Sonos is legendary for its wi-fi multi-room audio system however it may be onerous to know which one is finest for you. We clarify every little thing you want to learn about Sonos and evaluate the audio system that will help you select the very best one on your wants.
Based again in 2002 in California, Sonos has been setting the bar and main the way in which within the multi-room speaker market for a very long time. Designed to be straightforward to make use of, fashionable and sound nice, there’s little to not like concerning the Sonos vary of audio system (and
headphones is perhaps on the way in which, too).
In 2020, Sonos launched a variety of latest audio system together with the
Sonos Arc soundbar with Dolby Atmos. There’s additionally a brand new
S2 app to make use of them with, but it surely comes with compatibility points with older gadgets.
Sonos has additionally been exploring the Bluetooth route with the Transfer and far smaller Roam. These provide the good thing about the standard multi-room expertise however may also be taken out into the backyard or past.
Word that the costs of some audio system had been elevated in September 2021 by as a lot as £100/US$100 with little motive given. We additionally haven’t had an opportunity to evaluate the Sonos 5, although primarily based on our Play:5 testing, it is going to be nice for large rooms.
Scroll past the chart for our full Sonos shopping for information explaining how the system works and the way to decide on the correct audio system.
Finest Sonos Audio system 2022
1. Sonos One – The all-rounder
Professionals
- Nice sound
- Sensible options
- Timeless design
The Sonos One is a top-quality good speaker, primarily a One SL with Alexa and Google Assistant voice-control built-in. We’d have favored some Sonos-related voice instructions that most individuals will anticipate.
It’s dearer than many different good audio system but it surely’s price the additional – in comparison with non-Sonos rivals it provides significantly better construct high quality and sound.
As an all-rounder it’s a fantastic place to begin to start constructing your Sonos system.
Learn our full
Sonos Onereview
2. Sonos Roam – The truely transportable speaker
Professionals
- Extremely transportable
- Bluetooth & WiFi
- Astonishing sound
- Sensible options
Cons
- Restricted battery life
- Pretty costly
- Bluetooth restricted to music
Following up from the Transfer, Sonos has gone actually transportable with the aptly named Roam – now accessible in three further colors and an SL mannequin for anybody not wanting voice management.
Whereas its large brother can technically go anyplace, its measurement and weight make it fairly tough 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 wanting comparable rivals and Bluetooth is proscribed to streaming. Nonetheless, the Roam is designed to be a part of a Sonos system with options like Sound Swap.
Even in case you don’t have any Sonos audio system but, you possibly can arguably simply use Roams round the home for a fundamental multi-room setup.
Learn our full
Sonos Roamreview
3. Sonos Transfer – The one for indoors and out
Professionals
- Transportable & sturdy design
- Massive sound
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Heavy
- Restricted battery life
The Transfer now has a smaller and extra transportable brother within the Roam that’s quite a bit cheaper so it’s comprehensible to search out that the extra enticing purchase in case you want a Sonos with Bluetooth.
Nonetheless, the Transfer stays a strong buy in case you don’t want it to go additional than the backyard and wish extra energy. That is nonetheless the much better possibility 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 Movereview
4. Sonos One SL – The fundamental speaker
Professionals
- Inexpensive
- Nice sound
- Versatile
Not together with the Ikea audio system, the One SL is the most cost effective within the vary and replaces the older Play:1 which was a staple speaker.
Not an enormous quantity has modified, but it surely didn’t really want to. That is successfully the common One with out the microphones for voice management by way of good assistants. So that you get issues like contact controls and AirPlay 2.
The One SL is the one to go for in case you don’t need or want Alexa or Google Assistant. For instance, making a stereo pair with the One or utilizing them as rear surrounds with one of many house theatre audio system.
Learn our full
Sonos One SLreview
5. Sonos Beam – The compact, mid-range soundbar
Professionals
- Compact design
- Nice sound
- Premium options
For most individuals, the Beam would be the straightforward selection when evaluating the opposite Sonos soundbars.
It’s extra inexpensive, 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 funds really want to go for the Playbar or Playbase.
Since Alexa is built-in, the Beam can also be a sensible speaker and a fantastic selection in case you’re searching for one to take a seat in the lounge.
Learn our full
Sonos Beamreview
6. Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2 – The hybrid gadget
Professionals
- Sonos high quality audio
- 360-degree sound
- Takes customary E26/27 bulbs
Cons
- No microphones
- Uncommon design
- Lamp does not protect energy state
MSRP:
$169 (textile shade) | $189 (glass shade)
This speaker and lamp in a single hybrid design is now in its second era, accessible in a variety of color mixtures 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 inexpensive resolution. It’s a fantastic possibility for spots across the house that lack house.
You need to use a variety of lightbulbs within the lamp, too. It’s only a disgrace that there aren’t any mics for digital assistant use and when it loses energy, gained’t come again on mechanically.
Learn our full
Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2review
7. Sonos Ray – The most cost effective soundbar
Professionals
- Compact design
- Clear and crisp sound
- Comparatively inexpensive
Cons
- No HDMI Arc/eArc
- No voice controls
- Common bass
The Sonos Ray has arrived because the agency’s least expensive soundbar but and in case your funds can’t stretch any additional and sound high quality is your main concern then it’s an excellent purchase.
It’s additionally the smallest Sonos soundbar so ought to be capable of match nearly anyplace, and even be used with a PC as a substitute of your TV.
There are downsides that include the cheaper price ticket although as you’re restricted to optical connectivity, there aren’t any microphones for voice management and bass efficiency may very well be higher.
Learn our full
Sonos Rayreview
8. Sonos Arc – The premium soundbar
Professionals
- Immersive sound
- eARC HDMI
- Dolby Atmos
- Sensible options
Cons
- Costly
- No distant
- No HDMI passthrough
It took some time however Sonos has changed its authentic soundbar with the incredible Arc.
Past all the standard options you get from Sonos gadgets like multi-room, the Arc is all about spacial sound due to drivers pointing in all instructions and assist for Dolby Atmos.
It’s simply among the finest sounding soundbars we’ve ever examined and it seems to be somewhat good too.
It additionally advantages from eARC HDMI, though the issue right here – aside from the Arc being costly – is ensuring your TV is appropriate to get probably the most out of the soundbar. There’s additionally no HDMI pass-though which makes it tough for these with restricted ports.
Learn our full
Sonos Arcreview
9. Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Bookshelf – A budget bookshelf speaker
Professionals
- Low-cost
- Compact & versatile design
- Sonos ecosystem assist
Cons
- Restricted bass
- Primary management
Sonos hasn’t managed to completely recreate its basic sound within the £99$99 Symfonisk, but it surely’s accomplished an honest job in case you don’t thoughts compromising a little bit on the bass.
Throw in the truth that you may wall-mount it to double as a bookshelf or hold it from an Ikea kitchen rack, and it’s a helpful little speaker for smaller properties.
These are a budget-friendly solution to get into the app – although be warned, earlier than lengthy you’ll be eyeing up the pricier fashions so as to add on.
The bookshelf will probably be simply as interesting to Sonos regulars wanting both for a pleasant solution to deliver that Sonos sound into the kitchen, or for a less expensive solution to improve to encompass sound.
Learn our full
Ikea Sonos Symfonisk Bookshelf Speakerreview
10. Sonos Sub Mini – One of the best Sonos subwoofer
Professionals
- Automated quantity
- Straightforward to make use of
- Strong efficiency
Cons
- Nonetheless pretty costly
- Not precisely miniature in measurement
If you happen to’ve all the time been postpone the basic Sonos Sub on account of its measurement and value then the Sub Mini is the one you’ve been ready for.
It’s not tremendous low-cost or tremendous small however will match into properties quite a bit simpler than its larger brother. It’s extra suited to Beam and Ray house owners, however these searching for further bass for any Sonos setup can nonetheless deploy the Sub Mini wherever they select with minimal problem.
It connects on to the Sonos system over Wi-Fi and comes with options corresponding to Trueplay assist for tuning, NFC for simple setup and automated quantity adjustment, too.
Learn our full
Sonos Sub Minireview
What’s Sonos?
Within the firm’s personal phrases: “Sonos is the good 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 fairly 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 high of the web page for a pleasant visible overview.
Sonos audio system merely hook up with the web and one another by way of your private home Wi-Fi community and also you management them with the Sonos app which is offered for iOS, Android, Mac and Home windows (
obtain it by way of right here). The audio system even have buttons for fundamental capabilities. The Sonos Controller app has changed the bodily controller which was once the standard technique.
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 offered in case you have poor Wi-Fi in your house. You simply want to attach one to your router to create a Sonos Mesh Community. A helpful function is that the Ethernet ports on the again of Sonos audio system can be utilized to supplied 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 it’s also possible to purchase Sonos audio system from
Amazon,
John Lewis,
Richer Sounds and
Currys.
There are exceptions to that, nevertheless: the corporate partnered with Ikea to make a variety of Symfonisk audio system – one in a bookshelf design, one designed to double as a lamp and one that’s disguised as paintings. They’re accessible
solely by Ikea – even the Sonos retailer doesn’t inventory them.
The
authentic 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.
If you happen to 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 case you personal an previous gadget.
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 may have as few or as many as you want. Including a brand new speaker into the system takes a matter of seconds by way of the app.
Every speaker is assigned a zone, or room, and you may play completely different music in every zone from quite a few completely different sources (see beneath) or you may group them up so the identical tunes are enjoying all through the home – that is nice for events.
It’s straightforward to maneuver audio system round and there are a lot of completely different sizes and costs to go well with completely different wants (see beneath).
Options embody the power to create a stereo pair in case you get two an identical 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 straight 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 gadget whereas utilizing a Sonos speaker for the audio and controlling the system with Siri.
Sonos music companies
When you’ve obtained 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 domestically on the gadget the place the app is put in. Sonos helps AirPlay however doesn’t have Bluetooth. You can too stream music which is on any computer systems which might be on the identical community because the Sonos system. There’s additionally assist for
NAS drives (community connected storage).
Most customers will wish to use on-line
music streaming companies, although and there are a lot to select from. There are too many to listing right here however the large 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 at no 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 companies
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 parts.
We’re not parts (the
Port and
Amp) right here as they’re not audio system however they’re helpful for including an current 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 improve in value.
The vary begins with the Ikea Symfonisk bookshelf speaker, which at £99/$99 is as inexpensive entry level into the system, particularly since you should buy two of them and get stereo sound for lower than £200/$200.
The most cost effective 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 good audio system right here.
Not bothered about voice management? The One SL is a non-smart model of the Sonos One. It’s best 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 good {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 clients with any newer gadgets with an ultimatum. They may go away all the system on the older software program or cease utilizing the older gadgets.
Nonetheless, after loads of media protection and buyer outrage, the agency has now provide you with a plan to maintain the older gadgets working. You may learn what Sonos mentioned
right here.
The S2 app launched on 8 June to assist 2020 Sonos merchandise, however doesn’t assist some older gadgets (see beneath). You probably have these, they gained’t cease working however you’ll primarily should run them individually on S1 as a substitute.
- Sonos Bridge
- Sonos Join
- Sonos Join:Amp
- Sonos CR200 wi-fi distant
- Sonos Play:5 (Gen 1)
- Sonos Zone Gamers (ZP90, ZP100, ZP120, and many others)
Discover out extra about
S2 upgrades, supported merchandise and compatibility.
If you wish to go large, the Play:5 was your best option for filling the most important of rooms making it the very best Sonos speaker for large 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 clients (and us) have been requesting for an extended very long time. You may lastly use Sonos outside with no tough setup and it’s not only a Sonos One with a battery connected.
The Sonos Roam is the newest speaker within the vary, launched in April 2021 as a smaller and actually transportable possibility. It’s obtained 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 will be paired up with varied Sonos audio system in numerous preparations. Most Sonos audio system have ok bass and the Sub is extraordinarily highly effective so will probably be suited to these searching for probably the most luxurious setup – and maybe indifferent homes.
Residence theatre
Sonos has now restructured its house theatre vary and it’s about time for the reason that 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 assist 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 will be paired up with different audio system just like the One SL and/or the Sub.