Product Description
Review: a high-end, versatile speaker for spatial audio and
immersive sound - The Sonos Era 300 has emerged as a top
contender in the wireless speaker space, particularly for users
who prioritize a well-rounded, high-fidelity audio experience
with immersive spatial sound capabilities. Key Features and
Design Spatial Audio Support: The Era 300 is optimized for
spatial audio, supporting Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D sound
experience. It has a unique hourglass shape that’s not just
aesthetic but also functional, helping disperse sound in multiple
directions for an immersive effect. Speaker Configuration:
Inside, it packs a six-driver array, including four tweeters and
two woofers, allowing it to project sound not just horizontally
but also upward, enhancing the depth and fullness of the
listening experience. The sound quality is especially good with
music produced in Dolby Atmos, which maximizes its spatial
capabilities. Connectivity Options: Sonos has added versatility
to the Era 300 with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, a
welcome improvement over previous Sonos speakers that were
limited to Wi-Fi. This makes it easier to connect various devices
and use the speaker in different scenarios. Voice Assistant
Compatibility: The Era 300 supports Alexa and Sonos Voice Control
(but not Google Assistant), which makes it convenient for
hands-free operation. The voice pickup works well, even in louder
environments, due to its built-in far-field microphones.
Sustainability and Design Updates: The Era 300’s design is more
eco-friendly, using recycled materials and being partially
disassemblable, which supports easier repairability. The physical
buttons on top, including a handy volume slider, make it
user-friendly and a bit more tactile compared to the fully
touch-controlled previous models. Sound Performance The Era 300
shines in terms of audio fidelity, especially for its size. Its
soundstage is wide and detailed, with impressive clarity in
highs, balanced mids, and deep bass that doesn’t overwhelm. The
spatial audio support takes tracks that are mixed in Dolby Atmos
to a new level, giving a “live performance” feel with a strong
sense of directionality and space. Music Playback: The Era 300
performs well across genres, but it’s especially suited to
high-quality recordings that benefit from its spatial audio
capabilities. Home Theater: Paired with a Sonos Arc or Beam Gen 2
soundbar, it enhances surround sound setups, creating an
immersive, cinema-like experience at home. Vocals and
Instruments: Vocals come through with strong presence, while
instruments maintain separation and clarity, preventing any one
part of the mix from sounding muddy or overpowered. Pros:
Exceptional spatial audio for immersive, room-filling sound.
Versatile connectivity with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and optional
line-in via USB-C. Sleek, modern design that fits well in various
interiors. Enhanced Sonos ecosystem compatibility, making it
ideal for multi-room audio setups. Improved sustainability with
recycled materials and repair-friendly design. Cons: High price
point may make it a less accessible option for casual listeners.
Lacks Google Assistant support, which limits voice assistant
options. Dolby Atmos audio quality is heavily dependent on
compatible sources, so standard stereo tracks may not make full
use of its spatial features.
Review: A worthy upgrade to the Era300 - Having used Sonos for a
fair few years now with the first generation speakers including
the 5s, 1s, soundbar, and subs I can safely say that these era
300s are the worthiest upgrade from these. Firstly these speakers
are expensive. At over £400 a pop they’re not exactly cheap,
especially when you’re looking to pair two together/ have them as
surround sound speakers. The value is in the quality of the image
quality. Having said earlier about the previous generation, these
new era 300s are worth the hype. They produce huge levels, with
amazing clarity at whatever level of sound. The bass is also
hugely impressive. For a speaker of its size I am amazed about
the bass they produce. It’s something that you expect on a £400
speaker but the size amazes me how it works to produce such
impeccable bass. I love the design of the speaker. I know from
reviews that some people are not big fans. I think it’s different
from the norm. A true Scandinavian design influence. This design
is obviously to create the Spatial Audio. This feature is
fantastic once you find some songs to use it with and get fully
immersed. I’m in the privileged position of having two, which I
feel is needed to get the most of this feature. One pain is that
it WONT fully connect to the SONOS Ray soundbar. This is
frustrating it still works with them however not as a full cinema
system. To get the full cinema system with the Ray you need to
get the Era 100s which I didn’t know when purchasing the Era300…
Another bug bare is that of the unavailability to use the new
Sonos SW with the old, I feel this is a slight oversight from
Sonos, where they could have all integrated well into the new
app. Overall I think I can say hand on heart this is one of the
best home speakers you can buy. It’s an experience but worthy
option, I would honestly say having one of these beauties is
better than the 3 ikea Sonos speakers you can get for the same
money. A genuinely award winning product.
