We've currently tested ten 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 complete with dedicated subwoofers. Sonos speakers have many different features, like app support for most models, 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
- 06/20/2024 Sonos Roam 2 reviewed
- 04/12/2024 Sonos Era 300 updated
- 04/12/2024 Sonos Era 100 updated
- 01/17/2024 Sonos Roam/Roam SL updated
- 12/21/2023 Sonos Five updated
Best Sonos Speakers
-
Best Sonos Speaker
MusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoorsBattery 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. 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.
-
Best Mid-Range Sonos Speaker
MusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoorsBattery 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 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 Roam 2, it supports stereo content, too, resulting in a wider sound with better instrument separation. Overall, this speaker is a great value pick.
-
Best Budget Sonos Speaker
MusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoorsBattery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesThe Sonos Roam 2 is the most budget-friendly option available from the manufacturer. While the differences between this speaker and the original Sonos Roam/Roam SL are slight, it's still a solid pick if you're looking for a smart speaker that won't break the bank. It performs well for the price and offers access to many of the same features as the manufacturer's more premium models. For example, there are bass and treble adjustments for its sound and the Trueplay room correction feature if you plan on moving it into different spaces. Built-in voice assistant support is also available for hands-free control, although they've phased out Google Assistant support in favor of Alexa and Sonos voice assistants. Thankfully, this iteration gives you separate Bluetooth and power buttons for ease of use.
Available in several colors, this speaker is small, fits in a backpack, and has a more lightweight build than the premium options listed here. 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 2. Although it can get a bit louder than the previous model, its sound quality still isn't on par with the Move 2, as it has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. Still, you may find it worth it if you prefer a smaller and cheaper speaker.
-
Best Portable Sonos Speaker
MusicVideos/MoviesPodcastsVoice AssistantOutdoorsBattery PoweredYesSpeakerphoneNoVoice AssistantYesBluetoothYesWi-FiYesLove listening to music on the go? The Sonos Move 2 is a great option as it's one of their best portable speakers. This speaker packs lots of premium features into a lightweight design, so you can rock out in different rooms of your house or take the party out to the backyard. Built-in Alexa gives you hands-free control, and the IP56 rating for dust and water resistance helps protect it against the elements. Since it's battery-powered, you don't need to worry about plugging it into an outlet to use it, which gives you even more flexibility than the similarly-priced Sonos Era 300. You can even replace the battery if needed to extend the life of your investment.
This speaker is larger and heavier than the Sonos Roam 2, which may not be ideal for everyone. That said, the added heft makes a difference in the sound. Notably, it gets louder than the Roam 2 and can reproduce more thump and rumble in the low bass. As a result, it's much more suitable for bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. It also plays stereo sound, and its Auto Trueplay feature optimizes sound based on your room. If you want a high-end portable device or just a single speaker for at-home and portable use, this speaker is worth a look.
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. 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. You can also use the app to control multiple Sonos speakers simultaneously. 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. Some Sonos speakers, like the Sonos One SL, can also be paired with compatible soundbars to create a surround sound system.
-
Some wired-only models.
Some Sonos speakers we've tested need to be plugged into a power source to work, so they're unsuitable for outdoor use. That said, you can find some other battery-powered models if you prefer. -
Often no Bluetooth compatibility.
Older Sonos speakers are wired and designed for use 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 used alone, resulting 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. However, unlike Sonos, Bose speakers aren't as limited to iOS support, and even their older models support Bluetooth.
Sonos vs Apple
Apple speakers are designed for home use, so you won't find 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, which is helpful if you want to integrate a vinyl record player into your setup.
Lineup
Compared to other speaker manufacturers, Sonos offers 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. However, unlike the Era speakers, they lack Bluetooth connectivity.
- 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
-
Jul 02, 2024: We've replaced the Sonos Roam/Roam SL with the Sonos Roam 2 as our best budget pick due to small improvements in the controls and slightly better dynamics performance. Otherwise, we've only made minor changes to the text to improve accuracy.
-
Apr 04, 2024: This article has been checked for accuracy with no changes to the picks, and only minor text edits.
-
Jan 10, 2024: We've replaced the Sonos Move with the next-generation Sonos Move 2 as 'Best Portable'.
-
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.
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. 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.