TechAudioSpeakersSonos Era 100 review: a superb small smart speakerIt’s no longer new, but is the entry-level Sonos speaker still the smart speaker to buy?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)T3 VerdictThe Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of featuresReasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issuesWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechAudioSpeakersSonos Era 100 review: a superb small smart speakerIt’s no longer new, but is the entry-level Sonos speaker still the smart speaker to buy?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)T3 VerdictThe Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of featuresReasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issuesWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
It’s no longer new, but is the entry-level Sonos speaker still the smart speaker to buy?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)T3 VerdictThe Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of featuresReasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issues
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
T3 VerdictThe Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of featuresReasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issues
T3 VerdictThe Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.
T3 Verdict
The Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance – its only downsides are the lack of Google Assistant support and its slight price hike compared to the Sonos One. Sio if you’re looking for one of the best smart speakers around, this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.
Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of featuresReasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issues
Reasons to buy+Lovely design+Superb audio quality+Great selection of features
Lovely design
Superb audio quality
Great selection of features
Reasons to avoid-No Google Assistant-Pricier than Sonos One-Sonos app still having some issues
No Google Assistant
Pricier than Sonos One
Sonos app still having some issues
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
But I’ve used the Era 100 smart speaker in my home for over a year – yes, we’re a bit late to market with this review – and it has yet to disappoint. I still have the Sonos One, and I still use the Play:1 too, and therein lies the beauty of Sonos speakers – they have years of life in them, even after they have been succeeded, and all work together nicely.
If you’re considering the Sonos Era 100 as a first Sonos speaker, as an upgrade, or you’re simply looking for one of thebest smart speakersaround, it’s a smart choice. I’ve lived with one for an extended period and here’s how it stacks up all these months later.
Sonos Era 100: Price & Availability
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker deals34 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$239.99View$249View$249ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker deals34 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$239.99View$249View$249ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker deals
34 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
34 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
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The Sonos Era 100 was released back in March 2023 – so it’s been around for some time. It launched at £249 / $249 / AU$399 – and that’s the price you’ll usually find it at, as Sonos doesn’t often heavily discount its prices.
As it’s no longerbrand new, there’s a better chance of finding this speaker discounted during sales periods likeBlack Friday or during Boxing Day.It’s unlikely to be much cheaper than its predecessor, the Sonos One, which retailed at £199 / $199 / AU $299 in its heyday.
Sonos Era 100: What’s new?
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
When the Sonos Era 100 launched, it replaced the Sonos One and ushered in an entirely new design. It’s more cylindrical in shape than the previous entry-level Sonos and it has different controls too, being the first Sonos speaker alongside the Era 300 to feature a volume trough. This feature has since been put on the Sonos Move 2 and theSonos Arc Ultra soundbar, allowing for easier volume control compared to older Sonos speakers, but it was the Era 100 andEra 300where it debuted.
The Era 100 was also the first non-portable Sonos speaker to feature Bluetooth connectivity and the first to introduce a USB-C line-in port too, offering direct connection to audio devices like aturntable. Elsewhere, the Era 100 also introduced Quick Tuning, which is similar to the company’s Trueplay tuning – but it uses the speaker’s on-board microphones to adapt and optimise the sound output rather than requiring aniPhoneoriPad. The sound architecture within the Era 100 was also updated, allowing for stereo, and a faster processor was also introduced.
Sonos Era 100 review: Design & Setup
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
The Sonos Era 100 has a lovely design – one that’s a lot nicer than the Sonos One and Sonos One SL speakers it replaced. It’s softer and not as boxy, though it remains compact, making it the perfect size for a kitchen or bedroom.
I have the Era 100 in white and I think it’s nicer than the black finish – though I do wish Sonos would have pushed the boat out a little with some more actual colour choices. The Sonos One came in a couple of different options after Sonos did the Hay collaboration, but the Era 100 has been around for over 18 months and there’s still no sign of a pink or yellow edition – so it’s probably safe to assume black and white are going to remain the only choices.
It wasn’t just the shape that changed on the Era 100: the control panel on the top got a refresh, which makes for much easier control. A volume trough sits in the middle, enabling you to glide your finger through it to increase or decrease volume, or just tap each end. There’s a separate play/pause button, as well as separate skip and rewind controls, all of which makes for a better experience than the Sonos One and its three single controls. There’s also a microphone mute button on the top, though a physical microphone switch is present at the back too – if you really want to make sure those mics aren’t listening.
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Along with the mute switch on the rear is a Bluetooth button for putting the speaker into Bluetooth mode. The USB-C line-in port lives on the back too, though you do need a separate adapter to use that.
The power port is at bottom and there’s a neat slot for the lead so the cable sits nicely – it’s also better than the Era 300, which has a power cable coming out the middle of the rear. The result is a clean and concise design that will look great anywhere you put the Era 100 in your home.
Setup is simple, though Sonos isexperiencing some issueswith its redesigned app at the moment. Most of the issues have been resolved at the time of writing, but it’s worth mentioning – as setup has been a problem for some users. When it runs smoothly, however, it only takes a few minutes from unboxing to listening.
Sonos Era 100 review: Features
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Sonos may not have as much of an edge when it comes to seamless multi-room audio as it did a decade ago, but it still packs a punch when it comes to features. If you have other Sonos speakers, the Era 100 connects seamlessly to them and delivers an excellent overall experience. But it also stands strong on its own – ideal if it’s your first Sonos speaker.
Bluetooth capabilities were unheard of for wired Sonos speakers before the Era 100 launched, and while they are now standard across the newer speakers being introduced into the line-up, it’s still a feature worth mentioning.Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect are both on board too, so there are a number of ways to get music or audio playing from the Era 100.
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Use the Sonos app, however, and you get features like the ability to adjust the EQ and setup voice assistants including Sonos Voice Control andAmazon Alexa– there’s noGoogleAssistant on board here anymore (like there was on the older Sonos One). I always liked having the choice, but it’s not a deal-breaker. You can still control smart home devices through Alexa, though.
You can also group and ungroup the Era 100 with other Sonos speakers through the Sonos app, and there are some great tricks like presetting groups ofspeakersyou might always want to use for a dinner party, for example. Sonos also has great compatibility withmusic services, with over 100 supported, while its multi-room capabilities remain a smooth and consistent experience.
Sonos Era 100 review: Sound Quality
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
It’s the sound quality where the Sonos Era 100 really excels, however. As I mentioned, the speaker features a redesigned architecture compared to the Sonos One, with not a single element remaining the same. That was a pretty bold move from Sonos, given the Sonos One had long been heralded as one of the best smart speakers in its field – but it was a move that paid off.
The 25% larger woofer in the Era 100 (compared to the Sonos One) offers more depth to bass, while the two dual-angled tweeters offer stereo output and a wider soundstage. The result is a broader listening experience across the spectrum, from low to high frequencies, no matter what tracks or genres you play.
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
Forgive its lack of Atmos though, and the performance of the Era 100 really is superb. It handles everything like a boss, and I say that having put it through its paces month after month.
Crank up the volume and you do lose a bit of detail compared to the Era 300 andSonos Five, while the overall balance leans towards the bassier side like many Sonos speakers. But as I mentioned, you can change the EQ settings in the Sonos app if bass is not to your preference.
Sonos Era 100 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
(Image credit: Future / Britta O’Boyle)
The Sonos Era 100 is a smashing little speaker. It offers a lovely design, a great set of features, and excellent sound performance.
The Sonos app has had a bit of a tough time over recent months, and the Era 100 ditches support for Google Assistant, but those are minor setbacks in an otherwise brilliant proposition.
If you’re looking for a smart speaker that looks great, sounds superb for its size, and packs a punch when it comes to its feature set, then this entry-level Sonos is a winner every single time.
Also consider
If you just want a speaker with Alexa capabilities then you could opt forAmazon’s Echo (4th generation), or theEcho Studiofor Alexa with decent sound performance. If you want even better sound performance then the Era 300 is an excellent choice. Or if you want something cheaper then consider theApple HomePod mini.
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker, Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker, Amazon Echo (4th gen), Amazon Echo Studio and Apple HomePod Mini dealsSonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all pricesSonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all pricesAmazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all pricesApple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker, Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker, Amazon Echo (4th gen), Amazon Echo Studio and Apple HomePod Mini dealsSonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all pricesSonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all pricesAmazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all pricesApple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker, Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker, Amazon Echo (4th gen), Amazon Echo Studio and Apple HomePod Mini dealsSonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all pricesSonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all pricesAmazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all pricesApple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker, Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker, Amazon Echo (4th gen), Amazon Echo Studio and Apple HomePod Mini deals
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all pricesSonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all pricesAmazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all pricesApple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all prices
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all prices
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker$239.99ViewSee all prices
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Speaker
$239.99View
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Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all prices
Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker$430.99ViewSee all prices
Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker
Sonos Era 300 Wireless Speaker
$430.99View
$430.99
$430.99
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Amazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025
Amazon Echo (4th gen)$99.99$64.99ViewSee all prices
Amazon Echo (4th gen)
Amazon Echo (4th gen)
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Deal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 19, 2025
Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all prices
Amazon Echo Studio$199.99ViewSee all prices
Amazon Echo Studio
Amazon Echo Studio
$199.99View
$199.99
$199.99
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Apple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all prices
Apple HomePod Mini$99ViewSee all prices
Apple HomePod Mini
Apple HomePod Mini
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