After weeks of rumors and endless speculation, Sonos has finally released their latest speaker offering, but they are expensive and lacking any Google Assistant capability, and are Trueplay Via an Adroid phone app.

Complete with a new Era name, users can finally plug in attach devices such as a record player, as well Sonos has backed down from bagging out the quality of Bluetooth over wireless streaming, with the new Era 300 and Era 100 speakers now featuring Bluetooth connectivity. The move to Bluetooth is all about selling more speakers.

Also Missing is Google Assistant. In Australia, Google Assistant is the #1 voice activation network, with more than 75 per cent share of market.

Owners do get Amazon Alexa.

The speakers, as we exclusively reported in the past, have a concaved look and the addition of Dolby Atmos audio technology.

The top-end model has six class-D digital amplifiers and two woofers on the inside. You can also finally pair the new speakers with other Sonos devices such as the Sonos Arc or Beam soundbar.

The top-end Era 300 is $749 and Era 100 costs $399, which are massive price jumps for a piece of Sonos kit.

In comparison, the Sonos One is $319. This model will be killed off as stock levels at retailers run out but is still on sale in Australia, Sonos has confirmed.

As for the design, the Sonos Era 100 is smaller than the One, but otherwise there is little difference at a glance.

Also built-in is a rear USB-C port, reworked volume control – where you slide your finger up or down a shallow groove, this does away with the awkward buttons of previous Sonos models.

Despite its somewhat awkward shape, the Era 300 is a key offering from Sonos, who are facing pressure from a multitude of manufacturers offering networked speakers.

One of the new features is Trueplay, which is an AI equaliser that reads not just the space, but the way sound reflects off materials in a room. Sonos tried a version of this technology in the past but it failed to impress consumers.

But if you ‘re an Android phone owner, this technology will not work for you, as Sonos has limited it to iOS owners. It’s only via the iOS app that an accurate measurement of sound can be taken as you move your phone around a room.

The only way that Android users can get access to this feature is via a receiver on the device itself, because Sonos has failed to develop an app for Android phone owners.

This isn’t as accurate as being able to move about the space with an iPhone, and for Android device owners it’s a real let down as it fails to deliver the same level of information Sonos is delivering for iPhone owners.

 

Neither the Sonos Era 100 or Era 300 have the outdoor weatherproof features of the Roam. Also missing is Google Assistant, due to the fact Google and Sonos are again suing each other over patents.

If that sounds a bit pricey then it might be worth checking out the new Era 100. Unlike the Era 300, this speaker is taking the place of the popular Sonos One, which will be discontinued when stock runs out.

Sonos is claiming that this new entry-level Era 100 will deliver much-improved audio over its predecessor due to a more advanced processor and better bass performance.

The old Sonos One is a shocker with poor sound and poor controls and connectivity.