When it comes to wireless speakers, there are tons of options. From cheap, portable Bluetooth speakers to audiophile-caliber devices, loads of choices exist. Sonos has long dominated the market with its high-quality networked speakers. But which Sonos speaker is right for you? Check out the best Sonos speakers for all uses!
What is Sonos and Why Should You Get a Sonos Speaker?
Santa Barbara, California-based audio company Sonos was founded in 2002. Since its inception, Sonos has garnered a well-deserved reputation for high-end speakers. And more specifically, its lineup of devices offers a convenient whole-home networked audio solution. Although you can find plenty of other off-the-shelf and do-it-yourself music streaming ecosystems, Sonos arguably offers the best platform. It’s at once user-friendly and extremely customizable. Moreover, Sonos makes a whole host of different speakers and accessories for all uses. Where some speakers are perfect for music, others like its soundbars are excellent for movies. Plus, add-ons like the Sonos Port and Sonos Amp allow you to connect analog devices such as turntables. The ease of use is unrivaled. Additionally, Sonos speakers are simple to scale. You can pair speakers for stereo listening, add a set of speakers to a soundbar for rear left and right channels, or configure multi-room listening.
Best Sonos Speaker Overall – Sonos One (Gen 2)
The Sonos One Gen 2 is the best Sonos speaker for most users. At around $200 USD, it’s a reasonably-priced smart speaker. Onboard, you’ll find Amazon Alexa functionality for voice control. There’s also Apple AirPlay 2 and Sonos app compatibility. With a single Sonos One Gen 2, you’ll experience lush audio to fill any room. It’s compact and features onboard controls for playing and pausing music, skipping tracks, and more. You can pair two Sonos One speakers for stereo listening, or add a set of Sonos One Gen 2 devices fo a Playbar, Playbase, or Beam for home cinema surround sound.
Unfortunately, the Sonos One lacks Bluetooth streaming or an auxiliary 3.5mm audio input. Likewise, while listening is wireless, the Sonos isn’t portable. Lacking a built-in battery, you can’t tote it around despite its small form factor. Oddly, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is baked in, but only for device set up. Bluetooth music streaming isn’t available. In fact, the Sonos One Gen 2 is largely the same as the Gen 1 predecessor, albeit with more memory and a faster processor. These changes enable future features. Since Sonos speakers function as nodes on a mesh network, one device must be plugged into your router or an Ethernet cable. It’s not the most convenient, yet Sonos uses its own network for streaming which therefore eschews bogging down your home Wi-Fi. Particularly considering its size, the Sonos One Gen 2 absolutely astounds. It sports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple AirPlay 2 compatibility. Overall, it’s a versatile Sonos speaker that should satisfy most users.
Pros:
- Flexible installation options
- Excellent sound quality
- Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2 support
- Doesn’t require the Sonos Bridge
- Faster processor, more RAM than its predecessor
- BLE onboard (for set up only)
Cons:
- No Bluetooth music streaming
- Lacks a hardwired audio input
Best Value – Sonos One SL
Although the Sonos One SL looks nearly identical to the One, it’s a bit different. You’ll find virtually the same internals, so the Sonos One SL boasts powerful audio and lush sound quality. While the Sonos One Gen 2 provides voice control, the One SL loses out. Still, there’s a workaround for accessing Google Assistant and Alexa with a compatible device such as an Amazon Echo, Google Home, Sonos One, or Sonos Beam. Like the Sonos One Gen 2, the One SL supports Apple AirPlay 2. If you don’t need voice control, or already have a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa compatible device, the Sonos One SL is essentially the same as the One Gen 2 with considerable cost savings, sliding in under $200.
Pros:
- Flexible installation options
- Excellent sound quality
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Wall-mountable
Cons:
- Not portable – no built-in battery
- Lacks Bluetooth streaming capabilities
- No analog audio input
Best Sonos for Outdoor Use – Sonos Move
As the name suggests, the Sonos Move is a completely portable Bluetooth speaker with Sonos onboard. There’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth music streaming plus a built-in battery touting up to 10 hours of continuous music playback. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility makes the Sonos Move a versatile smart speaker. Audio quality remains top-notch with a rich, full sound regardless of indoor or outside use. In an era where replaceable batteries have almost become retro, the Sonos Move touts a user-replaceable battery.
But the Move clocks in at $400 which is a hefty price considering that it doesn’t sound all that different than the Sonos One. And at just under seven pounds, the Sonos Move is fairly heavy. Coupled with its sticker-shock inducing price tag, the Move isn’t the sort of speaker you’d want to throw in a bag and take on the go. Instead, it’s better suited for carrying from room to room, or outdoor use for a backyard barbecue. Unless you absolutely need the battery, the Sonos One is a better value, or the Sonos Five offers better sound quality at a similar price. But for a portable Sonos Bluetooth speaker, the Move is your only option
Pros:
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant onboard
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth music streaming
- Built-in battery, 10 hours of continuous playback
- Replaceable battery
- Loud, room-filling sound
Cons:
- Pricey
- Heavy
Best for Audiophiles – Sonos Five
The Sonos Five replaces the similarly-styled Play:5. A monolithic speaker, it features a bookshelf speaker form factor. You can control the Sonos Five with Apple AirPlay 2 as well as the Sonos app. Unlike the Sonos One, One SL, and Move, the Five sports a line-in for connecting analog audio components such as a CD player, turntable, receiver, or tape deck. Because of its design, the Sonos Five may be oriented horizontally in which case it automatically separates out left and right channels for robust stereo sound. Or, you can pair two Sonos Five units for individual right and left channels from each device. You’ll experience deep bass and high fidelity from the flagship Hi-Fi speaker. Its decked out in six class-D digital amplifiers, three midwoofers, three tweeters, and a phased array that fosters a wide soundstage.
At a whopping $500, the Sonos Five targets hardcore audiophiles. Curiously, the Five lacks a voice assistant or even built-in microphone. Similarly, there’s no Bluetooth. You’re limited to Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity for networked whole-home streaming. Especially at this price point, amenities like Bluetooth and voice assistant functionality are expected, particularly since those are features found on less expensive Sonos devices. The line-in jack is a plus, and its loudness as well as fidelity absolutely blow away the rest of the Sonos lineup.
Pros:
- Loud
- Flagship sound quality
- Line-in jack for connecting CD players, turntables, and other analog devices
- Works for standalone stereo or as a pair of bookshelf speakers
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Cons:
- No voice assistant capabilities or built-in mic
- Expensive
- Lacks Bluetooth
Best Versatile Sonos Speaker – Ikea Symfonisk
Renowned for its affordable, versatile furniture, Ikea offers its Symfonisk Sonos-compatible speakers. Combining function and form, both the Symfonisk speakers blend into their surroundings. One doubles as a lamp while the other is quite literally a bookshelf speaker that may be placed on an end table, or mounted on a wall and used as a shelf. The Symfonisk table lamp slides in at $180, while the bookshelf speaker retails for $100. Fusing the style of Ikea with the music playback capabilities of Sonos, the Symfonisk lineup is easily the most versatile Sonos speaker option.
In many ways, the Ikea Symfonisk speakers are chameleons. Both gadgets eschew a tech-centric design. Aside from flawless integration with the Sonos ecosystem of hardware and software, Ikea graces its Symfonisks with its Tradfri smart home platform. As such, you can add smart bulbs or smart blinds and configure automations. Neither the table lamp speaker or bookshelf speaker include built-in microphones. Additionally, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are absent. The bulb in the lamp isn’t particularly bright, so it’s unfit for a main lighting option. However, the multi-purpose nature of the Ikea Sonos Symfonisk speakers makes them spectacular, quality, affordable entry points for new Sonos adopters, or long-time users looking for another Sonos gadget.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Well-built
- Gorgeous non-techie design
- Ikea Tradfri smart home compatibility
- Excellent sound quality
- Versatile: one doubles as a lamp, the other as a shelf
Cons:
- No Bluetooth
- Lacks built-in mic and Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa
- Lamp isn’t bright enough to light up a room on its own
Best Sonos Soundbar for Movies – Sonos Arc
Although Sonos maintains its reputation in the audiophile category, its speakers aren’t merely for music. The Sonos Arc is one of the best soundbars for cinephiles. While the Sonos Playbar includes an optical digital TOSLINK output, the Arc rocks an eARC HDMI output for advanced ARC or audio return channel support. Connectivity includes Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Sound quality is simply spectacular. A Dolby Atmos compatible soundbar, the Sonos Arc pumps out lush movie and TV show audio. Inside, there’s an impressive speaker array consisting of six mid-range drivers, three tweeters, and nine Class D amplifiers.
While the Sonos Arc is basically a 3.0 channel soundbar, you can add a pair of Sonos One speakers and the Sonos Sub to create a full-fledged 5.1 surround sound Sonos home theatre system complete with Dolby Atmos. Priced at $800 for the Arc alone, it’s a costly investment. You can pick up a pretty solid TV and soundbar for that much or less. However, the Sonos Arc with its HDMI eARC, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and modular design is a superb soundbar that justifies its enormous price tag.
Pros:
- HDMI with eARC
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi
- Best-in-class audio
- Dolby Atmos compatibility
- Sleek looking
- Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- Modular design: Add a pair of Sonos One speakers and the Sonos Sub for a true 5.1 surround sound
Cons:
- Expensive
Best Budget Sonos Soundbar – Sonos Beam
For cinephiles on a budget, or at least compared to the $800 Sonos Arc, the Sonos Beam delivers a similar feature set for about $400. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa come standard for voice control. There’s HDMI ARC, a night mode, speech enhancement, and Apple AirPlay 2. Similar to the Arc, you can add a pair of Sonos Ones and the Sonos Sub for a true 5.1 surround sound. Unfortunately, you lose out on Dolby Atmos and eARC. True cinephiles and audiophiles should select the Arc, while anyone seeking a soundbar with Sonos functionality at half the cost can opt for the Beam.
Pros:
- Great sound quality
- Half the price of the Sonos Arc
- HDMI ARC
- Modular design: Can pair with Sonos One speakers and Sonos Sub for a true 5.1
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Cons:
- No HDMI eARC
- Lacks Dolby Atmos
Best Sonos Speakers for All Users – Final Thoughts
Sonos offers a range of speakers for all budgets and users. The Sonos One SL and Ikea Symfonisk are solid entry-level Sonos devices. The One is a worthy upgrade for audiophiles that need built-in smart speaker capabilities. Its flagship Five boasts house-filling sound that doesn’t compromise on fidelity. And for movie buffs, the Arc or Beam are fantastic soundbars. For a portable Sonos speaker, the aptly-named Move is a neat pick. Once you’ve selected the best Sonos speaker for your needs and budget, pick up the right accessories for connecting your analog devices, wall-mounting your speakers, and more!
What Sonos speakers do YOU recommend?
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