Product Strengths

• Effortlessly detailed and balanced sound
• Excellent stereo imaging and dynamics
• High-quality Bluetooth streaming
• Simple setup and control
• Multiple connection options, including subwoofer output, digital input for TV, and analog inputs

Product Considerations

• No HDMI ARC for seamless control with TV remote
• No dedicated app for adjusting settings
• Bass output may be lacking for some listeners, potentially requiring a subwoofer
• Grilles are non-removable
• Speakers power down after 20 minutes at rest, requiring manual Bluetooth pairing each time

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to Ruark Audio MR1 Mk2, the Q Acoustics M20 sounds fuller, louder and less compressed

Takeaway: The Q Acoustics M20 HD speakers offer detailed, balanced sound and are easy to set up with various devices. They're a versatile audio solution for upgrading sound, whether for music, movies, or gaming.

Product Strengths

• Improved stereo sound compared to the original Move, due to the addition of dual tweeters
• Significantly longer battery life—advertised up to 24 hours—making it suitable for extended use indoors and outdoors
• Designed with portability in mind, featuring a built-in handle for easy carrying and an IP56 rating for dust and water resistance
• The speaker benefits from the Auto Trueplay feature, which automatically optimizes the sound to the unique acoustics of your space, delivering a balanced audio experience
• Versatile connectivity options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2, and can even stream Bluetooth audio to other Sonos speakers

Product Considerations

• Considered hefty and not as easily portable as smaller options like the Sonos Roam
• Google Assistant is no longer supported, which may be a drawback for users heavily invested in the Google ecosystem
• It cannot be used as a speakerphone for calls
• Despite being a stereo speaker, channel separation isn't always very distinct, and it can sound more like an expansive mono speaker
• An adapter is needed for a line-in connection, and a carrying case are sold separately, which increases the overall cost

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Sonos Move: The Move 2 offers stereo playback—as opposed to mono—longer battery life, and more connectivity options
• Vs Sonos Roam: The Move 2 sounds better and gets louder, but the Roam is smaller and lighter
• Vs Sonos Era 300: The Era 300 has Dolby Atmos support, but is not portable or water-resistant like the Move 2
• Vs Sonos Era 100: The Move 2 can be taken on the go unlike the Era 100 and is rated for dust and water resistance
• Vs Bose SoundLink Max: The Sonos Move 2 sounds a bit more balanced out of the box, and its battery can even be replaced down the line, while the Bose has a longer-lasting battery and doesn't require an adapter to connect to analog line-in sources, but it can't connect to Wi-Fi

Takeaway: The Sonos Move 2 is a versatile and improved portable speaker, offering great sound and battery life for both indoor and outdoor use, and its integration with the Sonos ecosystem makes it an easy choice for existing Sonos users.

Product Strengths

• Simple Bluetooth speaker connects and pairs easily without needing an app
• Rated IP67 against water and dust, making it durable for splashes and rain
• Can be used to charge other small devices via USB-C
• Lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around with a removable lanyard
• Plays nicely with both iOS and Android devices

Product Considerations

• The soft touch rubber coating is a dust magnet
• The Beats app is barebones, with no EQ controls
• Can't playback stereo content without pairing another speaker
• Audio can get muddy and lose detail at high volumes
• Some controls have a learning curve

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Beats Pill+: The 2024 Beats Pill is lighter, has better build quality, a more balanced sound, and support for voice assistants, but lacks Bluetooth multipoint support and stereo playback without pairing
• Vs JBL Flip 6: Has a more balanced sound out-of-the-box, a longer battery life, and voice assistant support, but JBL is better built and offers a graphic EQ in the companion app

Takeaway: The Beats Pill is a simple, portable, and durable Bluetooth speaker that sounds good, especially at its price. It's easy to connect to devices and take anywhere.

Product Strengths

• Aluminum alloy cabinets use liquid die casting, in addition to a 3.5″ carbon fiber woofer and 1″ silk tweeter, with the larger-than-average woofers and tweeters providing better soundstage, timbre, and resolution.
• Sound is perfectly balanced, from 100Hz to 20kHz, and one can hear all the work done by the brand’s engineers on the filtering, with the crossover frequency perfectly adapted to the speaker’s topology.
• The 1″ silk tweeter employs a KSV copper-clad aluminum voice coil and marvelously reproduces the treble region, providing a remarkable amount of air after 10kHz and a sense of sparkle.
• Well made with premium materials throughout, the FiiO SP3 doesn’t have much to envy from similarly priced active monitors by well established brands, while it is certainly better made and looking than most multimedia speaker sets.
• Compact size allows for easy placement, and the SP3 can fill up an entire dining room and living room.

Product Considerations

• The SP3 doesn’t have any wireless or digital inputs, and it doesn’t have a subwoofer output.
• Some reviewers find its bass response to be limited, and that it lacks sub-bass.
• Distortion may occur at very high volume levels.
• The speaker has a slight level of noise when no music is playing.
• Poor vertical directivity for a speaker that is likely to be placed below the listener’s ears.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Yamaha HS7: SP3 almost matched it pound-for-pound in resolution, neutrality, and overall realism, the HS7 is slightly cleaner, airier, and more neutral.
• Vs Sonos ERA 100: The soundstage of ERA 100 felt artificial, almost chemical, compared to the FiiO SP3.

Takeaway: The FiiO SP3 is a compact, well-built, and versatile speaker that sounds great for its size and price, especially for nearfield listening. If a small speaker that punches above its weight in sound quality is desired, the SP3 is a great option.

Product Strengths

• Impressive spatial audio delivers a more immersive and 3D soundscape compared to traditional stereo, when playing Dolby Atmos content
• Wide, room-filling sound projects further and more confidently than other similar wireless speakers
• Can be used as Dolby Atmos surround speakers, delivering multi-channel rears for the first time
• Includes both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) connectivity

Product Considerations

• The spatial audio experience is heavily dependent on the quality of the Dolby Atmos mix, and some mixes can be disappointing
• Touch controls don't provide the tactile feedback of physical buttons
• The Sonos app can be slow and not always intuitive to use
• Spatial audio tracks can only be played over Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth
• No Google Assistant

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Era 300 offers a more refined sound, with a deeper bassline and better wraparound sound, compared to Amazon Echo Studio
• The Era 300 has better dynamics, and supports Dolby Atmos, compared to Sonos Five—the slightly larger Five can reproduce a more extended low bass and offers superior stereo music playback
• Era 300 gets slightly louder and has slightly better directivity and features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility, whereas the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) can only connect via Wi-Fi

Takeaway: The Sonos Era 300 excels at spatial audio playback, and the spatial audio from a single wireless speaker feels detailed, engaging and accomplished. It's a great addition to any home, offering immersive sound for both music and movies.