a solo device, but for a multiroom setup you’ll need to add the Powernode amp ($999), which can also drive any regular speakers you own. Step up a level and there’s Duo, a subwoofer and stereo speakers at $1499 for a set. Go the whole hog and you can add Node $649 to connect an existing hi­fi or home cinema amp to the network, and Vault ($1499), which will copy and store CDs on its 1TB hard drive. With no weak link in performance across the range — the Duo will knock your socks off — the only disappointment is the control app, which could be easier to use.

Verdict: Sonically superior and worth every cent.

bluesound.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pure Jongo

Best for Value

Pure’s Jongo range was one of the first to challenge Sonos, the multiroom company that used to have the field to itself. Since launch last year, the Jongos have been remodelled, revamped and reduced in price, and now let you stream from any device using any music service, including Spotify and Pandora. There’s no hub, so you can start a system with a single T2X speaker, moving up with the T4X and T6X; this last is powerful enough to replace a hi­fi. Also in the $199 to $599 range is the S3X battery ­powered portable speaker and the A2, a hi­fi adaptor. Configuring your Jongos takes effort, but the results rise above the bargain pricing.

Verdict: Multiroom on a budget.pure.com

★ ★ ★ ★

Samsung Multiroom

Best for Style

With its speakers’ sleek design and the option of vertical or horizontal wall­mounting, Samsung’s multiroom system will fit into any house’s decor. The range consists of the $249 M3 speaker, which can work with various Samsung TV and surround­sound systems, the $399 M5 and the $499 M7.

The mid­size M5 is the best of the bunch, loaded with features and sounding bright and impressively loud. The M7 has more welly at the detriment of the bass. All require the Hub to work as a11 multiroom system. Connecting is quick and painless and three wireless streaming options — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC (near field communication) — is generous.

Verdict: Great design, solid sound, impressive connectivity.

samsung.com/uk

★ ★ ★ ★

LG Music Flow

Best for Surround sound

Like the Jongos, LG’s Music Flow can start with a single speaker: the H3 at $249 is the entry-level model, and then there’s the H5 $399 and H7 $549 with an HS6 soundbar for enhanced TV sound and living room duties.

Installation is quick and easy — to add a speaker to a network takes just one button press. Streaming options include Spotify, and the system can handle 24 bit, 192 kHz hi­res audio. The H7 speaker is loud enough for most rooms and sounds balanced and punchy. The smaller H3 is disappointing as a standalone unit but does a decent job as a satellite speaker.

Verdict: Decent enough sound but lacks excitement. lg.com/uk

★ ★ ★

THE SUNDAY TIMES