Here at WIRED, we like Sonos audio system. We actually do. Throughout the previous decade, we’ve reviewed all the firm’s wirelessly connectable audio system, from its small shelf audio system to its TV soundbars, and we’ve beneficial each considered one of them. But turning your own home right into a Sonos-powered shrine to sound isn’t low-cost. Like Apple merchandise, Sonos audio system promote at a premium, beginning at $120 for a primary mannequin. But which of them must you purchase? Read on for our suggestions.
Updated September 2023: We’ve added our impressions of the Symfonisk Speaker Lamp (2nd Gen) and the Victrola Onyx turntable. We additionally fastened pricing and retailers.
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Best Overall Sonos Speaker
The Sonos Era 100 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) replaces the Sonos One (Gen 2) as our favourite Sonos speaker, notably for its improved sound and options. It’s the identical form and measurement because the Sonos One, and it has a equally smooth design, which implies it simply blends into most areas. The speaker now comes outfitted with a quantity slider (a reportedly highly-requested function by many customers) and a play-pause button so that you don’t need to take your telephone out everytime you need to management it. It has a USB-C enter as nicely, together with a swap on the again of the speaker to manually disable the built-in microphone for privateness.
The Era 100 has bigger woofers and angled tweeters that create actual stereo sound, together with a sooner processor that permits the speaker to obtain software program updates for longer. WIRED affiliate editor Parker Hall says the speaker sounds noticeably higher than the 2 generations of Sonos One speaker that got here earlier than it. It packs a punchier, extra outlined bass, crisp definition, and room-filling sound. There’s additionally a room-tuning function that adjusts the audio primarily based on the place you place it (however this works higher on iOS gadgets). We’re additionally pleased to see the addition of Bluetooth pairing, along with Wi-Fi, so you may stream audio with out a Sonos account and additionally pair it with a Bluetooth turntable.
If you are in search of a cheaper speaker that is additionally freed from microphones, the Sonos One SL is a strong various. You can solely management it out of your telephone or the contact buttons on it (and you do not have to fret about somebody listening in to your own home). The SL can be a great way so as to add extra satellite tv for pc audio system to your own home.
Best Speakers to Fill Out a Room
In 2022, Sonos reunited with Ikea to launch a second-generation model of its bookshelf speaker. At $130, it’s kind of pricier than its $99 predecessor, but it surely does include a couple of upgrades, together with a rise in reminiscence and a sooner processor. We have but to check this mannequin, however we did just like the first-generation model.
You can mount it proper to your wall or stand it upright on a bookshelf or desk. And if you wish to community a couple of audio system collectively for a bigger room, or linked rooms, that is the most cost effective strategy to do it. It does not immediately take audio instructions, as a result of it has no mic, so you may want a Sonos One, Sonos Era 100, Google speaker, or Alexa speaker that you may yell at if you wish to management it along with your voice. Other than that, it does all the things you’d need a Sonos to do.
Photograph: IKEA
As with the primary mannequin, the second-generation Symfonisk Speaker Lamp has nice sound, and it makes for a pleasant addition to any room. I preserve it on the media console in my house. The lamp will get brilliant sufficient to mild the lounge, and I really like utilizing the speaker to hearken to podcasts each morning. It additionally has a extra trendy and elevated look in comparison with its predecessor—with glass shades that are available in each black and white. But it is a fingerprint magnet. I’d advocate the textile shade ($240) if that’ll trouble you. My solely gripe is that it lacks a microphone, so you may’t management it utilizing voice instructions. You can, nevertheless, join it to an Amazon or Nest sensible speaker to reap the benefits of the sensible assistant help. If wall artwork is extra your fashion, Ikea gives the Symfonisk Picture Frame with a built-in Sonos Wi-Fi Speaker for $260.
Best Large Speaker
The Sonos Era 300 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has a moderately awkward and startling look (we predict it seems like a robotic’s butt), however the sound high quality makes up for it. Under the hood are six speaker drivers, 4 tweeters, and a few mid/bass drivers—all of which ship detailed, huge, and assured sound. The standout function, nevertheless, is spatial audio. With sound that spreads in all instructions and for a considerable distance with out missing definition, we predict the Era 300 surpasses the Apple HomePod by a large margin when filling rooms. It’s price noting that it helps Amazon and Apple’s spatial audio catalog, however not Tidal’s library of Dolby Atmos content material.
As with the Era 100, the Era 300 has bodily controls together with a quantity slider, play/pause, skip ahead/backward, and voice-assistant interplay (with a selection between Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control). In the again, you may discover a socket for energy, a swap to mute the mics, a USB-C auxiliary enter, and a button for Bluetooth pairing (which implies you do not have to make use of the Sonos app to manage it). If you go for the Sonos companion app, you may alter EQ, tune the audio system to your atmosphere by way of the TruePlay function, and pair different Sonos audio system collectively.
Best Portable Speaker With Bluetooth
The Sonos Roam (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the corporate’s smallest and most moveable speaker. With built-in Bluetooth connectivity (it is considered one of our favourite Bluetooth audio system), you may simply throw it right into a tote bag and play music on the go. Using the Sonos app, obtainable for Android and iPhone, you even have the power to stream from main companies like Spotify, Apple Music (with help for AirPlay 2), Tidal, and extra. And you may management the speaker by way of voice instructions utilizing Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
It might not supply audiophile-approved sound for its stature, but it surely’s nonetheless pretty spectacular. The dual-driver system, subwoofer, and tweeter work in tandem to supply a daring bass and clear highs—with zero distortion when the amount is cranked up. And with as much as 10 hours of listening, it will final you a full seaside day—and then some.
The Sonos Move is an even bigger moveable speaker with higher sound. It packs Bluetooth connectivity, 11 hours of battery life, and onboard microphones that adapt its sound to the atmosphere, plus it is waterproof. Can’t resolve between the Roam and Move? You can buy each of them for $548 at Sonos.
Best Sonos Soundbar (for Most)
As with the unique Beam (8/10, WIRED Recommends), the second-generation Beam delivers spectacular sound and has a smooth design. In phrases of upgrades, it has a sooner processor, help for Dolby Atmos (with appropriate TVs and streaming apps) for enhanced sound, and an HDMI eARC port for higher-definition audio. You’ll additionally get hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant, and it really works with Airplay 2. You can pair it with a Sonos Sub (an costly subwoofer) and two different Sonos audio system for {surround}.
Sonos tweaked the design too, including a polycarbonate grille to the entrance as a substitute of a cloth cowl as seen on the Gen 1 mannequin. That’s presupposed to make it simpler to mix in along with your inside decor. It’s $50 greater than the earlier mannequin, which is not that way more costly than the already costly soundbar. For non-Sonos alternate options, learn our Best Soundbars information.
Sonos sub speaker gen 3Photograph: Sonos
The commonplace Sonos Sub will price you $799 at Sonos. It’s very good however costly. If you’re working with a smaller house, the more cost effective Sonos Sub Mini is $430 at Best Buy. Don’t trouble shopping for {surround} audio system till you personal a Sub, although. It will make a profound distinction.
Best Small Soundbar
If you will have an house or a smaller room, or are simply getting began within the soundbar division, the Sonos Ray (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a strong choice for you. The Ray is available in a compact body, however don’t let that idiot you. The soundbar produces clear, crisp sound that simply fills your house with zooms and booms, quiet conversations, and some other moments you wouldn’t need to miss in your favourite motion pictures and reveals. Plus, with adjustable settings within the Sonos app, you may configure your preferrred listening expertise for each tune in your favourite album.
This small soundbar simply matches on leisure facilities and dressers, or you may mount it in your wall to unlock as a lot treasured house as potential.
Wanna take it to the following degree? You can pair the Ray with the aforementioned Sonos Sub Mini to spherical out the sound in your room. The Sub Mini is wi-fi (apart from an influence twine), so it connects seamlessly to your present system by way of the Sonos app.
Best for Big Home Theaters
A soundbar could make all of the distinction in a house theater, and they price lots lower than a full surround-sound setup. And for those who’re in search of one which’s actually highly effective, the Sonos Arc (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best way to go. It has full Dolby Atmos help, and in lots of rooms, it will probably bounce hold forth your partitions and ceiling nicely sufficient that it appears like you will have a {surround} setup.
With three tweeters and eight mid-woofers, it delivers deep bass and has extra steadiness and depth than the Beam. It’s additionally lots longer, stretching 45 inches, or in regards to the width of a 55-inch TV. Its design is elegant and understated within the regular Sonos means—you will not at all times discover the bar, however whenever you do, it isn’t an eyesore in any respect.