One of the brand’s most cutting-edge speakers to date is the Sonos Era 300. In addition to supporting Dolby Atmos and offering a variety of connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and line-in, it also has spatial audio, which is supposed to completely engross listeners. In addition, the gadget has touch controls, support for Sonos apps, Alexa voice control, and Apple AirPlay 2, which enables seamless music sharing from Apple devices. But is the Sonos Era 300 the greatest wireless smart speaker for the money given its extensive feature set? Continue reading to learn.
Rating: 8 / 10
Design
The Sonos Era 300 stands out from other smart speakers on the market thanks to its slightly unusual look. But there are useful reasons for this design decision, which we’ll discuss later. For the time being, it’s important to note that the Era 300 has an oval-shaped front and rear panel, giving it a tight form factor. Because of its weight, the speaker will be noticeable wherever it is positioned. The Era 300 may be mounted on a table, or you can purchase a stand for an extra Rs 17,999.
The Sonos speaker is made of plastic and is available in two color options: black and white. For assessment, we were sent the black version, which appears to be well-built. A gently curved grille with the Sonos logo covers the speaker’s “Custom waveguides,” which are said to provide a wide soundstage and a tweeter positioned in the center. Around the edges is an additional grille that holds two tweeters, one upward-firing tweeter, and two high-performance woofers. The system is powered by Class-D digital amplifiers, which enhance the sound quality.
The Era 300 has touch controls on its top edge that may be used to switch tracks, pause or play music, and operate pretty well. In addition, there are built-in microphones for voice control and a gorgeously carved depression for volume adjustments. A Type-C connector, two power ports, a Bluetooth pairing button, and a voice command toggle are all located on the back panel.
Features
Although its features won’t win you over, the Sonos Era 300 doesn’t omit any necessities. With a respectable range, this smart speaker pairs wirelessly and effortlessly with any device using Bluetooth v5. Alternatively, the Type-C Line-in port can be used to connect it, but an additional adapter needs to be bought. On the official website, the Sonos Line-in Type-C to aux converter is priced at Rs 2,200. The Era 300 also supports AirPlay 2, allowing users of Apple devices—iPhone, Mac, and iPad—to stream high-definition audio from compatible platforms without being interrupted by calls or notifications. This is reachable via a shared network, made possible by the connectivity of Sonos Wi-Fi 6.
The audio quality of the Sonos Era 300, which we have covered in detail below, is impressive nonetheless. It’s important to note that the speaker can currently be controlled by voice using Sonos’ internal voice assistant and Amazon Alexa. The latter is only available in English and French and has restricted functionality. For all of your smart home requirements, Alexa provides a more complete answer. It can precisely catch commands even when they are given from a distance and operates very smoothly. When not in use, a toggle allows you to disable the feature.
App assistance
Era 300 can be easily controlled using the Sonos application, which can be downloaded to Android and iPhone smartphones. Although the V16.1 app was slow to load and launch commands, it was easy to use and offered a list of features. The app gives access to Sonos Radio as well as your favorite sites like YouTube Music, Apple Music, Amazon Prime Music, and Spotify. You can also adjust the speaker’s output EQ settings in the app.
Additionally, the sound of the Era 300 can be enhanced in the room in which it is installed using Trueplay, which is not limited to the iPhone. Both Android and iOS users can use the app’s Trueplay feature, which analyzes the environment using the phone’s microphone to optimize audio quality.
In addition, the Sonos app allows you to connect a subwoofer, enable or disable touch controls, and configure compatible stereo pair grouping, among other things.
Audio
Sonos recommends placing the Era 300 at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from the wall and ensuring all edges are 8 inches (8 cm) high. The speaker can then be integrated into the environment using Trueplay technology for a better experience. Trueplay provides a noticeable improvement in sound quality, making the Era 300 sound full and clear.
I liked the song, especially on YouTube Music. No matter what number I threw at it, the Era 300 handled it well. The default EQ settings are too simple for my taste, leaving everything crisp and clear. When listening to Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s “Waiting for the World to Change“ or “It’s Time to Disco“, the speaker manages the energy of the song, making all the instruments and vocals sound great.
The Era 300 is not your usual party speaker, but it can get surprisingly loud for its size and groove you with bass-heavy tunes like Navaan Sandhu’s “Unbothered” and Dua Lipa’s “Levitating.” I played around with the Dolby Atmos-equipped spatial audio on Apple Music, and I was amazed at how much of a difference it makes in a typical-sized room. I’ve been listening to Rabbi’s “Challa” for years, but it’s never sounded as amazing and captivating as it does with Era 300. The speaker provides an engrossing experience by fully submerging you in the music. Reverting to my preferred music streaming service didn’t cause me any significant FOMO because the Dolby Atmos song library isn’t that large.
Verdict
At Rs 32,900 and Rs 22,999, respectively, the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) and Amazon Echo Studio are two of the most well-liked Dolby Atmos-enabled spatial audio speakers in India. However, the Sonos Era 300 is priced at Rs 54,990, making it a somewhat costly purchase. But the Sonos speaker’s cutting-edge features and excellent music output more than makeup for its high cost. I have heard better speakers than this one up till now.
Its somewhat hefty design might not be to everyone’s taste, but its sound quality is exceptional—especially when tuned for Trueplay. With its distinct instruments, powerful bass, and crystal-clear voices, the Era 300 is a versatile tool for a wide range of musical styles. Its smooth connecting choices for iOS and Android smartphones further increase its adaptability as a smart speaker. For those who don’t mind the expense, the Era 300 should be a no-brainer in the wireless smart speaker market despite a few drawbacks like the necessity for additional speakers for some capabilities, slow software, and spatial audio constraints.
