I want to provide you with the most helpful, honest analysis I can about the Sonos One smart speaker. Sonos makes fantastic audio gear, but this model has some particular quirks. My goal is to methodically break down its advantages and limitations, so you can determine if the Sonos One fits your needs before spending over $200.
Brief Background
Sonos launched in 2002 and first made waves by letting listeners wirelessly transmit audio around the home. The company gets well-deserved praise for seamless multi-room audio and sound quality from audiophile media outlets like Sound & Vision and What Hi-Fi?.
When Sonos debuted their initial built-in voice assistant speaker, the Sonos One, in late 2017, it generated a lot of buzz. Smart speakers had become hot commodities for convenient music streaming. And here finally came an option from a respected wireless audio brand rather than just big tech giants like Amazon, Google and Apple.
Integrating touch controls, capacitive sensors, far field microphones, and potent Class D amplifiers into a compact chassis, the Sonos One serves double duty as both an impressive wireless speaker and voice assistant hub.
But a $219 MSRP makes it a significant investment compared to leading smart speakers from Amazon and Google that sell for under $100. That leads to elevated expectations – so let‘s scrutinize how well the Sonos One‘s performance justifies the higher cost.
Sonos One Key Specifications
Before digging in, here is a snapshot of key specifications for quick reference:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Audio | |
| Amplifier Type | Two Class-D Digital Amplifiers |
| Tweeter | Single Tweeter for Treble Frequencies |
| Mid-Woofer | Single Elliptical Mid-Woofer for Midrange and Upper Bass |
| Frequency Response | 50 Hz – 20 kHz ±3 dB |
| Peak Volume | ≥100 dB SPL |
| Supported Audio Codecs | MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, FLAC, ALAC, OPUS |
| Networking and Wireless | |
| WiFi Bands Supported | Dual-Band: 2.4 GHz b/g/n |
| Wireless Audio Protocols | AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect |
| Bluetooth | No Bluetooth Support |
| Voice Assistants | |
| Integrated Options | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant |
| Far Field Microphones | 6-Microphone Array |
| Physical Attributes | |
| Dimensions | 6.36" (H) x 4.69" (W) x 4.69" (D) |
| Weight | 4.08 lbs |
| Ingress Protection Rating | Humidity Resistant (IP55) |
Now let‘s dig deeper into where that superb Sonos acoustic engineering shines through, along with a few unfortunate corners cut.
Where the Sonos One Shines: Sound Quality
Without question, the #1 advantage of the Sonos One comes from its audio chops. This speaker got designed first and foremost with music listeners in mind rather than just home helpers shouting weather updates.
Let‘s get one thing straight – this speaker sounds fantastic! The tweeter and mid-woofer integrate beautifully to output clear highs and tight bass response without muddiness. Trusted reviews confirm the impressive fidelity…
As Sound & Vision said:
"Considering its compact size, the One delivers expansive, detailed sound with pleasing balance. Voices sound natural and bass response satisfies."
And What HiFi? praised:
"The Sonos One is all about the sound quality and priority has been placed on packing in higher quality components than the Echo."
There‘s no separate subwoofer, but bass extends down 50 Hz with enough body thanks to smart enclosure tuning. By all accounts this speaker conveys low notes capably without needing dedicated drivers.
In smaller to mid-sized rooms, the Sonos One generates volumes over 100 dB easily filling the space. Sophisticated automatic equalization helps widen the perceived sound stage beyond the unit‘s physical dimensions too.
While stereo separation remains limited from the lone driver architecture, songs emit nice audio imaging. All types of music impress – whether streaming pop, podcasts, or orchestral pieces, expect premium wireless fidelity. At reasonable volumes the Sonos One stays composed with barely any harshness or distortion.
What HiFi? quantified the max output at a very healthy 106 dB, and Trusted Reviews measured low distortion figures as well:
"Even at high volumes, distortion remained impressively low coming in at 1.3%."
If audio quality sits at the top of your smart speaker priorities, nothing else under $300 comes close to touching the Sonos One.
Audio Cons and Caveats
Things aren‘t quite flawless on the listening front however. Most conspicuously:
No Stereo Pairing – Lacking Bluetooth, the Sonos One relies on WiFi for everything. And its hardware uses a lone driver array rather than separate left and right channels. Consequently there‘s no means to wirelessly link two Sonos Ones in proper stereo configuration.
You‘d have to either connect two Sonos Ones to separate Left/Right speaker wire ports on an AV receiver, or use a single One by itself in mono mode. For those wanting expansive stereo imaging from placement flexibility of wireless speakers, alternatives like the Klipsch The Fives accommodates.
Automatic Downmixing – Out the box, the Sonos One takes incoming stereo signals and sums everything to mono so audio emanates from its sole driver array rather than discrete left/right channels.
This prevents proper channel separation which normally allows sounds to image clearly across the left and right sound stage. Some recordings like well-produced modern pop should downmix cleanly without ill effects thanks to smart mastering.
But other music mixed specifically for bold stereo dynamics may lose spaciousness as originally intended. Songs with extreme panning effects often pull too narrowly to center rather than retaining their dramatic motions left and right. Likewise layered tracks with lots happening can get congested when crammed into one channel.
While the Sonos One deftly handles centered mono material, don‘t expect the most immersive experience for ornate classical arrangements or jazz fusions benefitting from crisply-defined channel separation. Connecting two Sonos Ones as separate Left/Right speakers would help, but of course doubles the cost.
Key Perk: Built-In Voice Assistants
The Sonos One broke ground as the first smart speaker from a wireless audio specialist brand with baked-in voice assistants onboard. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant come pre-loaded, selectable during setup.
Having one of these AI helpers integrated allows convenient hands-free control of music playback. Just use a wake word and you can queue up songs from streaming platforms, internet radio stations, or personal libraries. Both Alexa and Google grant access to massive musical catalogs too.
Beyond tunes, the assistants also enable voice command of smart devices around your home. Toggle lights on/off, change thermostat temperatures, lock doors, stream security camera feeds – anything compatible with Alexa/Google Skills. This versatility cements the Sonos One as both a superb wireless speaker and a control hub for Internet-of-Things gadgets.
Touch sensitive playback buttons up top provide an alternative as well for basic transport control without needing to speak out. But the far field microphone array makes verbal requests handy when your phone‘s out of reach.
Major Limitation: No Bluetooth Connectivity
Now for a significant pain point – the lack of Bluetooth connectivity. Absence of Bluetooth complicates the initial setup process considerably compared to Amazon and Google assistant devices. Everything proves more tedious getting the system online and unified.
Rather than seamless first-time wireless pairing that Bluetooth provides, the WiFi-only Sonos One has specific demands. To function you must either hardwire it temporarily via Ethernet to a router, or join its proprietary Sonos wireless peer-to-peer network. Only then can you link everything to your home‘s WiFi network for everyday operation.
This awkward work-around introduces pointless friction upfront. Of course once fully configured, WiFi works perfectly fine for streaming media and voice assistant responses. But Bluetooth‘s convenience for quick mobile device connections remains glaringly absent.
Popular advanced Bluetooth audio codecs like aptX, aptX HD or LDAC also go unsupported. Owners miss out on potential sonic benefits such codecs unlock with enhanced bitrates and lower latency.
Not everyone will care once the speaker eventually connects through WiFi without hiccups. But for a $219 MSRP device touting wireless connectivity, the initial setup headaches and lack of flexible Bluetooth input feels unacceptable. This stands as a troubling deficiency compared to cheaper Amazon and Google offerings with simplified Bluetooth and WiFi support straight out the box.
Additional Disappointments
Beyond the lack of Bluetooth, a couple other limitations also nag:
Constrained Volume Output – Despite impressive acoustic components, maximum loudness lags behind larger smart speakers. The claimed 100+ dB peak sounds solid on paper. However per WhatHiFi? measurements, the Sonos One taps out at 106 dB through its single mid-woofer and tweeter.
Competing mass market models like the Amazon Echo Studio (113 dB) and Google Home Max (115 dB) output noticeably louder volumes thanks to bigger driver arrays and cabinets. Those extra decibels allow filling even cavernous spaces that leave the Sonos One straining.
Comparatively Large Footprint – While compact as far as premium wireless speakers go, the Sonos One‘s physical size exceeds entry-level Amazon and Google products. It demands extra surface area versus the Echo Dot or Nest Mini hockey puck form factors. Trickier to hide away cleanly.
And unlike certain portable Braven or JBL Bluetooth models with built-in batteries, the Sonos requires an AC power cord further restricting placement.
In absolute terms the chassis doesn‘t overwhelm. But potential space constraints introduce creative limitations. For their cost, Google/Amazon pucks nearly disappear whereas the Sonos commands attention.
How Does the Sonos One Compare Overall?
Let‘s quantitatively stack the Sonos One against the $199 Amazon Echo Studio, another high-end smart speaker play for context:
| Specs | Sonos One | Echo Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Codec Support | MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, FLAC, ALAC, OPUS | MP3, AAC, FLAC, Vorbis |
| Amplifier Power | N/A | 330 Watts Peak |
| Frequency Response | 50 Hz – 20 kHz ±3 dB | 50 Hz – 20 kHz ± 3dB |
| Speakers | 1x tweeter, 1x mid-woofer | 1x tweeter, 3x mid-woofers |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes (AAC/SBC codecs) |
| Stereo Pair Capable | No | Yes |
| Built-In Voice Assistant | Alexa or Google Assistant | Alexa Only |
| Maximum Volume | ≥100 dB SPL | 113 dB SPL |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 6.36" x 4.69" x 4.69 | 8.1" x 6.9" x 5.9" |
| Average Online Price | $219 | $174 |
The numbers showcase advantages like the Sonos One‘s more compact form factor and choice of voice assistants. But the Echo Studio counters with welcome perks absent on the Sonos – notably louder maximum volume potential thanks to bigger drivers and cabinet space, Bluetooth connectivity for simplified device streaming, and ability to stereo pair two Echo Studio units wirelessly.
Most importantly, frequent discounts drop the Echo Studio under $175 making it significantly more affordable than the $219 Sonos One. So buyers get increased loudness competency and flexibility at a lower price tag.
Obviously audio quality assessments contain subjective elements. But generally reviews characterize both the Sonos One and Echo Studio as superb performers for their sizes. The numbers however give Amazon the edge for buyers wanting maximum versatility on a budget.
Final Thoughts
In closing my friend, let me summarize the key pros and cons of the Sonos One:
Good for:
- Listeners craving premium wireless audio in a compact package
- Homes where a single smart speaker sufficiently fills most rooms
- Those wanting choice between Alexa or Google Assistant
- People valuing audio quality over peak volume output
Not Ideal for:
- Audiophiles desiring proper stereo separation
- Spacious open floor plan rooms needing maximum loudness
- Those wanting simplified Bluetooth mobile device streaming
- Buyers sensitive about size/aesthetics over sound fidelity
There‘s no denying the Sonos One delivers an impressive acoustic experience relative to its compact chassis. Faithfully-rendered mids/highs plus respectable bass easily outclass almost all cheaper smart options.
And having both Alexa and Google Assistant onboard expands whole-home control possibilities beyond just playing great tunes. Sonos deserves praise for the fine-tuned audio performance – even if certain surprising oversights like omission of Bluetooth reveal questionable product decisions.
If your budget accommodates the $219 price of entry and audio finesse sits atop your wireless speaker priorities, I doubt you‘ll regret adding the Sonos One to your space. It punches way above its weight sonically despite a few quirky flaws.
For alternatives offering louder volumes, true wireless stereo expansion, easier connectivity, or modern features at cheaper cost, products like the Amazon Echo Studio make compelling cases however. As more models enter the premium smart speaker space, Sonos maintains stiff competition.
But strictly judging the Sonos One on sound quality merits alone – it remains hard finding fault with the acoustic engineers! My advice would be making sure limitations of a solitary mono configuration, quieter maximum outputs, and lack of Bluetooth won‘t hamper your enjoyment before purchase.
I hope breaking down those key considerations helps inform your buying decisions my friend. Let me know if any other Sonos One questions come to mind!
