Sonos is likely one of the largest names in music-streaming {hardware}, and its vary of audio system pair wonderful sound high quality with refined aesthetics. There’s help for just about each standard music streaming service, together with Spotify and Apple Music. Lots of the Sonos audio system in the marketplace additionally provide built-in voice help through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Management.
With the discharge of the Sonos Arc and the Beam Gen 2, the lineup additionally contains Dolby Atmos playback, which brings wonderful sound high quality. Whenever you add the budget-friendly Ikea Symfonisk
vary, Sub Mini and Ray soundbars, the variety of Sonos-compatible audio system makes the multiroom system extra enticing than ever.
But because the variety of Sonos merchandise retains rising, it is also develop into trickier to resolve which speaker system machine or gadgets within the Sonos ecosystem to purchase. With that in thoughts, we have put collectively a fast information to Sonos and which merchandise provide the most effective efficiency in your cash. We’ll preserve this record up to date as the corporate releases new merchandise.
Now taking part in:
Watch this:
Sonos Ray Delivers Greater Sound for Smaller Worth
4:03
Which Sonos is best for you?
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Ikea Symfonisk line is a results of a collaboration between the Scandinavian furnishings large and Sonos. It is totally suitable with different Sonos merchandise, and the Bookshelf, Desk Lamp and Image Body will also be used for stereo sound, or as a comparatively cheap pair of rear surrounds ($240 for 2 Bookshelves versus $378 for 2 One SLs). If you’d like a Sonos speaker for the value of a Bluetooth speaker, that is the mannequin to get.
Learn our Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf WiFi Speaker evaluate.
David Carnoy/CNET
Certain, the Sonos Roam is likely one of the pricier transportable audio system you should purchase, nevertheless it’s additionally probably the greatest. It is weatherproof and solidly constructed, however Its secret weapon is its capability to modify between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi whenever you’re in vary.
You are receiving value alerts for Sonos Roam
Sarah Tew/CNET
Whereas the Sonos One SL is the most affordable indoor speaker within the line, for a bit extra you’ll be able to improve to a mannequin that is higher worth for cash. The Sonos One (Gen 2) has wonderful sonics and contains each Alexa and Google Assistant in a single speaker (although you’ll be able to solely select one after the other). Sonos Voice can be forthcoming on this and different sensible audio system within the vary.
Learn our Sonos One evaluate.
You are receiving value alerts for Sonos One (Gen 2, Black)
Sonos
Sonos has a brand new entry-level soundbar that includes the firm’s wonderful multiroom music system onboard. A two-channel soundbar with Dolby Digital decoding, it is roughly two-thirds the dimensions of the Sonos Beam however delivers a surprisingly broad soundstage by using proprietary waveguides.
Whereas it would not help Dolby Atmos encompass sound or have an HDMI port to connect with your TV (you join it to your TV with an included optical cable), the sound high quality for music and films is spectacular. You’ll be able to pair it with a few different Sonos audio system, just like the Sonos One, to create a encompass sound system.
Learn our Sonos Ray evaluate.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Now that the Sonos Play:3 has been discontinued, a pair of Sonos Ones is your subsequent greatest guess. Organising a stereo pair is simple with the Sonos app, and the system sounds higher than equivalently priced audio system just like the Google Dwelling Max or Apple HomePod.
Learn our Sonos One evaluate.
You are receiving value alerts for Sonos One (Gen 2, Black)
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
With the addition of Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the sensible sound bar to get. Chances are you’ll be lacking out on deep bass and not using a sub, however the speaker makes your films sound large with its digital encompass capabilities.
You are receiving value alerts for Sonos Beam (Gen 2, Black)
Ty Pendlebury/CNET
The Sonos Arc is the most effective soundbar the corporate has ever launched. It has some nice options, together with an onboard voice assistant, HDMI eARC and Dolby Atmos playback. Not like the Beam, the system would not want a subwoofer, and except Sonos comes up with a less expensive Sub, that is the most effective cash you’ll be able to spend beneath a grand.
Learn our Sonos Arc evaluate.
You are receiving value alerts for Sonos Arc (White)
Sarah Tew/CNET
On the higher restrict of what most individuals ought to pay for a Sonos soundbar encompass sound system, this technique will provide loads of encompass sound and musical thrills. You should buy the Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($449), Sonos Sub ($749) and a pair of One SLs as a part of a set, or you’ll be able to mix them with a pair of the Ikea Bookshelves ($198) individually. Whereas the Sub by itself is fairly costly it makes a fantastic associate for the smaller Beam, whereas including surrounds completes the impact. The system would not have true Atmos, and if you’d like that you could improve to the Arc or you can mount the bookshelf audio system excessive up on the partitions behind you.
Learn the Sonos Sub evaluate.
What’s Sonos?
Sonos is likely one of the oldest multiroom audio methods in the marketplace and likewise one of the profitable. For the reason that manner we devour digital music has modified from taking part in MP3s to streaming companies and past, the audio system has additionally tailored and grown.
Sonos started as a solution to play iTunes playlists in your present audio system and it is grown to help streaming music companies on a variety of tabletop audio system, amplifiers, soundbars and subwoofers. Controlling the system started with a desktop app and the CR100 handheld controller, then it grew to cell apps and voice assistants. Sonos now presents a variety of audio system which embody a selection of both Google Assistant, Alexa or Sonos Voice onboard (One, Beam and Arc).
Listed below are some issues in regards to the product line that it is advisable know:
Works and not using a hub over a normal Wi-Fi community (no Bluetooth aside from the Roam)Helps over 100 streaming servicesWorks with Alexa, Google Assistant and SiriCompatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify ConnectThe new S2 system helps hi-res (i.e. Dolby TrueHD and Atmos) whereas legacy Sonos methods solely carry 16-bit/44.1kHzStream your analog-connected music round the home (with Amp, 5 or Port)
Beam Gen 2 and Arc embody Dolby Atmos
The One is our favourite Sonos speaker.
Sarah Tew/CNET
With the arrival of its S2 working system, the corporate has changed lots of its legacy merchandise whereas additionally introducing new ones. In 2022 alone, the corporate has introduced the Sonos Ray soundbar and the Sonos Sub Mini. For those who personal older parts, particularly ones with “Zone” within the title, they aren’t interoperable with the brand new system.
The present Sonos lineup is as follows:
Sonos Roam: $179 — Bluetooth and WiFi out of doors speakerSonos One SL: $199 — small tabletop audio speaker with out microphonesSonos One (Gen 2): $219 — sensible desk audio speaker with onboard voice assistantSonos Ray: $279 — soundbar with optical connectionSonos Beam Gen 2: $450 — soundbar with voice assistant and HDMISonos Transfer $399: — transportable sensible speaker with water resistanceSonos Port: $449 — streaming add-on field for present methods, analog enter/outputSonos Sub Mini: $429 — compact wi-fi subwoofer Sonos 5: $549 — giant tabletop audio speakerSonos Amp: $699 — amplifier with analog inputSonos Sub: $749 — wi-fi subwooferSonos Arc: $899 — Dolby Atmos soundbar
There are additionally three audio system from Ikea that work with the Sonos system: the Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Wi-Fi Speaker, the $181 Symfonisk Speaker lamp base (which replaces the Desk Lamp) and the $250 Ikea Symfonisk Image Body.
The Sonos app
Till voice management fully replaces it, the Sonos app is the place you management most of your audio’s setup and playback. The app’s focus has modified through the years because it’s moved away from companies to focus on the audio system themselves. The app nonetheless has probably the greatest common searches, and it is easy to arrange your audio system.
The Sonos app
Sarah Tew/CNET
The app is on the market for the next gadgets:
Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod TouchAndroid telephones and tabletsApple laptops and desktopsWindows laptops and desktopsAmazon Fireplace tablets
In addition to the Sonos app, you may additionally be capable of stream to the audio audio system immediately out of your favourite apps utilizing Play To Sonos. These embody: Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music and Tidal’s streaming music service. The system additionally helps streaming from iOS and suitable software program utilizing Apple AirPlay 2.
The competitors
The Polk Command Bar is a great sound bar that helps Amazon’s Multi-Room Music system.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The principle aggressive requirements accessible to Sonos are Bose Music, DTS Play-Fi, Google Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, Yamaha MusicCast and Denon HEOS. Amazon Echo and the Polk Command Bar additionally help the Amazon MRM system.
Wi-fi audio audio system begin at round $100 — with most that includes Apple AirPlay, Chromecast or each — and nice wi-fi sound bars such because the Polk Command Bar begin at $250. Listed below are a number of the greatest multiroom music methods.
Extra audio guides