The Sonos Era 300 does n’t reckon like any ordinarywireless speaker . And with its aggregation of six driver , arranged in a design that shine sound in four directions at once , it definitely does n’t vocalize like one either . That ’s because it ’s been built to take advantage of spacial audio , specificallyDolby Atmos Music — an immersive 3Dsurround sound formatthat , until late , could only be get using headphones or ( if you had all of the right equipment ) a pricey Dolby Atmos - capable home theater system or soundbar .
What materialize when you stretch up a stocky , $ 449 voguish loudspeaker with all of those drivers and then feed it a seed of Dolby Atmos Music ? Pure magic .
And I predict that once you hear it , you ’ll only part with it if we pry it from your stale , dead hands .
Video review
Not your average speaker
In keep on with the rest of the Sonos home speaker lineup , you could corrupt the Era 300 in either pitch-black or white . They both look great , with their understated , all - plastic exterior . But if you get from a fingerprint allergic reaction , I recommend the white version — the black finish has a trend to show even the dim of marks on its politic beltline .
Though certainly center - catching , the Era 300 ’s unusual hourglass shape is n’t merely Sonos trying to make a statement . The design reserve five of the speaker ’s six drivers to aim strait both outward and slightly fore . If you visualize the loudspeaker sitting in the plaza of a flower , with the petal representing the sound , you ’ll get the idea .
It ’s a clever solution that let the speaker to do what it does best — do n’t worry , I ’ll get to go calibre in a second — but it also means you ’ll take to give it plenty of room to breathe . Placing the Era 300 in a bookshelf ( or anywhere that might block the incline or top ) would be less than ideal .
Not that there are many bookshelf that would handily accommodate it . At 6.3 in tall , 10.2 column inch spacious , and 7.2 inches mysterious , the Era is heavyset for a speaker of its capability , but it ’s not on the button modest .
Better controls and indicators
Atop the speaker are Sonos ’ newly redesign skin senses dominance , which separate track skipping and volume functions , making both easy and more accurate to use . The grooved volume slider is an especially satisfying restraint , bringing an almost analogue feel to loudness allowance . You ’ll also find two ways to control the built - in mics : a quick tap - to - tongueless control on top and a mike kill switch on the back panel that physically disconnect the mic tour for the ultimate in privacy . ( Sonos has no plans at the moment to introduce a mic - barren “ SL ” variant of the 300 . )
I noted in myreview of the Era 100that I think Sonos should consider add together backlights to these restraint to make them promiscuous to find in darken room . After all , with its relatively humble footprint , the geological era 100 could easily be lay on a nightstand . I doubt many folks will do that with the epoch 300 .
The light-emitting diode Sonos use to indicate thing like voice adjunct response , muting , and software updates is now seeable from the front of the speaker , behind the grille , where it can be get wind from any advantage tip . That ’s a big improvement over the former top - surface location it used on its previous verbaliser .
Powerful smarts
I wo n’t say that the epoch 300 is the most brawny Sonos smart talker — that title belongs to theSonos Arc soundbar — but it is the most sinewy euphony - oriented smart speaker unit in the company ’s lineup . TheSonos Five($549 ) load down a bigger punch , but it ’s not a smart speaker .
you’re able to opt to run either Amazon Alexa or Sonos ’ homegrownSonos Voice Control(SVC ) help ( or both simultaneously ) on the Era 300 ; Google Assistant is n’t available . That might not be a lasting place — many of Sonos ’ other smart utterer models offer Google ’s AI — but the current relationship between Sonos and Googleis a tense oneand it may be a while before they resign their differences .
The Sonos Era 300 gives raw signification to “ fill up a way with audio . ”
Google ’s absence notwithstanding , the geological era 300 work on really well with Alexa and SVC . The mike array has no difficulty pick up your voice from across the elbow room , and as long as you ’re not boom the tunes , it can even learn you over the auditory sensation of music playing .
At the moment , Alexa is the honest choice if you use streaming services like Spotify , Tidal , TuneIn , or YouTube Music , while SVC works well withApple Music , Amazon Music , Deezer , Pandora , and Sonos ’ ownSonos Radio . Where SVC really occur in handy is its Sonos - specific skills , like grouping and ungrouping speakers or accessing your Sonos playlists .
All of the connections
The Era 300 and Era 100 are thefirst Sonos home plate speakers with Bluetooth . And for folks who have been stuck in the pre - Bluetooth Sonos “ era , ” it ’s a intimation of impudent breeze . A long press on the dedicated Bluetooth button on the back of the speaker is all it takes to put the Era 300 into mating fashion , and from there you could connect any Bluetooth gadget and start stream . Sonos has n’t equipped with the 300 with hello - res capableBluetooth codecs(just SBC and AAC ) , however .
You will notice that Bluetooth sessions do n’t sound quite as respectable as those that are started from the Sonos app , so this should n’t be your go - to for critical listening . But it in the end lets your chat booster play medicine on your Sonos organisation without having to share Wi - Fi word or download the Sonos app .
You have not really heard the Era 300 until you play tracks in Dolby Atmos Music .
It ’s also unco flexible . Unlike theSonos Move , which has to abandon its Wi - Fi connexion to use Bluetooth , you could go the Bluetooth connection on the new geological era speakers at the same time as Wi - Fi , leaving you the power to control their setting from the Sonos app . With that Wi - Fi connection still active , Bluetooth streaming sessions to the Era 300 can be shared with any other Sonos speaker in the house .
Before you postulate , yes , the earned run average 300 and 100 can both be used as standalone Bluetooth speakers . Some prize SVC command are still uncommitted , though not the right way out of the loge . A Wi - Fi - connected first - time setup is a prerequisite before you may do any Bluetooth streaming . But that ’s a small thing because you ’re almost certainly going to typeset up these speakers with Wi - Fi anyway — that ’s how Sonos works .
External devices, too
Sonos ’ previous home speaker have been a morsel stingy when it comes to extraneous link . They miss Bluetooth , and unless you were willing to spend swelled dollar on the Sonos Five , there was also no style to associate an extraneous source of audio like aturntable . That might have been perceivable in the mid-2000s when Sonos was first establishing its bearing as the run wireless audio frequency system . But in 2023 , whenvinyl is outselling CDsfor the first time in tenner , it ’s a real limitation .
It ’s about time Sonos tote up expert documentation for computer peripheral .
Sonos has distinctly been reading the room because you may tot a $ 19line - in adapterto the Era 300 ’s USB - C port that accept any 3.5 mm analog connexion . Turntables will still need a preamp if they do n’t have one build - in ( and probably a two-channel RCA - to-3.5 mm patch cord ) , but once plug in , you ’ll be able-bodied to whirl records or any other parallel sound recording and listen on the epoch 300 . Better yet , that melody - in adapter is visible from within the Sonos app and can be access by any Sonos loudspeaker system , even if the Era 300 is n’t playing .
There ’s also a $ 39combo adapterthat total an Ethernet jack to the 3.5 mm input , for those who require to use a wired connection to their internet .
Sonos has said zilch about digital audio recording adapters , but I ’m bright this will happen given that the USB - C plug is already a digital interface .
As easy as it gets
Sonos fans already make out how bright simple the companionship ’s merchandise are to set up , and the geological era 300 is no exception . If anything , it ’s the promiscuous so far . Download and add the Sonos app and create an explanation ( if you have n’t done so already ) , then plug the speaker into the paries and let the app do the rest .
It mechanically finds the verbalizer , confirms that you desire to mark it up , and rapidly guides you through the process of getting connected to your Wi - Fi meshwork and choosing a name and fix for the speaker — all without hold to enter a exclusive password or contract weird release combinations on the Era . Two minutes ( at the most ) and you ’re in occupation . perhaps a few more if you have to add your streaming services to the Sonos app .
Room tuning for everyone
Another major improvement on the Era 300 is Sonos ’ revamped Trueplay way - tuning scheme . As on previous speakers , this automatically rebalances EQ to take a room ’s specific acoustics into consideration . But now , you no longer need an iPhone to do it . Android and iPhone userscan both help themselves of a novel quick - tuning variant of Trueplaythat leverage the Era ’s built - in mics instead of the ones on your headphone .
It ’s tight , it ’s well-heeled , and I ’m not indisputable I can tell the conflict between this approach and the “ advanced tuning ” selection that can still be accessed if you have an iPhone .
This. Sounds. Awesome.
I ’m not a devotee of hyperbole . A merchandise can be beneficial or even keen without needing additional word form like “ epic , ” or “ secret plan - change . ” But if ever there were a Cartesian product that could apologise these superlatives , it ’s the Era 300 .
When playing traditional stereo music , it ’s already one of the full wireless loudspeaker you may buy . There ’s excellent detachment between frequencies . And the highs are vindicated , with just a tactile sensation of glitter , the mids are n’t trample , so you could make out much of the detail , and you will not believe the bass this affair kicks out . I demonstrate it for my fellow worker , Derek Malcolm , and he pointed to the Sonos Sub in the corner and enjoin , “ nifty ! Now let ’s hear it without the hoagy . ” The look on his fount when I told him the hoagie was n’t connected was invaluable .
However , you have not see half of what the earned run average 300 can do until you play tracks that have been created in Dolby Atmos Music .
You might have to convert acquaintance you do n’t have a dedicated subwoofer in the elbow room .
A track like The Weeknd’sBlinding Lights , when streamed fromTidal Hi - Fi , sound great , no question . But flip to Amazon Music Unlimited ’s Dolby Atmos Music variant of the same track and , dead , the strait expand outward and upward , take what was already a decent soundstage and then magnifying it , making it nigh impossible to place the source of the speech sound with your centre close . I ’ve see sound like this from a soundbar , but never from a music verbalizer .
One of the hallmarks ofDolby Atmosfor movie is its power to move individual sounds around a elbow room and not just switch the direction from which it ’s come at you . That effect increase the naive realism of the on - screen action mechanism as what you see and what you learn match up in 3D quad . For Dolby Atmos Music , the aim is different , but no less effective — it places you within the music , letting a set distinguish a subtly dissimilar story with their vocalism and instruments by aline how you relate to them beyond a simple left - right presentation .
To my mind , there ’s no better example of this than the Dolby Atmos remaster of the classic Doors trackRiders on the Storm . In stereo , the rainfall and thunder certainly add to the humour . But in Atmos , they become cinematic — the sonic backdrop against which the events of the song then unfold . The Era 300 consecrate you front - row seats .
Want a different kind of front - row experience ? elicit up the live , Dolby Atmos version of John William’sThe Imperial March(otherwise known as Darth Vader ’s theme ) fromStar Warsand prepare for hairs on the back of your neck to stand up .
Not every Dolby Atmos Music runway use this format to its best advantage . I was disappointed , for instance , with an Atmos edition of Alanis Morissette ’s mega - hitYou Oughta Know . But , to be fair , it was still just than the two-channel version .
At the moment , there are only two other non - soundbar speakers that crop with Dolby Atmos Music : Amazon ’s $ 199Echo Studioand Apple ’s $ 299HomePod Gen 2 . Of those two models , I was only able to compare the geological era 300 to the HomePod . But base on that union , I finger confident telling you that those other smart speakers ca n’t prevail a taper to the Era . Given the price difference , I ’d be shocked if that were not the case .
Immersive or ambient?
If there ’s one consideration with a verbaliser like the Era 300 , particularly when listening to Dolby Atmos Music , it ’s location . Or , to be more specific , your position relative to the speaker . To really get the full welfare of Dolby Atmos ’ immersive quality , you need to be seated directly in front of the Era so it can wrap you in sound ( back to that flower doctrine of analogy from the presentation ) . In this way , it ’s similar to listening to a decently separated set of stereo speakers .
However , you may still gain from Atmos running even if you ’re not in the speaker ’s seraphic spot . Instead of getting an immersive experience , it becomes an ambient one . I tried the two-channel - versus - Atmos comparability while walk from room to way , as well as listening from an neighboring room , and it ’s remarkable how much the Atmos adaptation is able to pervade the infinite . When we say a speaker can “ sate a room with strait , ” that expression takes on new meaning with the epoch 300 .
Not for your TV
After experiencing Dolby Atmos Music on the Era 300 , it ’s almost unsufferable not to wonder what this speaker would be like as aDolby Atmos soundbarconnected to a TV . Sadly , however , that ’s not a scenario Sonos currently supports ( at least , not without a Sonos soundbar ) . The practiced news is that if Sonos ever changes its mind , that handy USB - century port can probably be fit out with an HDMI input . Never say never .
We’re going to need a better search
Listening to Dolby Atmos Music on the earned run average 300 is so honest , it highlights a weakness that I hope Sonos is able to define cursorily : it can be very hard to find and identify Dolby Atmos Music tracks , even though there are only two services that presently make them available via Sonos : Apple Music and Amazon Music .
There ’s no way to dribble lookup results by the data format , no room to name an Atmos version of a raceway from its stereo tantamount until you actually play it , and no reliable keywords that can be used to regain these track .
What ’s even more frustrating is that if you find an Atmos racecourse and then head up to the full record album in the hope that the rest of the track are also in Atmos , you ’ll be disappointed more often than not . For now , your best wager is to search for “ spatial audio ” and peruse the play list that pop up on both euphony services .
Sonos is mindful of the problem and says it is working closely with both Amazon and Apple to make it ripe .
If one is good, two are spectacular
It probably go without saying , but I ’ll say it anyway : two earned run average 300s configure as a stereoscopic picture pair takes the experience to the next level . It ’s not cheap — we ’re spill about an$898 investing — and yet , if you were to make this your primary medicine hearing frame-up , I think it ’s worth it .
Calling it a stereophonic pair in the context of Dolby Atmos Music does n’t really make sense , so let ’s say it ’s a stereo pair when playing stereo tracks and a spatial audio pair when playing Atmos content .
or else of just boom all driver on both speaker system , Sonos deemphasizes the inwards - facing driver while keeping the outward ones going at regular posture ; it ’s kind of like occupy a single Era 300 and stretch it out between the left and correct post , but with more overall potentiality .
Stellar surrounds
If you have a Sonos base theater apparatus base on aSonos Arcand perhaps aSonos Sub , you have a decent 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos system . If you ’ve added a set of Sonos Ones as surrounds , I ’ll calculate it sounds even estimable . But a system that combine the Arc , the Sub , and a readiness of Era 300s as surrounds is an rank show-stopper . ( It ’s also very expensive . )
Thanks to the embedded height gadget driver in the Era 300s , it becomes the first Sonos system to deliver 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos ( two front - tallness and two rear - high ) , and the Era ’s extra side - fire driver make them ideal fellow traveler to the Arc ’s already telling practical surroundings channel .
They ’re almost comically big when used as surrounds , but once you discover them you ’ll bury about their sizing . Even in my smallish cellar media room , where I could not quite put the Eras as far behind my seating area as Sonos recommends , the sound was striking .
My go - to Dolby Atmos moving-picture show clips ( the Aston Martin following scene fromNo Time To Die , the first sandworm picture from Denis Villeneuve’sDune , the Daytona wash scene fromFord v Ferrari , and the initial Salmon Portland Chase picture fromMad Max : Fury Road ) all sounded as good or better than I have ever heard them . The orchestral scenes from2022 ’s Tárhit with an emotional poke that left me breathless .
It ’s a grownup strain particular on your credit card instruction if you were to buy them all at once — Sonos calls the $ 2,471 parcel the “ ultimate immersive exercise set with Arc . ” But if you ’re already a Sonos client , it makes more sense than switching to a similar system from Sony , LG , or Samsung .
If you are still in any doubt as to whether you should corrupt the Sonos Era 300 or not , let me be perfectly clear : you should grease one’s palms it . Heck , if you’re able to afford it , you should buy two . I say this whether you are currently a Sonos owner or you ’ve never even listened to a Sonos speaker system before . It ’s an amazing talker controlled by an amazing app ( ourSonos explainergets into all of those details ) , and when you take into circumstance its overbold speaker abilities , Bluetooth , and line of work - in options , the fact that it ’s escape Google Assistant seems an almost petty critique .
Just do me a favor and anticipate me that if you do buy the Era 300 , you will also sign up for either Amazon Music or Apple Music ( sooner , in my vox populi , Amazon Music ) so that you’re able to experience this speaker the way it ’s meant to be heard — with a nonstop playlist of Dolby Atmos Music .
