Sonos Era speakers (Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300) will hit the market to reset the bar for the smart speaker market, and offer several new features to enhance the user experience.
One of the key features of these new speakers is their support for Bluetooth and USB-C line-in, in addition to Wi-Fi streaming. This will allow users to connect their devices to the speakers in a variety of ways. The era speakers have more flexibility in how they use their audio equipment. The addition of USB-C line-in is particularly noteworthy. It is a newer technology that is becoming increasingly popular among consumers.
Revealed: Sono Era 300 and Era 100 Speakers
Sonos is gearing up to unveil two new smart speakers to take the audio world by storm. According to recent reports, the company is finalizing the details for the release of the Era 300 and Era 100 speakers. Both of the speakers are possible to hit the market in the coming weeks. Excitingly, The Verge has obtained marketing images of these products, giving eager fans a sneak peek at what to expect.
The Era 300 speaker is available with the focus on spatial audio. Also, it is expected to retail for around $450. It means that the speaker has a more affordable price range compared to the Sonos Five. While the flagship Sonos Five will remain part of the company’s product lineup, it will be exciting to see how the Era 300 shapes up against it.
Meanwhile, the Sonos One is all but confirmed to be replaced by the upcoming Era 100. Priced at around $250, this slight price increase compared to the $219 Sonos One is expected to bring several improvements for customers. As the Sonos One becomes a thing of the past, the Era 100 will take its place. The successor will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of smart speakers.
Also read: Bose Smart Speaker 300 Short Review
Sono Era Speakers: Design and Features
The original mockup of the Era 300 has remained unchanged, and although the Era 100 shares some design elements with the Sonos One, it has a more rounded shape overall. Sonos has also improved the volume controls on both speakers. The company added an indented bar that is easier to feel and slide your finger across.
In addition, both the Era 100 and Era 300 will include a new speech bubble button as part of their standard controls. This button allows you to temporarily mute the built-in microphones, while a physical switch on the back of each speaker can disconnect power to the mics completely.
The Era 300’s highlight music in spatial audio and promises to deliver an immersive listening experience. However, there seems to be a divide with Apple, which has positioned itself as the leader in spatial audio. While the Era 300 comes with spatial audio, Apple Music’s tens of thousands of Dolby Atmos songs are unlikely to be supported at this time. Meanwhile, amid Sonos’ ongoing legal battle with Google, Google Assistant may potentially be dropped from the company’s latest smart speakers.
But there’s more exciting news for Sonos fans. The Era 100 will offer even convenience than its predecessor, the Sonos One. According to reports, the Era 100 will feature both Bluetooth audio playback and USB-C line-in. This will allow you to run external sources like a turntable directly through the speaker. This new feature was not possible with the Sonos One. Also, it will undoubtedly make the Era 100 a more versatile and sought-after product.
Connectivity
Sonos is shaking up the world of smart speakers with its new Era lineup. With the introduction of Bluetooth for both home speakers, Sonos is embracing choice and flexibility. It provides customers with a range of options for connecting to their favorite audio devices. And in a world where wireless streaming is the norm, it’s refreshing to see Sonos preserving physical input, even if it’s not as simple as a 3.5mm aux jack.
The Era 300 and Era 100 will both include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and support for AirPlay 2. But that’s not all โ Sonos is also separately selling a line-in adapter for USB-C audio and a “combo adapter” for plugging in over Ethernet. It’s worth noting that neither device has a built-in jack. However, with these adapters, customers can easily connect their turntables or other audio sources directly to the speakers.
This approach sets Sonos apart from competitors like Apple’s HomePod and Google’s Nest Audio, which lack any kind of I/O and rely solely on wireless streaming. However, Amazon’s Echo and Echo Studio do offer a traditional auxiliary input, providing some level of choice for users.
Audio Quality
As previously reported, the Era 300 is the speaker that will be perfect for music lovers who crave immersive, room-filling sound. The Era 300 boasts six drivers that direct sound forward, left, right, and up. It can showcase spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. When paired with the Arc or Beam (Gen 2) as rear surrounds, a stereo pair of Era 300s will deliver immersive Atmos surround sound, including upward-firing audio.
One potential drawback of the Era 300 is that it does not yet support Apple Musicโs Dolby Atmos library on a standalone Era 300, despite its spatial audio-focused design. For now, the functionality remains exclusive to the HomePod. However, with the Era 300 expected to hit shelves soon. It is possible that Sonos could reach an agreement with Apple in the coming weeks to allow standalone Era 300 speakers to play Apple Musicโs Dolby Atmos library.
Improved Performance
The Era 100 has been shrouded in mystery, with little information available about it. However, from the few images and details that have emerged, a clearer picture of the new speaker is beginning to emerge. It is not for spatial audio and does not feature upward-firing drivers. Instead, it may go with more advanced version of the Sonos One, with improved performance. The addition of a second tweeter enables the speaker to produce true stereo sound. Furthermore, the enlarged mid-woofer enhances its bass response. As a result, it is more powerful than its predecessor.
The two speakers will support Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa. But it is currently unclear whether Google Assistant exist. Sonos’ marketing materials mention Alexa directly, but make no mention of Assistant. It is possible that Sonos is downplaying Google’s service because Sonos Voice Control and Alexa can work together simultaneously.
Sonos has made some significant changes with its latest speakers, the Era 300 and Era 100. One notable feature is that these devices will support Trueplay tuning on Android phones, a first for Sonos. However, unlike on iOS, the speakers themselves will analyze the room and optimize sound using their built-in microphones. This is referred to as “quick tuning” internally, while the more comprehensive “advanced tuning” option, which involves walking around the room with your phone, is still exclusive to iPhone and iPad.
Sustainable design is also a key focus of the Era 300 and Era 100. Sonos has made changes to make disassembly and repair easier, such as using more screws and less adhesive. The speakers also consume less power than previous models. Each device using under two watts when idle and featuring a new, more efficient sleep mode.
Release Date
Although not yet officially announced, Sonos era speakers (Era 300 and Era 100) show Sonos’ commitment to establishing itself as a leader in smart speakers. With multiple connectivity options like Wi-Fi streaming, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and USB-C, as well as improved internals, these speakers are sure to impress. However, the most critical factor is sound quality, and this remains to be seen.
The Era series is just the beginning of Sonos’ plans for 2023. The company intending to release a device in a new product category by the end of the year. They will expand the speakers into three additional categories in the future. As a result, it’s an exciting time to be a Sonos fan, with much to look forward to.
Also read: Best Sonos Smart Speaker Options You Must Have This Year
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