Wondering about alternatives to the Sonos One? It’s a top-quality speaker that gives you access to the Sonos system, the best in home audio. But it can be pricey. Here are some other options to consider. Some of the best Sonos One alternatives include:
Want to make a good decision about your home audio system? Here’s what to consider:
- Is the Sonos One right for you? It offers access to the top-rated Sonos system.
- Or, would you rather try one of these alternatives? We’ll go over all the options in more detail below.
Table of Contents
Features of the Sonos One
The Sonos One is a great choice for your home audio system. It can be used on its own or as part of a surround sound or whole-home setup. It’s often the first choice for people starting with Sonos. Let’s compare it to some alternatives by looking at its key features:
- Connecting to the Sonos One is easy. It has Apple Airplay 2 and works with the Sonos app and many other services like Spotify and Audible. The app is user-friendly. It’s tough to beat the convenience.
- Connect the Sonos One through ethernet or wifi. It doesn’t have Bluetooth. Instead, connect your phone and the speaker to your wifi for better audio quality. This works with the Connect or Port.
- Want to build a bigger audio system? The Sonos One is easily expandable within the Sonos ecosystem. It’s designed to help you create the perfect setup.
- Compact, simple design, and fits into any environment
- Built-in microphone for voice assistants: Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa
Best Sonos One Alternatives
Amazon Echo Plus
The Amazon Echo Plus is a smart speaker that’s similar to the Sonos One in terms of integration and connection. It even goes a step further by acting as a smart home hub. This means you don’t need separate bridges for services like Phillips Hue. The Zigbee smart home standard is built-in. Find it on Amazon.
The Echo Plus has a smaller selection of speakers to add to your system compared to Sonos. You can pair more Echo speakers for stereo sound, and even an Echo subwoofer to get a bigger stereo system. But that’s it. There’s no equivalent to the Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar in the Amazon/Echo ecosystem.
The Amazon Echo Plus has a simple design and a few nice features that the Sonos One doesn’t. For example, you can use Echo speakers as intercoms throughout your house. It doesn’t have Airplay, but it does have Bluetooth and wifi. It’s easy to use with many popular apps.
| Pros | cons |
|---|---|
| Works as a smart home hub with built-in Zigbee bridge | Limited speaker ecosystem for bigger surround systems |
| Connects to more Echo speakers for limited surround sound (2.1) | Not as seamlessly integrated as the Sonos One for playing music on the device. It does have native support for popular apps like Spotify and Audible. |
| Extra features like intercom and Alexa Skills integration | |
| Typically costs less than half as much as the Sonos One. |
Denon HEOS 1
Denon HEOS 1 is a compact and portable wireless speaker. It delivers big sound in a small package. You can stream music from popular music services, like Spotify and Pandora, or from your own phone or tablet using the HEOS app. The speaker has built-in dual band WiFi, Bluetooth, and a USB port for connecting devices. The HEOS 1 also has a durable, water-resistant design, making it perfect for outdoor use. Plus, with its sleek, modern look, it’ll fit right in with any home decor.
| Pros | cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to set up multiple speakers for surround sound and multi-room setups | Prices are similar to or higher than Sonos for some HEOS speakers |
| Bluetooth and a strong app ecosystem with streaming service integrations make it easy to use, similar to the Sonos standard. | The design and app ecosystem are very similar to Sonos, but the app isn’t as polished. |
Bose SoundTouch 10
Bose SoundTouch 10 is a compact and powerful wireless speaker. It lets you easily stream music from popular services like Spotify and Pandora, or from your own phone or tablet using the SoundTouch app. The speaker has a built-in Bluetooth connection and a 3.5mm auxiliary input, so you can play music from almost any device. It also has six preset buttons, allowing you to quickly access your favorite stations or playlists. The SoundTouch 10 has a sleek and modern design, making it a stylish addition to any room. It’s also easy to set up and use, making it a great choice for music lovers.
| Pros | cons |
|---|---|
| Typically costs about half as much as the Sonos One | Not significantly cheaper than the Sonos One |
| Many networked speaker options for a customizable and expandable system. | The Bose SoundTouch series lacks style and cool factor. It’s more business-like. |
Bose Home Speaker 300
The Bose Home Speaker 300 is a compact and powerful smart speaker that lets you easily stream music from popular services like Spotify and Pandora, or from your own phone or tablet using the Bose Music app. The speaker has built-in Bluetooth and WiFi, and it can be controlled using voice commands with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant. It also has a sleek, modern design that fits in with any home decor. The Home Speaker 300 has excellent sound quality, making it a great choice for music lovers. It’s also easy to set up and use, so you can start enjoying your music right away.
| Pros | cons |
|---|---|
| A variety of pairable speakers and soundbars with excellent app support | It’s the same price as the Sonos One |
| Connectivity options and unique features like the LCD screen on the Home 500 | You have to really want the other Bose Home series speakers to justify the cost |
| Feels like you’re not missing out on the simplicity or expandability of Sonos. | May have trouble standing out with the SoundTouch series also from Bose. |
LG PK5W XBOOM
LG PK5W XBOOM is a portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers big sound in a small package. It has a sleek, modern design and is water-resistant, making it perfect for outdoor use. The speaker has built-in dual band WiFi, allowing you to easily stream music from popular services like Spotify and Pandora. You can also connect your phone or other devices using Bluetooth or the auxiliary input. The PK5W XBOOM has a long battery life, so you can enjoy your music all day long. It’s easy to use and has a range of convenient features, making it a great choice for music lovers on the go.
| Pros | cons |
|---|---|
| Eye-catching design with helpful features | The XBOOM speakers don’t work well together |
| Not just a copy of the Sonos One. | No app or digital ecosystem to support the speakers like Sonos. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several good alternatives to the Sonos One. The Echo and XBOOM series offer unique features that Sonos doesn’t have, but they also have their own limitations in terms of speaker connections.
The Bose Home series and Denon HEOS line are strong contenders for replacing the Sonos experience. However, they don’t quite stand out from the high standard set by Sonos. Both options are still excellent speakers though.
If you’re not sure if you want to commit to a whole-home speaker system, the Bose SoundTouch series is a good option to try out. It’s reasonably priced and has a good set of features. This can give you a taste of the more expensive options before making a decision.
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