The Sonos One has the power and technology to stand the test of time. This Smart Speaker was introduced to the market with future plans to include voice control features that make the speaker the first of its kind.
The plans for this speaker to be compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Airplay 2 have been fulfilled beyond expectation. The seamless integration with Alexa appeals to Smart-home users that prefer to stereo pair speakers and play music throughout their homes while simultaneously controlling their thermostat, lights, and even door locks.
The Sonos One is noted for the great sound it produces at an affordable price. Customers looking for an alternative to a pricey Home Sound System have selected the Sonos One because of the wide selection of options Sonos offers to stereo pair and build an ecosystem.
This speaker is great for Alexa users and those looking for a large selection of streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Spotify. The Sonos app greatly enhances this speaker’s capabilities and is one of the reasons it is often recognised as the best Smart Home Speaker.
In this review, we unpack the details of this popular Sonos speaker to determine its sound quality, value for money, and ideal customer.
Verdict
- Pros: Sound Quality, Price, Volume, Voice Control
- Cons: Not Portable, No Aux
The ideal customer for the Sonos One is someone looking for a full sound system. It functions well as a single speaker but its potential and price are maximized when integrated with other speakers in the Sonos ecosystem.
This Sonos Smart Speaker is small but has amazing sound and a loud volume. The speaker allows for better communication with Alexa and significantly more streaming options than popular services like Spotify.
The Sonos app is much more advanced than its wireless speaker competitors. It broadens the appeal of this product to reach those interested in more music choices.
Sonos designed the One without an aux or USB-C port but most users are satisfied to control the speaker through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Airplay 2, or directly via their phone.
This speaker is a great investment for anyone establishing a smart home through voice control.
Sonos One Comparison Table
| Sonos One | Sonos Five | Bose 300 | |
| Power Output | Not stated | Not stated | 120 watts |
| Bluetooth | No | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 360° Sound | No | No | Yes |
| Amplifiers | 2 x Class D | 6 x Class D | Not stated |
| Tweeters | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Midwoofers | 1 | 3 | 1 x full-range |
| Subwoofers | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Resistance Rating | None | None | None |
| App | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.85 kg | 6.36 kg | 0.9 kg |
| Speakerphone | No | No | No |
| Voice Assistant | Yes | No | Yes |
| Audio inputs (aux, USB, micro USB) | None | Aux | Aux |
Performance
Sound Quality (9/10)
The sound quality of the Sonos One is powerful and punchy for a speaker of its size. Other than distortion in the bass at max volume, the Sonos One has superb sound.
Across the EQ spectrum, the Sonos One blends highs, mids, and lows smoothly creating a crisp sound.
The Sonos One speakers sound amazing for their size. Just one of them was able to fill my living room with full, balanced sound.
Tom’s Guide
The sound quality is not only notable when playing music, with many users also reporting appreciation for clarity in voice commands, even while music is playing lowly in the background.
Although the speaker is not 360-degree surround sound, there are very few complaints about the quality of the speaker in a home stereo system. In fact, the One receives complimentary reviews of its sound consistently from experts and customers alike.
Volume (9/10)
The volume of the Sonos One is loud. At only fifty percent the speaker can fill a small to medium size room such as a bedroom or kitchen with sound.
When stereo paired with another Sonos One the speaker produces volume that matches with the Sonos Five. Even as a mono speaker the Sonos One has a thumping bass coming from its built-in 3.5 mid-woofer.
At 65 db’s, the volume level is louder than many comparable speakers on the market, however, it meets its limit when playing at maximum volume, where some distortions can be heard in the bass and hissing in other ranges.
When listening to it in an 800 square foot apartment, it was able to fill the entire space with sound, even with half a dozen people milling about.
Tech Gear Lab
Connectivity (8/10)
Wi-Fi connectivity plays a major role in the functionality of the Sonos One. The speaker also has an Ethernet cable port for weak Internet signals.
The option to use an Aux cable or USB-C to stream music from phones is not available, as these ports are not built into the One. Without these ports, connecting to devices directly is difficult.
Users give great reviews about the Alexa integration on this speaker, but some complain about the inability to use Alexa Drop-In for instant connection.
You can not use the One to output audio from T.V. unless you connect to Sonos Connect because there are no inputs on the speaker.
Power
The Sonos One is an in-home speaker with a power cord; it does not have a battery. Its power cable is durable and fits perfectly with the speaker due to its unique design.
The only problem with the power cable is that it limits positioning options.
The Sonos One power cable is two meters long. However, if your location for the speaker requires more than two meters, there is a Flexson 5 Meter replacement power cable that works with the Sonos Play 1 as well.
Other Features
One of the most widely appreciated features of the One is the accompanying Sonos app. The Sonos app adds hi-resolution audio, lots of options for playing music, and a convenient setup process.
The Sonos app makes it possible for those who prefer a less compressed sound to listen to music in high-resolution. The app supports high-resolution streaming services such as Amazon Music HD and QoBuz.
Another highly appreciated feature of the One is the built-in FM radio tuner that picks up many FM radio stations without using the Internet. The speaker also supports over fifty different streaming services including Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer.
The design allows you to skip tracks by swiping from left to right or right to left with touch-sensitive controls. The microphone array on the top of the speaker makes it easy to play pause music with Google Assistant and Alexa.
The One has earned a reputation as the best speaker for Google Assistant and Alexa integration in the multi room, smart speakers arena.
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What’s Changed from Previous Versions?
Sonos Play One was the predecessor to the Sonos One. The Sonos Play One does not have microphones so the integrated voice assistant on the Sonos One is new.
Sonos released several versions of the One including Gen 1, Gen 2, and SL. Each one is very similar but the SL is slightly cheaper and does not have microphones for Google Home and Alexa.
The Gen 2 is equipped for innovative trends in the field of smart speakers. Compared to the Gen 1 it has Bluetooth low energy, a more powerful processor, and greater memory.
All three versions sound exactly the same so there is no loss of sound quality or volume. The company no longer produces the Gen 1 although for the time being it can still be found through various retailers.
Alternatives
Sonos Five
One alternative to the Sonos One is a fellow Sonos family member, the Sonos Five. If you prefer a larger and louder speaker there are benefits to the Sonos Five over the One.
The Sonos Five is said to have the best sound quality of the Sonos speakers. The larger size of the Sonos Five allots thumping bass, consistent vocals, and distortion-free audio at higher volumes.
The Sonos Five has automatic sound adjustment based on the device’s positioning, but a downside is the Five requires the app for use of smart controls.
Unlike the One, the Sonos Five has a 3.5mm aux cable. The trade-off of an aux chord over a built-in voice assistant may be worth it if smart features are not a requirement for you.
Bose Home Speaker 300
The Bose Home Speaker 300 is a great alternative to the Sonos One because of the similarities of the two speakers as well as the pros of the Bose over the One.
Unlike the One, the Bose Home Speaker 300 has Bluetooth streaming and can be used as a wireless speaker without a power cord. There are more touch commands on the top of the speaker, which makes it easy to use without voice control and preset up to six radio stations, albums, or podcasts.
One thing to decide is whether it is worth $40-$60 difference in price. The Sonos One costs currently $299 AUD, while the Bose Home Speaker 300 is available for $336 AUD.
Both speakers offer Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice controls, and both have Airplay2. They also have Subwoofers, which produce high-quality deep bass, but the Bose lacks the dynamic range of the One.
There is no question that Sonos has a larger selection of compatible speakers in their ecosystem than Bose for establishing multi-room playback.
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