Here are the best speakers that are compatible with AirPlay 2 that allow you to play music directly from AirPlay 2 from your iPhone. This allows you to create a mutli-room listening experience with multiple speakers connected to AirPlay at once – do note that AirPlay requires Wi-Fi connectivity and these speakers automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network for streaming music.
In addition to Wi-Fi compatibility, these speakers also support wireless Bluetooth streaming which means that you can either use Bluetooth or AirPlay with these speakers.
We’ve tested each speaker on this list to ensure that they deliver all-rounded sound quality and performance at any volume level.
If you are looking for the best speakers that are compatible with AirPlay 2 to create a multi-room listening experience, be sure to check out our top picks below!
#1 Libratone Zipp 2
Sound Quality: High-resolution audio with deep bass
Battery Life: 12 hours
What we liked: Pairing of up to 10 Zipp 2 speakers
View full specs: Libratone Zipp 2
The Libratone Zipp 2 is a portable smart speaker that is AirPlay 2-compatible. It can be used to play a song, an audiobook or a radio station from several music and audio streaming sites and internet radios. This speaker is capable of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connections. It supports pairing of up to 10 Zipp 2 speakers to form a multi-room music system.
The Libratone Zipp 2 can produce an audio energy output of up to 100 watts. It utilizes the patented FULLROOM technology which delivers 360-degree room-filling sound projection. This speaker also features a space-sensing technology that adjusts the equalizer automatically according to the room acoustics to ensure the best audio experience.
There is an option to assign a Libratone Zipp 2 as the left or right channel when paired with another in order to achieve an enhanced stereo sound. Its volume automatically minimizes when a palm is placed on top of it. One full charge can make this speaker play for 12 hours. It has Alexa built in and it offers wired connections such as an AUX and a USB.
#2 Sonos One (Gen 2)
Sound Quality: Full range with rich bass and clear highs
Voice assistants: Google Assistant and Alexa
What we liked: Airplay 2 compatibility, linkable speakers
View full specs: Sonos One (Gen 2)
The Sonos One (Gen 2) is an AC-powered smart speaker that is compatible with the AirPlay 2 streaming technology by Apple. It can be controlled using the hands-free voice controls, the Sonos mobile application, the Apple AirPlay 2 and many other music streaming apps.
The sound the Sonos One produces is from a pair of classic amplifiers onto custom-built drivers. This speaker is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity that enables its wireless capability so music, podcasts, audiobooks and internet radio stations can be streamed into it. Two Sonos One speakers can be paired together to provide a stereo sound separation inside a room. More of them can be added so as to form a bigger sound system.
The Sonos One has Alexa built-in enabling voice control capabilities in English and in Spanish. It comes with an illuminated LED light which always indicates if the microphone is active or not.
We love that the Sonos One wireless speaker has a simple shape and a relatively compact design that it can fit in many furniture tops and open cabinets. It is humidity-resistant as well that it can be placed inside bathrooms or outside patios.
#3 Sonos Move
Sound Quality: Powerful full-range sound
Battery Life: 10 hours
What we liked: Airplay 2 compatible, supports Trueplay tuning
View full specs: Sonos Move
The Sonos Move is a battery-powered portable smart speaker. It can be controlled using the Sonos mobile application, the Apple AirPlay2 streaming technology and voice-enabled commands. We also like that Alexa and Google Assistant are built right into the Sonos Move. It is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies permitting wireless capabilities including the streaming of audio content from a mobile device.
The Sonos Move features the Trueplay tuning technology that perfectly balances the resulting sound based on the acoustics of the location and the type of genre of the music playing. It can be charged using the wired charging base or through a compatible USB-C charging cable. One full charge gives this speaker up to 10 hours of play time.
The Sonos Move has an IP enclosure rating of IP56 making it safe from limited dust and high-water jet ingress. The element-protecting design makes it usable outdoors.
This speaker has a durable shock-resistant case making it durable against normal bumps and drops. There is an ergonomic handle behind the Sonos Move for ease-of-carrying as it is portable.
#4 Bose Home Speaker 500
Sound Quality: Deep bass, superior stereo sound
Number of drivers: 2 woofers
What we liked: LED screen, AirPlay 2, Wi-Fi connectivity
View full specs: Bose Home Speaker 500
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is an AC-powered speaker that is AirPlay 2-compatible. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies that it can stream audio content from a mobile device including the use of the Apple AirPlay 2 mobile application.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 can be controlled and managed either by using voice controls, tapping on the top controls or using the Bose Music mobile application. The top controls include up to 6 different pre-sets for playlists, internet radio stations and others. This speaker provides a powerful room-filling stereo sound using its two internal full-range drivers placed opposite each other.
It has an LCD screen to show the album cover of what is currently being played on. Its outer shell is made out of the thin and lightweight yet tough anodized aluminium. The Bose Home Speaker 500 has Alexa voice control service built-in as well; it has an 8-microphone array.
This speaker supports a wired connection using a standard 3.5mm auxiliary line-in jack. Its capabilities are always being added overtime since it supports software updates.
#5 Devialet Phantom Reactor 600
Sound Quality: Extremely loud volume, crisp sound quality
Sound pressure level: Excellent 95dB
What we liked: Great for multi-room, Airplay 2 compatible
View full specs: Devialet Phantom Reactor 600
The Devialet Phantom Reactor 600 is an AC-powered speaker that is AirPlay 2-compatible. AirPlay is a lossless media streaming technology made for all iOS-compatible devices. This speaker also supports other wired and wireless device connecting technologies like Spotify Connect and Bluetooth as well as UPnp and Optical/Analog input.
The Devialet Phantom Reactor 600 is designed to produce high-fidelity frequencies from 18Hz to 21kHz with virtually zero distortion, zero saturation and zero background. It is capable of an audio energy output of up to 600 watts peak and an excellent 95dB of sound pressure level. This speaker can stream in the high-resolution 24 bits/192kHz audio quality.
The Devialet Phantom Reactor 600 can be controlled through its capacitive touch sensors or through the Devialet mobile application. It can be paired with another Phantom Reactor 600 to give an additional 3 decibels of loudness from the 95dB and up to a combined 1800 watts of audio energy. The colour comes in either iconic white or matte black.
#6 iHome iW2 Speaker
Sound Quality: Full-range audio, deep bass sound
Number of drivers: 2
What we liked: Firmware-upgradeable
View full specs: iHome iW2 Speaker
The iHome iW2 is a wireless speaker designed to work seamlessly with AirPlay 2 streaming technology. Music from iTunes, iPad, iPhone and iPod can be wirelessly streamed into it over a Wi-Fi connection. The network configuration for this wireless speaker is easily established using their free iHome Connect mobile application.
The iHome iW2 has two internal drivers; and it utilizes Reson8 speaker chambers and SRS TruBass sound processing to provide the clarity, depth and power over its full-range stereo sound. The frequency balance of the audio that comes out from it is customizable using the Adjustable EQ function. It enables the modification of the bass and treble controls to tailor-fit a user’s preference.
There is also an option to wire the iHome iW2 to a network through the Ethernet port. It can also be used to charge the iPhone or the iPod through a USB port while playing music at the same time. This speaker has an upgradable firmware so it maintains its compatibility for a longer time along several software updates for the AirPlay.
#7 Sonos Beam
Sound Quality: Loud full-range tones with dialogue clarity
Number of drivers: 4 full-range woofers, 1 tweeter
What we liked: Airplay 2 compatible, works with Alexa
View full specs: Sonos Beam
The Sonos Beam is a soundbar that is compatible with the Apple AirPlay 2 media streaming technology. It can be used as an external speaker for a smart television or for music streaming. The . Alexa and Google Assistant are also built into this soundbar for a hands-free voice commands to play music, read news, set alarms, get answers to questions and many more whether in English or Spanish language.
The Sonos Beam can also be controlled using voice-enabled commands, the remote controller, the Sonos mobile application and other audio streaming apps. It boasts the Speech Enhancement feature in its app which clarifies and emphasizes the audio on dialogues especially when they come with loud background sounds. The soundbar has bass and treble controls that are adjustable according to the listener’s preference.
The Sonos Beam has 4 full-range woofers, a tweeter, 3 passive radiators, 5 class-D digital amplifiers and 5 far-field microphones with a microphone LED indicator. It is equipped with an Auto-switching power supply of 100 to 240 volts in the 50 to 60Hz 2.5A AC universal input. This soundbar is compact in build measuring only 25.63 inches across.
#8 Sonos Play 5
Sound Quality: Deep bass, crisp highs, great sound
Number of drivers: 6 (3 woofers, 3 tweeters)
What we liked: Airplay 2 compatible, controllable with Sonos app
View full specs: Sonos Play 5
The Sonos Play:5 is a premium wireless speaker that is compatible with the Apple AirPlay 2 media streaming technology. It has been tuned by the Grammy Award-winning record producer, Giles Martin. This speaker has 3 custom-designed woofers that deliver the rich bass and the clear mid-range while the sealed architecture eliminates reverb and echo. It also has 3 tweeters for the high-frequency response; and six Class-D digital amplifiers tuned to match the six dedicated speaker drivers and the acoustic architecture.
Two Sonos Play:5 can be paired and then produce a stereo separation sound automatically by just putting both in an upright position. It will, alternatively, automatically play in stereo mode if one is placed in the horizontal position. This speaker can be controlled using the Sonos mobile application, AirPlay 2 and many others.
The Sonos Play:5 has a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port for a wired network connectivity. This is functional especially when the Wi-Fi signal starts to become unstable. This wireless speaker comes with a 3.5mm line-in port to source an audio automatically may it be a turntable or a mobile phone.