Sonos Era 300

The nearly four-and-a-half-kilogram Sonos Era 300 can still be lifted out of its box with ease and conveys a certain sense of quality upon first touch—even though it consists of almost 40 percent recycled plastic. At just 16 cm tall, it is a little shorter than the Era 100 (see our review), but it is also more than twice as wide and 18.5 cm deep. This oval device is available in both black and white and comes with a two-meter power cable that plugs into the rear. Unfortunately, there is no recess for concealing the cable.

Sonos Era 300: Ports and Accessories

The Era 300 requires only the power cable, which plugs into the center of the back. Everything else operates wirelessly—via Wi-Fi 6 or Bluetooth 5.3. An Ethernet port, familiar from older Sonos devices, is nowhere to be found. Instead, there is a USB-C port, but it is only compatible with original Sonos accessories.

For 45 euros, Sonos offers a combo adapter that adds Ethernet as well as an aux input. The latter is also available separately for 25 euros and allows the connection of analog sources. In addition, there are practical wall mounts for 89 euros each or sturdy floor stands for 169 euros. Each stand weighs about as much as a Sonos Era 300 and has integrated cable management. Unfortunately, they are not height-adjustable, so the speaker generally remains at ear level when seated.

How to Set Up the Sonos Era 300

Sonos continues to rely on its Sonos app (S2) for setup and management, available for iOS and Android. The speaker only needs a power connection, is immediately recognized by the app, and is ready to use after a few confirmations. Any software updates start automatically, while all additional settings can also be made in the app.

Trueplay – One-Tap Calibration

One of the most important settings in the Sonos app is adjusting treble and bass. Even more effective, however, is the Trueplay feature, which automatically adapts the Era 300 to the spatial conditions and thus optimizes the sound. Sonos uses the reflection of various test tones, which are detected by the built-in microphone and the smartphone.

For many setups, this automatic calibration is completely sufficient. However, anyone using multiple Sonos speakers—for instance, as a home theater system—should perform the “extended tuning.” This takes about five minutes and analyzes the room acoustics even more precisely to achieve optimal adjustments.

Sonos Voice Control, AirPlay 2, and More

Neither Google Assistant nor Siri is directly available on the Sonos Era 300. In Germany, only Amazon Alexa is offered, while Sonos’ own voice control continues to support only English and French. Siri can still be used via a HomePod: those who own Apple’s smart speaker can start music playback on the Sonos speakers using AirPlay 2. In this way, the Era 300 can also be integrated into existing smart home setups and automations.

The same applies to Google Assistant: if you already own a Sonos speaker that supports it, the Era 300 can also be controlled in that manner. Chromecast is not integrated, but as an alternative, the speaker can be addressed via Bluetooth.

Controls on the Sonos Era 300

In addition to voice and app control, Sonos provides several touch buttons on the top of the device. Alongside a play/pause button that resumes the last playback, there are buttons for the next or previous track. Directly above these is a slight indentation, which is also touch-sensitive. Swiping left or right adjusts the volume.

How Does the Sonos Era 300 Sound?

Short summary: from the lows to the highs, the Era 300 delivers clear and precise reproduction that faces almost no competition in this price class.

To achieve this, Sonos relies on four tweeters for the high and midrange frequencies. Only the centrally aligned tweeter projects forward and ensures clear voice reproduction. The side-facing tweeters contribute to a pleasantly wide stereo sound, which already provides a solid stereo effect without a second speaker—significantly more pronounced than with the Era 100. There is also a fourth, upward-facing tweeter that enables Dolby Atmos. Two side-facing woofers provide powerful bass.

In tracks such as “Mr. Chicken,” “Love Lockdown,” or Missy Elliott’s “WTF” (from our Spotify playlist), the low frequencies are rich without being overdone. Even at high volumes, they never sound thin. Meanwhile, the tweeters do clean work on voices and instruments, which is especially beneficial for acoustic music or orchestral pieces, resulting in a balanced sound profile.

Anyone who wants to expand the Era 300 into a true home theater system can pair it with a second Era 300 and other Sonos products (such as a Sub). The result is impressive but comes at a price: a setup with two Era 300s, a soundbar like Arc or Beam, and a Sub quickly exceeds 2,500 euros. Furthermore, each device requires its own power outlet. In the role of a rear speaker for a surround setup, the Era 300 also shines, though it may be somewhat underutilized.

Conclusion

With the Sonos Era 300, you bring a superb-sounding speaker into your home that can be integrated wirelessly into an existing multiroom system or a surround setup. Thanks to optional adapters, analog sources such as a turntable or cassette deck can also be connected. Even as a single speaker, the Era 300 is impressive. In stereo pairs, it steps up another notch, although the total price then approaches 1,000 euros. Anyone who is already at home in the Sonos world or wants to join it will find an outstanding companion in the Era 300.