Updated 1 Nov 2026
Is the Sonos Era 100 worth it?
Yes — the best-sounding smart speaker for most people.
It sounds big, open and detailed, with deeper bass than older Sonos speakers, a little stereo spread from its two angled tweeters, and it gets very loud without distorting. It streams from almost every music service, plays over AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth, tunes itself to the room, and can join other Sonos speakers or act as rear speakers for a Sonos soundbar. Alexa and Sonos Voice Control are built in, with a switch to cut the microphones. There's no Google Assistant, the bass can sound a bit loose, and the adapter for a wired line-in is sold separately.
88%of 631 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Big, detailed stereo sound
- Works with iPhone and Android
- Joins a Sonos system or soundbar
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What owners say
Owners love the sound, how easily it goes into a Sonos system or next to a Sonos soundbar, and how much sound comes from its size. The main complaint is the Sonos app and a frustrating set-up.
Good to know
- No Google Assistant: only Alexa and Sonos Voice Control.
- The bass can sound loose at low volume.
- Line-in and Ethernet need a USB-C adapter, sold separately.
- It needs the Sonos app and Wi-Fi for its smart features.
From 631 buyer ratings at Costco (US) and Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Great soundMentioned a lot
- Easy to set upMentioned often
- Fills a room for its sizeMentioned by some
- Works with a Sonos soundbar and other Sonos speakersMentioned by some
What they complain about
- Hard to set up, or the Sonos app is buggyOccasional
- Sound not as good as expectedVery rare
- Drops out or disconnectsVery rare
Get it if…
- Music is the main job.
- You might add more Sonos speakers or a Sonos soundbar later.
- Your household mixes iPhone and Android.
Skip it if…
- You want Google Assistant or Gemini.
- You want Dolby Atmos music from one speaker: the Echo Studio.
- You only need timers and the radio: an Echo Dot does that for a quarter of the price.
More on the Sonos Era 100
How we reached this verdict
What Hi-Fi gives it full marks for sound, features and build: big, open, detailed and a big step up from the Sonos One, with only the HomePod sounding more natural with voices. TechRadar calls it nearly the ideal small speaker, with excellent clarity and much better bass than the One, though the bass can be heavy-handed. Tom's Guide rates its sound above the Echo Studio's. We read verified buyers at Costco and Harvey Norman, and most praise the sound and how easily it joins a Sonos system.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, Tom's Guide: Echo Studio vs Era 100, Sonos, Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi?, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 1 Nov 2026How we decide