So, you want to host a party for the holidays—maybe a little eggnog, a few latkes, and some holiday tunes will convince your boss to give you that end-of-year raise. But you’ll need some quality speakers to play all of those Mariah Carey tracks. If you’re reading this article, we’re guessing you don’t already have a home sound system in place. So, we’re going to give you some easy and affordable options to equip your home with a quality-sounding speaker setup. Whether you’re looking for something that’s portable and quick to set up or a more permanent solution to use at home, there should be something here for you.
Compact Bluetooth Speakers
If you’re not looking to invest in an advanced sound system, but just want a budget-friendly and versatile speaker that’s powerful enough to fill a room, consider getting a compact Bluetooth speaker. JBL has a line of solid wireless speakers that not only sound impressive but can be linked together to create a multi-speaker system. The Flip 6, for example, is relatively small, but has more than enough oomph to fill a modest-sized space. Or buy two of them and wirelessly connect them to achieve an even more powerful and authentic stereo sound. Packed with a generous 20-hour battery life, the rechargeable Flip 6 can be moved around to any location. Furthermore, it’s waterproof. So, if you’re spending Xmas in Australia, Speedo Santa can play his tunes poolside. With a deep bass response and an energetic sound signature, even Jingle Bells will get your guests dancing. If you want to go bigger, opt for the JBL Charge 5 or JBL Boombox 3. Like the Flip 6, you can link two together and blow the roof off.
For those partial to Sony, take a look at the Sony SRS-XG300. The non-circular shape of the dual woofers and tweeters help to minimize distortion in your music, and the low end can be easily enhanced with the press of the MEGA BASS button. Furthermore, the Sony Party Connect feature allows you to connect up to 100 X-Series speakers together. Add Sony Music Center app to your phone, and you can personalize the sound and light settings, use Battery Care to help avoid overcharging, activate Stereo Pair and Party Connect, and more.
Also noteworthy, is the Klipsch Detroit, which can link up to 10+ speakers. With dual 1" tweeters and dual 3" woofers, enhanced by quad force-canceling passive radiators, you won’t only get that high-end Klipsch sound, but also the power you need to fill your space.
Perhaps you want something a little more refined. In that case, consider a model from Bose, such as the SoundLink Revolve+ II. It delivers room-filling sound thanks to its a downward-firing full-range transducer and omnidirectional acoustic deflector. Like the JBL series, you can get a second Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II, and pair them together in Stereo Mode or Party Mode. In Stereo Mode, you can playback music with proper left/right separation for more accurate sound reproduction. In Party Mode, both speakers will simultaneously play back the same audio, letting you position each speaker to optimally accommodate very large or open-air areas.
Large Bluetooth Speakers
Of course, if you really want to get your neighbors mad, you can buy something like the JBL PartyBox Club 120 or PartyBox Stage 320 to create a club-like experience in your home. And they’re more than just basic Bluetooth speakers; if anyone at your party can sing or play a guitar, these speakers are ready to support them as they show off their chops. Both JBL models provide dual mic inputs and guitar inputs for multiple performers. And like the examples above, you can link two of these beasts together. Finally, built-in multi-color LEDs add to the vibe with starry lights, light trails, and strobe effects that pulse and sync to the beat. So, get out your glow sticks.
Wireless Stereo and Multi-Room Sound Systems
If you’re searching for a more permanent or high-performing audio solution for your home, you may want to consider investing in a sound system that is Wi-Fi enabled. In contrast to Bluetooth connections, when you link your Wi-Fi enabled speakers to your home network, you typically get more functionality and better-quality sound. For an in-depth guide about the fundamentals of wireless sound systems, check out our article, How to Choose a Wireless Speaker System for Your Home.
Sonos is perhaps the most famous brand when it comes to modern home sound systems. This is because its products not only offer premium audio fidelity but also have the capability to equip your entire house with a complete audio ecosystem. The brand has a range of premium-quality wireless speakers that you can pepper throughout your home to be played separately or in sync. The Sonos Five is perhaps their most classic high-fidelity speaker. It features Wi-Fi connectivity built-in to provide access to the most popular music services. AirPlay 2 connectivity is also onboard, allowing you to control the speaker and stream from your compatible iOS device. You can place it horizontally for virtual stereo sound or pair two vertically oriented Five speakers together as a true stereo pair for a broader soundstage. And as mentioned above, if your guests get nosey and go upstairs, you can also make it one of many Sonos speakers around your house for simultaneous playback.
Also worth a mention is the Sonos Era, which is one of the brand’s latest releases. It may be primarily geared towards those with Sonos Dolby Atmos systems. And if you already own a Sonos soundbar you can easily pair it with the Era to expand your theater and music sound system. But in addition to being fantastic surround speakers for your home theater, they also work great on their own. What’s most special about both Sonos models is that they use Sonos' Trueplay technology to fine-tune the speaker for your space, analyzing your room’s acoustics and adjusting the EQ settings for the best sound. But if you prefer, you can still tweak the EQ settings yourself in the Sonos app.
Another worthy contender is the Bluesound P230 PULSE M, which, in addition to hi-res Bluetooth capability, can also be used as a stereo pair or as part of a multi-room speaker system throughout your home. Like the Sonos models above, it also supports several wireless connection protocols, such as Apple Airplay.
Finally, let’s not forget Bose, which also offers great wireless speaker technology for your home network. The brand’s latest release is the Bose Portable Smart Speaker, which is also Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to connect a bunch of them throughout your house, as well as to other Bose speaker systems such as your TV’s sound bar or older Bose models, like the Bose Smart Speaker 500. The wonderful thing about the Portable Smart Speaker is that it doesn’t have to be plugged into the wall and you get about 12 hours of battery life after a full charge. So, should you choose to take the party to another room or outside for some crisp cold air, you can take the music with you, all while being connected to your home network.
Finally, most of the product examples included in the section above can be voice-enabled. And they typically work with voice assistants, such as Alexa, and Google Assistant. So, after the holiday party dies down, you can return to your routine of making grocery lists and asking about the weather.
For more information about the products listed above, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out our detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions. Happy holidays!
