Audio
Headphones, speakers, and systems worth the listening.
- Headphones
- Speakers
- Soundbars
- Home Theater
Buying guides
Reviews
JBL
JBL Charge 6
The JBL Charge 6 is the rugged value pick for the backyard or the pool: it is IP68 waterproof and drop-proof, runs all day on a charge, doubles as a power bank, and costs a fraction of a Sonos. The trade-off is that it is a mono Bluetooth speaker with no Wi-Fi or multiroom, and its sound is energetic rather than refined — but for the price and durability, very little touches it outdoors.
Sonos
Sonos Roam 2
The Sonos Roam 2 is the grab-and-go Sonos: under a pound, IP67 submersible, and able to switch between Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth on the move. It is the easiest way into the Sonos ecosystem and genuinely poolside-proof. The catches are mono sound and only about 10 hours of battery, so it is a companion speaker rather than the one that fills a backyard.
Sonos
Sonos Move 2
The Sonos Move 2 is the best-sounding portable speaker for a patio: real stereo from a single cabinet, up to 24 hours of battery, an IP56 weatherproof build, and Wi-Fi that ties it into a whole-home Sonos system. It is heavy for true portability, leans hard on the Sonos app, and is pricey next to a rugged JBL — but for a premium backyard speaker that also lives indoors, nothing matches it.