Your full information to Sonos multi-room wi-fi audio system

Sonos is legendary for its wi-fi multi-room audio system however it may be onerous to know which one is finest for you when there are such a lot of totally different fashions to select from. We clarify all the things it’s good to learn about Sonos and evaluate the audio system that will help you select the very best one in your wants.

Based again in 2002 in California, Sonos has been setting the bar and main the best way within the multi-room speaker market for a very long time. Designed to be straightforward to make use of, trendy and sound nice, there’s little to not like in regards to the Sonos vary of audio system (and headphones is perhaps on the best way, too).

Sonos has additionally been exploring the Bluetooth route with the Transfer and far smaller Roam. These provide the advantage of the same old multi-room expertise however can be taken out into the backyard or past. The system now makes use of the S2 app for management, nevertheless it comes with compatibility points with older gadgets.

Word that the costs of some audio system have been elevated in September 2021 by as a lot as £100/US$100 with little purpose given. We additionally haven’t had an opportunity to evaluate the Sonos 5, although primarily based on our Play:5 testing, will probably be nice for giant rooms.

The most recent audio system to hitch the Sonos vary are the Period 100 and Period 300.

Scroll past the chart for our full Sonos shopping for information explaining how the system works and the way to decide on the best audio system.

Greatest Sonos Audio system 2023

1. Sonos One – The all-rounder

Professionals

• Nice sound
• Good options
• Timeless design

Worth When Reviewed:

$219

The Sonos One is a top-quality sensible speaker, basically a One SL with Alexa and Google Assistant voice-control built-in. We’d have appreciated some Sonos-related voice instructions that most individuals will anticipate.

It’s costlier than many different sensible audio system nevertheless it’s price the additional – in comparison with non-Sonos rivals it presents significantly better construct high quality and sound. 

As an all-rounder it’s an awesome place to begin to start constructing your Sonos system, however purchase it when you can because the Period 100 replaces it.

Learn our full

Sonos One evaluate

2. Sonos Roam – The really transportable speaker

Professionals

• Extremely transportable
• Bluetooth & WiFi
• Astonishing sound
• Good options

Cons

• Restricted battery life
• Pretty costly
• Bluetooth restricted to music

Worth When Reviewed:

$179

Following up from the Transfer, Sonos has gone really transportable with the aptly named Roam – now out there in three further colors and an SL mannequin for anybody not wanting voice management.

Whereas its huge brother can technically go wherever, its measurement and weight make it fairly difficult and extra appropriate for taking out into the backyard. The Roam is 1/sixth of the scale and simply 430g (vs 3kg).

It’s additionally IP67 so extra sturdy, the intelligent design works in upright or panorama orientations and there’s even wi-fi charging.

It doesn’t hit full marks because the battery life is in need of comparable rivals and Bluetooth is proscribed to streaming. Nevertheless, the Roam is designed to be a part of a Sonos system with options like Sound Swap.

Even in the event you don’t have any Sonos audio system but, you might arguably simply use Roams round the home for a fundamental multi-room setup.

Learn our full

Sonos Roam evaluate

3. Sonos Period 100 – The following-gen speaker with Bluetooth

Professionals

• Nice audio
• Trueplay now on Android too
• Bluetooth choice

Cons

• Line-in & Ethernet require costly dongles
• No Google Assistant help

Worth When Reviewed:

$249.00

The Period 100, because the identify implies, represents the most recent technology of Sonos audio system and that is the smaller and cheaper choice that replaces the One. Nevertheless, it’s a small step fairly than an enormous leap.

As we’ve come to anticipate, sound high quality is great and improved on older fashions due to {hardware} tweaks and improved Trueplay help.

The addition of Bluetooth on a non-portable Sonos speaker is welcome however efficiency is patchy. It’s nice you could add line-in or Ethernet however these require pricey dongles making it an offputting answer.

It’s additionally a disgrace that Google Assistant is gone so until you really want the connectivity afforded by the dongles or Bluetooth, the Sonos One stays a greater worth buy whereas it’s nonetheless out there. The Period 100 is nice, however we now have to get into the weeds right here.

Learn our full

Sonos Period 100 evaluate

4. Sonos Transfer – The one for indoors and out

Professionals

• Moveable & sturdy design
• Large sound
• Bluetooth connectivity

Cons

• Heavy
• Restricted battery life

Worth When Reviewed:

$399

The Transfer now has a smaller and extra transportable brother within the Roam that’s loads cheaper so it’s comprehensible to seek out that the extra engaging purchase in the event you want a Sonos with Bluetooth.

Nevertheless, the Transfer stays a strong buy in the event you don’t want it to go additional than the backyard and wish extra energy. That is nonetheless the much better choice for issues like backyard events.

It additionally has different benefits over the Roam corresponding to a replaceable battery and the charging base is included within the field. The battery life can also be one hour longer at 11 hours.

Learn our full

Sonos Transfer evaluate

5. Sonos Period 300 – The one with Dolby Atmos

Professionals

• Nice sound high quality
• Bluetooth help
• Trueplay for Android too

Cons

• Spatial audio help wants work
• Line-in & Ethernet require costly dongles
• No Google Assistant help

Worth When Reviewed:

$449.00

Like its smaller and cheaper stablemate, the Period 300 is one other implausible speaker from Sonos however isn’t with out downsides.

On the plus aspect, audio high quality is healthier than ever and there’s Bluetooth built-in. Nevertheless, efficiency is slightly spotty on the latter and that is an costly product which you’ll solely get essentially the most out of in the event you spend more cash.

That’s as a result of, though it helps line-in and Ethernet connectivity, you’ve got you purchase costly dongles to unlock the performance. Dolby Atmos help is the massive promoting level right here however actually must be utilized in a stereo pair or encompass sound setup for full impact.

The software program expertise for spatial audio isn’t nice both and it’s a disgrace to see Google Assistant help dropped.

Learn our full

Sonos Period 300 evaluate

6. Sonos Beam – The compact, mid-range soundbar

Professionals

• Compact design
• Nice sound
• Premium options

Worth When Reviewed:

$499

For most individuals, the Beam would be the straightforward selection when evaluating the opposite Sonos soundbars. 

It’s extra reasonably priced, extra compact and but nonetheless sounds glorious. Plus it has options not discovered on its larger brothers like HDMI ARC. Solely these with a a lot bigger room and finances actually need to go for the Playbar or Playbase.

Since Alexa is built-in, the Beam can also be a sensible speaker and an awesome selection in the event you’re searching for one to take a seat in the lounge.

Learn our full

Sonos Beam evaluate

7. Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2 – The hybrid machine

Professionals

• Sonos high quality audio
• 360-degree sound
• Takes commonplace E26/27 bulbs

Cons

• No microphones
• Uncommon design
• Lamp would not protect energy state

Worth When Reviewed:

$169 (textile shade) | $189 (glass shade)

This speaker and lamp in a single hybrid design is now in its second technology, out there in a spread of color combos in addition to glass or textile shades.

Offered you just like the aesthetic – which we expect is improved – you get Sonos high quality sound that’s 360 levels in a neat and reasonably priced answer. It’s an awesome choice for spots across the house that lack area.

You should utilize a variety of lightbulbs within the lamp, too. It’s only a disgrace that there are not any mics for digital assistant use and when it loses energy, received’t come again on routinely.

Learn our full

Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2 evaluate

8. Sonos Ray – The most affordable soundbar

Professionals

• Compact design
• Clear and crisp sound
• Comparatively reasonably priced

Cons

• No HDMI Arc/eArc
• No voice controls
• Common bass

Worth When Reviewed:

$279

The Sonos Ray has arrived because the agency’s least expensive soundbar but and in case your finances can’t stretch any additional and sound high quality is your major concern then it’s a very good purchase.

It’s additionally the smallest Sonos soundbar so ought to be capable of match nearly wherever, and even be used with a PC as an alternative of your TV.

There are downsides that include the cheaper price ticket although as you’re restricted to optical connectivity, there are not any microphones for voice management and bass efficiency may very well be higher.

Learn our full

Sonos Ray evaluate

9. Sonos Arc – The premium soundbar

Professionals

• Immersive sound
• eARC HDMI
• Dolby Atmos
• Good options

Cons

• Costly
• No distant
• No HDMI passthrough

Worth When Reviewed:

$899

It took some time however Sonos has changed its unique soundbar with the implausible Arc.

Past all the same old options you get from Sonos gadgets like multi-room, the Arc is all about spacial sound due to drivers pointing in all instructions and help for Dolby Atmos.

It’s simply probably the greatest sounding soundbars we’ve ever examined and it appears to be like fairly good too. 

It additionally advantages from eARC HDMI, though the issue right here – aside from the Arc being costly – is ensuring your TV is suitable to get essentially the most out of the soundbar. There’s additionally no HDMI pass-though which makes it difficult for these with restricted ports.

Learn our full

Sonos Arc evaluate

10. Sonos Sub Mini – The go-to subwoofer

Professionals

• Compact-ish design
• Painless setup
• Provides a great deal of depth to Ray and Beam soundbars

Cons

• Gained’t add a lot to bigger audio system
• An costly addition

Worth When Reviewed:

$429

These eager to up the bass efficiency of their Sonos system ought to look no additional than the Sub Mini. It’s not precisely mini, however it’s way more compact than earlier Sonos subwoofers.

It’s possible you’ll not really feel the necessity to add it to one thing just like the Arc or 5, however the Sub Mini pairs properly with lower-power fashions such because the Ray, Beam and Period 100.

It’s a simple addition to any Sonos system and supplies extra than simply further thump when it comes to sonics. Nonetheless, it’s very a lot a luxurious add-on at its full asking value.

Learn our full

Sonos Sub Mini evaluate

What’s Sonos?

Within the firm’s personal phrases: “Sonos is the sensible speaker system that streams all of your favorite music to any room, or each room. Management your music with one easy app, and fill your private home with pure, immersive sound.”

That’s a reasonably correct abstract and Sonos is definitely one of many best wi-fi speaker programs for shoppers to become familiar with and arrange. Watch the video on the prime of the web page for a pleasant visible overview.

Sonos audio system merely hook up with the web and one another through your private home Wi-Fi community and also you management them with the Sonos app which is on the market for iOS, Android, Mac and Home windows (
obtain it through right here). The audio system even have buttons for fundamental capabilities. The Sonos Controller app has changed the bodily controller which was once the normal methodology.

There was a time while you wanted the Sonos Bridge to attach the audio system collectively however these days are gone – though the
Sonos Increase is on the market when you have poor Wi-Fi in your house. You simply want to attach one to your router to create a Sonos Mesh Community. A useful function is that the Ethernet ports on the again of Sonos audio system can be utilized to offered connectivity to different gadgets, like laptops.

Worth and the place to purchase

Sonos has beforehand been out of many shoppers’ budgets however the Sonos Roam is an affordable £159/$169 – whereas the Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf is even cheaper at £99/$99.

Costs then go as much as £799/$799 for the full-on house theatre audio system.

There are various locations to purchase Sonos audio system together with the agency’s
official store however you can too purchase Sonos audio system from
Amazon,
John Lewis,
Richer Sounds and
Currys.

There are exceptions to that, nonetheless: the corporate partnered with Ikea to make a spread of Symfonisk audio system – one in a bookshelf design, one designed to double as a lamp and one that’s disguised as art work. They’re out there
completely via Ikea – even the Sonos retailer doesn’t inventory them.

The
unique Symfonisk lamp has now been discontinued and a brand new mannequin is changing it. We’ll add this to the listing as quickly as we’ve examined it out.

For those who can’t afford the Sonos audio system you need, then the brand new
Flex subscription service is perhaps the reply. Sonos has additionally launched an
Improve Program so you may rise up to 30% off in the event you personal an previous machine.
Commerce-in eligible audio system right here.

How does Sonos work?

One of many nice issues about Sonos is you may merely begin with one speaker and add extra as and while you like (or can afford extra). You’ll be able to have as few or as many as you want. Including a brand new speaker into the system takes a matter of seconds through the app.

Every speaker is assigned a zone, or room, and you may play totally different music in every zone from various totally different sources (see under) or you may group them up so the identical tunes are taking part in all through the home – that is nice for events.

It’s straightforward to maneuver audio system round and there are various totally different sizes and costs to go well with totally different wants (see under).

Options embody the power to create a stereo pair in the event you get two similar audio system, utilizing any Sonos audio system as an alarm (together with your selection of music or radio station to get up to) and plugging in gadgets immediately with the line-in port on the again.

One of many newest options is Trueplay which makes use of the microphone in your iPhone or iPad to tune the Sonos speaker primarily based on varied components like the scale and form or your room and even the place the speaker is positioned inside it. This doesn’t work with Android gadgets although, as there’s an excessive amount of variation in microphone {hardware}.

In 2018, Sonos up to date the system with AirPlay 2. Which means you may stream on to audio system out of your iPhone or iPad with out utilizing the Sonos app. It additionally means you may watch video content material in your machine whereas utilizing a Sonos speaker for the audio and controlling the system with Siri.

Sonos music providers

When you’ve received a speaker (or many audio system) arrange, it’s time to play some music and the selection is huge.

By way of the app, it’s straightforward to decide on the place to play music from which begins merely with any saved regionally on the machine the place the app is put in. Sonos helps AirPlay however doesn’t have Bluetooth. You can even stream music which is on any computer systems which are on the identical community because the Sonos system. There’s additionally help for
NAS drives (community hooked up storage). 

Most customers will need to use on-line
music streaming providers, although and there are a lot to select from. There are too many to listing right here however the huge names embody: Amazon Prime Music,
Apple Music,
Spotify, Deezer, Soundcloud, Google Play Music, Napster and
Tidal. 

There’s additionally TuneIn Radio so you may entry greater than 1,000 web radio stations without cost. Sonos has added YouTube Music as a supported service, too. Sonos additionally has its personal radio station, which now has a
Sonos Radio HD paid tier. Test the whole listing of supported providers
right here.

Which Sonos speaker do you have to purchase?

Sonos splits its wi-fi multi-room system up into three classes: audio system, house theatre and elements.

We’re not elements (the
Port and
Amp) right here as they’re not audio system however they’re useful for including an present Hello-Fi,
vinyl turntable or pair of audio system into the Sonos system.

Audio system

So, to begin with the audio system, there are three sizes to select from which regularly enhance in value.

The vary begins with the Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speaker, which at £99/$99 is as reasonably priced entry level into the system, particularly since you should purchase two of them and get stereo sound for lower than £200/$200.

The most affordable within the core Sonos vary was the One SL at £179/$179, however the Roam is now even decrease at £159/$169 – though it’s fairly a unique speaker.

The Sonos One is then £199/$199 and has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. We even have a round-up of the
finest sensible audio system right here.

Not bothered about voice management? The One SL is a non-smart model of the Sonos One. It’s preferrred for utilizing as rear satellite tv for pc audio system in a encompass sound system or as a second speaker to stereo pair with a One since they don’t each want the sensible {hardware}.

Word that Sonos introduced that older merchandise, these launched earlier than 2015, would
cease being supported with software program updates and new options leaving prospects with any newer gadgets with an ultimatum. They might depart the whole system on the older software program or cease utilizing the older gadgets.

Nevertheless, after loads of media protection and buyer outrage, the agency has now give you a plan to maintain the older gadgets working. You’ll be able to learn what Sonos stated
right here.

The S2 app launched on 8 June to help 2020 Sonos merchandise, however doesn’t help some older gadgets (see under). If in case you have these, they received’t cease working however you’ll basically should run them individually on S1 as an alternative.

• Sonos Bridge
• Sonos Join
• Sonos Join:Amp
• Sonos CR200 wi-fi distant
• Sonos Play:5 (Gen 1)
• Sonos Zone Gamers (ZP90, ZP100, ZP120, and so on)

Discover out extra about
S2 upgrades, supported merchandise and compatibility.

If you wish to go huge, the Play:5 was the only option for filling the most important of rooms making it the very best Sonos speaker for giant lounges and comparable rooms. This has now been changed by the
Sonos 5.

In 2019 Sonos added the Transfer, which is each transportable and the primary to supply Bluetooth – two issues prospects (and us) have been requesting for a protracted very long time. You’ll be able to lastly use Sonos outside and not using a difficult setup and it’s not only a Sonos One with a battery hooked up. 

The Sonos Roam is the most recent speaker within the vary, launched in April 2021 as a smaller and really transportable choice. It’s received issues that different Sonos speaker don’t like wi-fi charging and Sound Swap to simply transfer music to and from it.

These wanting further bass can get the
Sub (now Gen 3), which might be paired up with varied Sonos audio system in several preparations. Most Sonos audio system have adequate bass and the Sub is extraordinarily highly effective so shall be suited to these searching for essentially the most luxurious setup – and maybe indifferent homes.

Residence theatre

Sonos has now restructured its house theatre vary and it’s about time because the Playbar has been on sale since 2013.

That, together with the Playbase, have been changed by
Arc, Sonos’ newest premium soundbar that features options like Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC. It additionally comes with a brand new design, 11 audio system and runs on the brand new S2 app.

It additionally will get some options from the Beam together with AirPlay, microphones and help for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The Beam is now the opposite soundbar within the vary, appropriate for these wanting one thing each cheaper and extra compact. Every might be paired up with different audio system just like the One SL and/or the Sub.