By Shawn Chung - Singapore

American audio brand Sonos is better known for its wireless speakers for multi-room and home theater use, with the last smart speaker that Sonos released was the Sonos Beam 2 in September 2021, and the second generation Sonos One, launched in September 2019, is now well overdue for an refresh.

And that refresh is finally out, with Sonos unveiling a new era in smart speakers with the Sonos Era 300 and Sonos Era 100. The Era 100 is the direct replacement for the One, while the Era 300 slots in between the Era 100 and the Sonos 5.

Loudnwireless.com was at a sneak media preview for the Sonos Era speakers, conducted with Sono’s ASEAN distributor TC Acoustic, and to see our hands-on video, tune in to our Youtube channel.

Building on Sonos’s acoustic-driven design aesthetic, the Era 100 and Era 300 feature a bold new UI with a new capacitive volume slider and innovations that will help them last longer, use less energy and make use of recycled materials, using post consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and packaged in 100% sustainably sourced paper, while also engineered to reduce power consumption with under two watts idle power consumption and a new advanced sleep function.

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Enjoy simple and quick control of your music with Sonos Voice Control, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth.

With upgraded connectivity, users may stream any the audio you care about using WiFi or Bluetooth, and directly connect other audio devices such as a turntable using an auxiliary cable and the Sonos Line-In Adapter.

With Expanded Trueplay, you can use the microphone array in Era 100 and Era 300, to optimize your audio to the unique acoustics of your space with just a tap in the Sonos app. Available to both Android and iOS users.

Era 300

The Era 300 boasts six powerful drivers that direct sound left, right, forward and upward, delivering a breakthrough audio performance featuring Dolby Atmos that places listeners at the very heart of their films and music.

“A completely new way to create and experience music, Dolby Atmos immerses you in the song by revealing details with unparalleled clarity and depth”, said Kevin J. Yeaman, CEO of Dolby. “Sonos Era 300 is an impressive feat of sound innovation that will without a doubt take the magic of this exciting new format mainstream for listeners and artists alike.”

Designed for spatial: Era 300 wraps its beautifully complex acoustic architecture in an elegantly cinched hourglass design, with every angle, proportion and perforation enhancing the direction and dispersion of sound to truly surround you.
Surreal surround sound: Era 300 is the brand’s first speaker that delivers multi-channel surround sound when used as home cinema rears. Movie fans can pair two speakers with Arc or Beam (Gen 2) to create a supercharged Dolby Atmos experience that draws them deeper into the action.
Deep music industry collaboration: Sonos worked closely with its community of leading artists and creators—including Sonos Soundboard members—to meticulously fine-tune the Era 300 so listeners can enjoy sound straight from the studio that’s true to the artist’s intent.

“Just like the shift from mono to stereo, spatial audio is the next evolution in listening—creating a sound experience that wraps you in music”, said Giles Martin, VP, Sound Experience at Sonos. “As both creators and major streaming platforms embrace spatial audio for music, the time is right to create an out loud listening experience that delivers against the promise of this thrilling and creative format”.

Era 100

Only slightly larger than its predecessor Sonos One, Era 100 features all-new hardware and software, with next-gen acoustics and design that deliver detailed stereo sound and deep bass.

Now in stereo: Two angled tweeters send crisp high frequencies left and right for a rich stereo experience, while a larger midwoofer creates stunning bass that’s unexpected from a single compact speaker.
Small but mighty: Packed full of audio and tech enhancements, Era 100’s slim, modern design makes it a chic accent piece for any bookshelf, kitchen counter, desk or nightstand.
Customize your system: Level-up movie night by adding two Era 100 speakers as rears with your soundbar to create a surround sound system, or simply pair two together for room-filling stereo sound.

Pricing and Availability

Both Era 300 (SG$799) and Era 100 (SG$449) will be available globally on 28 March 2023. Pre-orders are available at tcacoustic.asia from 7 March 10pm.