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

Why Do I Recommend The Sonos Era 300? 

• The Sonos Era 300 has a six-driver spatial audio architecture for delivering room-filling 3D sound with precise directionality and immersive Dolby Atmos effects, compared to the Sonos One SL’s basic stereo setup.
• Sonos Era 300 supports automatic Trueplay tuning on both iOS and Android for intelligently optimizing audio based on room acoustics without manual adjustments, while the Sonos One SL requires manual tuning and only works on iOS.
• It has built-in far-field microphones for enabling native voice control with Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa, whereas the Sonos One SL lacks microphones.
• The Sonos Era 300 comes with Wi-Fi 6 support for faster, more stable streaming performance and better bandwidth handling in busy network environments, compared to the Sonos One SL’s older Wi-Fi 4 standard.
• Sonos Era 300 features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for enabling flexible playback from smartphones, tablets, and laptops without relying on Wi-Fi, while the Sonos One SL lacks any Bluetooth support.
• It includes a USB-C line-in port for direct connection to turntables, media players, or other external sources via an adapter, whereas the Sonos One SL has no wired input options.
• The Sonos Era 300 features an advanced internal design with up-firing, side-firing, and forward-facing drivers for creating a wider and more dynamic soundstage compared to the Sonos One SL.

Maybe the Sonos One SL price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Sonos Era 300. 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.

What Common Both Can Do?

• Multi-Room Audio Support: Both speakers work seamlessly within the Sonos ecosystem, allowing users to group them with other Sonos devices for synchronized playback in multiple rooms.
• Stereo Pairing (Same Model): You can create a stereo pair with two of the same model—two Era 300s or two One SLs—allowing for true left/right channel separation for a richer stereo soundstage.
• Wi-Fi Streaming: Both use Wi-Fi for streaming high-quality audio from local networks or online services, ensuring stable, lag-free audio playback.
• Apple AirPlay 2 Support: Each model supports AirPlay 2, letting users stream directly from Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with minimal latency.
• Touch Controls: Each speaker features capacitive touch controls on the top surface for managing volume, play/pause, and skipping tracks without needing the app.
• Trueplay Tuning Support: Both support Trueplay, Sonos’s room calibration system. While the tuning method differs (automatic vs. manual), they both adapt sound to the room’s acoustics.
• Sonos App Compatibility: Both are controllable via the Sonos S2 app, which provides access to audio settings, EQ customization, multi-room setup, and integration with streaming services.
• Use as Rear Surrounds: You can use both speakers as rear surrounds in a Sonos home theater setup (e.g., paired with a Sonos Arc, Beam, or other compatible bars), enhancing the immersive experience.
• Color Options: Each speaker is available in neutral Black and White finishes, allowing them to fit aesthetically into most home environments.
• Wall Mountable: With the proper mount accessory, both models can be mounted on a wall to save space or optimize listening angles in a room.
• Power Source: Both require a wired power connection (either standard AC or USB-C with adapter for the Era 300), ensuring consistent operation without relying on batteries.
• Supported Music Services: Both speakers integrate with a wide range of music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, etc.) through the Sonos app or AirPlay.
• OS Compatibility: Both speakers can be controlled and configured from devices running iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS, giving users flexibility in how they interact with their system.
• Humidity Resistant: Both are humidity resistant, making them suitable for use in bathrooms or kitchens (but not fully waterproof or outdoor-rated).
• Room Grouping: Both models can be grouped with any other Sonos speaker in the app, enabling synchronized audio playback across multiple rooms in a home.