Sonos Era 300 vs Sonos Five – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Sonos Five & Sonos Era 300 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Sonos Five rather than the Sonos Era 300. 

Why Do I Recommend The Sonos Five

  • The Sonos Five has three high-excursion woofers for deeper, richer bass response that fills large rooms with powerful low-end sound, compared to the Era 300’s dual-woofer setup.
  • Sonos Five features a 3.5mm analog line-in port for directly connecting external devices like turntables or CD players without an adapter, unlike the USB-C line-in on the Era 300.
  • It includes six Class-D digital amplifiers with precise stereo orientation to deliver wide, room-filling stereo sound that preserves instrument separation and vocal clarity, compared to the Era 300’s directional audio for spatial playback.
  • The Sonos Five has a built-in Ethernet port for stable, wired network connections in environments with weak Wi-Fi, while the Era 300 lacks Ethernet port.
  • Sonos Five supports manual Trueplay tuning via iOS to allow fine-grained acoustic adjustments for more accurate and customized room calibration, compared to the fully automated process on the Era 300.
  • It features a sleek, symmetrical design that enables seamless stereo pairing in both vertical and horizontal positions, enhancing flexibility in speaker placement compared to the fixed orientation of the Era 300.
  • The Sonos Five has a heavier and larger cabinet design for more acoustic volume and resonance, more impactful sound output compared to the lighter and smaller Era 300.

Maybe the Sonos Era 300 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Sonos Five. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

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Side By Side Comparison

FeatureSonos FiveSonos Era 300
Audio Output FormatStereoDolby Atmos
Number of Woofers32
Built-in MicrophonesNoYes
Voice Control SupportNot built-inBuilt-in Alexa, Sonos Voice Control
Ethernet PortYesNo
Line-In Port3.5mm analogUSB-C
Trueplay TuningiOS onlyiOS and Android
FinishGlossMatte
Dimensions (H x W x D)8.03 x 14.33 x 6.06 in6.30 x 10.24 x 7.28 in
Weight14 lbs9.85 lbs
Setup ButtonConnect buttonBluetooth
Audio Codec SupportStandardDolby Atmos
Home Theater Use CaseMusic onlyRear channels
Physical ControlsPlay/Pause, VolumeTouch controls with skip/voice trigger
PriceCheck Sonos Five PriceCheck Sonos Era 300 Price

What Common Both Can Do?

  • Sonos Ecosystem Integration: Both the Sonos Five and Era 300 are part of the Sonos ecosystem, meaning they can be grouped with other Sonos speakers for whole-home wireless audio.
  • Wi-Fi Streaming & AirPlay 2: Each speaker supports streaming over Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2, making them compatible with iOS devices and enabling multi-room playback across Apple and Sonos products.
  • Stereo Playback: Both models can play stereo audio natively and can be paired with a second unit for dedicated left and right stereo separation.
  • Trueplay Tuning: Both speakers support Trueplay tuning, which adjusts the sound based on room acoustics. While the method differs (external device for Five vs built-in mic for Era 300), the result is optimized sound.
  • Multi-Room and App Control: They can be grouped and controlled using the Sonos S2 app, offering the ability to sync music across rooms or play different tracks in different zones.
  • Line-In Functionality: Each has a way to connect external sources like a turntable—Sonos Five through a standard 3.5mm input and Era 300 via USB-C (adapter required).
  • Touch Controls: Both include touch-sensitive controls on the speaker body for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and play/pause.
  • Build and Design Philosophy: Though they differ in shape, both speakers are solid, non-portable units designed for stationary use with AC power and have a clean, minimalist look available in black or white.
  • No Screen and Privacy-Friendly: Neither speaker has a display screen, and both respect user privacy—Sonos Five has no microphone at all, and the Era 300 allows you to disable voice assistants with a mic-off switch.

Common Features

FeatureSonos FiveSonos Era 300
Brand EcosystemSonos multi-room systemSonos multi-room system
Wi-Fi StreamingYesYes
Apple AirPlay 2YesYes
Stereo Playback SupportYesYes
Trueplay TuningYesYes
Multi-Room AudioYesYes
Control via Sonos AppYesYes
Compatible with Sonos S2 AppYesYes
Voice Assistant CompatibleYesYes
Integration with Sonos Arc/BeamYesYes
Touch ControlsYesYes
Playback OrientationHorizontal onlyHorizontal only
Pairing for StereoYesYes
High-Resolution Audio PlaybackYesYes
Line-In SupportYesYes
No Battery (AC Only)YesYes
Solid Build QualityYesYes
Color OptionsBlack, WhiteBlack, White
No Voice Recording by DefaultYesYes
No Display ScreenYesYes
Price Check Sonos Five Price Check Sonos Era 300 Price

FAQ

Can the Sonos Five and Sonos Era 300 be paired for stereo sound?
Yes, both the Sonos Five and Sonos Era 300 can be paired with an identical second unit to create a true left and right stereo soundstage, enhancing the spatial separation of instruments and vocals.

Do both speakers support Apple AirPlay 2?
Yes, both the Sonos Five and Era 300 support Apple AirPlay 2, allowing seamless streaming from Apple devices and easy integration into Apple’s multi-room audio setup.

Is Bluetooth available on both speakers?
No, only the Sonos Era 300 features built-in Bluetooth 5.0. The Sonos Five does not support Bluetooth connectivity at all.

Do both speakers support Dolby Atmos?
No, only the Sonos Era 300 supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio playback. The Sonos Five is limited to high-fidelity stereo output without immersive audio support.

Are both speakers compatible with the Sonos S2 app?
Yes, both speakers run on the Sonos S2 platform, which allows for full control, grouping, streaming service integration, and firmware updates.

Can I use these speakers as part of a home theater setup?
The Sonos Era 300 can be used as a rear speaker in a Dolby Atmos surround sound setup with a Sonos Arc or Beam (Gen 2). The Sonos Five cannot be used as a surround speaker in a home theater configuration.

Is voice control supported on both models?
Voice control is only built-in on the Sonos Era 300 with support for Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control. The Sonos Five does not have built-in microphones but can be voice-controlled via another Sonos speaker or compatible device.

Can both speakers be tuned using Trueplay?
Yes, both support Trueplay, but the Sonos Five requires an iOS device for manual tuning, while the Era 300 includes built-in microphones and supports tuning from both iOS and Android devices.

Do both speakers support a wired line-in connection?
Yes, but the input method differs. The Sonos Five includes a 3.5mm analog line-in port, while the Era 300 uses a USB-C input that requires a separate adapter for analog sources.

Are either of these speakers portable or battery-powered?
No, neither the Sonos Five nor the Era 300 are portable. Both require a constant AC power connection and are designed for stationary use in the home.

What Wi-Fi versions do the speakers support?
The Sonos Five supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), whereas the Sonos Era 300 supports the newer and faster Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard.

Is Ethernet connectivity available on both speakers?
Only the Sonos Five includes a built-in Ethernet port for wired network connectivity. The Era 300 requires a USB-C to Ethernet adapter sold separately.

Are both speakers compatible with third-party music streaming services?
Yes, both the Sonos Five and Era 300 support hundreds of streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more via the Sonos app.

Can the microphones on the Era 300 be disabled?
Yes, the Sonos Era 300 has a physical mic switch that completely disables the built-in microphones for users concerned about privacy.

Do both speakers come in the same color options?
Yes, both speakers are available in black and white. The Sonos Five has a glossy finish, while the Era 300 features a more modern matte texture.

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