Best Sonos speakers in 2024

We’re well past the days of needing to dig out the big spool of speaker wire you bought 10 years ago whenever it’s time to wire a new component. In fact, we’re fortunate enough to live in an age of wireless audio, with portable Bluetooth speakers, headphones, wireless earbuds, and other devices sold at all major retailers. But when it comes to wireless music, no one does it better than a brand called Sonos.

Perfecting the “wire-free” formula for well over a decade now, Sonos speakers only require a power cable and network connection to operate. Once paired to your Wi-Fi, you’ll use the Sonos app to stream your favorite artists and albums across all Sonos devices, including soundbars like the Sonos Arc. You’ll even be able to group multiple speakers together, allowing you to play different music in the different parts of your home.

There are tons of Sonos speakers to choose from though, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all the best options!

Build your ideal Sonos system

There is more than meets the eye here, with four tweeters and two woofers packed inside. Each is powered via its own class-D digital amplifier. One tweeter and one woofer point to each side for stereo imaging, while another provides a center image, and the last aims upwards for Dolby Atmos content. This makes it easy to get good performance without putting too much thought into speaker placement. The Era 300 offers enveloping, balanced, yet detailed sound.

With Dolby Atmos support, you can use the Era 300 as a main for music and movies or as a surround sound speaker in a home theater array. The Era 300 allows audio playback over Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi, a convenient feature. While there’s not a lot to complain about here, the Era 300 isn’t cheap, especially if you plan to purchase a pair or more. While it supports Alexa, Google Assistant has been omitted.

The Arc doesn’t mess around. For starters, it has 11 drivers (eight elliptical woofers and three angled silk-dome tweeters) each powered by its own class-D amplifier. A large soundbar that’s adept for both home theater and music, the Arc thumps with solid, well-controlled bass. On top of that, you’ll find smooth treble, articulate midrange response, and an overall immersive experience. Dolby Atmos capability means the Arc can take full advantage of content optimized for the codec.

Probably the biggest knock against the Arc is its high price, but it does compare favorably to other premium soundbars, which are generally more reliant on the presence of a subwoofer to offer decent bass. While the Arc can’t stream audio over Bluetooth, it does offer seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem via Wi-Fi. The presence of only a single HDMI port could be a limitation, depending on your TV’s capabilities, but shouldn’t adversely impact most users.

We’re also big fans of the new TV Audio Swap. If you own a pair of the Sonos Ace headphones, you can instantly share the Arc’s audio with these awesome wireless cans.

Featuring dual tweeters and one woofer, the Era 100’s overall sonic presentation is full and open. Bass is noticeably present and punchy, while the instruments have good separation and detail without harshness. If you happen to be an EDM fan or someone who really craves a ton of bass, you might want to add a Sonos subwoofer to the mix, but most people will be satisfied without one.

The Era 100 is easily capable of serving as a single-speaker solution or as the cornerstone of a multi-speaker Sonos setup sprinkled throughout your house. It offers Sonos and Alexa voice assistant support, but unfortunately, it again omits Google Assistant. Unlike its predecessor, the Era 100 offers audio playback over Bluetooth in addition to Wi-Fi.

Sonos fans will certainly appreciate Roam 2’s premium sound. It does a lot right, and it should, considering its $179 price tag — that’s a lot for a portable speaker. As expected, this second-gen Roam fits effortlessly into the Sonos ecosystem thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi. The 5.2 Bluetooth connection is equally solid, and the convenient dedicated Bluetooth button is a much-appreciated upgrade.

Design-wise, the Roam 2 doesn’t stray too far from the original Roam. It’s compact yet rugged, with an IP67 rating that makes it dustproof and water-resistant. You also get wireless Qi charging, so you can ditch the USB-C cable.

As for the audio quality, well, it’s Sonos, so you know you’ll enjoy detailed and clear sound. But don’t expect a booming low-end, given its small size. As long as you temper your bass expectations, you’ll be more than satisfied.

However, there are some drawbacks. For those who already own the original Roam, there’s no compelling reason to buy the Roam 2 — unless you really want that dedicated Bluetooth button. Also, the battery only lasts about ten hours, which isn’t impressive for a $179 speaker. However, if you’re looking for a reliable, compact speaker that also works with your Sonos setup, the Roam 2 is certainly worth considering.

The Beam (Gen 2) offers a solid combination of features and performance at a mid-level price point. Dedicated class-D amplifiers drive a center tweeter, four midwoofers, and accompanying passive radiators, providing noticeably better sound than the first-generation Beam. The Beam offers clear sound with an enveloping sound stage and includes Dolby Atmos to provide enhanced experiences with content mastered for the codec.

That said, it lacks an up-firing tweeter to take full advantage of 3D audio. It does not provide as much bass as the Arc, and it may be a good idea to add a Sub or Sub Mini for more impactful home theater and music performance.

Of course, the Beam easily integrates with your Sonos whole-home audio system via Wi-Fi, and can be centrally controlled via the Sonos app. However, you will not get Bluetooth audio here. In addition to Sonos’s own voice assistant, the Beam (Gen 2) supports Amazon Alexa and Google’s assistant. Although imperfect, the Beam (Gen 2) surpasses its predecessor and strikes a good balance between performance and price for most applications.

If you’re wondering if Sonos’s least expensive soundbar is any good, the answer is yes. The Ray offers a respectably open sound stage for its size and has balanced midrange and treble performance that makes it an easy listen. Despite the absence of a center channel driver, it handles dialog well, and music vocals are notably clear. Unsurprisingly, the Ray can’t produce chest-thumping bass, and it’s Sonos’s only soundbar without Dolby Atmos.

The Ray offers Wi-Fi connectivity and control via the Sonos app, but lacks Bluetooth. At 56cm wide, the Ray is Sonos’s most compact soundbar. Combined with its accessible price, that makes it a good choice for small to midsize home theater setups.

The Sub Mini is Sonos’s most affordable subwoofer at just over half the cost of the company’s Sub (Gen 3). While it’s still not inexpensive compared to comparable subwoofers, the Sub Mini is a good option if you need to add a little extra oomph to a Sonos system. It generally provides clean, punchy bass, but can get a little loose on very low, sustained frequencies. The Mini is suitable for small and midsize spaces but can’t push enough air for large rooms.

The Sub Mini connects to the Sonos ecosystem via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It does not have standard audio ports and thus cannot be used with non-Sonos home theater systems. While that’s a limitation, it’s not really a problem if you’re fully bought into Sonos and plan to stay that way.

Our reviewer praised the Sonos Move 2 for its “excellent sound quality with smooth mids, satisfying lows, and under-control treble,” qualities that help the speaker earn our recommendation. Although the Move 2 adds a second, angled tweeter compared to its predecessor, it still doesn’t manage to deliver a stereo image with noticeably discrete left and right channels. However, that’s not a huge knock on a portable speaker.

Battery life is notably long, at 24 hours per charge. Assuming you don’t mind its bulk, that makes the Move 2 a good option for events like cookouts and camping trips. With an IP56 dust and water-resistance rating, the Move 2 is ready for whatever rain and dust nature throws its way, though we wouldn’t recommend it for uncovered, permanent outdoor installation. Notably, the Move 2 supports simultaneous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, a really great user experience feature.

Create the perfect Sonos system for your home

It’s hard to believe we ever lived in a world without Sonos, but rest assured, this is a brand that’s here to stay. As of Summer 2024, our favorite Sonos speaker is the Sonos Era 300. Whether you decide to place this titan in a bedroom or in your at-home gym, you can expect some of the biggest and boldest audio we’ve ever heard from a Wi-Fi speaker. You’ll also enjoy features like Dolby Atmos support, and the option to stream music using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Want to bump things up a notch? Our premium pick for all things Sonos is the unbelievable Sonos Arc. With just a single HDMI cable connected to your TV’s ARC/eARC port, the Arc delivers the kind of pulse-pounding surround virtualization that will make you feel like you have speakers in every part of your living room. Plus, it functions just like any other Sonos device, so you can stream tunes and group the soundbar in with all your other first-floor Sonos speakers.

Need to save a buck, but still want to go with Sonos? Our best value pick, the Sonos Era 100, is a phenomenal compact speaker that’s perfect for bookshelves, countertops, and end tables. It’s also one of the cheapest Sonos speakers you can find right now; but “cheap” doesn’t translate to quality! This mighty sphere of sound is nothing to shake a stick at, friends.