Go wireless with Bluetooth speakers

Having all your digital music on an MP3 player is the ultimate convenience, but if it's connected to a speaker, you'll need to get off the couch to make a playlist change. Bluetooth speakers solve this problem by accepting music streamed wirelessly from your A2DP-compatible MP3 player or phone, so you can keep your Bluetooth-enabled device in your hand and easily navigate your favorite tunes. It's like having a remote control to your whole music library.

That's the major upside to Bluetooth speakers, but there are certainly tradeoffs. The range of Bluetooth is usually pretty limited, so you probably only be able to get about 15 feet away from the speaker before the connection is spotty. You'll also notice that the sound quality isn't quite as good as a wired connection, so audiophiles will be disappointed. And most importantly, the most popular MP3 player in the world--the iPod--doesn't have built-in Bluetooth, so you'll need to use a competing MP3 player with Bluetooth--such as the Sony Walkman NWZ-A829, Ibiza Rhapsody, or Samsung YP-P2--to use these speakers. But if you've already got an iPod, you can still get in the Bluetooth speaker game by using a Bluetooth adapter, such as the Jabra A125s or the Sony TMR-BT8IP.

As you can tell from the ratings on these speakers, they're all pretty good, but there's no standout selection. That means you should base your purchasing decision more on what design and features work for you, and any of these models should get the job done. The breakdown is pretty simple: the Parrot systems focus more on sound quality, the Sony Bravia DAV-X10 sports a fancy design, and the iLuv systems are heavy on features. Additionally, all 2007 and later Sony audio products that have a DM port can be made Bluetooth compatible with the addition of the Sony TDM-BT1; that accessory is included in the Bravia DAV-X10. And of course, it's also worth mentioning that any audio system with an auxiliary input can be made Bluetooth compatible with the addition of an accessory like the Motorola DC800 or Sony HWSBTA2W.

We expect to see more Bluetooth-enabled systems in 2008, and if the iPod ever supports Bluetooth without a dongle, we expect to see hundreds of them.