$149 – $249
Premium compact smart speaker with dual tweeters for stereo sound, Alexa, and AirPlay 2 support.
You need surround speakers for Sonos soundbar
Works as rear surrounds with Arc, Beam, or Ray soundbars for home theater setup
You are upgrading from Sonos One
25% larger mid-woofer and dual tweeters deliver noticeably better stereo sound and deeper bass
You want to connect a turntable or external audio
USB-C line-in port allows direct connection to turntables or computers (adapter required)
You want Bluetooth connectivity with Sonos ecosystem
First Sonos bookshelf speaker with Bluetooth 5.3, plus WiFi 6 and AirPlay 2 for flexible streaming
You rely on Google Assistant for smart home
Google Assistant support has been removed - only Alexa and Sonos Voice Control available
You need wired Ethernet connection
No built-in Ethernet port - requires $39 adapter for wired connection
You have legacy Sonos speakers on SonosNet
Era 100 does not support SonosNet wireless mesh, only direct WiFi connection
You want to use stereo pair as surrounds simultaneously
Cannot function as both stereo pair and surround speakers at the same time
Frequent WiFi disconnections requiring router channel changes or static IP assignment to fix
Sonos CommunityLeft speaker in stereo pair intermittently outputs no audio for a few seconds
Sonos CommunityApp connects only about 1 in 10 attempts for some users due to persistent software bugs
Sonos CommunityAirPlay from Windows iTunes does not work - only iPhone, iPad, and Mac AirPlay functions properly
Sonos SupportBass is weak and boomy, requiring +10 EQ adjustment
commonCause: Less refined bass tuning than previous Sonos speakers, despite larger woofer
Ethernet port removed, now requires $39 adapter
widespreadCause: Cost-cutting design decision that frustrates users with wired home networks
Google Assistant support dropped entirely
widespreadCause: Sonos decision to simplify voice assistant options, affecting Google Home users
Speaker drops out of network and groups inconsistently
commonCause: WiFi connectivity issues, especially after router changes or with Sky Q boxes in UK
Attempting setup on 5GHz WiFi only
Initial setup requires 2.4GHz band - may fail on 5GHz-only configuration
Tip: Ensure 2.4GHz band is enabled on router. Temporarily pause 5GHz network during setup if having issues.
Using VPN or firewall during setup
App cannot detect speaker and setup fails
Tip: Disable VPN, firewall, and "low data mode" on your phone before starting setup
Expecting Bluetooth to work without WiFi setup first
Bluetooth cannot be used until speaker is configured on WiFi network
Tip: Complete full WiFi setup first, then Bluetooth streaming becomes available
Streaming services, voice control, initial setup and registration, stereo pairing
Line-in audio playback with Autoplay enabled, Bluetooth streaming (after initial setup), local library playback
Sonos collects "additional usage data." Sonos Voice Control processes requests on-device and does not retain recordings.
Mozilla Foundation moved Sonos from "Best Of" to privacy danger zone. Physical security switch disconnects microphone power. Privacy Tap feature to disable voice assistant.
Tested with up to 32 devices
Stereo pair recommended for larger rooms. Place 8-10 feet apart with listening position 8-12 feet away. Uses WiFi 6 for improved multi-device performance.
Only same-model speakers can be stereo paired. Cannot use stereo pair as surrounds - must choose one configuration. Does not support SonosNet wireless mesh.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
If: Need better Siri and Apple ecosystem integration
Sonos Era 300
If: Want Dolby Atmos spatial audio
Sonos One (Gen 2)
If: Need Google Assistant support or lower price
You are already in the Sonos ecosystem
Seamless integration, better sound than Sonos One, and new Bluetooth option makes it a worthy upgrade
You rely heavily on Google Assistant
Google Assistant has been removed - stick with Sonos One while available or choose another brand
You want to connect a turntable
USB-C line-in is a major new feature not available on smaller Sonos speakers before
Price is your primary concern
At $249, the $50 increase over Sonos One is hard to justify unless you need Bluetooth or line-in
Partially. After initial setup, Bluetooth streaming and line-in audio work without internet. However, stereo pairing requires WiFi, and the speaker needs a network to boot properly.
Source: Sonos CommunityNo, the built-in Ethernet port was removed. You need to purchase the Sonos Combo Adapter ($39) which provides both Ethernet and 3.5mm line-in connections.
Source: SonosYes, via AirPlay 2. Add the speaker to Apple Home app and use Siri to control playback (currently limited to Apple Music). Basic HomeKit scene support is available.
Source: Sonos CommunityNo, Google Assistant support was removed from the Era 100. Only Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control are available. If you need Google Assistant, the older Sonos One still supports it.
Source: SonosYes, the Era 100 is the first Sonos bookshelf speaker with Bluetooth 5.3. However, WiFi setup must be completed first before Bluetooth streaming works.
Source: Sonos