Review of Sonos Era 100 – Black: A Deep Dive into the Wireless, Alexa-Enabled Smart Speaker
The Sonos Era 100 in Black is a compelling entry in the realm of smart speakers, combining advanced audio technology with user-friendly features that cater to a diverse range of listening experiences. With its polycarbonate construction, multi-room capabilities, and an array of integration options, this speaker aims to redefine how we engage with music and sound in our daily lives.
Design and Build Quality
Sporting a sleek black finish, the Sonos Era 100 is designed to blend seamlessly into any environment. Its compact dimensions (7″D x 5.1″W x 7.22″H) allow it to fit comfortably on a bookshelf, kitchen counter, or desk without occupying too much space. The polycarbonate material not only helps keep the weight manageable (4.45 pounds) but also ensures durability and ease of placement, making it a versatile option for any room in your home.
Audio Performance
Equipped with a next-gen dual-tweeter acoustic architecture and a significantly larger midwoofer, the Era 100 delivers a sound experience that is both detailed and immersive. The speaker’s 4.72-inch subwoofer and 13.06-centimeter woofer provide deep bass, while the stereo pairing feature allows users to create a wider soundstage, enhancing the overall listening experience.
Trueplay tuning technology is a standout feature, utilizing the Sonos app to analyze the acoustics of your space and optimize the speaker’s EQ settings accordingly. This results in a tailored listening experience that ensures your music sounds just as it should, regardless of the room’s unique characteristics.
Connectivity and Smart Features
One of the most appealing aspects of the Sonos Era 100 is its versatility in connectivity. Featuring Bluetooth, AirPlay, Wi-Fi, and NFC capabilities, users can easily stream music from a variety of sources, including smartphones, tablets, and home theater systems. The inclusion of a USB port and the option to connect a turntable or other audio devices via an auxiliary cable further expands its usability.
For those invested in smart home ecosystems, the Era 100’s Alexa compatibility allows for voice-activated control, enabling users to play music, adjust volume, or even manage other smart devices seamlessly. With a 10-meter Bluetooth range, you’ll enjoy the freedom to move around without being tethered to your speaker.
User Experience
User feedback on the Sonos Era 100 has been largely positive, with many praising its sound quality and the convenience of wireless connectivity. A user noted, “These speakers are amazing… I am replacing my entire audio ecosystem with these speakers.” The ability to control the speaker remotely via the Sonos app or directly through voice commands has elevated the music listening experience for many.
However, some users have voiced concerns regarding connectivity. A review highlighted initial struggles with Wi-Fi setup, which required assistance from Sonos Support to resolve. While the speaker’s audio capabilities are commendable, the software issues have led some users to express frustration, especially after an update that seemingly diminished functionality. It’s important for potential buyers to consider these experiences and the nature of software updates when investing in the Sonos ecosystem.
Value for Money
At its price point, the Sonos Era 100 is positioned as a premium smart speaker. While it delivers exceptional sound quality and a multitude of features, some users feel that it is on the expensive side. This sentiment is echoed by a reviewer who mentioned that while the product is of quality, it may not fit every budget.
Moreover, to maximize its potential, additional purchases such as the Sonos Line-In Adapter may be necessary for users wanting to connect directly with devices that lack native compatibility.
Conclusion
The Sonos Era 100 in Black is a powerful, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing smart speaker that brings a new dimension to home audio. It excels in audio performance, offering deep bass and detailed sound that can fill any room. Its integration with smart home systems and wireless connectivity options further enhances its appeal.
While some users report connectivity challenges and frustrations with software updates, the overall consensus leans towards satisfaction with the sound quality and features. For those seeking a high-quality audio experience and are willing to invest in a premium product, the Sonos Era 100 is certainly worthy of consideration.
Rating: 4.5/5
In summary, the Sonos Era 100 is an impressive addition to the smart speaker market, but potential buyers should keep in mind the nuances of connectivity and software performance. With its sleek design and outstanding sound capabilities, it stands poised to elevate your listening experience to new heights.
Cliente Amazon –
Very beautiful design, sound, and easy integration into the system.
Snowman –
I have two of these paired with a Sonos sub-woofer, which is connected to one of them. They are set up in different rooms and stream Spotify from my phone over Wi-Fi, allowing them to play simultaneously and fill the spaces with surprisingly impressive sound for such compact speakers. I highly recommend adding a Sonos sub-woofer (I opted for the sub-mini) to enhance the audio quality and enrich the room’s sound. While it’s not the cheapest option, it’s definitely worth the investment. Just a heads up—the Sonos app can be a bit confusing and not very user-friendly, but once you have everything installed and configured on your network, you can easily control it via Spotify by selecting the Sonos speakers as your output.
CPalmer –
What a disappointment. When they work, the sound is fantastic, but unfortunately, they rarely function properly for streaming music due to a disastrous software update. The New York Times, which once hailed this system as the best, has reversed its stance. About three months ago, Sonos released an update that rendered my entire speaker system (including the Sonos Era 100) virtually useless for streaming. To use this system for music, you must rely on the Sonos App, which used to be one of the best—intuitive and highly functional. However, the recent update aimed to mimic Amazon Music, and it has been a complete disaster. Many users like me are considering selling their entire system. I stuck with Sonos for three months after their promise to fix things, but nothing has changed. The speakers stop playing music after just one song, and most commands fail to work properly. When I ask it to stop a song, it ignores me, forcing me to manually press the button on the speaker. This system was designed for hands-free operation, allowing us to play music seamlessly, but that’s no longer the case. It stops after one track, and voice commands to skip a song simply don’t work. We Sonos users have lost the ability to stream music directly from our devices. Many of us chose Sonos for its ability to play music straight from our phones or shared music libraries, but that feature has vanished. Please, run—don’t walk—to return these speakers. Their only current function is as a Bluetooth device, requiring manual control for every song. I can’t emphasize enough how incompetent Sonos has been. Once a great company with a fantastic music system, it has now fallen from grace. It didn’t have to end up this way. If I could speak to the CEO of Sonos, I would say: Your core strength was your speaker system, not headphones or other products. Focus on the basics. Restore the streaming functionality that allowed us to enjoy music through voice commands and top-tier software. I have five Sonos speakers for sale. It pains me to do this, but I’m switching to Amazon speakers. At least Amazon values its customers and conducts research before launching products that undermine existing functionality. Goodbye, Sonos. Forever!
mrmike –
This is a high-quality product, though it is a bit pricey for my budget. It delivers deep bass and clear, excellent sound whether using a direct input or a high-quality streaming source. The Bluetooth functionality is solid as well. I enjoy using my Spotify subscription or AirPlay from my iPad Air. The Sonos app enhances the experience with additional features like an EQ. One thing to note is that if you want to connect directly from an iPad, iPhone, or desktop computer to your Sonos speaker, you’ll need to purchase a Sonos adapter. It seems there’s something unique about this accessory, as a similar generic adapter from Amazon won’t work. Sonos sells this adapter for around $20.
R.K. –
The sound quality is outstanding, and I noticed its excellence right from the initial testing. The compact yet powerful design seamlessly complements any decor, making it easy to transport and enjoy in any room of my home. However, my delivery experience was incredibly frustrating. The driver arrived three hours late, and I could see in real-time that he intentionally delayed my delivery to pick up extra jobs in my area. With GPS tracking on my Amazon feed, I watched him disrespect my time by ignoring the fact that I was the last stop on his route, which he was supposed to complete on time. He was aware that I needed to provide a secure password to receive my package, so I had to stay home to ensure I could claim it. I had to rearrange my plans twice because of this, and my anger grew as I witnessed him repeatedly turning around and heading in the opposite direction for quick deliveries instead of prioritizing my order. After three hours of waiting and my plans in disarray, I finally received my supposedly secure package!
LMDM –
The sound system is fantastic! I have two of them, and they sound great. They’re wireless and very intuitive, plus it’s easy to expand the sound system with more SONOS products.
LMDM –
Pros: I already own a Five and love its balanced sound quality; this one does not disappoint either. While it’s not as powerful as the Five, it performs very well. It’s practical, with quick connections via WiFi and Bluetooth. I connected it to my Sony Walkman without any issues (and it seems to work without WiFi since I turned off the modem). I’m not a fan of Bose speakers because they produce too many bass frequencies that distort the true sound, overshadowing the highs and mids.
Cons: It’s not compatible for connecting with the Five or Play. I tried to get both to play simultaneously in different rooms, but I received a notification that they are not compatible for stereo playback, which seems to be the only way. It needs to be plugged in. The box arrived dirty and somewhat damaged, but the contents were intact.
Allen Y? –
These speakers are incredible! With WiFi capability and seamless integration with Home Assistant, my music listening experience has reached new heights. Previously, I used Oontz Bluetooth speakers in different areas of my home, connecting to one whenever I wanted to enjoy music, and charging the batteries as needed. Now, I can effortlessly switch between speakers on the fly with no playback lag—something I struggled with using Bluetooth. I started with one speaker to test it out, then bought a second the next day, and today, I’ve added a third. I’m in the process of replacing my entire audio setup with these speakers. They are fantastic, especially if you’re using Home Assistant and enjoy automation. My lights and music turn on every morning at 5:00 AM in my Master Bath for shower time. I can’t say enough great things about these speakers. And the sound? It’s absolutely amazing! Deep bass, high volume, and adjustable EQ settings. They integrate with all my music services, including Plex, YouTube Music, Spotify, and even Soundcloud. Total epic win!
brian –
(4.5/5) I was initially hesitant to purchase these speakers due to the numerous online reports about connectivity issues. Our WiFi isn’t the strongest, so I expected some challenges—and I encountered them.
After a couple of frustrating hours trying to connect during the setup, I reached my limit. The simplest tasks weren’t working, and the troubleshooting tips I found online didn’t help. I decided to take a break and tackle it again the following day.
Unfortunately, I faced the same problems on my next attempt. Finally, I called Sonos Support, and they were fantastic. I had to download an app on my laptop and install a few updates. The customer service representative guided me through the process and was just as thrilled as I was when everything finally worked.
I want to highlight this experience because I know that concerns about connectivity and app issues might deter some potential buyers. While the process was more complicated than it should have been, Sonos support made it relatively easy to resolve the problems.
And the sound quality of these speakers is incredible! Any frustrations I had disappeared the moment I cranked up my favorite music. As an amateur audiophile, I can confidently say these speakers are worth the investment. I just hope Sonos is improving their setup process so fewer people have to reach out for support initially. I deducted half a star for this.
TLDR: Connectivity issues are real but fixable; sound quality is outstanding.