At the start of 2011, anyone who wanted an AirPlay speaker had one choice: the Zeppelin Air. Over the year we’ve seen the list of AirPlay options grow steadily, and today we have 15 unique models to choose from. Although these aren’t the most affordable speakers out there, the promise of untethered sound and ease of use helps justify the cost.
While some of these may seem insanely expensive, they aim to make up for it in superior design and performance (who knew cashmere was for speakers!). Others seem rushed to market with their odd design and sub-par audio. Basically, anyone shopping for an AirPlay speaker needs to choose carefully. To help make your decision easier, we’ve listed every available* AirPlay speaker to date, presented by cost. Find your favorite, and let your budget decide!
High End ($500-$1299)
| Model | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Libratone Lounge | $1299.95 | Apple |
 |
Philips DS9800W SoundSphere | $799.00 | Amazon |
 |
Libratone Live | $699.95 | Apple |
 |
B&W Zeppelin Air | $599.95 | Amazon Apple |
 |
Klipsch Gallery G-17 Air | $549.99 | Amazon Klipsch |
Mid Grade ($300-$499)
| Model | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Philips DS6800W SoundSphere | $499.00 | |
 |
Altec Lansing inAir 5000 | ||
 |
Philips SoundCurve | $399.99 | Amazon |
 |
Sony SA-NS500 | $399.95 | Sony Amazon |
 |
JBL On Air Wireless | $349.95 | Amazon Apple |
 |
Audyssey LES | $349.99 | Amazon |
Low End ($179-$299)
| Model | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Philips SoundRing | $299.95 | Apple |
 |
iHome iW1 | $299.95 | Amazon Apple Best Buy Crutchfield |
 |
iHome iW2 | $200.00 | Amazon |
 |
Philips AD7000W/37 | $179.99 | Amazon |
Budget ($99)
| Model | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Apple AirPort Express | $99.95 | Apple |
 |
Apple TV | $99.95 | Apple Amazon |
*Sorry, not available in all countries.
Might be a nice addition to include a column or two with features of the speakers?
One such feature that would be helpful for me would be if it had a rechargeable battery built in. In clicking through I’ve found 3 so far that do, which is up from the 1 I was aware of.
I didn’t click through all of the speakers, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who would feel that would be a nice addition to your already very helpful graph. 🙂
Thanks for the tip Michael. Our chart on all the AirPlay speakers and devices gives more info, like if the speaker is wireless or not, but I will add it to this one as well.