5/18/2023 0 Comments Sonic riders pc not installing![]() But it finally lets your visiting friends play music on your Sonos system without having to share Wi-Fi passwords or download the Sonos app. You will notice that Bluetooth sessions don’t sound quite as good as those that are started from the Sonos app, so this shouldn’t be your go-to for critical listening. Sonos hasn’t equipped with the 300 with hi-res capable Bluetooth codecs (just SBC and AAC), however. A long press on the dedicated Bluetooth button on the back of the speaker is all it takes to put the Era 300 into pairing mode, and from there you can connect any Bluetooth device and start streaming. And for folks who have been stuck in the pre-Bluetooth Sonos “era,” it’s a breath of fresh air. The Era 300 and Era 100 are the first Sonos home speakers with Bluetooth. All of the connections Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Where SVC really comes in handy is its Sonos-specific skills, like grouping and ungrouping speakers or accessing your Sonos playlists. The microphone array has no trouble picking up your voice from across the room, and as long as you’re not blasting the tunes, it can even hear you over the sound of music playing.Īt the moment, Alexa is the better choice if you use streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, or YouTube Music, while SVC works well with Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Pandora, and Sonos’ own Sonos Radio. Google’s absence notwithstanding, the Era 300 works really well with Alexa and SVC. The Sonos Era 300 gives new meaning to “fills a room with sound.” That might not be a permanent situation - many of Sonos’ other smart speaker models offer Google’s AI - but the current relationship between Sonos and Google is a tense one and it may be a while before they reconcile their differences. You can choose to run either Amazon Alexa or Sonos’ homegrown Sonos Voice Control (SVC) assistants (or both simultaneously) on the Era 300 Google Assistant isn’t available. The Sonos Five ($549) packs a bigger punch, but it’s not a smart speaker. I won’t say that the Era 300 is the most powerful Sonos smart speaker - that title belongs to the Sonos Arc soundbar - but it is the most powerful music-oriented smart speaker in the company’s lineup. Powerful smarts Simon Cohen / Digital Trends That’s a big improvement over the previous top-surface location it used on its previous speakers. The LED Sonos uses to indicate things like voice assistant response, muting, and software updates is now visible from the front of the speaker, behind the grille, where it can be seen from any vantage point. I doubt many folks will do that with the Era 300. After all, with its relatively small footprint, the Era 100 could easily be placed on a nightstand. I noted in my review of the Era 100 that I think Sonos should consider adding backlights to these controls to make them easier to find in darkened rooms. (Sonos has no plans at the moment to introduce a mic-free “SL” variant of the 300.) You’ll also find two ways to control the built-in mics: a quick tap-to-mute control on top and a microphone kill switch on the back panel that physically disconnects the mic circuit for the ultimate in privacy. The grooved volume slider is an especially satisfying control, bringing an almost analog feel to loudness adjustments. Better controls and indicators Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsĪtop the speaker are Sonos’ newly redesigned touch controls, which separate track skipping and volume functions, making both easier and more accurate to use. At 6.3 inches tall, 10.2 inches wide, and 7.2 inches deep, the Era is compact for a speaker of its capabilities, but it’s not exactly small. Not that there are many bookshelves that would handily accommodate it. Placing the Era 300 in a bookshelf (or anywhere that might block the sides or top) would be less than ideal. It’s a clever solution that lets the speaker to do what it does best - don’t worry, I’ll get to sound quality in a moment - but it also means you’ll need to give it plenty of room to breathe. If you picture the speaker sitting in the center of a flower, with the petals representing the sound, you’ll get the idea. The design allows five of the speaker’s six drivers to aim sound both outward and slightly forward. Though certainly eye-catching, the Era 300’s unusual hourglass shape isn’t simply Sonos trying to make a statement. But if you suffer from a fingerprint allergy, I recommend the white version - the black finish has a tendency to show even the faintest of marks on its smooth beltline. They both look great, with their understated, all-plastic exteriors. In keeping with the rest of the Sonos home speaker lineup, you can buy the Era 300 in either black or white. Not your average speaker Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Sonos teases upcoming launch of the Era generation The best speaker brands of 2023: JBL, Sonos, KEF, and more Fitbit Versa 3īluetooth on Sonos’ new Era speakers isn’t what you think – it’s better
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