Sonos, the American audio company known for its high-quality speakers, has recently introduced two new devices – the Era 100 and Era 300. While the former is mainly focused on music, the latter is designed for spatial audio. Both these new additions have impressive and improved features, making them a worthy upgrade to the Sonos line of speakers.
Sonos Era 100 wifi speaker
The Era 100 is a redesign of the Sonos One, with notable improvements in sound quality and new features such as line-in, Bluetooth, and easier Trueplay setup. The Era 100 offers more bass and stereo sound compared to the company’s One series. Priced at £249, it is a mid-range option after Sonos’ collaboration with Ikea.
It can be controlled via Wi-Fi 6 and supports streaming from over 100 services through the Sonos app on your phone. The speaker offers room-filling sound with warm mids, crisp highs, and plenty of bass with two tweeters and one mid-woofer.
Moreover, it supports connectivity options such as USB-C, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. It has an aesthetic similar to the One but is more compact and easy to place on a cabinet or bookshelf.
One of its unique features is that it supports Bluetooth 5 for streaming from guest’s phones or other Bluetooth devices. The speaker also supports Sonos’ own local voice assistant and Amazon’s Alexa.
The Era 100 has been designed with sustainability in mind; it contains 48% recycled plastic, emphasizing disassembly for repair, refurbishment, and recycling. Additionally, it offers trade-in programs and product recycling.
Sonos Era 300 speaker designed for spatial audio
Spatial audio promises to envelop users from all directions without needing a room full of speakers. Apple, Amazon, and Sonos support spatial audio in their respective products, and the Sonos Era 300 is the first music speaker designed by Sonos for spatial audio.
The Era 300 has an unusual shape to accommodate the complex driver array required for spatial audio and costs $450. It has better sound quality than the Era 100 and is closer to the Sonos Five speaker, but it may not be as broadly appealing due to its higher price.
The device supports Dolby Atmos for movies, with a redesigned set of touch controls on the top panel. It also contains a USB-C port for line-in and Ethernet as well as a Bluetooth toggle and a switch to physically disconnect the microphone on the back.
Setting up the Era 300 is simple, requiring downloading the Sonos app and logging into your favorite audio services. The Era 300 can use its built-in microphones for Trueplay, a feature that tunes the speaker’s output based on where it’s placed in the room.
It supports Amazon’s Alexa and Sonos’s own music-focused assistant for voice control but not Google Assistant. With an emphasis on sustainability, it draws relatively low power and comes in black or white.
Other news
While the introduction of two new speakers is exciting news for Sonos users, there have been other notable updates in the technology industry recently.
First, Apple released updates for several of its major platforms, including iOS 14.7, MacOS Big Sur 11.5, WatchOS 7.6, and tvOS 14.7. These updates include improvements to podcasts and bug fixes.
Acer also released its Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition review that features a lenticular lens display on top of an existing LCD panel to create a glasses-free 3D effect without eye-tracking cameras or headsets.
In other news, the Biden administration has banned federal agencies from using commercial spyware, highlighting the need for cybersecurity in modern times.
Finally, Ubisoft has announced that it will host its own event instead of attending E3 2023; this decision may have an impact on future E3 events and how companies choose to showcase their products in the future.
Conclusion:
Sonos has focused on portable speakers and home theater products, and the company continues to expand its offerings with the introduction of Era 100 and Era 300. With a focus on music and spatial audio, Sonos continues to provide customers with high-quality options at reasonable prices. From trade-in programs to sustainability efforts, Sonos is committed to making great speakers while also doing its part for the planet.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
