ZDNET’s key takeaways The Era 100 speaker from Sonos is a $249 smart speaker that I recommend to most people, whether they are audiophiles or not. In addition to a full, booming sound, this speaker produces crystal-clear vocals that enhance any song and has hands-free Alexa for voice control. Since the Era 100 is designed for smaller spaces, it does not support spatial audio or Dolby Atmos like its larger sibling, the Era 300. The Sonos Era 100 speaker is currently on sale for $199, which is $50 off its retail price as part of the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
When Sonos contacted me to discuss the launch of a new line of smart speakers, I was very excited. The company is known for producing excellent audio products, including the now discontinued Sonos One, which is considered one of the best smart speakers on the market. The excitement was mainly due to the fact that it had been about six years since Sonos launched the One speaker, which was still a favorite among audiophiles and smart home enthusiasts. This makes the Era 100, a direct replacement for the One, a significant product. Here are the key features you should know about and what makes the latest Sonos speaker a worthwhile upgrade.
Unboxing experience
The clean aesthetics of the Sonos packaging are very attractive. Sonos is committed to environmental sustainability, from manufacturing to packaging design. The Era 100 speaker incorporates recycled materials, and Sonos aims to switch to 100% paper packaging by 2025, so the unboxing experience felt like opening a present. However, the real star of the show is what’s inside.
The Sonos Era 100 measures 7.2 inches tall. Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The Era 100 is a sleek smart speaker, slightly larger than its predecessor, the Sonos One, and a few inches narrower than an Echo Studio. Setting it up involves connecting it to power and downloading the Sonos app, which will automatically detect the speaker nearby and guide you through the pairing process.
What’s new with the Sonos Era 100
The Era 100 features touch controls at the top of the speaker, which I found to be very intuitive. These controls can be used to adjust the volume, play, pause, skip, and replay. There’s also a Bluetooth button on the back. Yes, you read that right: The smart speaker has Bluetooth connectivity, a feature that the Sonos One did not have. Sonos speakers work best with the Sonos app, but there are some quirks that I noticed. While the audio sounds great when played through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity allows guests to play music on the speaker without downloading the Sonos app on their devices.
A closer look at the top controls on the Sonos Era 100. Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The Era 100 features voice control, which can be turned off by toggling the microphone switch on the back. While the new model supports Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control, it does not support Google Assistant like the Sonos One. Sonos has stopped supporting Google Voice on the new Era speakers, so if you’re looking for a smart speaker to complete your Google smart home ecosystem, you’re better off with the older Sonos One or a Google Nest speaker. The USB-C port on the back of the speaker is another significant upgrade on the Era 100, allowing you to connect an audio source or an ethernet cable with one of Sonos’ Line-in and Combo adapters.
How does the Era 100 sound?
The Era 100 is the best speaker of its size that I’ve ever tested. It is an improvement from the Sonos One, which was already considered the best-sounding smart speaker, and it sounds better than the improved Amazon Echo Studio, outperforming other compact smart speakers. Since the Era 100 is designed for smaller spaces, it does not support spatial audio or Dolby Atmos like its larger sibling, the Era 300. However, it is powerful enough to fill a medium-to-large-sized room successfully. Listening to music on the Era 100 gave me a similar experience to listening to music on an old car with booming bass and crystal-clear vocals.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Era 100 has set a new standard for compact, high-quality speakers. In addition to a full, booming sound, the Sonos speaker delivers crystal-clear vocals that stand out in any song. It is also extremely powerful, maintaining sound quality at full volume without rattling, even at the highest setting. Compared to other smart speakers, the $249 Sonos Era 100 is exceptional, offering superior sound quality in its price range.
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