Sonos is prepared for change.
Two modifications, to be exact: the Period 100 and Period 300, a pair of residence audio system that substitute the Sonos One and Play:3 within the firm’s line-up.
That is no mere title change although – they’re the primary indicators of a more moderen, much less cussed Sonos. One keen to incorporate Bluetooth on its residence audio system (although high quality is worse than its most well-liked Wi-Fi), lastly roll Trueplay out on Android, and even enable direct line-in (through a USB-C dongle offered individually, however hey – progress is sluggish typically).
The $249/£249/€279 Period 100 is the less complicated of the 2 audio system. It’s a reasonably direct follow-up to the previous Sonos One, and an evolution of that speaker’s structure.
The most important change has been borrowed from the Sonos Transfer moveable speaker, with the 2 tweeters now splayed barely with a wave-guide aperture in entrance to create a wider dispersion of sound. The concept is to kill the ‘candy spot’, making it much less directional in order that the Period 100 sounds simply as nice from anyplace within the room.
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The $449/£429/€499 Period 300 is extra of a ground-up redesign – you received’t discover a lot proof of the outdated Play:3 in its innards. Designed to assist Dolby Atmos from the outset, its again half is tilted ten levels ahead to fireplace sound up and into the room, creating an uncommon hourglass form within the course of.
It’s a formidable impact, able to making a wave of sound that washes over the room, masking its precise supply. Each audio system sounded predictably glorious in my transient demo, however the true take a look at will probably be placing them by their paces at residence for our evaluations.
Eco-friendly design enhancements to each embody decrease energy consumption in standby, using virtually 50% post-consumer recycled plastics, and a shift to screws over glue to enhance repairability. Even the format of the button controls has been tweaked to be a bit extra intuitive.
Each audio system assist the most recent Wi-Fi 6E normal, and the not-so-latest Bluetooth 5.0. Which means for when you’ll be capable to straight stream to the audio system over Bluetooth, one thing Sonos has refused to incorporate on its residence audio system previously over high quality issues. Now it thinks shoppers deserve the choice – or is fed up with each Sonos overview itemizing ‘no Bluetooth’ within the listing of cons.
Every additionally has a single USB-C port on the rear. Sonos will individually promote dongles to can help you join both a 3.5mm audio-in or an Ethernet cable (or each) through USB-C. It’s a bit irritating to see each these connections decreased to add-ons you need to pay additional for a la Apple, but it surely does imply there’s flexibility right here that didn’t exist earlier than.
Sonos
The corporate can also be assembly shoppers within the center on Trueplay. Along with the iPhone-only ‘handbook’ Trueplay tech it’s had for years – which lets you tune your speaker’s sound for the room it’s in – now you can use QuickTune to tune the speaker’s sound utilizing its personal microphones.
Sonos describes this as a halfway-house between Trueplay correct and the automated model it launched for the Sonos Roam and Transfer, and it has an necessary profit: Android telephone homeowners can use it too. Sadly it received’t be rolled out retroactively, so that you’ll want to purchase one of many new Eras to take benefit.
As earlier than, the Period 100 and 300 might be mixed into stereo pairs or linked up with Sonos soundbars and subs to create encompass sound residence theatre techniques. Each go on sale on 28 March from Sonos and choose retailers.
Unsure which Sonos speaker to purchase? Take a look at our greatest Sonos audio system shopping for information.