Sonos Expands Ecosystem with Play and Era 100 SL Speakers

Sonos has announced two new speakers – the Sonos Play and the Era 100 SL – marking the company’s first major hardware releases since 2024. These additions aim to broaden Sonos’s appeal by offering both affordability and portability, catering to both existing users and newcomers to the ecosystem.

Sonos Play: A Versatile Portable Option

The Sonos Play is positioned as the most versatile speaker in the Sonos lineup, falling between the Roam and Move 2 in terms of portability, and features. Like the Move 2, the Play offers both Wi-Fi connectivity for home employ and Bluetooth for on-the-proceed listening. It features a charging base for convenient at-home power-up, functioning as a smart speaker when docked.

The Play distinguishes itself with improved durability, boasting an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, surpassing the Move 2’s IP56 rating. Sonos has also introduced a proprietary Bluetooth grouping feature, allowing users to connect multiple Play and Move 2 speakers together. ZDNet reports this feature enhances the flexibility of the Sonos system.

Audio-wise, the Play incorporates three Class-H amplifiers, two tweeters, one midwoofer, and two passive radiators to enhance bass response. While not as powerful as the Move 2’s Class-D amplifiers, the passive radiators aim to deliver sufficient low frequencies for outdoor settings. The Play also includes Automatic Trueplay, USB-C reverse charging, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice assistant compatibility.

Era 100 SL: An Affordable Entry Point

The Era 100 SL is designed as an accessible entry point into the Sonos system. It shares a similar acoustic makeup with the Era 100, featuring three Class-D amplifiers, two tweeters, and one midwoofer. However, the Era 100 SL omits the built-in microphones found in the Era 100, focusing on essential listening functionality. Sonos highlights its compatibility as rear speakers within a Sonos soundbar setup.

Like the Era 100, the Era 100 SL supports in-app speaker pairing, Trueplay tuning, Apple AirPlay 2, and capacitive touch controls.

Availability and Pricing

Both the Sonos Play and Era 100 SL are available for preorder beginning March 31st. The Sonos Play is priced at $299, while the Era 100 SL is available for $189. Both speakers will be offered in Black and White finishes. Tom’s Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the pricing and availability details.