The Sonos One Gen 2/One SL is the second generation of the Sonos One. It's a wired speaker with a sleek design that's easy to integrate into your existing home decor, and it's a great addition to your existing Sonos ecosystem. You can use it on its own or as a surround speaker with Sonos soundbars like the Sonos Arc. Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant support allow for hands-free control unless you purchase the SL variant, which comes without a microphone.
Our Verdict
The Sonos One SL is alright for music. Like other premium speakers on the market, you can adjust its output based on your room's unique acoustics using its Trueplay room correction feature. It's only available on iOS devices, but Android users can still use the Sonos S2 app to adjust the speaker's bass and treble to get the best possible sound. Voices and lead instruments are clear and detailed in the mix, and as a result, this speaker is suitable for listening to many different music genres.
- Bass and treble sliders via companion app.
- Decent directivity.
- Not loud enough for larger and more open spaces.
- Downmixes stereo content into mono.
The Sonos One SL is compatible with many other Sonos devices, including some of their most popular soundbars. That said, on its own, it doesn't give the most cinematic experience, but this is typical for a small standalone speaker. Thanks to its low latency over Apple AirPlay, you don't notice any lip-synching issues with your favorite videos. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, too, and there's a touch of rumble in the bass for action-heavy scenes.
- Bass and treble sliders via companion app.
- Can be connected to Sonos soundbars as surround speakers.
- Not loud enough for larger and more open spaces.
- Downmixes stereo content into mono.
- No audio streaming via Bluetooth.
The Sonos One Gen 2 is fair for podcasts. Dialogue is clear and detailed in the mix right from the jump, meaning you can easily follow along with your favorite shows. The speaker gets loud enough to fill an average-sized living room with sound, and if you own other Sonos devices, you can connect them to this speaker to spread your show throughout different rooms of your home. However, given its wired design, you can't take the speaker with you around the house, which isn't the most convenient.
- Decent directivity.
- Not loud enough for larger and more open spaces.
The Sonos One Gen 2 has good voice assistant support. It has both Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, meaning you can activate them hands-free with only your voice. The speaker hears your commands clearly, even if you're far away, so you can easily add ingredients to your grocery list, check the weather, and perform other daily functions. That said, it does have difficulty picking up your voice in noisier settings, like parties. Of course, this feature isn't available if you buy the SL variant since this version lacks a microphone.
- Supports Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Decent directivity.
- Not loud enough for larger and more open spaces.
The Sonos One Gen 2 is a wired-only speaker that isn't designed for outdoor use.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 26, 2024: We've merged the Sonos One Gen 2 review with the Sonos One SL since they're variants on the same speaker. The SL version comes without a microphone, so we've updated the text in the Controls and Voice Assistant boxes accordingly. Usage scores haven't changed, but we've refreshed the text to elaborate on these variants' differences.
- Updated Apr 18, 2023: Added market comparison for the Sonos Era 300 in the Soundstage box.
- Updated Jan 19, 2023: Minor updates to the text for clarity and consistency. No changes in test results.
- Updated Oct 21, 2022: Added a comparison to the IKEA SYMFONISK Picture frame in the 'Style' box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The speaker comes in two color variants: 'Black' and 'White'. We tested the White variant, and you can see its label here. However, we expect the Black variant to perform similarly to our model. We also tested the second generation of this speaker. Sonos advertises that the difference between this generation and the previous one is that they've increased the memory, added Bluetooth Low Energy for first-time pairing with the speaker, and added a more powerful and updated processor. That said, no features have changed.
The Sonos One SL is the same speaker without a microphone, so it lacks voice assistant support. You can still use the Trueplay turning feature with this variant.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Sonos One Gen 2 is the second generation of the Sonos One. Unlike the Sonos Move or Sonos Five, you can add it to an existing Sonos soundbar setup if you want surround speakers, or you can use it on its own. While it has a boomy sound profile, you can adjust it using its companion app's bass and treble sliders. You can also only use this speaker wired; while you can't stream audio to it using Bluetooth, it has an Ethernet port, meaning you can connect it to your home network. You can opt for the SL variant if you aren't interested in voice assistant support.
Check out our recommendations for the best portable Bluetooth speakers, the best smart speakers, and the best Sonos speakers.
The Sonos Era 100 is better than the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL. While they're both premium speakers designed for home use, the Era 100 has slightly better sound quality. The bass doesn't leak into the mids quite as much, resulting in a cleaner sound. But both speakers have a healthy boost in the high-bass region, adding warmth to basslines. Plus, unlike the One Gen 2, the Era 100 can playback stereo content without downmixing it into mono. Additional features are available, including Bluetooth connectivity and a Quick Tuning feature for Android users.
The Sonos Era 300 is better than the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL. The Era 300 is a newer release that offers more premium features, including Bluetooth connectivity and Dolby Atmos capabilities. It's especially handy for those who want to listen to compatible Dolby Atmos Music or even pair up the speaker with a compatible soundbar to watch Dolby Atmos content. It's a stereo speaker, unlike the One Gen 2, which downmixes stereo content into mono to play it. Plus, the Era 300 gets louder.
The Sonos Move is a better speaker than the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL overall. The Move is battery-powered and has a handle built into it, making it more portable. It's rated IP56 for dust and water resistance, so you can take it outdoors without needing to worry about it getting a bit wet. It can produce a more extended low bass than the One Gen 2 and can get louder.
The Amazon Echo Gen 2 is better than the Sonos One Gen 2/One SL. The Amazon is a Bluetooth speaker that can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a more immersive soundstage. It also comes with Alexa built-in and does an excellent job of understanding your commands from far away and in noisier settings. The Sonos comes with Alexa and Google Assistant, though it struggles to register your commands in noisier environments. While you can't use Bluetooth or Chromecast to stream your audio to the speaker, it supports Apple AirPlay.
Test Results
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