Sonos Era 100

Big, open sound ; Crisp and clear detail ; Engaging, pleasing way with rhythm, timing and tonal balance ; Vast streaming features; Bluetooth addition ; Excellent, easy to use app

Rival Apple HomePod 2 is more natural with voices ; Adapter for wired connection is an extra cost

The Era 100 packs in an astonishing amount of streaming and playback features alongside an enjoyable sound that’s bigger, more detailed and more open than before. What’s not to like?

Improved sound (now in stereo) ; Bluetooth and line-in support ; Privacy-conscious microphone controls

No more Google Assistant ; Rejiggered controls have a learning curve ; Line-in requires USB-C dongle

Even if it can’t go head-to-head with the $299 HomePod in audio fidelity — Apple’s speaker takes that victory — it’s far more flexible in how you can listen to music. You’ll get plenty of enjoyment out of the Era 100 on day one, which isn’t as easy to...

Balanced stereo sound ; Excellent companion app with room analysis and adjustable EQ ; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity ; Alexa and Sonos voice control ; Supports most major music streaming services

No Dolby Atmos, Google Assistant, or Google Cast ; Underwhelming sub-bass

The Era 100 is a worthy starting point in the company's lineup thanks to powerful stereo audio, easy integration with other Sonos speakers, and an excellent app experience.

Excellent detail and clarity ; Much improved bass over Sonos One ; 3.5mm line-in option and Bluetooth

Bass can be heavy-handed at times ; Less audio improvement over Sonos One than expected ; Higher price

The Sonos Era 100 is nearly the ideal small and flexible speaker. It offers wide dispersion of sound, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, a line-in option, support for tons of streaming services, voice control, and it goes as loud as you could need it to. But it's...

Broader soundstage and more bass than Sonos One ; Bluetooth and 3.5mm line-in support ; Greener to run and easier to recycle/repair

More expensive than Sonos One ; No Google Assistant at launch

Improved sound quality ; Brilliant smart speaker ; Bluetooth a bonus

Echo Studio is a formidable rival ; No Google Assistant ; Adapters needed for cable connection

The most classy smart speaker you can get for the price – and it’s even better than the Sonos One.

Honest, full bodied, stress-free sound ; Unusually well carved bass, natural-sounding mids, and whistle-clean highs ; A great smart speaker with either Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice ; No one does multi-room audio better than Sonos ; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi...

You might need two to fill your listening space ; Lacks the channel preset buttons found on some competing speakers ; Optional accessory required to get line-level input and/or hardwired ethernet connectivity ; There’s no non-smart, otherwise...

The Sonos Era 100 is the best-sounding compact streaming smart speaker we’ve encountered; by itself, as a stereo pair, or performing as the rear surround channels with a Sonos soundbar.

Improved sound quality ; Brilliant smart speaker ; Bluetooth a bonus

Echo Studio is a formidable rival ; No Google Assistant ; Adapters needed for cable connection

The most classy smart speaker you can get for the price – and it’s even better than the Sonos One.