In case you’ve forgotten, Sonos basically invented the multi-room category of home audio. It started as a software company in the early 2000s before integrating its Wi-Fi-enabled network into hardware a few years later. Its first amplifier (which became the Connect:Amp) and subsequent speakers were great, but the real beauty of Sonos is its ecosystem of audio products that make listening to music at home really easy.
The magic of Sonos is the ability to group any number of Sonos speakers together, provided they are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and have them all playing in sync throughout the house. Alternatively, they can all be playing different tunes if you’d like. And it’s all controlled through a smartphone app.
Imitation is the finest form of flattery, so, over the years, a lot of companies have tried to beat Sonos at its own game. New wireless protocols have been introduced, such as DTS Play-Fi, Google’s Chromecast, Bluesound and Apple AirPlay, which emulate what Sonos does. Some big companies, most notably Google and Bose, also have their own lines of multi-room speakers.
Under that pressure, Sonos has introduced smaller and more affordable speakers, like the Play:1, giving more people a gateway into Sonos. Under new leadership — after a decade in charge, CEO John MacFarlane stepped down in 2017 and handed over the reins to Patrick Spence — the company is now in the business of producing smart speakers that work with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
In 2025, Sonos’s bread-and-butter is still multi-room audio, but the breadth of its entire ecosystem has expanded a lot. Its line of soundbars (as well as its connected amplifiers) have helped it weave its way into the home theater so that now you can integrate your TV into its greater audio system. Its connected receivers and amplifiers have helped Sonos become a solution for people who already have some part of the system, like a vintage receiver or passive speakers — which is most people — and don’t want to start over. And now Sonos even has several portable speakers and wireless headphones.
The bottom line: Sonos is still the best wireless home audio ecosystem out there. Here’s a look at everything the brand has to offer, from speakers to soundbars to subwoofers and more.
The Speakers (Wired)
SonosSonos Era 100
Specs
| Drivers | Two angled tweeters, one midwoofer |
| Amplification | Three Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, line-in (USB-C) |
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$199 (10% off)
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$199 (10% off)
- Release date: March 2023
The Era 100 is an improved (and more expensive) version of the One speaker. It stands a little bit taller and has an extra tweeter to give it the ability to deliver a stereo sound (which the One was not able to do on its own). It has a 25-percent larger mid-woofer to help it deliver deeper bass, too. The biggest difference is that the Era 100 has built-in Bluetooth and a line-in connection (via USB-C), meaning it supports ways of playing audio. It’s a smart speaker that can be integrated with Alexa (but not Google Assistant). It can be stereo paired with another Era 100. You can also designate two as rear-channel speakers in a home theater system.
(Note: As of April 2025, Sonos has permanently dropped the price of the Era 100 by $50. Previously $249, Sonos now sells it for $199.)
SonosSonos Era 300
Specs
| Drivers | Four tweeters, two midwoofer |
| Amplification | Four tweeters, two midwooferAmplification: six Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, line-in (via USB-C) AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: March 2023
The Era 300 is a first-of-a-kind speaker for Sonos that’s specifically designed to play immersive audio that supports Dolby Atmos. It has a total of six drivers: four tweeters (one forward-firing, two side-firing for stereo separation, and an upward-firing tweeter that reflects sound off the ceiling) and two woofers. When compared to its closest sibling, the Five, the Era 300 is slightly smaller, cheaper and not quite as powerful. Like the Era 100, the Era 300 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and line-in audio (via USB-C) and thus there are more ways to play audio from it. Additionally, you can use two Era 300s and designate them as rear-channel speakers for either Arc or Beam (Gen 2) soundbars — the result is a 7.1.4 home theater system.
SonosSonos Five
Specs
| Drivers | Three mid-woofers, three tweeters |
| Amplification | Six Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio line-in, AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: May 2020
The Five is the largest and most hi-fi standalone speaker (that’s not a soundbar) that Sonos makes. It’s also pretty unique because it has a 3.5mm line-in connection so you can quickly connect it to an integrated turntable. And you can still pair two Fives together and place them vertically, which then designates them as right and left channels for great stereo sound. The Five comes in matte white and matte black models, but this time around the white Five has a white grille, too — so it’s all white.
The Speakers (Portable)
SonosSonos Roam 2
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, one mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two Class-H digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: June 2024
The second-generation Roam is basically identical to the original Roam in every way — the only meaningful difference is it has a dedicated pairing button to make the setup process easier. Aside from that, the Roam 2 looks, sounds and costs the same as its predecessor. It’s still the company’s smallest and most portable speaker. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can use it in or outside the home. In addition to black and white models, it’s available in olive, wave (light blue) and sunset (orange) colorways.
SonosSonos Move 2
Specs
| Drivers | Two angled tweeters, one mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Three Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C line-in, AirPlay 2 |
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$449.00 (20% off)
- Release date: September 2023
The Sonos Move 2 is a new-and-improved version of the company’s 2019-released smart portable speaker. Like its predecessor, the Move 2 supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity which allows it to function as an indoor or outdoor speaker. Unlike the original Move, the Move 2 has an extra tweeter so it can play stereo sound. It has more than double the battery life (up to 24 hours); it supports USB-C line-in so you can hook it up to turntable, computer or CD player (although Sonos’s special adapter is required). It has an updated look and new controls similar to Sonos’s Era speakers. And it comes in olive (as well as black or white). The two downsides of the Move 2 are that Sonos jacked up the price by $50 and it doesn’t support Google Assistant.
The Soundbars and Subwoofers
SonosSonos Arc Ultra
Specs
| Drivers | Seven silk-dome tweeters, six midrange drivers, one Sound Motion woofer |
| Amplification | 15 Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical, Bluetooth |
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$999 (10% off)
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$999 (10% off)
Release date: October 2024
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the company’s flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar and it’s essentially an upgraded version of the 2020-released Arc. It has more drivers (14 compared to the Arc’s 11), a redesigned center channel, and a “Sound Motion” woofer. The result is it has better midrange (and dialogue) performance with deeper bass than the Arc.
The Arc Ultra can be placed in front of a standing TV or wall-mounted. It has a single HDMI eARC or ARC connection so the setup is super simple. Like the Arc or Beam 2, the Arc Ultra is a smart speaker so, if you choose, you can control it with your voice using Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control.
SonosSonos Arc
Specs
| Drivers | Three silk-dome tweeters, eight elliptical woofers |
| Amplification | 11 Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical |
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$899.00 (22% off)
- Release date: June 2020
Note: As of early 2025, Sonos is actively phasing out the Arc.
The Arc is Sonos’s premium Dolby Atmos soundbar that took the place of the 8-year-old Playbar and the 3-year-old Playbase (neither of which Sonos will continue to make). It has a grand total of 11 high-performance drivers, two of which are upward-firing to enable those vertical high channels for Dolby Atmos. It also supports Sonos’s Trueplay tuning technology and is able to automatically adjust its sound based on the home theater set-up and what’s playing, whether that’s stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, or Dolby Atmos sound.
SonosSonos Beam (Gen 2)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, four full-range woofers, three passive radiators |
| Amplification | Five Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical |
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$499.00 (26% off)
- Release date: September 2021 (Gen 2)
Sonos’ second generation compact soundbar is a big upgrade over the original Beam because it supports Dolby Atmos. It lacks upward-firing drivers (like the Arc), but it’s able to create virtual height channels and deliver a more immersive experience thanks to its advanced CPU (which is 40-percent faster than the original Beam’s CPU). Sonos gave the new Beam an eARC connection (instead of ARC) and a new polycarbonate grille (instead of fabric), but other than that the new Beam looks basically identical and has the same capabilities as its predecessor. Sonos also made it $50 more expensive.
SonosSonos Ray
Specs
| Drivers | Two tweeters, two high-efficiency mid-woofers |
| Amplification | Four Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical |
- Release date: June 2022
The Sonos Ray is the company’s smallest and most affordable soundbar — and the only one that doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. Unlike the Arc and Beam (Gen 2), the Ray doesn’t have built-in mics and can’t function as a smart speaker (there’s no support for “Hey Alexa” or “Hey Google” voice commands). It also connects to your TV via optical rather than HDMI, meaning it’s better suited for smaller and older TVs. The good news is it still sounds great for its size and it can be integrated into a larger Sonos multi-room or home theater.
(Note: As of April 2025, Sonos has permanently dropped the price of the Ray by $80. Previously $279, Sonos now sells it for $199.)
SonosSonos Sub 4
Specs
| Drivers | Two force-canceling speaker drivers |
| Amplifications | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
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$799 (15% off)
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$799 (15% off)
- Release date: October 2024
The Sonos Sub 4 is the company’s new flagship wireless subwoofer — roughly twice as big as its Sub Mini. It looks and works quite similar to its predecessor, the Sub 3, but Sonos upgraded its internals with increased processing power, memory, and new WiFi radios. Maybe the biggest difference is that the Sub 4 comes in new matte white or matte black finishes. Sonos recommends pairing the Sub 4 with the company’s larger soundbars, like the Arc Ultra or Arc (discontinued), and larger speakers, like the Era 300 or Five.
SonosSonos Sub Mini
Specs
| Drivers | Two force-canceling speaker drivers |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
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$429.00 (20% off)
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$439 (22% off)
- Release date: October 2022
The Sub Mini is essentially a smaller and more affordable version of the current Sub. It weighs 14 pounds, compared to the Sub’s 36 pounds, but it works it much the same way: with dual force-cancelling woofers. There are a few other differences with the Sub Mini. It has a cylindrical shape and needs to be stood vertically (you can’t rest it on its side like the Sub). It has a sealed rather than ported design. And you can only pair one Sub Mini with a soundbar, whereas you can use two Subs with the Arc. Sonos recommends pairing the Sub Mini with its Ray or Beam (Gen 2) soundbars, or with a pair of Ones.
The Headphones
SonosSonos Ace
Specs
| Drivers | Custom 40mm dynamic drivers |
| Battery Life | 30 hours |
| Colors | Black, soft white |
- Release date: June 2024
The Sonos Ace is the company’s first pair of wireless over-ear noise-canceling headphones. They work over Bluetooth and thus work similarly to many other premium noise-canceling headphones on the market; there’s no Wi-FI streaming like the company’s speakers. The one “Sonos-y” feature is called TV Audio Swap; if you a Sonos soundbar, you can quickly swap your TV’s audio to these headphones for a private listening session.
The Audio Components
SonosSonos Amp
Specs
| Drivers | N/A |
| Amplification | Class-D digital amplifier (125-watts per channel at 8 ohms) |
| Connectivity | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, analog (RCA), digital (optical and coaxial) |
- Release date: February 2019
The Amp works like the Sonos Port, except it’s also an amp with an HDMI ARC port. This allows you to connect your passive bookshelf speakers to a Sonos system or to your TV, just like a Sonos Beam. That means if you have other Sonos speakers, you can play your TV’s audio through them without having one of Sonos’s soundbars.
SonosSonos Port
Specs
| Drivers | N/A |
| Amplification | N/A |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Ethernet (x2) |
- Release date: January 2020
The Port is one of two Sonos gadgets designed to connect non-Sonos equipment into a Sonos system. It works by hooking up to your existing stereo or receiver and turning your non-Sonos sound system into one that works just like it, but the Port adds some big things. First, it supports AirPlay 2. Second, it has a 12-volt trigger, which enables the Port to automatically turn on your connected receiver when signaled through the Sonos app. And third, it’s matte black and actually looks like it will blend in with your other stereo components.
The Collaborations
IKEASymfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: August 2019 (Gen 1); January 2022 (Gen 2)
The Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2) is a collaboration between Sonos and Ikea. The speaker works exactly like Sonos’s One SL speaker, but at $120, it’s the cheapest Sonos speaker you can buy. It’s also unique, able to stand upright or be mounted horizontally on the wall; if the latter, it can function as a bookshelf and support the weight of several actual books. It’s worth noting that the Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker doesn’t sound quite as good as Sonos’s One SL speaker, nor does it have the same build quality. It’s available in white or black, and it can only be purchased from Ikea.
If you’re looking to wall mount the Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker, Ikea sells the necessary brackets and screws separately. The wall brackets ($24) enable you to horizontally mount the speaker, and with the purchase you’ll get a silicone pad to place on top of the speaker. You can also purchase speaker hooks ($17 for a 2-pack) to hang it on a rail.
IkeaSymfonisk Table Lamp (Gen 2)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: January 2023 (Gen 2)
The second generation of this table lamp speaker is different from the previous model mostly in its aesthetics. It’s available in four different colorways, various combinations of white and black.
IkeaSymfonisk Table Lamp (Gen 1)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPlay 2 |
- Release date: April 2019 (Gen 1)
The Symfonisk Table Lamp is, just like the Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker, a collaboration between Sonos and Ikea. The speaker works and sounds similar to Sonos’s One SL speaker, but it also functions as a lamp. It’s available in four different colorways, various combinations of white and black. It’s really an ideal Sonos speaker to place on a nightstand or anyplace where you want a speaker that doesn’t look like a speaker.
IKEASymfonisk Picture Frame Speaker
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
Release date: June 2021
The Picture Frame Speaker is the latest speaker in Ikea and Sonos’s collaborative Symfonisk line. It’s designed to be hung on your wall, in either landscape or portrait mode, and look like a piece of art. It does have rubber feet, too, if you want to lean it against the wall instead. The “art” of the speaker is actually its grille, which you can pop off and replace with different art that you can buy from Ikea or third-party sellers. The speaker works just like any Sonos speaker and sounds on par with One. It can be stereo paired with another Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker, too.
SonosSonos Architectural by Sonance
Specs
| Drivers | One high-excursion woofer, one tweeter |
| Amplification | N/A (requires Sonos Amp) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
- Release date: February 2019
People have long used Sonos’s wireless amps to stream audio to their old speakers. More specifically, they used them to stream music to speakers that were built into their homes, either in the ceiling or in the wall. As of early 2019, there are non-Sonos speakers that are specifically designed to work with the Amp. Sonos has partnered with Sonance, a reputable audio company known for its in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, and collaborated on “invisible” speakers that work just like Sonos but blend seamlessly into your home.
The Sonos In-Wall by Sonance ($659 per pair), Sonos In-Ceiling by Sonance ($999 per pair), and the Sonos Outdoor by Sonance ($879 per pair) are be the first third-party speakers to be compatible with Sonos’s TruePlay tuning technology. The catch is these speakers require a Sonos Amp to work, which needs to be purchased separately.
Discontinued and Unsupported Products
Because Sonos speakers are essentially computers, they don’t stay supported forever. Their sound-making abilities may remain intact, but their connectivity features get left behind. It’s the tradeoff for the simplicity Sonos provides. Old-school vintage speakers may last for a generation, but they’re also way more difficult to stream Spotify to.
Older Sonos products fall into one of two categories: Discontinued and unsupported.
Discontinued products may still be for sale by Sonos, as refurbished models. Most importantly, they are supported by Sonos’ latest “S2” app which means that although they are no longer top-of-the-line, they will place nicely in a Sonos system that contains more current speakers. Buying a discontinued Sonos product can be a good get if you’re looking for a deal and understand it may become unsupported sooner than the newer products.
Unsupported products are not compatible with Sonos’ newest “S2” app. They can still function, but they need to be grouped on their own separate network, and Sonos may not support this workaround forever. Buying unsupported products is almost certainly not a good idea (unless you are getting them at garage sale prices), and they’re included below primarily for posterity.
SonosSonos One (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One mid-woofer, one tweeter |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
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$219.00 (20% off)
- Replaced by: Sonos Era 100
The Sonos One is essentially an updated and smart version of the original Play:1. When it was released in late 2017, it was the company’s first smart speaker that supported either Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Sonos introduced a “Gen 2” version of the Sonos One in 2019, which looked identical but was updated with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), an updated processor and increased memory, which just made them more “ready for the future.” They sound and work the same as the “Gen 1” models, which Sonos no longer makes.
SonosSonos Roam (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, one mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two Class-H digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
- Replaced by: Sonos Roam 2
Originally released in 2021, the Sonos Roam is the company’s original ultra-portable speaker. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can use it as a portable Bluetooth speaker or integrate it into a larger Sonos multi-room system. Additionally, the Roam has a IP67 ratings, making it a little more rugged and water-resistant than the Move. As of June 2024, Sonos replaced it with the Roam 2, which is identical except it has an additional button to make pairing easier.
SonosSonos Roam SL (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter |
| Amplification | Two Class-H digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
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$159 (20% off)
- Replaced by: Sonos Roam 2
The Roam SL is a cheaper and microphone-free version of the original Roam … and it comes with a few tradeoffs. It can’t be used as a smart speaker. It doesn’t support Automatic Trueplay, so it won’t optimize its sound for the space it’s in. And it doesn’t support Sound Swap, a feature that allows you to quickly and easily transfer music from your Roam (but not the Roam SL) to the closest Sonos speaker without stopping the music. Unlike the Roam 2, the Roam SL lacks a second button for pairing.
SonosSonos One SL (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One mid-woofer, one tweeter |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Ethernet |
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$199 (20% off)
- Release date: September 2019
The One SL is a Sonos One speaker but without the built-in mics, meaning it can’t function as a smart speaker. You can also think of it as the next-gen version of the original Play:1 speaker, which, sadly, is getting phased out. The One SL is slightly cheaper than the One speaker, and it’s available in either white or black.
SonosSonos Play:1 (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One mid-woofer, one tweeter |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
- Replaced by: Sonos One, Sonos One SL
The Play:1 is the company’s original small and powered wireless speaker. Sonos doesn’t make them anymore — as they’ve been antiquated and replaced by the One SL — but you can still find and buy the Play:1 online (however, they’re normally really expensive and there’s no good reason to get one unless you found it for cheap). As for sound, the Play:1 is impressive for its size. It’s naturally a mono speaker, but you can pair two Play:1 speakers together and, through the app, create that stereo sound. You can also designate two Play:1 speakers as surround speakers in 5.1 home theater system.
SonosSonos Move (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One downward-firing tweeter, one mid-woofer |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, AirPlay 2 |
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$399.00 (30% off)
- Replaced by: Move 2
The Move is Sonos’s original portable speaker and it was its first speaker to have both built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. When connected to Wi-Fi, it works almost exactly like a Sonos One: it can play in a Sonos multi-room system and respond to either Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. (The one difference is that the Move cannot be designated as a rear-channel speaker in a home theater system.) A button on its back turns it into a portable Bluetooth mode, so you can take the speaker – it’s drop-resistant and IP56-rated – anywhere outside the home. Unlike every other Sonos speaker before it, the Move has automatic Trueplay, meaning it automatically optimizes its sound for the space it’s in.
AmazonSonos Play:5, Gen 2 (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | Three mid-woofers, three tweeters |
| Amplification | Six Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio line-in, AirPlay 2 |
- Replaced by: Sonos Five
For years the Play:5 was Sonos’s biggest and best wireless speaker, but it was phased out in mid-2020 and replaced by the Five. (Sonos now only sells refurbished Play:5 models.) It is a significantly larger and much more high-fidelity speaker than the Play:1, with six drivers as opposed to the Play:1’s two drivers, each of which is individually amplified. The Play:5 works exactly the same as a Play:1 speaker — you can group it with other Sonos speakers or pair it with an Alexa device and control it with your voice — but it also has some key differences that make it more versatile. It can output both mono and stereo, for example. When the Play:5 is horizontal it will play stereo and when it’s vertical it will play mono; the Play:1 can only play stereo when paired with another Play:1 speaker. The Play:5 also supports audio line-in, which the Play:1 doesn’t, so it can hook up to a TV or a record player.
SonosSonos Sub (3rd Gen) (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | Two force-canceling speaker drivers |
| Amplification | Two Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
- Replaced by: Sonos Sub 3
The Sub is the company’s large wireless subwoofer — it’s roughly twice the size of the Subs Mini. It wirelessly connects to any Sonos speaker or Sonos Amp, and it can be part of a multi-room or a home theater system, and just like Sonos’s other speakers, the Sub won’t pair with non-Sonos speakers unless you have one of Sonos’s own amps (see below). The real beauty of the Sub is it’s very easy to set up, and it will improve any Sonos system; you can also fine-tune the levels of bass with the Sonos app. If there are downsides, it’s the Sub is pretty expensive and large.
SonosSonos Beam, Gen 1 (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | One tweeter, four full-range woofers, three passive radiators |
| Amplification | Five Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical, Amazon Alexa, AirPlay 2 |
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$399 (40% off)
- Replaced by: Sonos Beam, Gen 2
Sonos has phased out the 2018-released Beam now that it has released a new and improved version: the Beam (Gen 2). This older version is very similar to the current model but lacks a polycarbonate grille, the newer eARC connection and support for Dolby Atmos. But it’s still an excellent compact soundbar that supports Alexa or Google Assistant voice assistants, and can be integrated in a Sonos multi-room or home theater system. It’s not a bad option if you can get a good deal on it.
AmazonSonos Playbar (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | Three tweeters, six mid-woofers |
| Amplification | Nine Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical |
- Replaced by: Sonos Arc
The Playbar is the company’s first soundbar, released in 2013, and has since been replaced by Arc. (Sonos is phasing out the Playbar.) It uses a single optical cable to your TV and it effectively replaces your TV speakers. The neat thing, as is true with all other Sonos soundbars, is that it can connect to all other Sonos speakers in your home; you can have your TV’s audio playing through the entire house or you can integrate those other Sonos speakers in a home theater system (the max all-Sonos system is 3.1.2 or 5.1.2 setup). There are a couple of downsides to the Playbar. It’s the oldest of the company’s soundbars and doesn’t support AirPlay 2. It doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. And there’s no HDMI connection option, meaning it might not be as future-proof as other soundbars.
AmazonSonos Playbase (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | Three tweeters, six mid-range, one woofer |
| Amplification | Ten Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, optical, AirPlay 2 |
- Replaced by: Sonos Arc
The Playbase is a sound base (so it sits underneath your TV) that was released in 2017, but Sonos announced in 2020 that it would be phasing it out with the Playbar, in favor of the new Arc. You can still buy the Playbase on third-party websites, however, and it’s similar to Playbar in most ways, but it comes with a few advantages. It has a dedicated woofer, unlike the Playbar, so it naturally has more bass. And it supports AirPlay 2. (Again, the Playbase only has an optical TV connection. No HDMI.) Other than that, the main reason why people would choose the Playbase over the Playbar, or vice versa, comes down to shape.
AmazonSonos Play:3 (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | one tweeter, two mid-woofers |
| Amplification | Three Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
- Replaced by: Sonos Five
Sonos discontinued the Play:3 — a Goldilocks speaker between the Play:1 and Play:5 — you might see Play:3 speakers online, but Sonos doesn’t sell them anymore. The Play:3 can also output stereo without being paired with another Sonos speaker, just like the current Play:5. And just like the current Play:1 and One, two Play:3 speakers can be designed as rear surrounds in a home theater system. It doesn’t support AirPlay 2 like the newer generation of Sonos speakers.
B&H PhotoSonos Play:5, Gen 1 (Unsupported)
Specs
| Drivers | Two mid-woofers, two tweeters |
| Amplification | Five Class-D digital amplifiers |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio line-in |
- Replaced by: Sonos Five
The original version of the Sonos Play:5, originally called the ZonePlayer S5, was released in 2009. Reviewed well by critics in its heyday, the first generation Play:5 is well over the hill, and no longer supported by the most modern version of the Sonos app. It is mainly worth knowing about solely so that you do not confuse it with its newer, more modern varieties.
This product is unsupported by Sonos’ latest “S2” app. It still functions but in a limited capacity. Learn more here.
SonosSonos Boost (Discontinued)
Specs
| Drivers | N/A |
| Amplification | N/A |
| Connectivity | Ethernet |
- Release date: October 2014
The Boost might be the most misunderstood product Sonos ever made. It connects directly to your home’s router and creates its own Wi-Fi mesh network, just like a Google Wi-Fi or an Eero hub, but this wireless mesh network only works with Sonos speakers — and it prioritizes audio quality over everything else. If you have a large home with spotty Wi-Fi, or you just want to make sure your Sonos is playing at its highest possible resolution, this is the $99 gadget you should invest in.
AmazonSonos Connect (Unsupported)
Specs
| Drivers | None |
| Amplification | None |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, analog (RCA), digital (optical and coaxial) |
- Replaced by: Sonos Port
The Connect was Sono’s original amp that turns your receiver into a wireless one that you can stream music, too. The Connect has analog, optical and coaxial digital audio outputs. There’s no subwoofer output, however. In late 2019, Sonos introduced the Port, which is the next-gen model of the Connect.
This product is unsupported by Sonos’ latest “S2” app. It still functions but in a limited capacity. Learn more here.
SonosSonos Connect: Amp (Unsupported)
Specs
| Drivers | None |
| Amplification | Class-D digital amplifier (55-watts per channel) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, ethernet, analog (RCA), digital (optical and coaxial), subwoofer |
- Replaced by: Sonos Amp
The Connect:Amp has its own built-in amplification and takes the place of that receiver and was designed to integrate passive bookshelf speakers into an existing Sonos system.
This product is unsupported by Sonos’ latest “S2” app. It still functions but in a limited capacity. Learn more here.
How to Get a Great Deal on Sonos Speakers
The Upgrade Program
As of November 2020, Sonos has introduced a new Upgrade Program that allows long-time Sonos owners to buy new Sonos speakers and get a 15 percent discount. This is not a trade-in program; you’ll still keep your old Sonos speakers. It’s an initiative by Sonos to encourage long-time listeners to expand their system with some newer products.
Shop Certified Refurbished
Sonos refurbishes many of its speakers, amps and soundbars and sells them at a discount. The catch is that it regularly changes which of its various speakers are available in its “Certified Refurbished” section, so you might not be able to get the exact model of refurbished speaker you’re looking for. For Sonos’s latest refurbished offerings, click here.
