Sonos speakers only have 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g, which means that they cannot connect on the sometimes faster/cleaner 5 GHz frequency commonly used today (though some of them do use 5 GHz to communicate with each other). We don’t think these are dealbreakers (yet), but you might.Īging Connectivity: The tweeters and woofers inside Sonos speakers still sound amazing, but the way they connect to your network (or TV) is dated. (Of course, you can set any available music service as your default: Amazon, YouTube Music, and so on.) What’s TIRED about Sonos speakersĪs amazing as Sonos speakers sound, and as seamlessly as they connect together, they still have some limitations, both in application and technology. Then, when you ask Alexa or Google to play something, it plays it directly from Spotify. If you have one of these speakers, you can set Spotify as your default music service. Spotify Voice Controls: Spotify can now be accessed using Alexa or Google Assistant voice control on the Sonos One and Sonos Beam. If you have a few speakers in a room, it’s hard to tell where the sound is coming from. Not every Sonos speaker is the same, but they have an elegant synergy and sound that no other speaker system seems to have. It’s easy to argue that Sonos hardware is too expensive, but it’s difficult to fault the way they sound. They Sound Amazing: Sonos speakers are all high quality and deliver consistent, appealing sound. You do have to choose one assistant at a time, but they’re fully functional, with the exception of some phone calling functionality through Alexa. The Sonos ecosystem can also handle home theater applications, and can support a full surround sound setup.Īll Major Voice Assistants: Unlike most “smart” speakers, Sonos speakers will connect to any one of the big three voice assistants: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Airplay 2. It will make a more profound difference.Įasy Streaming: The Sonos app supports almost every streaming service in existence, and many apps, like Spotify, let you stream to Sonos speakers within them. ![]() Don’t bother buying surround speakers until you own a Sub. The standard Sub is superb, but it will cost you $699 on Sonos. Save Up for the Subwoofer: Sonos hasn’t yet released a more affordable Sub to match the cheaper Beam. ![]() If you own a Fire TV Stick (our TV streaming device guide), it’s also possible to use basic Alexa commands on the Beam to watch any TV show or movie, though no voice assistant works well enough to replace a remote control yet. Even if you don’t particularly need a voice assistant today, you may change your tune in a few years. It has Alexa, Google Assistant, and Airplay 2 built-in. Unlike the Playbar, it can connect to your TV via HDMI ARC, letting you turn your tube on and off with your own voice. ![]() Its smaller size and extra features are worth the size tradeoff. It doesn’t sound quite as expansive as the older, larger Playbar, but it is more precise in the upper range and sounds fantastic overall. The Beam (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of three soundbars that Sonos offers. If you already own a One, it’s a good way to add more satellite speakers to your home. Play:1 ($170 at amazon.ae) is a good alternative: It sounds about as good as the Sonos One, but doesn’t have touch controls or microphones for Alexa. They’re much more affordable and their small size means you can hide them in any room. I’ll recommend other Sonos speakers in this guide, but you also can’t go wrong just buying two to four Sonos Ones to fill your house up. It can play music, tell you the weather, find a recipe, and answer simple questions, like any other smart speaker. Alexa and Google voice commands work like normal (though you must choose between them). ![]() Sonos took the time to make Alexa sound great, and thanks to its voice commands, the Sonos One has become my go-to speaker. The Sonos One (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is just about the smallest Sonos speaker, but it still packs enough oomph to fill most rooms and its hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant integration is a lot of fun.
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