We’ve put together a list of the very best Mac speakers, giving you an in-depth lowdown on each entry’s biggest selling points.
Audyssey Wireless Speakers
Design
Compared to some of the other speakers here, the Audyssey doesn’t set the world alight with its looks. The black metal legs suspend the speakers nicely, and are the standout feature of what is otherwise a minimal design.
Build Quality
Weighty to pick up, these speakers look and feel sturdy with the plastic shell and plain black speaker front. The volume knob has a nice level of resistance when turned to help you make subtle volume tweaks if necessary.
Size & Weight
Although wireless is a big part of the selling point, these speakers are designed to be stationary and, unsurprisingly, are both heavy and bulky. They are, however, still easy enough to move should you want to tweak your setup.
Sound Quality
For a set of speakers that are predominately designed to be used wirelessly – connecting to your Mac over Bluetooth – the Audysseys sound great. The bass is heavy and clear, with great clarity throughout.
Extra Features
Should the Bluetooth connection not be enough for your audiophile ears, the Audysseys do also come with the option of an analog input directly to your Mac. This gives the unique BassXT technology a further chance to shine.
Summary
Some of the best audio output you’ll hear over Bluetooth – a welcome addition to any desktop
Sonos Play:1
Design
Dominated by the grille that covers the speaker itself, the Sonos certainly looks the part as a desktop speaker. The hidden power cable port is a nice piece of design too, ensuring the setup always looks clean.
Build Quality
Surprisingly heavy for a compact unit, the Sonos gives off the sense that it houses plenty of audio power. The control buttons on top of the unit are robust and the whole speaker has a very clean, modern look to it.
Size & Weight
One of the heaviest speakers here, but the Sonos is designed to also be very portable if you need it to be. In terms of size, it won’t dominate your desk, but it is big enough to suggest some impressive audio output.
Sound Quality
Built to be powerful, the Sonos sounds great at the top-end, with deep bass to make the lowend thrive too. The clarity is good, with it only sounding a little flatter at lower volume, perhaps a come-down compared to the top-end.
Extra Features
Thanks to the wireless setup it’s possible to use the Play:1 as part of a household–wide audio system synced over your Wi-Fi. For surround sound, you can set up a second speaker and assign each the left and right channel.
Summary
Stylish and pumping out some beefy audio, the Sonos lit up our revamped desktop
IK Multimedia iLoud
Design
Catches the eye as the only single speaker unit here, the iLoud looks bold and brass with its LED-lit volume knob at the centre of the speaker. This device can also be used as a guitar amp, and that comes across in the looks and design.
Build Quality
Very solid and robust, there is still an element of portability to this speaker. The plastic shell isn’t the most satisfying to the touch, but the front grille is nicely designed, showing a hint at the speakers that lie beneath.
Size & Weight
More of an eyeful than the other speakers here given that it’s a single unit, the iLoud is bigger than other speakers. It is surprisingly light given the punch it packs, but makes sense considering its more portable market placement.
Sound Quality
Living up to its name, the iLoud is punchy, but it’s limited by the fact it’s a single speaker, so that feeling of surround never comes. You will always notice some audio distortion at the top-end, and sound is a little flat at times.
Extra Features
As already touched upon, the iLoud’s USP is that it can also be used as a guitar amp, plugging straight into your instrument for your jamming session. It makes the iLoud stand out, and certainly offers a unique feature.
Summary
A solid choice but lacks the sound clarity and precision of the others on show here