Best Sonos speakers in 2024

Hero image for best Sonos speakers showing Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 side-by-side in white at Sonos demo
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Sonos S2 app

Sonos S2 on white background

Although most Sonos speakers have touch controls, the best way to control them is via the Sonos app. The app was updated in 2020 to the current S2 version, which paved the way for a new generation of Sonos products and features such as hi-res audio as well as improving usability. 

The S2 app can be downloaded for free from your iOS, macOS or Android app store, but the S2 update also marks the end of the line for some older Sonos products that simply don't have the processing power required to keep pace with the latest functionality. All the models listed ar compatible with the latest version of the app. 

Sonos is respected as one of the first brands to perfect the multiroom music system. It pretty much introduced the world to the idea of whole-home audio experience, with the ability to play different tracks in various parts of the house, sync them together and control them all from your phone or tablet. 

Simply put, Sonos builds a range of high-quality audio solutions that can easily be integrated with one another for a great sound experience in any space inside the home or out. That's especially true of the latest Sonos Move 2 speaker that can transform from a fully portable Bluetooth speaker to part of an indoor wireless speaker system when you're back in the house. 

For this round up, we've gathered the best Sonos speakers we've tested, and ranked them based on their facilities, durability, integration, and audio performance. Every speaker on this list won't make sense for every size room, but we believe that our top pick – the Sonos One – should be versatile enough to fill most spaces. 

Ready to see what Sonos has to offer? Scroll down for the best Sonos speakers to see which model is best suited to your requirements and activities, or build a Sonos ecosystem with a mix of models tailored to fit with different environments around the home.

These are the best Sonos speakers to buy right now

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Speakers

Sonos Era 300 in whiteEditor's Choice

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Best Sonos speaker with spatial audio and Bluetooth support

Specifications

Size and weight: 6.3 x 10.2 x 7.3 inches; 9.9 pounds
Speakers: 4 tweeters, 2 woofers
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Airplay 2
Voice control: Alexa, Sonos Voice Assistant

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing spatial audio
+
Lots of connectivity options
+
A plethora of streaming audio sources

Reasons to avoid

-
Can’t use spatial audio with TV without soundbar

The Era 300 is only the second of Sonos’ products that supports Dolby Atmos. The hourglass shape certainly sets it apart from other speakers, but the design is more than just aesthetics. It allows its six speakers (two woofers and four tweeters) to deliver the most effective audio in a room. One tweeter is directed forward, one towards the ceiling for spatial audio, and the remaining two are angled left and right to support stereo playback. The two woofers are also angled to the left and right and we liked the fact that you can adjust the height level of the spatial audio to give a more immersive effect to the music.

While the Sonos One, and its successor the Sonos Era 100, are both excellent speakers, the Sonos Era 300 really elevates tracks above them with better bass levels and a driving energy due to the increased cabinet and number of speakers taking care of sound delivery. Dolby Atmos soundtracks played in spatial audio sounded more immersive than we imagined, with song elements that really seemed to float around the room like an ethereal spirit. As an introduction to the the wold of spatial audio, the Era 300 speaker hits the right note and sounds neatly bridges the gap between the Sonos One / new Era 100 and Five flagship. 

Read our full Sonos Era review.

Sonos Era 100 on wooded table with white backgroundEditor's Choice

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The successor to the Sonos One, and a great Bluetooth addition to Sonos’ ecosystem

Specifications

Size and weight: 7.2 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches; 4.4 pounds
Speakers: 2x tweeters; 1x woofer
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2
Voice control: Alexa, Sonos Voice Assistant

Reasons to buy

+
Dual tweeters for stereo sound
+
Larger woofer pumps out more bass than Sonos One
+
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth wireless support
+
USB-C line in for external audio sources
+
Alexa and Sonos Voice enabled

Reasons to avoid

-
No Google Assistant support
-
More expensive than Sonos One
-
No battery

The Era 100 is the successor to the extremely popular Sonos One smart speaker. The revamped design adds Bluetooth to the roster of connectivity upgrades, and stereo sound. It also works with AirPlay 2 on Apple devices using iOS 11.4 and higher. Instead of an Ethernet port, though, the Era 100 has a USB-C port on the back, and can also connect to external sources such as one of the best turntables. It has built-in support for Alexa and Sonos Voice assistants.

During testing, we found that bass depth was better than the Sonos One, and there’s plenty of coherent energy on display, even at lower volume levels. Midrange clarity had just the right balance, and radio voices and vocal clarity were always convincing and expertly conveyed with whatever song or radio show I was streaming. The stereo soundstage is perhaps a bit narrow even with the Era 100’s twin tweeter arrangement, but nevertheless it's a strong performance and a great Bluetooth addition to Sonos’ ecosystem.

Read our full Sonos Era 100 review. 

Sonos One

(Image credit: Sonos)
A versatile smart speaker for music and home theater setups

Specifications

Size and weight : 4.8 x 6.4 inches
Speakers: Dual amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer
Wireless: Wi-Fi
Voice control : Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos Assistant

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent audio quality
+
Can be stereo paired
+
Great surround speakers in home theater setups

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs a mains outlet nearby

Update: The Sonos One is being superseded by the new Era 100 (above). A Sonos spokesperson has told Tom's Guide that the Sonos One will be available until stocks are depleted, and that the company will continue support the Sonos One well into the future. Find out how the new Era 100 compares to the Sonos One in our face-off.     

If you're looking for the best in sound quality from a smart speaker, look no further than the Sonos One. This little wireless speaker can be purchased individually or as a pair of two, then be configured as a stereo pair for music or as rear surround speakers in home theater setups. The Sonos One churns out tunes that you would swear were coming from a much larger device. 

Aside from audio quality, another advantage of the Sonos One is that you can stream audio from hundreds of streaming services, from well-known sources like Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal, to many more. It can be set up to accommodate either Alexa or Google Assistant (although some capabilities may not be fully supported), and it also offers Sonos Voice Assistant. Unlike the Move and Roam speakers below, the Sonos One isn't portable, and needs to be near a power outlet. Nevertheless, its size and sound performance make it the most versatile speaker in the Sonos range, and the main entry point for many towards a wider Sonos ecosystem over time. 

Read our full Sonos One review.

Sonos Move 2

(Image credit: Future)
Portable smart home speaker with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Specifications

Size and weight: 9.4 x 6.3 x 5 inches; 6.6 pounds
Battery life (rated): 24 hours
Wireless: Wi-Fi; Bluetooth
Water resistant: Yes (IP56 rated)
Voice control: Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos Assistant

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful, balanced sound profile
+
Can pair with another Move 2 for true stereo over Wi-Fi
+
24 hours of battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Too heavy to carry far

The Sonos Move 2 might not be as portable as the Roam (below), but it ranks as one of the best smart speakers and is one of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market. The Move takes the well-tuned sound and rich feature set found in the Sonos One and lets you take it on the go, with a 24-hour battery packed into a portable (albeit fairly hefty) design. 

In our review, we found the Move delivers a crisp sound with satisfying bass and clear vocals. The speaker works with all major streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music, it sports Apple AirPlay 2 support and can seamlessly switch from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi on the fly. Alexa and Google Assistant support allow you to do anything from check the weather to control your smart home, while the Sonos Voice Assistant offers hands-free playback even when you're on Bluetooth. 

But the best part? the Move's Auto Trueplay tunes the speaker's audio output for wherever you're listening, whether you're having a rooftop party or rocking out in your bedroom.  

Read our full Sonos Move 2 review

Sonos Roam review

(Image credit: Future)
A truly portable Bluetooth speaker with Wi-Fi smarts

Specifications

Size and weight: 6.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches, 15 ounces
Battery life (rated): 10 hours
Wireless: WiFi; Bluetooth
Water resistant: Yes (IP67 rated)
Voice control: Alexa; Google Assistant; Sonos Assistant

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight
+
Extensive connectivity
+
Auto TruePlay sound tuning

Reasons to avoid

-
No Bluetooth multipoint
-
Sound lacks bass

Like the Sonos Move 2 (above), the Sonos Roam is a connected smart speaker at home and powerful Bluetooth beast on the road. It’s much more portable and more affordable than the Move, though, and its auto Trueplay feature adjusts the sound to suit your surroundings wherever you’re listening.

It is available in five color options including traditional black, and white, as well as sunset (orange), wave (blue) and olive. Although we wish the battery lasted more than 10 hours, it juices up quickly via USB-C or wireless charging. When you return back from your latest excursion, the Sonos Roam should rejoin your larger Sonos network on its own. It also gives you the option to hand off your current soundtrack to the nearest Sonos speaker. Or you could stick to Roam, bringing your voice assistant and streaming services room-to-room, or as far as your Wi-Fi can reach.

Read our full Sonos Roam review.

Soundbars

Sonos Arc

(Image credit: Sonos Arc)
The best smart soundbar

Specifications

Size : 45 x 4.5 x 3.4 inches
Inputs/outputs: Ethernet; HDMI ARC
Wireless: Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 capable
Voice control: Alexa; Google Assistant; Sonos Assistant
Wall mountable: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Clear vocals and focused sound
+
Strong, Sonos-quality bass
+
Alexa and Google Assistant built-in

Reasons to avoid

-
Takes up quite a bit of space on a TV stand

The Sonos Arc is one of the best soundbars you can buy if you’re able to splurge. This premium speaker stands out with its gorgeous curved design, which is built to be a centerpiece of your living room as much as it’s meant to enhance your TV’s sound. And it certainly doesn’t skimp on sound performance, delivering deep bass and clear treble for your favorite movies and TV shows complete with Dolby Atmos support. 

Thanks to Sonos’ Trueplay technology, the Arc can automatically tune itself to whatever room it’s in to deliver the crispest, most accurate audio possible. It also supports voice controls via Alexa and Google Assistant, making it one of the smartest soundbars you can buy. If you have a larger entertainment area — and big budget, the Sonos Arc is the top premium soundbar out there. 

Read our full Sonos Arc review.

Sonos Beam

(Image credit: Sonos)
A great soundbar for smaller TVs

Specifications

Size: 25.6 x 2.3 x 3.9 inches
Inputs/Outputs: HDMI eARC, Ethernet
Wireless: Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 capable
Voice control: Alexa; Google Assistant; Sonos Assistant
Wall mountable: No

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive sound for its size
+
3D audio with support for Dolby Atmos
+
Effective TruePlay tuning
+
Best option for 55-inch and smaller TVs

Reasons to avoid

-
No Bluetooth 

This second-generation Sonos Beam brings a new CPU, tweaked profiles, more audio formats, and HDMI eArc support into the mix. The drivers have been re-tuned, resulting in a crisper central channel that emphasizes vocal clarity and dialog. Dolby Atmos and other home-theater sound formats grant you numerous ways to experience wide 3D sound in your living room. Other unique features like NFC for seamless setup, as well as Trueplay to curate sound to your space and optimal couch position, bring more value to this small speaker system. It also pairs perfectly with 55-inch (or smaller) HDTVs.

The price may seem steep, but those who can afford it will find this to be a welcome addition to their ecosystem of Sonos products.

Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review.

a leaked marketing image of the Sonos Ray soundbar

(Image credit: SnoopyTech)
Most affordable Sonos soundbar yet and a great entry to its ecosystem

Specifications

Size: 22 x 3.5 x 2.8 inches
Inputs/Outputs: Ethernet; optical digital
Wireless: Wi-Fi; Bluetooth
Voice control: No
Wall mountable: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Pleasingly compact
+
Nicely balanced sound
+
All the usual plus-points of Sonos multi-room

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the most expansive sound
-
No HDMI

The brand new Sonos Ray is the company's most affordable soundbar yet and has a sound that's unified, confident and detailed. It's compatible with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Digital Surround information but is essentially a stereo speaker. Nevertheless, it’s got the punch to propel a Hollywood blockbuster forwards, and the deft powers of communication to make sure you never miss a moment’s nuance where dialogue is concerned. It’s even quite an engaging listen when used as a music speaker, too.  

If you already have a Sonos speaker or two, and are after a usefully compact soundbar with some genuine performance highlights, go right ahead: the Sonos Ray is here to charm and delight you. If you’re unconcerned about wider multi-room possibilities, though, this soundbar is far from the only game in town — and it’s possible to buy just as much of the good stuff the Ray delivers without spending quite as much as Sonos is asking.

Read our full Sonos Ray review.

Subwoofers

Sonos Sub Mini in white on stone floor

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Specifications

Size: 12 x 9.1-inches
Inputs/Outputs: Ethernet
Wireless: Wi-Fi
Wall mountable: No
:

Reasons to buy

+
Seamless integration
+
Dynamic performance
+
Compact design

Reasons to avoid

-
No crossover control

If you already have a Sonos Ray soundbar or a Sonos One speaker (or two), then the genuine performance highlights of pairing them with the Sub Mini are sure to charm and delight you. It gives TV sound the boost it deserves, and has enough depth and musicality to bring energy and pace to tracks that sound a bit lifeless through a soundbar alone.  

The price may be off-putting, as it significantly ramps up the overall costs of a system, but when you consider the fuss-free integration, seamless control via the Sonos S2 app, and the outright sonic boost it brings once you hear it in action, the Sonos Sub Mini feels like a very worthwhile investment indeed.

Read the full Sonos Sub Mini review.

How to choose the right Sonos speaker for you

Size: There are a number of factors that play into deciding which speaker or soundbar you should buy. Size will likely be prohibitive for most customers; you obviously need a speaker that will suit your space. And, because a Sonos speaker or soundbar is one of the centerpieces of your home sound setup, it has to look good and fit stylistically.

Then you have to factor in the size of the room you're dealing with. If you're dealing with a larger space, it's probably best to consider a subwoofer — you'll surely appreciate the extra bass, and we highly recommend giving these 5 best bass tracks to give your music system a workout a listen with the volume cranked up. Also, for all the latest tips and tricks check out our 5 ways to make Sonos speaker sound even better.     

Connectivity: Connectivity is crucial too, both in terms of wired and wireless access. Not every Sonos soundbar comes with an HDMI port; some force you to make do with optical audio. That's perfectly fine if you want to use your TV as a pass-through, but those who are in dire need of more HDMI ports — because their capacity is limited between game consoles, streaming boxes and so on — will need to prioritize options that offer those additional connections.

Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best soundbars. Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on a speaker or soundbar the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if the sound quality is poor. 

As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favorite models are discounted at online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our best tech deals page to make sure you don't miss out on the lowest prices.

How we test speakers

When testing for inclusion in any speaker or soundbar round ups, we play a range of media — including movies, music and games — in order to evaluate overall sound quality. We also test any companion software that may come with a soundbar, and factor in how easy it is to set up and use each device.

Other features we consider include inputs, outputs and ability to be wall mounted, all of which determine how well it will work with your home entertainment setup. We also take into account each soundbar's wattage (if disclosed), its supported audio channels and speaker driver configuration — all factors that greatly affect how each speaker will sound in and around your home.

Once testing is completed, we rate the best soundbars based on our five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Products that hit nearly every mark are awarded an Editor's Choice badge.

Contributions from Kate Kozuch, Mike Prospero, Michael Gowan

Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.

More from Tom's Guide

Lee Dunkley
Audio Editor

As a former editor of the U.K.'s Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound advice to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very best quality can bring.