The Sonos Era 300 speaker is a premium home audio experience featuring six optimally positioned drivers for Dolby Atmos Music and built-in Alexa support.
Sound Review Hub’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
As a leader in the home audio industry, Sonos has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality sound equipment designed to bring music to life. With the release of the Sonos Era 300 speaker, they have once again raised the bar for what a premium smart speaker can do.
I recently replaced two Sonos One speakers in my living room with the Era 300 and was amazed at how much better it sounded than my previous setup. The sound was rich and detailed, and a wide range of frequencies filled the entire room.
If you’re looking for an exceptional smart speaker to take your listening experience to the next level, you should definitely check out the Sonos Era 300. Keep reading this review to get a more detailed perspective on my experience with the Sonos Era 300!
Design and Build Quality
The Sonos Era 300 is a sleek, hourglass-shaped smart speaker that stands out from the crowd. Its unique design makes it an eye-catching addition to any room, while its robust construction ensures it will last for years.
The speaker measures 6.3 inches tall and 10.24 inches wide, making it compact enough to fit on most shelves or counters without taking up too much space. It has a thickness of 7.28 inches and weighs 9.85 pounds. The top of the speaker is made from durable plastic with a matte finish.
The control buttons are conveniently located on the top of the speaker for easy access. There’s also an LED display that shows you when Alexa is listening or when you’re connected to Wi-Fi. On the back of the speaker are two ports: one for power and one for connecting other Sonos speakers via Ethernet cable.
Features And Connectivity
The Sonos Era 300 is a next-generation smart speaker that offers an impressive range of features and connectivity. It has four tweeters, two woofers, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, USB-C, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Amazon Alexa support. This allows for multi-room audio streaming and voice control.
Setting up the Sonos Era 300 was simple. All I had to do was open the Sonos app for iOS and follow the steps to connect it to my existing Sonos system. After that, I was able to start streaming music from my favorite services like Spotify and YouTube Music right away.
The speaker’s sound quality is top-notch; it’s clear and crisp with plenty of bass. The spatial audio experience is also quite captivating; it creates a sense of depth in the room that’s hard to find in other speakers. I also appreciate how easy it is to use with its intuitive controls and voice commands.
I’ve been using the Sonos Era 300 as rear speakers hooked up to my Sonos Arc soundbar and Sub for a few weeks. I’m really impressed with how well they work together to create an immersive home theater experience, especially when watching movies.
Audio Performance
The sound quality of the Sonos Era 300 is excellent, with clear highs and lows, great bass levels, and vocals that are reproduced accurately. It’s also great to have access to new connectivity options like Bluetooth and USB-C line-in (with an adapter).
When connected to the Sonos Arc and Sub, I noticed a huge difference in my listening experience. Music sounded fuller and more dynamic, while movies like Shutter Island had more depth and clarity. Also, the addition of Dolby Atmos made it feel like I was right in the middle of the action!
Comparison To Sonos Era 100
When choosing a speaker, the Sonos Era 300 and the Sonos Era 100 are two of the most popular options. Both speakers offer excellent sound quality, but some key differences make one better suited for certain situations.
The Sonos Era 300 is a larger speaker with additional features, including Dolby Atmos support, which makes it great for immersive audio experiences. It also has a more powerful amplifier than the Sonos Era 100, allowing it to produce louder sounds with greater clarity. The design of the Era 300 is also more modern and sleek, making it an attractive addition to any room.
The Sonos Era 100 is smaller and offers fewer features than its counterpart. However, this doesn’t mean that it lacks in sound quality; on the contrary, its bass response is surprisingly good for its size and price range. The design of this speaker is also quite attractive; it has a slightly more rounded shape than the Sonos One and looks great in any setting.
Regarding connectivity options, both speakers have Bluetooth 5.0 and Apple Airplay 2 support, so you can easily stream music from your phone or tablet without having to connect wires or cables. In addition, both speakers are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control them using voice commands.
Overall, both speakers offer excellent sound quality and convenience. Still, if you’re looking for an immersive audio experience or want a more modern-looking speaker, then you should definitely go for the Sonos Era 300 over the Sonos Era 100. This model’s extra features make it worth investing in if you’re looking for something that will last you many years.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Impressive Sound Quality: The Sonos Era 300 delivers a rich, detailed sound that fills the room. Its audio performance is top-notch, with clear highs, deep bass, and excellent midrange clarity.
- Dolby Atmos Support: This speaker comes with Dolby Atmos technology, which offers an immersive listening experience by creating a sense of depth and dimensionality in your audio.
- Elegant Design: The unique hourglass shape and premium materials make this speaker a stylish addition to any room.
- Voice Control and Multi-Room Streaming: With built-in voice control (Alexa and Google Assistant) and compatibility with multi-room streaming, the Sonos Era 300 allows you to effortlessly control your music and integrate it into your existing Sonos ecosystem.
- Easy Setup and Integration: The setup process is simple, thanks to the intuitive Sonos app. It’s also easy to integrate with other Sonos devices or third-party smart home systems.
Cons
- Price: The Sonos Era 300 is on the more expensive side when compared to other smart speakers in the market. While the features and audio quality may justify the price for some, it might be a deal-breaker for others.
- Lack of Portability: The Sonos Era 300 is not designed for portability, as it requires a power outlet. If you’re looking for a portable speaker, you might want to consider other options, such as the Sonos Move.
- No Built-in Battery: Unlike other smart speakers, the Era 300 has no built-in battery, meaning it must be plugged in at all times to function.
Should You Buy It?
Initially, I wasn’t fond of the Sonos Era 300’s design, but my opinion changed drastically upon discovering the significant improvement over the two Sonos One speakers I had replaced. Although it is double the cost of the Sonos One at $449 compared to $219, the investment is undoubtedly worthwhile for upgrading to the Sonos Era 300.
If you’re new to Sonos and trying to save money, I suggest looking at the Sonos One speaker as a more affordable option. But if you’re willing to invest in the best, I recommend the Sonos Arc soundbar, Sonos Sub Gen 3, and two Sonos Era 300 speakers for a complete home theater experience. Trust me; I haven’t been disappointed.
