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Speakers

Speakers are foundational to the way we enjoy music from Spotify, Apple Music, and other services — and our own music collections. And increasingly, they’re also a convenient way of controlling smart home devices compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Companies like Sonos offer multiroom audio platforms capable of synchronizing music across speakers of all different sizes. Whether you’re looking for a smart speaker or a simple Bluetooth speaker to take everywhere, The Verge covers the best of what’s out there in 2025.

Sonos’ interim CEO hits all the right notes in first letter to employeesSonos’ interim CEO hits all the right notes in first letter to employees
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Klipsch’s new party speakers have sound effects for pumping up a crowd.

The company is expanding its Music City Bluetooth speaker lineup with three new party models that introduce RGB lighting that syncs to the music playing.

The Vegas, Miami, and New York speakers also feature a mic for karaoke and three dedicated buttons that play airhorn, record scratch, and applause sound effects in case the lights aren’t getting the party started fast enough.

The Klipsch Music City Party Speakers against a background collage of party photos.
The Klipsch Vegas Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
The Klipsch Miami Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
The Klipsch New York Music City Party Speakers against a white background.
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Klipsch’s new Music City party speakers, now available for preorder, range in price from $299 for the Vegas model, $549 for the Miami model, and $699 for the largest New York option.
Image: Klipsch
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Soundcore’s Rave 3S party speaker uses AI to remove vocals from songs.

The 200W wireless speaker also puts on a beat-synced light show and includes two wireless mics with vocal enhancement and reverb effects to improve your next karaoke performance.

The Anker brand also announced a smaller 140W Soundcore Boom 2 Pro speaker at CES that’s dustproof, waterproof, and floats, so it can join you in the pool, not just beside it.

The Soundcore Rave 3S party speaker against a colorful rendered background.
The Soundcore Boom 2 Pro against a white background.
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The Soundcore Rave 3S has a 12-hour battery and launches on March 10th for $349.
Image: Anker
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
JBL’s Horizon 3 bedside speaker wakes you with simulated sunrises.

The next version of JBL’s Bluetooth alarm clock features a larger design with two 1.5-inch speakers paired with dual passive radiators for improved sound. If you’re looking for a more gentle way to drift off or wake up, it can play relaxing nature sounds like ocean waves, or slowly illuminate a room with a built-in light to “help regulate circadian rhythms.”

The JBL Horizon 3 on a bedside table.
The JBL Horizon 3 pictured in two color options.
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The JBL Horizon 3 is expected to be available in May 2025 for around $145 (€139.99).
Image: JBL
Matter speakers could stream music and tell you when the wash is done

A former Sonos executive is looking to disrupt the smart speaker market with a new standard for Wi-Fi speakers.

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy
New Apple TV and HomePod mini reportedly coming in 2025New Apple TV and HomePod mini reportedly coming in 2025
Sonos plans return-to-office push for its product teamsSonos plans return-to-office push for its product teams
Sonos Arc Ultra review: don’t call it a comeback (yet)

8

Verge Score

The company closes out a difficult year with this terrific soundbar that proves Sonos still knows how to do hardware. Software, though...

Chris Welch
The very best Sonos speaker is on sale for Cyber Monday — and that’s rareThe very best Sonos speaker is on sale for Cyber Monday — and that’s rare
Bose’s fantastic SoundLink Max is finally the right price for Cyber MondayBose’s fantastic SoundLink Max is finally the right price for Cyber Monday
Brutalist architecture inspired this blocky wireless speakerBrutalist architecture inspired this blocky wireless speaker
Sonos speakers and soundbars are up to $200 off ahead of Black FridaySonos speakers and soundbars are up to $200 off ahead of Black Friday
Sonos’ smart TV plans might have found an OSSonos’ smart TV plans might have found an OS
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Bose is collaborating with Kith again to resurrect an iconic speaker.

The company recently partnered with Kith for its Ultra Open Earbuds, but this time Ronnie Fieg is helping to redesign Bose’s 901 speakers which originally debuted in 1968, but were discontinued in 2016.

We don’t know pricing or availability details, but Fieg, who’s working with furniture designer Mark Jupiter, shared images on Instagram of the limited edition and wonderfully retro redesign.

Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers next to a piece of furniture.
The front and back of Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers.
Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speakers next to a piece of furniture.
Kith’s redesigned Bose 901 speaker next to a piece of furniture.
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Bose is collaborating with Ronnie Fieg’s Kith to redesign its iconic 901 speaker.
Image: Instagram
Sonos revenue falls in the aftermath of the company’s messy app debacleSonos revenue falls in the aftermath of the company’s messy app debacle
Amazon’s Echo Spot alarm clock is on sale with a free color smart bulbAmazon’s Echo Spot alarm clock is on sale with a free color smart bulb
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Speck now makes wireless speakers.

After expanding from smartphone cases to wireless earbuds, Speck has introduced its Gemtones Infinity Speaker featuring Bluetooth 5.3, RGB LED lighting enhanced with an infinite mirror effect, and the ability to sync and pair up to 50 of them.

It’s available in three sizes with 10W, 20W, and 25W of power and ranges in price from $79.99 for the seven-inch Mini to $129.99 for the 11-inch Max.

Two Speck Gemstones Bluetooth speakers on a coffee table with a group of people laughing behind it.
Speck’s Gemstones Bluetooth speakers are available in three sizes from $79.99 to $129.99.
Image: Speck
The Amazon Echo graveyard

The Echo ecosystem has seen its fair share of failures while trying to popularize Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant.

Andrew Liszewski
The Playdate Stereo Dock has been shelvedThe Playdate Stereo Dock has been shelved
Vizio’s new ‘MicMe’ soundbar has built-in karaokeVizio’s new ‘MicMe’ soundbar has built-in karaoke
Marantz’s first speakers look like works of artMarantz’s first speakers look like works of art
Sonos announces ‘breakthrough’ Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4Sonos announces ‘breakthrough’ Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Oh the humanity!

B&W’s iconic Zeppelin iPod speaker has evolved over the years, culminating in today’s new £699 / $799 Zeppelin Pro Edition. It now comes in gold and gray finishes, a more colorful downlight to set the mood, and new tweeters paired with midrange drivers and a subwoofer that are said to improve the overall sound. It can be used in a multi-room setup and supports AirPlay2, Bluetooth aptX Adaptive, and Spotify Connect.

1/6Image: Bowers & Wilkins
The Beats Pill speaker is even cheaper than it was during Prime DayThe Beats Pill speaker is even cheaper than it was during Prime Day
These boxes will send Dolby Atmos through your home’s power linesThese boxes will send Dolby Atmos through your home’s power lines
Bose’s new SoundLink Home is one of its best-looking wireless speakersBose’s new SoundLink Home is one of its best-looking wireless speakers
Sonos has a plan to earn back your trust, and here it is

The Sonos app debacle will go down as an all-time tech industry blunder, but now the company is taking steps to turn the page.

Chris Welch
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Sonos employees reportedly screamed about the new app in meetings before its release.

A new Bloomberg report includes details on some employee pushback to Sonos’ new app ahead of its disastrous launch:

Sonos employees, many of whom were fans before joining the company, started to directly and forcefully raise the alarm with Spence and other executives, according to three current and former employees. They described “yelling” and “screaming” in meetings.

How Sonos Botched an App and Infuriated Its Customers

[Bloomberg]

JBL’s new party lights wirelessly sync to its glowing speakersJBL’s new party lights wirelessly sync to its glowing speakers
Soundcore’s new $24.99 waterproof speaker is almost an impulse purchaseSoundcore’s new $24.99 waterproof speaker is almost an impulse purchase
The Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 have leaked, and they’re likely coming soonThe Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 have leaked, and they’re likely coming soon
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
You can now gripe to Sonos about its app on the weekends, too.

As Sonos tries to win back trust following the rough rollout of its new app, you can now reach Sonos support on Saturday and Sunday.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Sonos is reportedly partnering with another company on the OS for its TV streaming device.

Friend of The Verge Janko Roettgers reports that the partner is The Trade Desk, an advertising company. From today’s Lowpass newsletter:

Under the arrangement, The Trade Desk is supplying Sonos with the core smart TV OS, and facilitating deals with app publishers, while Sonos is designing its own hardware, and customizing the user interface.

Sonos, The Trade Desk partner on TV streaming device

[Lowpass]

You can customize the sound of Klipsch’s new soundbar for exactly where you sitYou can customize the sound of Klipsch’s new soundbar for exactly where you sit
The Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is a return to form for Ultimate EarsThe Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is a return to form for Ultimate Ears
Chris Welch
Chris Welch
A former Sonos employee vents about the company’s “eroding” core values.

“Incompetence has infected top management” at Sonos, according to a former engineer’s Reddit post.

This ex-employee — I’ve confirmed their credentials — also says the culture within Sonos took a sharp turn for the worse with the original Roam. That speaker became the first glaring example of a product rushed out the door despite internal warnings. It wouldn’t be the last.

Reminder: I’m reachable on Signal at chriswelch.01.

Former Sonos Engineer Here – Heartbroken by the App Disaster and What’s Happened to the Company

[Reddit]

Sonos opens a Trello board so we can see how it’s fixing the busted appSonos opens a Trello board so we can see how it’s fixing the busted app
Sonos’ latest app update fixes just a fraction of its problemsSonos’ latest app update fixes just a fraction of its problems
The Sonos Era 100 speaker is 20 percent off in the run-up to Labor DayThe Sonos Era 100 speaker is 20 percent off in the run-up to Labor Day
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Sonos’ CEO has joined Threads — and is doing some damage control.

Sonos’ Patrick Spence said on Reddit this week that the company wouldn’t be able to bring back the old app, and today, he made a series of posts on Threads about the company’s efforts and what it has learned.

“In hindsight, one thing that is clear is that we shouldn’t have introduced such a big change so quickly,” he said.

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