Sonos has unveiled two new speakers as part of its Era series for the next generation. The new series consists of two models: the Era 100 and the Era 300. They will go on sale on March 28th.
The Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is a direct replacement for the Sonos One. The Sonos One and Sonos One SL will be phased out, but both models will continue to be sold while supplies last. A Sonos spokesperson confirmed that the Sonos One will continue to receive support in the future.
The Sonos Era 300 speaker is unlike any other speaker in the Sonos lineup. It is the first Sonos speaker model specifically designed for spatial audio music content, and when used as the rear surround speakers in a Sonos home theater setup, it can support Dolby Atmos soundtracks.
Both models appear to have feature sets that rival some of the best smart speakers on the market, including the new Apple HomePod 2, and both are destined to become essential speaker components in many next-generation Sonos setups.
In this Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300 comparison, I’ll compare both speakers side by side to help you decide which Sonos Era model is best for you.
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: Price and availability
When it goes on sale on March 28, the Sonos Era 100 will cost $249 / £249 / AU$399. In comparison, the Sonos One costs $219, while the Sonos One SL (which lacks smart speaker functionality) costs $199.
The Sonos Era 300 will cost $449 / £449 / AU$749 when it is released on March 28. In comparison, the Era 300 is priced directly beneath the current flagship Sonos Five ($549) premium speaker.
Both Era speakers are available for preorder on the Sonos website (opens in new tab) today (March 7) in black or white.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Sonos Era 100 | Sonos Era 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 / £249 / AU$399 | $449 / £449 / AU$749 |
| Speakers | 2x tweeters, 1x woofer | 4x tweeters, 2x woofers |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| Smart assistants | Alexa, Sonos | Alexa, Sonos |
| Wireless | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2 | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2 |
| Size | 7.2 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches | 6.30 x 10.24 x 7.28 inches |
| Weight | 4.44 pounds (2.2kg) | 9.85 pounds (4.47kg) |
see also; Apple HomePod 2 — Everything We Know So Far
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: Design
The Era 100 looks similar to the previous Sonos One, but has a more rounded design and is slightly larger. The Era 100 is 7.2 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches in size and weighs 4.4 pounds (around 2kg).
The new models include new touch controls, and a small groove running through the middle allows you to slide your finger up and down to adjust the volume. You can also achieve the same effect by tapping on either side. The play/pause, reverse, and forward buttons are located near the front of the top of the Era 100.
The Sonos Era 300’s design is the more interesting form factor of the new Era series. The hourglass shape is for acoustics, allowing sounds from the multiple speakers to freely radiate; this results in a speaker cabinet with an elegant waistline. When paired with a Sonos Arc soundbar playing Dolby Atmos content in a home theater setup, the unusual cabinet shape maximizes spatial audio music content while also unlocking a 7.1.4 sound experience.
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: Audio capabilities
Internally, the Era 100 has two tweeters angled left and right, as well as a 25 percent larger woofer driver than the Sonos One. This new driver configuration allows stereo sound from a single speaker unit with 270 degrees of dispersion (though you can pair two Era 100s together for an even larger stereo soundstage), while the larger woofer driver aims to improve bass performance.
einsteineruploading up to get together with. The directional musical elements are handled by four midrange/tweeters, while two woofers maximize low-end output and are angled left and right to support stereo playback. The directional horn aids bass output, and the upward-firing tweeter reflects sound off the ceiling when playing Dolby Atmos content.
Trueplay and adjustable EQ are now available on both Era models, and the functionality is now available on iOS and Android devices. Trueplay on an Android device makes use of microphones built into the Era 100 speaker. Users with an iOS device can also use this method (referred to as Quick Tuning in the Sonos app) or the traditional method (referred to as Advanced Tuning), which requires you to move around the room and uses the microphones in your iPhone or iPad.
see also; Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th gen, 2022) Review
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: Connectivity and smart home features
Both Era speakers are Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth capable. They also support AirPlay 2 on Apple devices running iOS 11.4 or later. However, instead of an Ethernet port, the Eras have a USB-C port on the back. To make it compatible with line-level turntables, Sonos will sell adapters that provide an Ethernet connection as well as a line-in. A USB-C Line-In Adapter costs $19.99, while a Combo Adapter with Ethernet and 3.5mm line-in connectivity costs $39.99.
Alexa and Sonos Voice Control both have AI support. There is currently no support for Google Assistant, but this may be added later via a firmware update. Both models have a switch on the back that allows users to turn off the microphone.
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: Which model is right for you?
I’ll need to spend some time getting to know the Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 speakers before I can tell you definitively how each model performs and sounds. I was impressed by the advances these next-generation models bring with increased versatility for all types of wireless and wired connectivity during my brief hands-on with each.
If you already own a Sonos One (one of the best smart speakers), there’s probably no need to upgrade to the Era 100 just yet; however, I’m sure it would make an excellent addition to an existing Sonos ecosystem.
The Sonos Era 300, on the other hand, appears to be in a different league entirely, focusing on the potential for a more immersive audio experience via spatial audio music content and Dolby Atmos.
