Looking for WiFi speaker(s) under $1500 that can cast YouTube music

[TommyTwoTone]

Hi Folks,

I've painted myself into an odd corner that I could use some help navigating out of...I'm looking to upgrade from the small Marshall portable Bluetooth speaker to a larger single active speaker or pair of powered speakers. The listening space is a 500 sq ft home gym.

I picked up a pair of Sonos Fives that I like the sound quite a bit, but I don't want to move outside the Google ecosystem. I want to be able to play directly from my YT Music playlists and I love the convenience of voice control if my phone is nearby. I want to avoid an AV receiver or running cables. A pair of wall-mountable Powered/Active speakers with WiFi or Bluetooth speaker would be fine (a reasonable compromise to maintain the YT Music compatibility I'm looking to preserve). Budget new or used is $1500.

I know the JBL Authentics 500 and KEF LSX II meet my requirements. Is there anything else I should be considering? I'm concerned neither of these options are adequate to fill the space they are going in.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

 

[Roland68]

Hi Folks,

I've painted myself into an odd corner that I could use some help navigating out of...I'm looking to upgrade from the small Marshall portable Bluetooth speaker to a larger single active speaker or pair of powered speakers. The listening space is a 500 sq ft home gym.

I picked up a pair of Sonos Fives that I like the sound quite a bit, but I don't want to move outside the Google ecosystem. I want to be able to play directly from my YT Music playlists and I love the convenience of voice control if my phone is nearby. I want to avoid an AV receiver or running cables. A pair of wall-mountable Powered/Active speakers with WiFi or Bluetooth speaker would be fine (a reasonable compromise to maintain the YT Music compatibility I'm looking to preserve). Budget new or used is $1500.

I know the JBL Authentics 500 and KEF LSX II meet my requirements. Is there anything else I should be considering? I'm concerned neither of these options are adequate to fill the space they are going in.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Teufel Stereo M2, Stereo L2, Ultima 25 Aktiv, Ultima 40 Aktiv 3

 

[TommyTwoTone]

Teufel Stereo M2, Stereo L2, Ultima 25 Aktiv, Ultima 40 Aktiv 3

Thanks for sharing. I wonder how easy these are to acquire in the US?

 

[lazpete]

How about Wiim Sound? https://www.wiimhome.com/products/wiim-sound-lite

 

[Redacted]

Does the marshall have any kind of line out? If so, you could add most powered speakers easily.
I assume the speakers need to be battery powered though....

 

[TommyTwoTone]

How about Wiim Sound? https://www.wiimhome.com/products/wiim-sound-lite

Do they have enough output for a large room? I would think it would be fine for near field listening.

 

[TommyTwoTone]

Does the marshall have any kind of line out? If so, you could add most powered speakers easily.
I assume the speakers need to be battery powered though....

Preferably NOT battery powered. I have three power outlets up high on one wall and all over the room.

 

[Redacted]

Preferably NOT battery powered. I have three power outlets up high on one wall and all over the room.

Well that makes it easier. Can you add speaker cables too?

 

[lazpete]

Do they have enough output for a large room? I would think it would be fine for near field listening.

I guess its impossible to answer without knowing the required output level. But two of them is pretty decent.

 

[Talisman]

Get two or three JBL PartyBox 320s and position them wherever you like. With party mode, they'll all play together without any cables. For about 900 euros, you'll rock that room.

 

[Ellebob]

You can add the YT Music playlist to Sonos and play on the Sonos 5. For voice control just add a Google speaker and set it up so it plays through Sonos 5.

Many of the PA active speakers have BT. You would still use a Google speaker or device for voice control. Some )A speakers let you link another speaker wirelessly although I would do wired if possible.

 

[TommyTwoTone]

How about Wiim Sound? https://www.wiimhome.com/products/wiim-sound-lite

I picked up a Wiim Sound speaker. It definitely has the software experience and voice control I'm looking for, but it has a real lack of output. I turned it up to 100 and I was like, is this it? Maybe it will be sufficient in a pair.

 

[gorb]

I picked up a Wiim Sound speaker. It definitely has the software experience and voice control I'm looking for, but it has a real lack of output. I turned it up to 100 and I was like, is this it? Maybe it will be sufficient in a pair.

Get four plus the sub or two and it should be decent

 

[TommyTwoTone]

You can add the YT Music playlist to Sonos and play on the Sonos 5. For voice control just add a Google speaker and set it up so it plays through Sonos 5.

I need to look into this because the Five has the best form, fit, and sound quality of everything I'm looking at.

 

[raindance]

Evidently the Denon Home series Heos speakers will allow streaming of YouTube Music via Airplay. I don't know this for sure, but it could be an option.

 

[Flaesh]

I don't know the price:

https://jblpro.com/en/product_families/irx-series

https://jblpro.com/en/product_families/eon700-series

https://jblpro.com/en/products/irx-one

 

[HeadDoc12]

JBL just announced their Cove series, which is comparable to Sonos, Heos, and so forth. Not available for a couple weeks, but might be worth a look.

 

[Flaesh]

Cove series

I like it (Bluetooth EON715, link above) better