Sonos Era 300 review | Good Housekeeping

When it comes to multiroom audio, or even standalone wireless speakers, the options available are significant. I remember when I first started writing about technology over a decade ago and multiroom audio capabilities were powers possessed by only a very small number of speakers.

Sonos speakers were some of those, and while Sonos has some serious competition now — not only from the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google but hifi brands too — there’s a lot to be said for a company with nearly 20 years of experience mastering multiroom speakers.

The Sonos Era 100 is the entry point into the Sonos system and it’s my favourite wireless speaker for its combination of sound performance and value. But, if you’re looking for a standout wireless speaker that delivers superb sound performance, a striking design and super simple operation, it’s the Sonos Era 300 that should be top of your list.

Sonos Era 300: At a glance

Sonos Era 300 review

The Era 300 isn’t the most expensive speaker Sonos offers — that would be the Sonos Five — but the Era 300 is the best in the portfolio. Its distinctive design is modern and sophisticated and looks excellent on display in a living room or bedroom (mine is in my living room). It’s smaller than the Sonos Five too, meaning it requires less consideration in terms of placement.

Sonos Era 300: Sound quality

The design isn’t just about looking pretty though. Sonos specifically opted for the pinchedin waist to cater for the acoustic architecture beneath its matte shell and it’s here that the Sonos Era 300 really shines. A combination of drivers, tweeters, woofers and custom wave guides deliver an incredible sound experience across a range of genres.

Whether you’re listening to remastered versions of The Beatles or The Beach Boys, or you’re a secret Swiftie, everything sounds excellent and that’s especially true for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio content.

Directional horns and upfiring tweeters deliver a similar immersive sound experience to having multiple speakers, and even if you aren’t listening to Atmos content, the detail and balance are impressive across a range of tracks.

Sonos Era 300: Features

There are a range of useful features on board too. Alexa is supported, allowing for voice control of any compatible smart devices you might have, like lights or heating, as well as the ability to add to a shopping list, ask for recipes, play games or play music.

There’s also Sonos Voice Control, which is particularly handy for controlling the Era 300 itself when you have your hands full, allowing you to adjust volume with your voice, skip tracks, go back a track and group the Era 300 with any other Sonos speakers you might have.

There’s an easytouse control panel on the top of the Era 300 too, if voice control isn’t your thing, and you can of course use the Sonos app instead. It’s worth mentioning that the Sonos app can only be used if you’re on your wifi network, which is a little annoying as it means you can’t start a playlist for your pets when you aren’t at home, for example.

There’s also no Google Assistant on offer (older Sonos speakers had the choice of both Alexa and Google Assistant). Still, these are minor quips in what is otherwise an excellent speaker.

The only other thing I could complain about would be the position of the power cord. It comes out directly from the middle of the rear of the speaker, which means you’ll see the power wire more than you do on the Era 100, which tucks it neatly below the speaker.

Certainly not a dealbreaker but something to keep in mind when you’re deciding where to position the Era 300 in your home.

Sonos Era 300: Set up and connectivity

Setting up the Era 300 is incredibly simple and it’s easy to use too — something we can all appreciate. Sonos redesigned its app not that long ago and that has helped make everything easier to access, from adjusting EQ settings to setting up music streaming services you have a subscription with — Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, etc.

There’s also Bluetooth on board if you want to bypass the Sonos app and send music directly from your phone or computer to the Era 300, and there’s Apple AirPlay 2 support too, as well as USBC LineIn, so you have plenty of ways to access music, podcasts, audiobooks or the radio.

Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Sonos Era 300 speaker

The Sonos Era 300’s design might not be for everyone and it’s not the cheapest speaker around, but its design is also something that sets it apart from the rest of the wireless speaker pack. And while it’s expensive, you get a lot for that money.

The sound performance is excellent, it’s incredibly easy to set up and use, and the features on board from Bluetooth and AirPlay to adjustable EQ and Alexa support make it an exceptionally compelling (and smart) wireless speaker.

Britta O’Boyle has been a technology journalist since 2003. She’s covered everything from phones, tablets and fitness devices, to smart home, and beauty tech. You’ll find her name on reviews, explainers, roundups and expert tips, covering Apple, Google, Samsung, Sonos, Dyson and many more. 

She’s always tried to take a more simplified approach to products, focusing on what she thinks actually matters in use, rather than getting caught up in the jargon. She was one of the first journalists in the world to try Apple’s Vision Pro headset, she’s gone behind the scenes at Peloton and she can give you more than 40 fun facts about Mac. 

Britta has a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Journalism from the University of the Arts London and prior to a 10year stint as deputy editor of Pocketlint from 2013 to 2023, she wrote about interiors for 3 years, covering the rise in technology in the home.

As a freelance journalist, she cofounded The Disconnekt and she’s EditoratLarge for The Ambient. You’ll also find her byline on several prestigious titles including The Telegraph, British GQ, The Express, The Mirror, TechRadar, T3, Stuff, TechAdvisor, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews, Wareable and iMore. 

She’s also been a guest on several radio stations, including BBC Radio, Siren FM and Academy FM, discussing features to implement on devices to keep children safer online. You’ll never find her without her Apple Watch on (usually alongside another fitness tracker she’s testing), aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate. When she’s not recording the dog walk as an Outdoor Walk, she’s trying to keep up with her two young children.