We've currently tested eight Sonos speakers. Sonos is an American brand that manufactures home audio products, primarily soundbars and speakers. Some of their speakers are compatible with their soundbars to make a surround sound setup. Sonos speakers have many different features, so you can find one that best suits your needs. Many Sonos speakers have a wired design, making them most suitable for home use.
The best Sonos speaker that we've tested is the Sonos Era 300. Released in 2022, this sleek home speaker offers a wide array of features to make the most of your listening experience. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support make it easy to stream content to the speaker over a wireless connection, and built-in Alexa gives you hands-free control. It's also one of the only speakers we've tested to support Dolby Atmos, which is handy if you want to listen to Dolby Atmos Music through a compatible music streaming service like Apple Music. Pair it with other Sonos speakers to spread audio throughout your home, or add it with a soundbar to create a more immersive surround sound setup.
As with most premium speakers on the market, this device has a room correction tool that's designed to adjust its output based on your room's unique acoustics. The full Trueplay feature is only available on iOS, but for now, Android users can use a paired-down alternative called Quick Tuning. This feature only uses the microphones built into the speaker, and it doesn't take advantage of the microphones in your smartphone like the full offering, but it's still a good alternative. Bass and treble adjustments in the Sonos S2 app let you manually adjust the speaker's output, too. Of course, it's wired-only, so it's not meant to bring your music with you on the go—but it's still a standout choice for at-home use.
The Sonos Move is another speaker with great sound quality available at a slightly more affordable price. This versatile Bluetooth speaker is designed to make the most of your favorite tunes both in and out of your home. With a sleek design, it blends right into your living room decor, and its built-in voice assistant support makes it easy to control it with your voice while you catch up on chores. Since it's battery-powered, you can also unplug it to listen out in your backyard. The built-in handle makes it easy to transport, and it's rated IP56 for dust and water resistance to protect it from the elements. We plan to test the next-generation Sonos Move 2 as well, and we'll update this article as soon as we do.
This speaker's sound quality is also impressive, making it suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. Its room correction tool, called Auto TruePlay, is built into the speaker itself. As its name implies, it automatically adjusts the sound to your room's acoustics, so both Android and iOS users can take advantage of it. You can also change its bass and treble in the S2 app and pair it up with other devices in your Sonos ecosystem. Still, this speaker is a little big compared to other portable models on the market, so if you're looking for something to bring on a hike or out to the park, you might find it too bulky. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos like the Sonos Era 300, either. That said, it's still a great choice for listening both in and out of your home.
If you want a more affordable option, check out the Sonos Era 100. Also released in 2022, this sleek home speaker is a smaller and more affordable alternative to its larger cousin, with many of the same cool features on hand. Like the Sonos Era 300, it supports Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi, and its built-in Alexa capabilities let you control the device using only your voice. Through the Sonos S2 app, you can pair it with other compatible devices from the manufacturer to spread sound throughout multiple rooms in your home. You can also connect it with a Sonos soundbar to create an immersive surround sound in your living room.
This speaker doesn't support Dolby Atmos, but if you prefer to listen to music that's mixed in stereo, it's not a huge deal. Since it supports Trueplay, you can adjust its output based on your room, and the less stringent Quick Tuning alternative is still available for Android users. For the price, it still offers good sound quality, making it suitable for many different types of audio content. Unlike the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL, it supports stereo content, too, resulting in a wider sound with better instrument separation. Overall, this speaker is a great value pick.
The Sonos Roam is the most budget-friendly option available from the manufacturer. It's a solid pick if you're looking for a speaker that won't break the bank, especially if you want something to take with you on the go. Available in several colors, this speaker has a smaller and more lightweight build than the premium options on the list. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it can withstand some exposure to elements. With a battery life of only five hours, though, it doesn't last as long off a single charge as more premium options like the Sonos Move.
Still, this speaker performs well for the price and offers access to many of the same features as the manufacturer's more premium models. It has great sound quality with many of the same customization tools as its more premium cousins, including Trueplay and bass and treble adjustments. Built-in voice assistant support is on hand for hands-free control, and you can even opt for the SL variant if you prefer a version without a microphone. That said, unlike the Sonos Era 100, this speaker has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. You can always buy a second stereo pairing unit if you want.
Both manufacturers focus on producing premium, high-end products for in and out of the home. With smart features like built-in voice assistants, their speakers are designed for easy integration with existing products in their respective ecosystems. However, Bose speakers aren't as limited to iOS support, and even their older models support Bluetooth, unlike Sonos.
Apple has a small lineup of smart speakers designed for home use, so you won't find any portable Bluetooth options like with Sonos. Still, both speaker manufacturers release products with stand-out voice assistant performances, and depending on whether you prefer Alexa or Siri, you may opt for one over the other. However, Apple speakers aren't as customizable as Sonos, as they don't offer bass or treble adjustments.
Overall, Sonos makes speakers with well-balanced sound profiles suitable for home use. Some are even compatible with certain Sonos soundbars, letting you create a surround sound system. Many of their speakers have built-in voice assistants, like Alexa and Google Assistant. They're typically compatible with the Sonos S2 app, which has customization features like a room correction Sonos calls 'Trueplay' and bass and treble sliders. However, the full Trueplay feature is currently only available with iOS devices, which may disappoint some users. Some Sonos speakers don't support Bluetooth, so you may have to stream audio over Apple AirPlay or an AUX port.
Sonos keeps only a few models on the market at a time compared to other speaker manufacturers. Their naming conventions reveal a bit about their products' intended use. As with many other speakers, the higher the number, the more features you'll find.
Oct 12, 2023: Product picks remain the same after verifying their accuracy and availability.
Jul 18, 2023: We haven't tested any new Sonos speakers since the last update. Some minor updates to the text.
Apr 20, 2023: Restructured article to include the Sonos Era 100 and the Sonos Era 300.
Dec 21, 2022: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability.
Sep 22, 2022: Added the Sonos One Gen 2 as the 'Best Mid-Range Sonos Speaker' and recategorized picks to better meet user needs.
Sonos offers a variety of speakers that are suitable for different uses. Generally, they have well-balanced sound profiles, and some can even produce a thumpy low-bass. The best Sonos speakers have built-in voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, making them suitable for home use. However, many have a wired-only design, so they're hard to use outside.