What's the most important thing to understand before buying a multiroom speaker?
Unlike Bluetooth speakers, which work with any device, multiroom speakers belong to an ecosystem. Sonos speakers can only group with other Sonos speakers; Amazon Echo speakers only group with other Echo speakers; Apple HomePods only group via AirPlay 2. Choosing your first speaker commits your household to that platform, so getting the decision right at the start saves money in the long run.
The five main ecosystems available in the UK are: Sonos, Denon HEOS, Amazon Alexa (Echo), Bluesound, and Audio Pro. A sixth option — AirPlay 2 — is not a standalone ecosystem but a protocol supported by Apple HomePod, Sonos, Denon, and many other speakers, allowing iPhones and Macs to stream to multiple rooms simultaneously. Once you have picked an ecosystem, how you position each speaker within a room matters just as much as which system you buy — our smart speaker placement guide covers wall clearance, stereo spacing and avoiding audio overlap between adjoining rooms.
Our top picks
1. Sonos Era 100 — Best overall multiroom speaker for most UK homes
Why we recommend it: Sonos remains the consensus recommendation from What Hi-Fi?, Trusted Reviews, and TechRadar for 2026. The Era 100 is a compact bookshelf-style speaker that delivers stereo sound from a single unit thanks to two angled tweeters and a woofer. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, line-in via a USB-C adapter, AirPlay 2, and Amazon Alexa voice control. Two Era 100s can be paired into a true stereo pair, or combined with a Sonos Arc soundbar and Sonos Sub to build a surround sound system over time.
UK availability: The Sonos Era 100 is sold at John Lewis, Currys, and the Sonos website. Prices vary by retailer — check each retailer for the current price before buying.
Ideal for: Households who want a reliable, easy-to-expand ecosystem with wide streaming service support including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, BBC Sounds, and Qobuz.
Limitations: Sonos hardware is more expensive than Amazon Echo alternatives. Sonos's mobile app went through a troubled 2024 rebuild, though stability has since improved significantly. If you're considering older Sonos hardware, read our in-depth Sonos One review UK to see how the discontinued Gen 2 compares to the Era 100.
2. Denon Home 150 — Best budget HEOS multiroom speaker
Why we recommend it: The Denon Home 150 undercuts the Sonos Era 100 on price while offering a comparable feature set. It includes a 1-inch tweeter and 3.5-inch woofer, supports Hi-Res Audio (up to 192kHz/24-bit), and connects via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Crucially for UK buyers, it supports AirPlay 2, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri — making it one of the most voice-assistant-agnostic speakers on the market. The HEOS platform allows grouping with other Denon and Marantz HEOS-enabled devices, including AV receivers if you want to tie the system into a home cinema.
UK availability: Available at Currys and Amazon UK. Prices vary by retailer.
Ideal for: Budget-conscious buyers who want multiroom audio without committing to the premium Sonos price point, or households that already own Denon/Marantz AV equipment.
Limitations: HEOS has fewer third-party speaker options than Sonos, limiting future expansion choices. For a deep dive into the full HEOS range, read our Denon HEOS review UK.
3. Amazon Echo Studio — Best smart speaker multiroom option
Why we recommend it: If you are already embedded in the Amazon ecosystem — using Alexa routines, Ring doorbells, or Amazon Music — the Echo Studio delivers the best audio quality in Amazon's line-up. It uses five built-in drivers and supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio processing. Multiple Echo Studio units can be grouped using the Alexa app to play synchronised audio across rooms, and they can also act as Zigbee hubs for controlling smart home devices.
UK availability: Sold direct from Amazon UK and at major UK supermarkets during sale events. UK retail pricing varies — check Amazon.co.uk for the current price.
Ideal for: Alexa-first households that want multiroom audio as part of a broader smart home setup including Home Assistant or voice-controlled automations.
Limitations: Echo speakers sound noticeably worse than Sonos or Denon at equivalent price points. Grouping is limited to the Amazon ecosystem.
If you are still deciding between Amazon Echo and Google's smart speakers for your household, our Amazon Echo vs Google Nest UK guide compares both ecosystems on price, voice assistant capability and smart home integration.
4. Audio Pro C20 W — Best for hi-res audiophile multiroom
Why we recommend it: The Audio Pro C20 W is the flagship of Audio Pro's W-Generation range, which runs on the WiiM platform — the same streaming engine used in dedicated WiiM Pro streamers. This gives it access to a wide catalogue of streaming services, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Audio Pro's own multiroom grouping. The wooden cabinet houses two 25mm tweeters and a 16.5cm woofer producing 190W, and it supports 24-bit/96kHz hi-res audio. What Hi-Fi? gave the C20 W an Award for 2025 and rated it as their 'Best for hi-res' multiroom pick.
UK availability: Available from specialist UK AV retailers including Smart Home Sounds, and directly on Amazon UK. Prices vary by retailer — check current pricing before buying.
Ideal for: Buyers who prioritise audio quality and hi-res streaming, and who want a more independent platform not tied to a US tech giant.
Limitations: Higher price than the Sonos Era 100. The W-Generation ecosystem is newer and has a smaller third-party accessory market.
5. Bluesound Pulse Flex — Best for hi-fi enthusiasts on a moderate budget
Why we recommend it: Bluesound is aimed squarely at hi-fi enthusiasts. The Pulse Flex is the compact entry point into the BluOS ecosystem, which supports MQA, FLAC, WAV, and DSD lossless audio formats — formats that other multiroom platforms either don't support or limit to lower sample rates. BluOS also integrates with Tidal, Qobuz, and Internet radio with minimal latency grouping across rooms. The platform is compatible with Alexa and Siri voice control, and pairs with NAD amplifiers for those who want to extend the system into a full hi-fi stack.
UK availability: Available from Sevenoaks Sound and Vision, specialist UK AV retailers, and Amazon UK. UK pricing is typically in the £249–£269 range, though prices vary by retailer.
Ideal for: Hi-fi enthusiasts who already own lossless music files or subscribe to Tidal HiFi/Qobuz and want to stream them throughout the home without any quality compromise.
Limitations: Less mainstream than Sonos; app is functional but not as polished. No built-in voice assistant.
How to choose the right multiroom system
If you want a smart display rather than a pure speaker, the Google Nest Hub offers an alternative starting point — its built-in Thread border router and sleep tracking make it more than just an audio device for Google ecosystem users.
Start with your streaming service
If you use Spotify, virtually all systems support Spotify Connect natively. If you use Apple Music, AirPlay 2 compatibility is essential — Sonos, Denon, and Audio Pro all support it. If you use Amazon Music, Echo speakers offer the deepest integration. If you care about lossless quality from Tidal or Qobuz, Bluesound or Audio Pro's WiiM-based speakers are the strongest choices.
Consider your smart home setup
Multiroom speakers increasingly overlap with smart home control. If you run Home Assistant, Sonos has a mature HA integration via the Sonos integration card. Amazon Echo speakers double as Zigbee hubs. If you're building a wider smart home setup, check whether your preferred speaker system integrates with your hub before buying. For more smart home inspiration, see our roundup of the best smart bulbs for UK homes, which covers Zigbee and Wi-Fi bulb options that work with most multiroom platforms.
Think about long-term expansion
The cheapest entry point is rarely the cheapest system overall. Budget for at least two or three speakers from the start, and check that the ecosystem offers form factors you need — a soundbar, a portable outdoor speaker, a kitchen-friendly compact unit — before committing. Sonos currently offers the widest range of form factors of any UK-available system.
What about AirPlay 2?
AirPlay 2 lets any iPhone or Mac stream audio to multiple AirPlay 2-compatible speakers simultaneously. It is supported by Sonos, Denon HEOS, Audio Pro, and many AV receivers. The advantage is flexibility: you're not locked to one manufacturer's speakers. The disadvantage is that grouping only works when you're using an Apple device to initiate playback — Android users get no benefit. For truly manufacturer-agnostic multiroom, AirPlay 2 works well in Apple-heavy households — see our best AirPlay 2 speakers UK guide for cross-brand picks, including Apple's own HomePod.
How do the top multiroom systems compare?
Below is a summary of the five systems covered in this guide.
- Sonos Era 100 — Best overall; widest ecosystem; AirPlay 2; Alexa built-in
- Denon Home 150 — Best budget option; Hi-Res Audio; AirPlay 2; all three voice assistants
- Amazon Echo Studio — Best for Alexa users; Dolby Atmos; Zigbee hub built-in
- Audio Pro C20 W — Best hi-res pick; WiiM platform; 190W output; What Hi-Fi? Award winner
- Bluesound Pulse Flex — Best for audiophiles; MQA/DSD support; BluOS ecosystem
If you are considering a premium Bluetooth speaker rather than a dedicated multiroom ecosystem, our Bose smart speaker UK review covers how the SoundLink range compares for sound quality and portability.
