Stuff Gadget Awards Winners – Audio Products

Stuff’s annual Gadget Awards are how we like to shut out the yr. The winners seem in print first (accurately), earlier than making the leap on-line. Audio is the primary class of Stuff’s greatest tech seen in 2025 that we’ll be publishing. This early within the yr, there’s nonetheless time to nab considered one of these earlier than an inevitable success is introduced and launched. Heck, even by the top of 2026, you’ll nonetheless be happy to plonk considered one of these in your shelf.

Keep an eye fixed out for our different classes within the coming week, culminating in Stuff‘s Gadget of the Year. If you bought our print issue, you already know the answer. If you didn’t… properly, stick round. We’ll let you know. Eventually.

BLUETOOTH SPEAKER OF THE YEAR

JBL FLIP 7

Here we go once more. JBL holds Stuff’s Bluetooth speaker title seemingly indefinitely, and that’s as a result of nothing else nails the trifecta fairly just like the Flip sequence: it’s reasonably priced, sturdy, and moveable. The Seventh-gen mannequin applies enhancements the place they matter most, making this already dominant speaker even tougher to dethrone.

It weighs lower than its predecessor, but redesigned dome tweeters serve up larger sound with a lot deeper bass. And in what appears like a gimmick however genuinely works, real-time evaluation through intelligent algorithms maximises quantity with out introducing distortion. Auracast connectivity is the standout addition, enabling audio sharing throughout limitless suitable units, whereas Bluetooth 5.4 ensures dependable streaming.

The JBL Flip 7 hits the candy spot the place correct efficiency meets smart pricing.

R1 900 / jbl.com

HIGHLY COMMENDED
B&O Beosound A1 (third Gen) ● Ultimate Ears Miniroll

SHORTLISTED
Marshall Emberton III ● Marley Roots Solar

WIRELESS SPEAKER OF THE YEAR

BOWERS & WILKINS ZEPPELIN PRO

You all the time know what you’re moving into with Bowers and Wilkins. Sometimes it’s debt, however it’s additionally the very best audio you may pour in your inexplicably thirsty ears. The Zeppelin Pro Edition is its iconic design with extra smarts than ever earlier than, with the five-speaker array – a 6in sub, plus twin mids, and tweeters – pumps out finely tuned audio, whereas in depth streaming assist means you may slum among the many Spotify plenty for some time earlier than returning to your blissful world of high-res audio.

It’s not a dinky little artwork piece both, dropping nearly 7kg onto your shelf or desktop. Just consider it as the burden of all that incredible engineering making itself identified.

R18 500 / istore.co.za

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Kanto Ren

SHORTLISTED
Sony ULT Tower 10