Sonos is expanding its range of connected speakers with the new Sonos Era 100 SL, a more affordable version of the highly successful Sonos Era 100, which retains all the acoustic performance and networking features that made the original model such a success, but drops the voice control. A clever way of reducing costs for users who prefer control via the mobile app or touch-sensitive controls, rather than by voice.
Unchanged acoustic architecture
Sonos is no stranger to getting rid of voice commands. The manufacturer had already adopted this strategy with the Sonos One SL, the mic-free version of the Sonos One, as well as with certain versions of the Sonos Roam. Each time, the objective remained the same: to offer a more affordable alternative without compromising on sound quality.
Beneath its compact, elegant silhouette, the Sonos Era 100 SL speaker is based on exactly the same technology as the Era 100, with a stereo architecture of two inclined tweeters for the high frequencies, accompanied by a midbass driver. The whole system is driven by particularly sophisticated digital signal processing, guaranteeing dynamic, well-balanced reproduction, as highlighted in our review of the Sonos Era 100.
Always at the cutting edge of streaming
The voice control may be gone, but everything else stays the same. The Sonos Era 100 SL retains full network functionality via Wi-Fi, enabling access to major music streaming services such as Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music, as well as access to the many Sonos web radios or tracks shared on the local network. Streaming can also be carried out directly via AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth from a smartphone, tablet or computer. Users can control the speaker from the mobile app, with smooth, intuitive ergonomics, or use the touch controls on the top of the chassis. Volume, play/pause and navigation between tracks are all done with a simple gesture. For many, manual or smartphone control is not only sufficient, but also more reassuring in terms of privacy.
Ideal for multi-room and home theater installations
Beyond stand-alone use, the Sonos Era 100 SL comes into its own as part of a wider ecosystem. As a stereo pair in a living room or as rear speakers in a Sonos home theater configuration, it can be used to create a high-performance system on a budget. Users already equipped with a Sonos soundbar can complete their installation with a coherent, uniform solution that’s easy to set up. Its more affordable pricing also favors extended multi-room projects, where several speakers are spread throughout different rooms. By eliminating voice control on each unit, Sonos optimizes overall cost without altering the listening experience. In addition, the whole system can still be voice-controlled if at least one of the speakers or soundbars in the Sonos system has a built-in microphone.
With the Sonos Era 100 SL, Sonos offers a more affordable alternative for those who want to enjoy the acoustic qualities of the Sonos Era 100 at a more contained price. With strictly the same audio architecture and network functionalities, but without the microphones and voice control, this version meets the expectations of a public for whom a voice assistant is not essential. It is also aimed at users already equipped with a Sonos speaker incorporating a voice assistant, who don’t need to multiply the number of miked listening points in their home. In this context, the Era 100 SL makes it possible to extend a multi-room system or create a coherent stereo pair at lower cost, without compromising on sound reproduction.
