$350 – $450
Premium spatial audio speaker with Dolby Atmos, six drivers, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and AirPlay 2.
You want Bluetooth plus premium WiFi streaming
First Sonos speaker with both Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6 for flexible connectivity
You want room-filling immersive sound from a single speaker
6 drivers with upward-firing tweeter deliver 3D sound that fills the room, not just volume
You want premium surround speakers for Sonos Arc
Era 300s as rear speakers create an exceptional 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos home theater experience
You subscribe to Apple Music or Amazon Music Unlimited
These are the only services with Dolby Atmos support - the Era 300 excels with spatial audio tracks
You primarily use Spotify
Spotify does not support Dolby Atmos - you will not experience the Era 300 full capabilities
You need Google Assistant
Google Assistant and Chromecast are not supported - only Alexa and Sonos Voice Control
You have limited placement options
Unique shape requires specific positioning - cannot be wall-mounted or placed in any orientation
You want easy toggle between stereo pair and surrounds
Switching between configurations loses Trueplay tuning each time - no quick toggle option
Speakers disconnect from Arc surrounds frequently, showing as disconnected in app even with connected status lights
Sonos CommunityBluetooth pairing with iPhones often fails - requires multiple attempts or does not pair at all
Customer reviewsMicrophone issues can cause rapid on-off cycling leading to disconnections - fixed by toggling mute button
RedditDolby Atmos is not supported over AirPlay 2 - spatial audio only works through Sonos app with Amazon or Apple Music
Sonos SupportDolby Atmos limited to only Apple Music and Amazon Music
widespreadCause: Spotify and other services do not support spatial audio through Sonos - major limitation for $449 speaker
Sonos app frequently disconnects from Apple Music account
commonCause: App stability issues after 2024 update cause playback failures and account disconnections
Line-in and Ethernet require expensive adapters ($19/$39)
widespreadCause: Cost-cutting decision to lock basic connectivity behind additional purchases
Spatial audio quality inconsistent across albums
commonCause: Some Dolby Atmos mixes feel overengineered or all-consuming rather than natural
Setting up on guest network or with range extenders
Setup fails completely - Era 300 requires direct connection to main network
Tip: Use your primary home WiFi network. If issues persist, set fixed channels for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
Expecting Dolby Atmos over Bluetooth or AirPlay
Spatial audio only works over WiFi through Sonos app - Bluetooth/AirPlay deliver standard audio
Tip: Use the Sonos app with Apple Music or Amazon Music integration for true Dolby Atmos playback.
Placing speaker against wall or in corner
Spatial audio cannot properly reflect off ceiling and walls - immersive effect is lost
Tip: Position with space around and above the speaker. Upward-firing tweeter needs clearance for proper Atmos effect.
Streaming services, Dolby Atmos playback, voice control, initial setup, grouping speakers
Bluetooth streaming (after setup), line-in audio with adapter, local library playback through local network
Sonos Voice Control processes all requests on-device - no recordings retained. Location tracking required during setup.
Physical security switch disconnects all power to microphone. Separate voice services button for convenience. Mozilla Foundation has flagged Sonos for privacy concerns.
Tested with up to 32 devices
Pair of Era 300s with Arc creates best Sonos 7.1.4 Atmos system. Single speaker fills large rooms effectively. Stereo pair creates exceptional soundstage.
Cannot use same Era 300s as both stereo pair and surrounds simultaneously. Switching configurations loses Trueplay tuning. Does not support SonosNet wireless mesh.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
If: Need better value with Siri and HomeKit
Amazon Echo Studio
If: Want Dolby Atmos on a budget
Sonos Era 100 (pair)
If: Do not need Dolby Atmos
You have Apple Music with Dolby Atmos tracks
The spatial audio experience is genuinely impressive and the Era 300 is one of the best ways to experience it
You primarily use Spotify
Without Dolby Atmos support in Spotify, you are paying $449 for a speaker that cannot showcase its main feature
You want rear surrounds for Sonos Arc
The Era 300s as surrounds create exceptional Atmos home theater - worth the $900 investment for the pair
You want a single premium speaker for music
Excellent sound quality, but $449 is steep unless you regularly listen to Dolby Atmos content
No. Google Assistant and Chromecast were removed from Era series. Only Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control are available for voice commands.
Source: SonosNot built-in. Ethernet requires the Sonos Combo Adapter ($39) and line-in requires the Sonos Line-In Adapter ($19). Both connect via USB-C.
Source: SonosNot simultaneously. You must choose one configuration. Switching between stereo pair and surrounds requires reconfiguration in the app and loses Trueplay tuning each time.
Source: Sonos CommunityNo. Dolby Atmos is only supported over WiFi through the Sonos app. Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 connections deliver standard stereo audio, not spatial audio.
Source: SonosCurrently only Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited support Dolby Atmos through the Sonos app. Spotify and other services do not support spatial audio on Era 300.
Source: Sonos