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 tend to 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.
Updates
- 04/20/2023 Sonos Era 100 reviewed
- 04/18/2023 Sonos Era 300 reviewed
- 01/19/2023 Sonos One Gen 2/One SL updated
- 01/18/2023 Sonos Roam/Roam SL updated
- 01/04/2023 Sonos One SL updated
Best Sonos Speakers
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Best Sonos Speaker
Music7.7Videos/Movies7.0Podcasts6.8Voice Assistant8.8Outdoors5.5Battery PoweredNoSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesThe 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. This speaker adds Bluetooth connectivity in addition to traditional Wi-Fi support, 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 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 a standout choice for at-home use.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Sonos Speaker
Music7.0Videos/Movies6.5Podcasts8.1Voice Assistant8.6Outdoors7.7Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesIf you want a premium Sonos speaker that's portable enough to take with you on the go, check out the Sonos Move. It's a versatile Bluetooth speaker that can please many different types of listeners. With its sleek design, it blends in with your home decor, and its built-in voice assistant support allows for hands-free control while you're catching up on chores around the house. Since it's battery-powered, you can take it to the patio, and its built-in handle makes it pretty easy to carry. Thanks to its IP56 rating for dust and water resistance, you don't have to worry too much about a little splash of water.
With support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay, it's easy to stream your favorite podcasts, audiobooks, and albums right from your phone to the speaker. The overall sound quality is good, and voices and lead instruments are clear right out of the box, with a room correction feature that's designed to optimize the speaker's output based on your room's unique acoustics. You can adjust its bass and treble in the Sonos S2 app and connect it with other devices in your Sonos ecosystem to spread your tunes across your home. However, this speaker is still a little big compared to other 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 a bit too bulky. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos like the Sonos Era 300, nor does it come with a Quick Tuning option for Android devices. Still, it's a great choice for listening both in and out of your home.
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Best Mid-Range Sonos Speaker
Music7.4Videos/Movies6.8Podcasts6.8Voice Assistant8.5Outdoors5.4Battery PoweredNoSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesIf 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 in addition to 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 connect it with a Sonos soundbar to create an immersive surround sound right 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 the room you're in, 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.
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Best Budget Sonos Speaker
Music6.3Videos/Movies6.2Podcasts7.2Voice Assistant8.5Outdoors6.6Battery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesThe Sonos Roam is the most budget-friendly option available from the manufacturer. Overall, 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 more 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, and you can customize it through bass and treble adjustments available in the S2 app. It offers access to Trueplay, too, though only through compatible iOS devices. If you purchase the SL variant, you'll get a microphone, which lets you control the speaker using built-in Alexa and Google Assistant. However, unlike the Sonos Era 100, this speaker has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. This results in a smaller, more narrow soundstage, which doesn't provide the same quality feel to the sound overall.
Compared to other brands
- Built-in voice assistants. Some Sonos speakers have built-in voice assistants, typically Alexa and Google Assistant. They also have little trouble understanding you, even if you're far away or in a noisy room.
- Well-balanced sound profile. The Sonos speakers we've tested tend to have well-balanced sound profiles, making them suitable for listening to most audio content. Many can also produce a thumpy low-bass, which will please fans of bass-heavy genres.
- Sound customization options. The Sonos S2 app is compatible with most of the Sonos speakers we've tested, and it has bass and treble sliders, letting you tweak the speaker's sound to your liking. Although it doesn't include a full graphic EQ, it has a room correction feature Sonos calls 'Trueplay' that automatically adjusts the speaker's sound profile to the room it's in. However, the full feature is currently only available with iOS devices.
- Multiple devices can be linked together. Using the Sonos S2 app, you can pair multiple Sonos speakers to amplify your audio or play it across different rooms in your house. Also, some Sonos speakers, like the Sonos One SL, can be paired with compatible soundbars to create a surround sound system.
- Some wired-only models. Some of the Sonos speakers that we've tested need to be plugged into a power source to work, so they're not very suitable for outdoor use. That said, you can find some other models that are battery-powered if you prefer.
- Often no Bluetooth compatibility. Older Sonos speakers are wired and designed to be used at home, meaning they can't stream audio over Bluetooth. Fortunately, Sonos speakers tend to be Wi-Fi compatible, and you can stream audio using Apple AirPlay. Plus, some newer models have added Bluetooth connectivity.
- Downmixes stereo content into mono. In general, the Sonos speakers we've tested have to downmix stereo content into mono when using them on their own, which results in a soundstage that isn't as immersive-sounding. However, you can often pair them with another compatible speaker to create a stereo pair.
Sonos vs Bose
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. Bose speakers aren't as limited to iOS support, though, and even their older models support Bluetooth, unlike Sonos.
Sonos vs Apple
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. Apple speakers aren't as customizable as Sonos, though, 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.
Lineup
Compared to other speaker manufacturers, Sonos keeps only a few models on the market at a time. 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.
- Era lineup: Wired home speakers with built-in voice assistant support released in 2022.
- One lineup: Similar to the Era lineup, these wired home speakers with built-in voice assistant support were released in 2019. They lack Bluetooth connectivity compared to the Era speakers, though.
- Move lineup: Portable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible speaker with built-in voice assistant support.
- Roam lineup: Another portable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible speaker available at a budget-friendly price.
Recent Updates
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Apr 20, 2023: Restructured article to include the Sonos Era 100 and the Sonos Era 300.
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Dec 21, 2022: No changes in product picks after verifying their accuracy and availability.
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Sep 22, 2022: Added the Sonos One Gen 2 as the 'Best Mid-Range Sonos Speaker' and recategorized picks to better meet user needs.
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May 27, 2022: The text was updated for consistency and accuracy. No changes were made in product picks.
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Jan 27, 2022: Verified picks for availability, and updated text for clarity.
Conclusion
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. Some 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.