Sonos Era 100 Review: Compact Smart Speaker with Impressive Stereo Separation

The Sonos Era 100 represents a significant upgrade from the beloved Sonos One, bringing improved audio architecture, faster processing, and more connectivity options to the compact smart speaker category. It's designed to deliver room-filling sound from a speaker small enough to fit on your nightstand.

After testing it across various rooms and use cases, I found it delivers on its audio promises while stumbling in some frustrating ways.

Design: Small Speaker, Big Presence

The Era 100 maintains the compact form factor that made the Sonos One so popular. Available in Black and White, its cylindrical design with a slightly angled face looks elegant on any surface. This is a speaker designed to blend into your space rather than dominate it.

Place it on your bookshelf, kitchen counter, desk, or nightstand—it fits beautifully anywhere. The touch controls on top provide tactile feedback for volume and playback without needing your phone.

Sound Quality: The Headline Upgrade

The dual-tweeter acoustic architecture is the Era 100's standout feature. Unlike the single-tweeter Sonos One, the Era 100 creates genuine stereo separation from a single speaker. You can actually hear instruments positioned in the soundstage—a remarkable achievement for a speaker this size.

The 25% larger midwoofer delivers noticeably deeper bass than its predecessor. While it won't shake your walls, the low end is full and satisfying for a compact speaker. The 47% faster processor powers all this improved audio processing without breaking a sweat.

Customers consistently praise the sound quality and fidelity. For background music in the kitchen or focused listening at your desk, the Era 100 performs admirably.

Trueplay: Room-Aware Audio

With a tap in the Sonos app, Trueplay tuning technology analyzes your room's unique acoustics—the hard floors, soft furniture, wall distances—and optimizes the speaker's EQ accordingly. The result is sound tailored to your specific space rather than generic factory settings.

This feature genuinely makes a difference, especially if you place the speaker in a corner or against a wall where bass can become boomy. Trueplay compensates automatically, ensuring all your content sounds the way it should.

Connectivity Options

The Era 100 offers flexible connectivity. Stream from all your favorite services over WiFi for the best audio quality, or pair a Bluetooth device with a single button press for quick playback. You can even connect a turntable or other audio source using the Sonos Line-In Adapter (sold separately).

AirPlay 2 support means Apple users can stream directly. However, connectivity is where the Era 100's reviews turn mixed. Some users report frustrating issues getting the speaker to connect to WiFi or maintain Bluetooth connections. When it works, it works great—but the connection issues are a genuine concern.

Setup and App Experience

When everything works smoothly, setup is genuinely easy. Plug in the power cable, connect your phone to WiFi, open the Sonos app, and you're listening within minutes. Some users describe it as very easy to set up.

However, the Sonos app itself receives significant criticism. Users describe it as "terrible" and frustrating to navigate. When setup goes wrong or you need to troubleshoot, the app doesn't make it easy. This is the Era 100's most consistent weak point.

Smart Features and Voice Control

The Era 100 supports both Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa for hands-free operation. Sonos Voice Control processes commands on-device for enhanced privacy—your voice requests aren't sent to the cloud. Some users appreciate this privacy-focused approach and find voice control works well.

That said, voice control and smart home integrations receive mixed reviews. Some find the integrations great; others experience problems. Your mileage may vary depending on your specific setup and ecosystem.

Value Proposition

The Era 100 carries a premium price tag that some users consider too steep. Compared to smart speakers from Amazon or Google, it costs significantly more. However, it also sounds significantly better—that's the tradeoff.

For audio enthusiasts who prioritize sound quality over price, the Era 100 delivers. For those wanting basic smart speaker functionality, more affordable options exist.

Final Verdict

The Sonos Era 100 is a genuinely impressive compact speaker when it comes to audio quality. The dual-tweeter stereo separation, improved bass response, and Trueplay room tuning combine to deliver sound that punches well above its size. If you're building a Sonos ecosystem or want premium audio in a small package, it's an excellent choice.

The connectivity issues and app frustrations hold it back from a higher score. When everything works, the Era 100 is wonderful. When you're fighting with WiFi setup or navigating the problematic app, it's maddening. For most users who get past initial setup, day-to-day use is smooth and the sound quality makes it worthwhile.

Check the current price on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sonos Era 100 worth the price?

At 8/10, it offers good value for users whose priorities match its strengths.

How does the sound quality compare to competitors?

We evaluate bass response, clarity, soundstage, and volume levels. This product impressed us with its audio performance.

Is Sonos Era 100 good for music and movies?

We test with various content types. Look for our breakdown of performance across music genres, dialogue clarity, and immersive movie experiences in the full review.

What alternatives should I consider?

Check our related reviews section for comparable products. Your ideal choice depends on your specific priorities—features, price, or ecosystem compatibility.