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We’ve been anxiously awaiting new information on Sonos’ new range of premium speakers, the Sonos Era 300 and 100, since a leak earlier this month revealed that their name and that they would focus on providing Dolby Atmos.
Now the cat seems all out of the bag, after a new leak at The Verge (opens in new tab) of marketing images and pricing information.
According to The Verge, the all-new Sonos Era 300 will feature Bluetooth, USB-C line-in and AirPlay 2 compatibility, as well as the previously revealed support for Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio. There will also be Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for more robust wireless network connectivity.
The report is likely to rival Apple’s HomePod 2, adding that the Era 300 will have a total of six drivers that can send sound forward, left and right. The new model can be used in conjunction with a Sonos Arc or Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar as rear surrounds, with a stereo pair of Era 300s enabling immersive Atmos surround sound thanks to the upward-firing drivers.
While there was speculation that the new model would replace the Sonos Five, the report claims the older device will remain in the company’s speaker lineup as an alternative option.
That doesn’t seem to be the case with the venerable Sonos One, which appears to be being supplanted by the new Sonos Era 100, described as a direct replacement for the brand’s entry-level speaker.
The Sonos Era 100 is set to support Bluetooth and USB-C line-in like its bigger brother, but it doesn’t have up-firing drivers or support for Spatial Audio or Dolby Atmos.
Both models will feature Alexa voice control, but it remains unclear if Google Assistant will be available amid Sonos’ ongoing legal dispute with Google.
Analysis: New speakers could provide the missing home theater connection for Sonos users
While features like Bluetooth and USB-C line-in are highly anticipated features for Sonos, it’s still nice to see them finally appear on these new speakers, especially the entry-level 100.
However, it’s the Era 300 that has undoubtedly got us most excited.
While many music fans remain skeptical about the merits of multi-channel audio, we’ve always believed that you need to hear a Dolby Atmos track on a decent system to really appreciate its capabilities.
The Era 300 seems likely to offer a decent all-in-one system for delivering spatial audio, but the ability to pair it with Sonos’ Arc and Beam Gen 2 is a potential game changer. The addition of upward-firing rear speakers should breathe new life into those two soundbars and make them true home theater contenders.
With Sonos also expected to launch a product in an entirely new category this year – possibly the long-awaited Sonos headphones or some sort of TV app or operating system that was plagued with job postings in 2022 – 2023 looks set to be a huge year for the US audio company. .
You can learn more about the two new speakers in our Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 guide, and if you’re in the market for a new multi-room audio equipment check out our best wireless speaker and best smart speaker lists.