It seems everyone has a Bluetooth speaker in their product lineup today, and selecting the right one is a dizzying experience inciting even more vertigo with each passing week as the mountain of wireless sound options grows bigger. I'm going to walk you through some of the best Bluetooth options in this buying guide, but first it's good to consider a few basic rules of thumb.

Before diving in to the ocean of Bluetooth audio, consider what your needs are. Do you need a speaker that's portable and compact? Or are you looking for great sound in your home without all those irritating wires? It's also good to have an idea of how much you're willing to spend.

With so many different shapes, sizes and companies to choose from, a good way to wade through it all is simply to remember that the names that are already established in home audio and Bluetooth audio in particular are going to be your best bets. I've owned, demoed and reviewed a number of different Bluetooth speakers from a wide array of manufacturers, and the old adage about getting what you pay for generally holds true, but so does the one about the value of experience.

Go with recognized brand names and avoid super-cheap speakers, and you're also likely to avoid one other complaint you often hear about Bluetooth, that its audio is noticeably inferior to other options like traditional wired speakers or AirPlay sound systems. Yes, it can be argued that Bluetooth's sound quality is technically a step down, however it has improved greatly in recent years, and the vast majority of consumers who aren't obsessive audiophiles are unlikely to notice the difference compared to wired or more expensive wireless options.