ZDNET's key takeaways The Sonos Era 100 is a $249 smart speaker that I recommend to most people, audiophile or not.
In addition to a full, booming sound, the Sonos speaker produces crystal-clear vocals that enhance any song and has hands-free Alexa for voice control.
Since the Era 100 is built for smaller spaces, it doesn't support spatial audio or Dolby Atmos like its larger sibling, the Era 300. View now at Amazon
When Sonos reached out to me to discuss the launch of a new line of smart speakers, I was, for lack of a better word, giddy. The company is behind a number of superb audio products, including the discontinued Sonos One, is one of the best smart speakers on the market right now.
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The excitement came largely because it had been just about six years since Sonos launched the One speaker when it launched the Era 100, and the One was still a favorite among audiophiles and smart home enthusiasts. This makes the Era 100, a direct replacement for the One, a big deal. Here are the key features you should know about and what makes the latest Sonos speaker a worthy upgrade.
Unboxing experience
The clean aesthetics of the Sonos packaging alone are captivating. Sonos is committed to environmental sustainability, from manufacturing to packaging design. The Era 100 speaker incorporates recycled materials, and Sonos is switching to 100% paper packaging this year, so the unboxing experience was like opening a present.
What is inside, however, is still the star of the show.
The Sonos Era 100 measures 7.2 inches tall. Maria Diaz/ZDNET
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