I personally would run two speakers as stereo via Airplay WiFi networking. But you can do one if that's all you want. Two sound much better and stereo is better than mono for most people, yes? Once you set these up as Stereo via the VIBE app, they stream in TRUE STEREO,
You need iOS so you can use Airplay (so your iPad works), and you need a WiFi NETWORK or the whole concept is defeated and you might as well use Bluetooth to one speaker. These speakers can do WiFi or Bluetooth.
You will need to download the VARO App and set TWO speakers up as Stereo if you want that. Otherwise, You can just connect to one speaker and do mono with one speaker, but TWO speakers give you true stereo once you set them up as stereo with the VARO app. Two Vibe speakers in stereo streaming sound amazing.
$19.95 is a steal for the Vibe speakers. I just ordered another pair because I had to for this bargain basement price. That's like 85 percent off retail. The Vibe are larger than the Sidekick. I travel with the Sidekick speakers. The vibe are going to be twice the size or more, but they sound a lot better (far more bass) than the Sidekick Varo speakers I travel with. The Vibe are more for the home, not necessarily for travel, but if you can pack them, then they are superior to the Sidekicks. The Sidekicks are smaller and thinner and fit in my backpack easily. I tend to travel light with a carry-on under seat bag and a backpack. So the Vibe would be too large for me, but if you can travel with them, they sound amazing and better than the Sidekicks. The only thing is the Sidekicks are water resistant, so you can use them outdoors. But for the money, you are better off with the Vibe since now they are the same blowout price. Plus, you may like the Vibe enough to use them at home somewhere when you are not traveling, and then you will be glad you have two so you can set them up for stereo Airplay in your home somewhere.
iOS Airplay to speakers like these sound fantastic compared to Bluetooth portable speakers. It's two different concepts. Unlike Bluetooth speakers, these speakers are basically for WiFi streaming (lossless) from your iPad or iPhone through a WiFi network to the speakers via Airplay, just like you would do with the popular Sonos speaker systems. You connect the speakers to the network via the VARO App, and then you stream to them via Airplay on your iPad/iPhone. The key is you need a WiFi Network to make them work correctly as I'm describing. You have to connect the speakers to the network first, then set them up as stereo via the VARO app that you can download via the Apple App store. Then play music and choose Airplay streaming to them via the Airplay selection on your iPad.