If you missed it, Sonos is facing considerable backlash regarding its new app. Released earlier this year, the redesign was dubbed by some as "unusable", and caused the company's otherwise excellent speakers to become pretty useless.

With accusations the app was "unfinished", and the potential for a dramatic U-turn that would lead users back to the prior version, Sonos is in a tricky spot.

According to a new report, the software issues are having a knock-on effect with new hardware releases. That comes via Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, where he reports "Sonos is still in the middle of a crisis. Though the company has made headway in repairing the damage, the fallout will be felt for months."

Sonos facing hardware delays following app issues

According to Gurman, the company has had to "delay two products so that it can focus on the software problem," with one of them being a "Roku-like offering codenamed Pinewood" which would mark Sonos' first TV set-top box. Gurman didn't say what the other project was.

Sonos' Ace headphones are reportedly "underperforming", too, with Gurman suggesting the numbers show that 250 units are being built a day - drastically less than the target of 2,500 units. Reduced demand means the company will build between 90,000 and 100,000 units annually, instead of ten times that number.

Stock is down 32% this year, Gurman notes, which is a huge disappointment given the year was intended to see a variety of new products launch.

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The new Sonos app is awful, and that's not a controversial opinion. The rushed redesign has been met with tons of bad ratings on the App Store since launching in May.

Last month Sonos CEO Patrick Spence apologized for the rocky launch. Now, The Verge reports that the company could be about to bring back the old version of the app.

The Verge writes, "There have been discussions high up within Sonos about bringing back the prior version of the app, known as S2, as the company continues toiling away at improving the performance and addressing bugs."

Currently, there's no way to use the older version of the app with customers in the Sonos ecosystem locked to the new and confusing UI of the newer iteration. While Sonos is working hard to update the new design and continuously improve the app, it's still not as functional as the previous version the company left in the past.

Back from the past 

As a Sonos user myself, I've become increasingly frustrated with the new app over the last few months. It looks nice (depending on who you ask) but it's just confusing. and hard to navigate. The Sonos Beam in my living room has been having issues recently pairing with the two Sonos Era 100 I use for my record player and doing simple things in the app like unpairing speakers is just far more cumbersome than ever before.

I'm not against using the new Sonos app; the updates have helped, but I would welcome a return to the old version. Sonos has had to learn the hard way: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Two months ago, Sonos completely refreshed its app, with a new look, and… fewer features? The update introduced more bugs than it did excitement, and users were less than pleased when their Sonos systems struggled to function like they once had. 

For a company that relies so much on an interconnected system of devices where the app acts as the central guiding force, getting the redesign right was critical. When it wasn't, users took to the internet to voice their displeasure. Interestingly, (and perhaps anecdotally) while many times these issues can seem overblown by a vocal minority on the internet, in this case, it feels like a unanimous issue — one shared by thousands of Sonos users.

An apology

Now, to put users' minds at ease, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, has apologized for the redesign and its issues. In a blog update on the Sonos site, Spence says “We know that too many of you have experienced significant problems with our new app which rolled out on May 7, and I want to begin by personally apologizing for disappointing you.” A far cry from previous statements that saw him stand by the app redesign, and that users just couldn’t see what the firm had planned.

Here’s the thing now — Sonos has to actually do something. There have been updates to the app since its woeful rollout, but there are still significant issues with devices dropping out, not appearing at all, and some missing features. Spence has given us a release schedule to put our minds at ease, and it looks like this:

July and August:

• Improving the stability when adding new products
• Implementing Music Library configuration, browse, search, and play

August and September:

• Improving Volume responsiveness
• User interface improvements based on customer feedback
• Improving overall system stability and error handling

September:

• Improving Alarm consistency and reliability

September and October:

• Restoring edit mode for Playlists and the Queue
• Improving functionality in settings

He closes his apology with a ‘deep appreciation’ of users' patience and admits that Sonos now has to work hard to regain users’ trust. Is it too little too late? If the updates come when he says they will, likely not. No one is going to go out and rebuy their entire system again — but new customers might still be put off by other users talking about a rough app.

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As much as we love a HomePod here at iMore, we also know there are some great alternatives to Apple's speaker system out there. One such brand is Sonos, which has arguably nailed the Spatial Audio formula down to a fine art, converting even the most staunch of the format's detractors.

Currently, if you're looking for some epic speakers, then you'll find some incredible deals on Sonos hardware in the Amazon Prime Day sale. There is a whole range on offer, from soundbars to portable speakers — you can even make a solid TV speaker setup with two of them. 

Massive Sonos savings

• Speaker deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell

Sonos hasn't been having the best time of it recently. It all stems from the... frosty reception of its app redesign, which has left some users floundering with frequent speaker disconnects, missing and removed features, and general UI complaints. Now, Sonos finds itself in more hot water around its app.

If the firm was hoping that the launch of the Sonos Ace headphones would distract users from issues surrounding the app, it could well have been completely mistaken. Spotted by YouTube's Louis Rossmann, Sonos has removed a key line of text in its privacy policy — the one about not selling users' data to third-party companies.

Ouch.

• Speaker deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell

The continued woes of Sonos

In its app privacy policy, Sonos long had a line that read "Sonos does not and will not sell personal information about our customers." For many, that line was an important promise that when you use the Sonos app, your data is protected and safe from being sold to any potential bad actors. Now that the line in the policy is gone, that promise seems to have evaporated.

Add to the fact that there's no two-factor authentification for the Sonos app, and you've got a piece of software that no longer feels as secure or as protective as before. It is worth noting that there are some parts of the world that still have the line in the policy — although in the US, it has been removed.

It's a massive shame to see these issues plague Sonos, which has made some of the best smart and Bluetooth speakers around for a long time now. It mars the launch of the Sonos Ace headphones as well, leaving potential users with a bitter taste in their mouths as they consider which headphones they should buy — so Sonos needs to sort it all out quickly before more users are put off.

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There are currently two people in the world I wouldn’t want to be right now — The British Prime Minister, and anyone that has to work in the Sonos customer service department. Since updating its app, users of Sonos multi-room music systems have found that the update has damaged some useful features and outright removed others.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence, however, is more than happy to stand by the new app update, and its modernized UI elements. His only reservation, it would appear, in an interview with The Verge, is that he wishes that the firm had been able to show customers more of its roadmap, so that they could see where the app is headed.

The issue at hand

There are a number of complaints about the app, ranging from devices either not connecting to outright missing features. The alarm settings, for example — nada, gone. Since the update speakers have been known to disconnect, and some older devices refuse to connect at all.

Of course, not every Sonos device or user is experiencing these issues, and there was a recent patch that fixed most of the bugs, to greater or lesser degrees. But there remain those missing features, which customers would like to see return.

Sonos tells us not to worry

In the interview with The Verge, Spence remarks “What I wish we would’ve done is probably communicate the roadmap a little more clearly.” He reckons that the people complaining about the app are those resistant to change, and that with a little time they’ll come to terms with the changes in the app, and, as a result, come to love all the improvements it's brought.

It seems some features were apparently removed to make way for new ones, but they’re said to eventually be brought back so that they work better with the wider Sonos ecosystem. In fact, Spence says the app is “actually much easier to navigate, more responsive, and just a better overall experience.” In his eyes, despite the complaints, the new app is a better way to connect to your Sonos devices that you have dotted around the house. He does recognize, however, that “once you add [a feature], it may become one person’s most important thing, and that matters most to that person.” He knows that Sonos had to be careful with its new app — and yet it still managed to release an app with some useful bits chopped off.

Either way, Sonos is going to keep at it with the revisions, hopefully adding in those missing features further down the road — ready for the launch of the upcoming Sonos Ace headphones.

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Sonos has today unveiled its hotly-anticipated Sonos Ace headphones, the company's first foray into personal audio after years of mastering the speaker market. 

The new headphones come in two colors, and feature "breathtaking lossless and spatial audio, world-class Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Aware Mode," as well as what Sonos calls "the most precise and immersive home theater experience possible." The latter is powered by Sonos' new TrueCinema technology, and indicates that Sonos is as much focused on home cinema as it is music with its latest offering. 

Starting at $449, the new headphones will be available in two colors, black and white, starting June 5. 

Sonos Ace unveiled

Sonos says the Sonos Ace have "world-class" active noise cancellation that can pinpoint sounds and neutralize them. Naturally, they also have an "aware" mode akin to Apple's transparency mode in the AirPods Max. Also like AirPods Max, they feature head tracking that follows your movement for a more immersive listening experience. 

The Sonos Ace also come with a button to seamlessly swap TV audio from your Sonos Arc to your headphones, with support for the Beam, Beam Gen 2, and Ray also on the way. 

Sound is provided by custom 40 mm dynamic drivers in each ear cup, and audio and noise cancellation come from eight microphones. They also support spatial audio content from the usual streaming services and devices, as well as lossless audio over Bluetooth and USB-C, including Apple's Lossless Audio Codec found in Apple Music. Through the Sonos app, you can also adjust the Ace's EQ. 

The Sonos Ace feature a matte finish with stainless steel, and weigh just 312g, a good chunk less than Apple's over-ear offering. Battery life is good for up to 30 hours of listening time, and you can get three hours of charge in just three minutes thanks to ultra-fast charging over USB-C. 

TrueCinema is coming to the Sonos Ace by way of a software update later this year. 

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Sonos produces some of the best smart speakers around, and at the heart of its product line is its app. Traditionally, that app has been just fine, but it’s been recently updated for users of the best iPhones — and users aren’t happy with some now calling it an “unusable” experience.

On a Reddit thread, user Gr8daze says “In my 40 years of using tech THIS IS THE WORST UPDATE I’ve ever seen.” Strong words indeed, although the more you read the thread the more users you spot who are having the same experience.

What’s happening with the app?

There are a range of different complaints about the app, ranging from general instability to random disconnections, and more. Gr8daze says that they have “Sonos in every room in [their] house”, and that Sonos “busted it so bad [they] can’t even use it”.

The main complaint seems to be that the app appears to be unfinished, rushed out of the door for some unsuspected reason. Some complain that it’s now unusable, with images of an app devoid of devices or streaming platforms.

Others are kinder, with one user asking their fellow Redditors to “chill with the hysteria”. As big users of Sonos and the app ourselves here at iMore, we can’t help but feel that this isn’t as widespread as the thread might make it seem — on our end, the app seems completely fine.

It will take some getting used to, but the app brings in some helpful changes to speaker connections and the way that it looks. It’s been brought up to scratch visually, and, in our experience, works a treat. That’s not to negate the user's negative experiences, of course — while we might not have any problems, mileages with massive app refreshes tend to vary across different users.

Either way, the new Sonos App is here to stay — and as the core application for many people’s smart audio setups, we hope that Sonos is able to get it fixed for affected users.

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Sonos has long made some of the best-connected speakers for the home, with some epic features and stunning good looks — and now it looks like the firm is turning its not-insignificant audio chops to something of the head-mounted variety.

In a leak from The Verge, Sonos’ ‘Ace’ headphones have been revealed, with images of the cans and their hard case — along with an odd black mystery box that no-one seems to be able to pin down.

Sonos’ jump to proper portable audio

Sonos has long used the Bluetooth standard as an option in its speaker line, although this will be the first time that it’s put it into a pair of headphones. This will, in fact, be the firm's first foray into headphones at all, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped it from reportedly filling them with some top-shelf features.

Thanks to The Verge, with images “prematurely published by authorized Sonos parts dealer Schuurman”, we get a really good idea of what the headphones are going to look like. They fit with the current Sonos design language that you’ll find in the Sonos Era 300 and 100 smart speakers, with a black (although no information as to whether there’s a white version as yet) finish on some very minimalist, albeit chunky, headphones.

On the earcups there are a bunch of different buttons and even a switch — although what any of those do is anyone’s best guess at this point. There’s also going to be a carrying case by the looks of things, along with a 3.5mm to USB-C cable and a USB-C charging cable. The former cable could be interesting, as it could allow you to plug them into a computer, iPhone, or other audio device for hi-res audio. Until we learn more from the horse's mouth, however, we won’t know for sure.

The mystery is the black box that photographed with the carrying case — what could it be? A special wireless audio thing for wireless hi-res? A specially designed device for improved Spatial Audio, to really take the fight to the AirPods Max? Again, we won’t know for sure until we get more information from Sonos itself, but we can’t wait to see what Sonos is going to bring to the table.

As for price, we’re apparently looking at a roughly $450 tag. That will price them above the competition from Sony and Sennheiser, but crucially, below that of the AirPods Max, Apple’s metal monsters. We’re looking forward to seeing just how good the Ace headphones are (if they’re real) later this year, and whether they’ll become some of the best wireless headphones around.

There was one more product that The Verge found on the Shuurman site — an image of the also unreleased Sonos Roam 2, the sequel to the excellent Roam Bluetooth speaker. There isn’t much to glean from the image, however, although hopefully, we’ll learn more about it soon.

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One of Apple’s biggest rivals in the premium audio sector is about to take a swing at the company with not one but two brand-new product lines, including one that should surprise you. 

Sonos currently makes a series of brilliant smart speakers and sound bars, including the Sonos Ray, the portable Sonos Move 2, and the Sonos Era 300 which is a potent rival to Apple’s HomePod. Now, a new report claims the company is lining up a set of premium headphones and a new TV set-top box, perhaps as early as next year. 

In a new report this week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that Sonos “will make a long-awaited push into headphones with a model priced upwards of $400 that’s slated to be released as early as April.” A pair of premium headphones worth more than $400 would certainly turn heads as a possible alternative to Apple’s AirPods Max. Sonos’ audio chops are well-known, so save a catastrophic miscalculation it's likely these will be very good. It’s hat Sonos set-top box, however, has piqued my interest.

Sonos’ Apple TV rival

According to Gurman, Sonos “is also aiming to introduce a TV set-top box, which would compete with products from Apple Inc. and Roku Inc., as early as the end of 2024.” According to the report, the device will cost between $150 and $200, and run apps “from popular streaming services.” That sounds a lot like the Apple TV 4K, right down to the premium pricing, so if this report turns out to be true we might have a good old-fashioned TV throwdown on our hands. 

Those headphones too are an interesting prospect. The price tag of more than $400 again suggests Apple territory— even the best AirPods Black Friday deals will still set you back nearly $450 for a pair of Apple’s premium AirPods Max, which usually retail at more than $500. If Sonos can provide a cheaper alternative that’s viable and offers sturdy noise canceling, they could be on to a winner. 

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Maker of all things high-end audio Sonos has today unveiled its Move 2, the successor to its premium portable Move speaker. 

With up to 24 hours of battery life, water resistance, and stereo sound, the Sonos Move 2 promises improvements inside and out, and with AirPlay 2 in tow, iPhone users will find it a perfect companion for on-the-go listening. 

Priced at $449 or £449, the new Move 2 comes with “a completely overhauled acoustic architecture” featuring dual-tweeters and a precision-tuned woofer to help drive that bass even when you’re outdoors. It can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at the same time for more flexible streaming, especially when used in conjunction with an existing Sonos home entertainment system.

Sonos Move 2 - by the numbers

Perhaps the most impressive feature is the speaker’s 24-hour battery life (according to the press release), which is double that of the original so you’ll have plenty of juice for all-night parties, camping, and more. Interestingly, however, Sonos’ product page website says the 18Wh battery only “provides up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge at moderate volumes”, suggesting battery life very much depends on how you use the speaker. Power is delivered by USB-C, and you can also use the speaker to charge your phone or other electronics. 

Of course, you want an outdoor speaker to be durable, so the Sonos Move 2 comes with an IP56 rating so it can withstand “splashes,” as well as drops, rain, dirt, and sunshine. Sonos’ automatic Trueplay constantly optimizes sound for the world around you, a bit like Apple’s HomePod. 

The new speaker, which is available for pre-order now and will ship from September 20, comes in three colors: black, white, and olive. It boasts touch and voice controls (Amazon Alexa) as well as a line-in. Included is Sonos’ wireless charging base, which provides a handy stand to rest the speaker on, and you can even replace the Sonos Move 2’s battery, should the need arise. With all that in mind, the Sonos Move 2 definitely looks like one of the best Bluetooth speakers for iPhone in 2023. 

While it’s great to see a fantastic portable AirPlay 2 speaker on the market like the Move 2, it makes me yearn for the prospect of a portable HomePod. It sure would be pricey, but I think Apple could get the job done, and there would definitely be a market for it.

A new update to Sonos S2 software brings Apple Music Dolby Atmos playback to Sonos products that support Spatial Audio.

In Sonos S2 15.2, Apple Music has been added to the supported music services that offer Dolby Atmos Music on Sonos speakers. Apple's music streaming service joins Amazon Music to offer the audio option to Sonos Arc, Arc SL, Beam (Gen 2), and the brand-new Era 300.

Last month, the Sonos Era 300 was announced alongside its smaller sibling, the Era 100. The new smart speaker offers a classy new design that puts Spatial Audio at the forefront and looks to compete directly with Apple's HomePod.

The HomePod Killer?

The Sonos Era 300 is available now from the Sonos website and will set you back $449. Designed with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos in mind, the Era 300 has an upward-firing tweeter supported by twin woofers and a pair of ‘custom drivers’ facing out to the side.

By adding Apple Music's Dolby Atmos support, the new smart speaker is an option worth considering for music lovers who are in the market for one. The Era 300 uses Alexa over Siri, although some may prefer to use Amazon's voice assistant over Apple's trusty sidekick. You can turn off the smart assistant features for those who don't want Amazon listening in on your home.

The updates to Sonos S2 come as a major compatibility addition for those who purchased the Sonos Era 300 when it went on sale on March 28. Sonos had hinted at Apple Music Dolby Atmos support, but we didn't expect to see it so soon. If the rapid updates to add support are anything to go by, then Sonos' new Spatial Audio speaker could be the best smart speaker option available at the moment. However, if you want the most seamless experience, the HomePod 2 is still the way to go. 

After rumors and rumblings, the new Sonos speakers are finally here – the Era 300, and the Era 100. Both have some incredible features on board, with classy new designs, and, more importantly to us, directly target the HomePod 2 and Spatial Audio. They’re not coming out until the end of this month, but that just gives us more time to get excited about the latest connected speakers from one of the fastest-growing audio brands.

Replacing the Sonos One and adding a new size and price point to the range, the new Sonos speakers evoke the intent to usher in a new era of sound. One that, to us, looks to have Spatial Audio at the forefront.

The Sonos Era 300

The Sonos Era 300 isn’t supposed to replace the Sonos five, but sits just below it in terms of size and price. You’ll be able to pick one up in black or white from the  Sonos website on March 28, and it will cost you $449. That’s a good bit more than the HomePod 2, but it looks to pack in more features for the money.

That includes a number of different ways you can listen to your music. Where the HomePod only has a plug to make sure it's powered, the new Sonos Era 300 is going to have an extra physical input on the back. There’s a USB-C line-in port at the back, which you can use with the Sonos adapter to plug in loads of different devices. That could be a headphone jack directly into a Digital Audio Player, or even a line-in from a turntable. Speaking to the Sonos team it sounds like this input has to be from a turntable with a built-in preamp, but it’s a cool feature nonetheless, and crucially, one that the HomePod 2 doesn’t have.

Also appearing for the first time on a Sonos device is Bluetooth 5.0. You can hook up almost any music device with Bluetooth, and listen to music when even the internet is down. Again, something the HomePod 2 can’t do. Like the HomePod 2, however, the Era 300 also can play music over AirPlay 2, which means support for Apple Music.

There’s room for other platforms too, such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, and Amazon Music. That last one is where one of the focuses of the new Era 300 comes in – Spatial Audio. With an upward-firing tweeter supported by twin woofers and a pair of what Sonos calls ‘custom drivers’ facing out to the side, the Era 300 is designed with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos in mind. The first Spatial Audio service announced was Amazon Music, but Sonos has since told us that Apple Music's Spatial Audio will also be supported.

Making sure that the sound quality sounds as good as possible is Sonos’s TruePlay, which measures the room interior to equalize the sound for the best sonic performance. This is a feature now available to Android users as well, and something that HomePod users have been able to do for a little while.

Also using the Spatial Audio tech inside the new Era 300 is the Dolby Atmos support for 7.1.4 surround sound when two speakers are connected to a Sonos Beam soundbar. The setup will use the speakers as stereo rears, adding more to go with the Sonos soundbars and separate subwoofers.

Using the built-in mics, you can connect to Alexa and use the Era 300 as a smart speaker. Sonos Voice control will let you control the speaker if you’d rather not use Alexa as well, which is a nice touch. There is no word on support for other smart assistants like Siri, but Alexa is one of the most popular so it’s likely many won’t mind. There are those privacy concerns that go with Amazon’s assistant, but you can always turn it off.

Letting you completely shut those voice assistants completely off is the new UI. There’s a switch at the back of the speaker that turns off the microphones inside the device, and a small touch button on the top that can turn the voice assistants off through software. Joining the speech bubble is a new volume slider, as well as a play button and a Bluetooth button to connect a phone or other device.

So the Era 300 is the bigger of the two speakers, with a focus on Spatial Audio. No word yet on how it sounds, but as soon as we have one in our hands we’ll be sure to let you know.

Sonos Era 100

The Sonos Era 100 is the smaller of the two speakers, with no support for Spatial Audio. It shares many of its features with its bigger sibling, albeit in a more compact case. The Era 100 will cost $249, and is coming to the Sonos Store on March 28.

The biggest difference between the two speakers is the size. The Sonos Era 100 features a more compact design, with a 25% larger mid-woofer than the Sonos One, and a pair of tweeters. This, much like the bigger Era 300, can then be used with the TruePlay tuning tech to make sure that the little speaker sounds its best, no matter what your room looks like.

The same inputs carry over from the Era 300, so you’ll be able to play music through WiFi 6, Bluetooth, and USB-C line in. That means that you can plug a record player into this one too.

That snazzy new UI is here, although a little shrunk down for the smaller speaker as well. The biggest omission over the Era 300 is a lack of Spatial Audio support on this smaller speaker, making that the big selling point of the bigger and more expensive version.

A new Era

So those are the new Sonos Era range of speakers, and where one competes with the HomePod 2 on price, the other competes on features. We can’t wait to see what the new speakers look and sound like in hand (or on shelf – they look pretty heavy). We will, of course, compare the new Sonos line to the HomePod 2 as soon as we can -  so stay tuned for more Sonos Era coverage.

Sonos' latest smart speakers, the Era 100 and Era 300, appear to have leaked online, with pictures and features sets of the new wireless models circulating online. These latest speakers come just after the unveiling of Apple's new HomePod 2, and seem to have some extra features that Cupertino's latest smart speaker doesn't have, as well as a new focus that seems directed firmly at the Apple speaker.

These leaks, first appearing on The Verge, are unconfirmed as yet, and Sonos is yet to comment as to whether they are accurate.

Spatial audio for Sonos

The Sonos Era 100 seems likely to replace the Sonos One at $250, while the Sonos 300 slots into a new premium bracket for Sonos, with an expected price of $450.

Immersive audio looks set to be high on the agenda for the new Sonos gear. One of the key parts of Apple's smart speaker range has always been the implementation of Spatial Audio. The new large Sonos 300 is likely to be "designed to focus on Spatial audio and immersive, room-filling sound" according to The Verge report, with the company seemingly squaring up to directly compete with Apple in this regard.

The Sonos Era 100 likely won't feature this Spatial Audio focus, however, with up-firing drivers. Both speakers are reported to feature Bluetooth connection, as well as a USB-C line in connection. This could mean that you'll be able to run hi-fi equipment like a turntable through the speakers, which makes me very excited. The report continues that you'll be able to use Amazon Music unlimited alongside other streaming services — though the continued legal troubles between Google and Sonos could mean that Google's voice-activated Assistant won't feature. It is expected instead that Sonos Voice Control and Amazon's Alexa will be available.

Those prices are interesting, and place the Sonos Era 100 directly in the firing line of the HomePod 2. You won't get Spatial Audio with the Sonos 100 by the looks of things, but you will get more connection options and a potentially less obtrusive design to go with better non-Apple compatibility.

Whether these leaks hold any weight we'll soon see – according to leak, the expected release date is some time in March. Once we have them in hand we'll be able to compare them to the HomePod 2. It'll make for an interesting battle for your ears.

Sonos, the multi-room audio pioneer, is said to be set to reveal the Era 300 and Era 100, a new generation of smart speakers ready to take on Apple’s HomePod for the crowning spot in your home. 

In a report from The Verge, the Eros 300 is alleged to bring spatial audio and Dolby Atmos alongside a new design and other major improvements versus the current Sonos lineup. The Eros 100, on the other hand, is likely to replace the Sonos One, a $219 smart speaker with AirPlay 2 that brings a Sonos system into your home for a reasonable price and is a direct competitor to Apple’s latest HomePod.

According to the report, the new Sonos Eros 300 is “a multidirectional speaker built to get the most from spatial audio. Featuring a completely rearchitected acoustic design [it] will offer the richest fidelity of any single speaker that Sonos has ever released.”

These new Sonos speakers are likely to release later this year at a competitive price point to take on the new HomePod. 

So what about the HomePod?

Apple released the 2nd generation HomePod last week and the current consensus is that it’s great to have the larger HomePod back in contention for when you’re looking for the best smart speaker for your home. With the news of an upgraded Sonos lineup on the horizon, there are many reasons for those less involved with the Apple eco-system to wait it out for direct comparisons. 

It could be even more interesting if these new Sonos Eros 300 and 100 speakers ship with Matter compatibility, the upcoming connectivity standard that will unite your smart home. If that were to happen and you could pair Sonos equipment with your new HomePod 2 then things could be very exciting for the music in your home in the not-so-distant future. Until then, the new HomePod is available for $299 and reviews are looking pretty positive.

Sonos has announced the latest addition to its SYMFONISK line of smart lights and speakers today. The new SYMFONISK Floor Lamp is exactly what it sounds like — a floor-standing version of the already popular table lamp.

The new lamp, which can also receive AirPlay 2 streams from iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV devices, can be used with various compatible lamp shades to help create the perfect look for your home or office. But the real beauty is the fact it has a speaker built-in.

A musical lamp

That speaker carries the Sonos name, which means you can expect a solid audio experience from your lamp, which you come across every day. IKEA says that the new SYMFONISK speaker is designed to look and sound great thanks to its ability to be paired with other devices, including the existing range of Sonos speakers.

That ultimately means you could use two of these as rear speakers in a home cinema setting, keeping unsightly speakers out of the equation.

The new floor lamp connects to the existing IKEA DIRIGERA smart home hub, which is recently Matter-compatible so that you can tie the whole thing in with your other Matter-supporting smart home system. But no matter what else you have set up, you can be sure it won't look as good as this lamp. The standard bamboo shade is quite the aesthetic, to be sure.

Perhaps predictably, this floor lamp isn't going to come cheap, though. IKEA says that the SYMFONISK Table Lamp will go on sale in January 2023 and be priced at $259.99. That means you'll spend a pretty penny if you want a pair for that home cinema system. But at least you won't be sat in the dark!

Upgrading your sound is a great way to vastly improve the overall experience of your home theater system, and a sound bar can often be the perfect compromise between a full-blown surround sound system and your TV's terrible audio. 

However, many soundbars are either rather expensive or come with a separate subwoofer module that takes up a lot of space and more than one wall outlet. Sonos' new Ray soundbar aims to fill this gap with an all-in-one soundbar that boasts crisp, punchy sound and a reasonable price tag. 

If you're looking for a small, compact sound bar to fill a room while you watch TV, then the new Sonos Ray is absolutely a worthy contender for consideration. 

Unveiled this year, it delivers the great sound quality you might expect from Sonos while trading away some of the better features of its more expensive works. While there are some limitations to the new Ray, it's a great all-in-one option for plenty of people. 

Price and availability

The Sonos Ray is available in a range of countries. It costs $279/£279 and can be bought directly from Sonos. It's also available from Amazon in the U.K., but not in the U.S., at a slightly cheaper price of £264.99. 

The Ray comes in two colors, black or white, and Sonos also offers financing through Klarna if you don't want to pay full price. 

Like many great speaker ecosystems, the Ray works even better in tandem with other Sonos products. So there are also purchase options on Sonos' website for buying a Ray with Sonos 1 speakers for surround sound. The only other optional extra is a wall-mounting kit. 

What you'll like

Out of the box, the Sonos Ray is really a delight. It's got fantastic build quality and feels very sturdy. The outer shell is smooth and the grill is well made. 

Setting up the Sonos Ray was a really simple experience: just plug in the power cable and you’re off. You will need to download and sign in to Sonos’ app in order to set up the speaker, connect it to your Wi-Fi, and manage any settings on the device. At iMore we’re all about speakers that work with AirPlay, and the Ray responds really well to wireless music streaming. Somewhat frustratingly, it’s actually more responsive than the HomePod mini when you stream music.  

The Sonos Ray has some of the crispest sound I’ve ever heard from a small speaker. The Sonos Ray puts out incredibly clear mid and high-end sounds, with absolutely tremendous clarity that is a trademark of all of Sonos’ speakers. The bass is also well-rounded, although inevitably it isn’t quite as good as the sound from a separate subwoofer. The trade-off, of course, is that you get a sound bar that costs less and takes up far less room.

The Ray packs a real punch, on my desk I could only run it at its absolute lowest volume without disturbing my wife in the room next door, so you can guarantee that this will fill most spaces. In front of a TV, there is plenty of headroom to fill a large room with great sound whether you're gaming or watching your favorite movie or TV show. 

While they are definitely very different speakers, because of its price bracket, the Sonos Ray could give the original Apple HomePod a run for its money as a speaker for hosting parties or providing music for entertainment. 

The Sonos Ray has a lovely small footprint, however, it is too fat to squeeze between the bottom of your TV and the stand like some slightly lower profile sound bars. Conversely, because it’s smaller it does fit in spaces where others might not. As noted, there’s no separate sub either so you don’t need to worry about the room or a wall outlet for that.

The Sonos Ray also has some really nice and responsive touch controls that can be used to control volume and track skipping if you’re listening to music. However they’re only useful if you can reach them, so will be more relevant if you’re using the Ray as a speaker at a party or for music, as opposed to viewing for a TV show or movie.

What you won't like

There isn't too much to complain about with the Sonos Ray. The problem is, that what I don't like, the connectivity, is really quite an important feature. 

I was excited to use the Ray with my Xbox Series X, however, I game through a monitor, not a TV. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have optical connectivity so I had no way to make this work. I didn’t get to try it but I think you’d have to pick up a DAC/digital to analog converter in order to make this work, and I’ve seen at least one customer testify to this as the solution. If you game through a TV that has an optical connector then this won't be of any issue to you, however, it's something to bear in mind if you are using one of the best monitors. The Sonos Ray is also not a plug-and-play solution for a desktop PC speaker, which is a shame. 

The Ray is absolutely the perfect size as an all-in-one desktop solution for a PC/home office/gaming setup, except that it doesn’t have a 3.5mm input. Ray is crying out for a more accessible way to hook it up, and HDMI was probably too expensive for this price range but 3.5mm would have been a dream come true. Sadly, connectivity remains a very large frustration when using the Ray. The lack of 3.5mm seems particularly egregious like I said, because it feels really at home in an office or on a desk, save the fact there’s no easy way to use it with a monitor or a PC, laptop, or best Mac. A lack of HDMI also means no Dolby Atmos. 

Even though it does have AirPlay so works with Apple Music, the Sonos Ray and its other products all work best with the Sonos app. This app does give you access to your Apple Music library and is more responsive overall when it comes to connecting and playing music. (The Sonos app and Ray are more responsive than using an iPhone with AirPlay and a HomePod). However, this app is a bit clunky overall and lacks the snappy responsiveness of the Apple Music app. 

The Sonos Ray doesn't support Sonos' voice assistant natively, so if you have the speaker as a standalone you don't have voice control. That might be a big miss for some people used to controlling Apple Music with Siri or Spotify with something like Alexa. The Ray can be controlled using your voice when used in tandem with another Sonos Voice compatible speaker such as the Sonos One, or even a third-party speaker like Amazon Echo.

While Ray can be used in larger rooms and emits a quality sound that fills them, it does have a distinct lack of width in the sound that some people might be looking for in a home audio setup, especially if you have a wider room. It can't compete, for instance, with my stereo HomePod setup, but of course, the Ray is half the price of this setup. The Ray will provide a much more immersive setup when paired with multiple Sonos speakers, but this will certainly add to the price.

Competition

The competition for the Sonos Ray really depends on why you might buy it. You're unlikely to buy a Ray just for use as an AirPlay 2 speaker, and I would definitely recommend a HomePod or something like the Sonos Five or a couple of Sonos One speakers for that purpose. 

The Bose TV speaker soundbar comes with Bluetooth, HDMI, AUX 3.5 mm connectivity, and a remote for the same price. While we haven't tested this on iMore to compare sound quality, Bose's option looks like a better deal on paper in terms of utility. 

If you're truly passionate about home theater you might want to stretch to Sonos' own Beam. This scored very highly in our review and comes with many of the same great features as the Ray, but also Dolby Atmos, HDMI eARC, and voice control for the price of £449/$449 making it one of the best AirPlay 2 soundbars you can buy.

Should you buy it?

You should buy the Sonos Ray if...

• You want a cheap, good-quality sound bar
• You don't mind optical connectivity
• You don't need 3.5mm or HDMI input
• You want a good AirPlay 2 speaker with good wireless connectivity
• You're limited on space

You should not buy the Sonos Ray if... 

• You want an HDMI or AUX soundbar
• You want a soundbar with a vast, wide soundscape
• You just want a speaker for listening to music and hosting parties
• You want voice control

So there, you have it. I really like the Sonos Ray for its clear, excellent sound profile and its neat footprint. However, I can't help but feel that it is really held back by its connectivity in ways that really limit its usefulness. If this had a 3.5mm headphone jack it would be an almost perfect solution for any desktop gaming setup. As it stands, optical connectivity limits this to use exclusively with a TV setup, probably as intended, but still something you should consider. 

It is lacking the major soundscape of a larger, more expensive sound bar, but for the price, you're getting great sound and convenience in a reasonably sized package. Just make sure you know exactly why you want a soundbar and what kind of connectivity you need before taking the plunge. 

As mentioned, if you want HDMI connectivity or easy use with a PC or monitor setup, you might want to look elsewhere.

What you need to know

• A Sonos ordering system error caused some orders to be duplicated.
• One person received 30 boxes worth $15,000.
• Sonos isn't making it easy to get these things returned.

Sonos has been battling with an ordering system that saw some people receive duplicate orders, but one person seems to have been hit worse than others.

According to one report, a Sonos customer received 30 boxes of gear after placing an order for a Turntable Set, Arc soundbar, Arc wall mount, Sonos One speaker, and Roam speaker.

While many people ordered a speaker and got one or two more, this poor customer found himself on the receiving end of 30 different boxes and to make matters worse, he's been charged for each and every one of them. In a statement to The Verge, Sonos does say that it will refund this customer and the many others independent of the products being sent back — although the expectation is presumably that they will actually return the unwanted items.

But what do you do when someone delivers 30 boxes that you weren't expecting? In the case of this customer, receiving them has been more trouble than you might think. His apartment is full, and he's now taken to storing unwanted Sonos gear in his building's lobby — something the management isn't all that keen on. To make matters worse, Sonos sent someone to collect everything only for the UPS driver to be unaware of just how many boxes would need to be picked up.

They took one box and left.

This one person isn't the only one afflicted by Sonos' mess, of course. A Reddit thread includes other order mixups although few can compete with having 30 boxes arrive. As is so often the case, companies making mistakes isn't really the issue here — what matters is how those mistakes are dealt with. In this instance, it doesn't seem like Sonos is covering itself in glory having told some customers they would need to deal with the returns themselves — and even telling this poor customer he'd need to carry 30 boxes to the local UPS store himself.

What you need to know

• Sonos is working on a smaller Sub called the Sub Mini.
• Exact pricing and features aren't yet known.
• A new report has shared a render of what the new product will look like.

Sonos is working on a new, smaller, and presumably cheaper sub that will pair with its speakers including the new Sonos Ray soundbar. A new report has confirmed the product's existence and shared a render of what it will look like.

While Sonos already offers a subwoofer component unimaginatively called the Sub. But at $749, it's a costly beast and nobody would accuse it of being small. Now, Sonos is working on a Sub Mini that will be capable of paring with the Ray Beam, and Arc devices that already make up the Sonos collection. The Verge has been able to confirm the Sub Mini's existence after it was outed by Sonos' own app recently, and the image at the top of this post is a render of what the device will look like.

However, it's currently unknown exactly how much the Sub mini will cost or what features it will offer. We also don't know when it will go on sale, but it seems likely that it won't be too far away at this point.

Sonos makes some of the best speakers and audio equipment at their price point, although admittedly that price point is towards the high end. The addition of the Sonos Ray is an important one, while a sub to go with it is also likely to be well received once it's actually announced.

Some Sonos speakers have smarts, just like HomePod mini — be sure to check out our collection of the best smart speakers before making a purchase!

What you need to know

• Sonos is set to launch its own voice assistant on June 1.
• Sonos Voice will work with most of the biggest music streaming services.
• All existing Sonos hardware that supports the S2 software will also support Sonos Voice.

Sonos is reportedly set to announce its own voice assistant to compete with the likes of Google Assistant and Alexa — two options that are already available on its plethora of smart speakers.

Set to be called Sonos Voice, the new option will be available on all of the company's smart speakers that already run the S2 software, according to a report by The Verge. As for timing, those in the United States will get in on the action on June 1, but other countries will surely follow in due course.

In terms of capabilities, the report claims that Sonos Voice will support the usual array of music streaming services with two notable exceptions in the shape of Spotify and Google's YouTube Music.

While Sonos itself hasn't yet confirmed the existence of Sonos Voice, job openings do point to such a thing while The Verge notes that the company has been running surveys surrounding such a feature.

Notably, Sonos will offer voice concurrency for Sonos Voice, essentially allowing it to function alongside Alexa for the ultimate in smart home and music control.

Looking to get yourself into the Sonos ecosystem before this new software update, and new voice assistant, arrive on June 1? Be sure to check out our collection of the best Sonos speakers before placing an order!

What you need to know

• Sonos is launching its own voice assistant.
• The voice assistant is expected to be included in a software update rolling out on June 1.
• Sonos wants users to have an option that is "fully private, more personal, and more natural."

Sonos just said, "forget getting Siri, we'll do it live!"

As reported by The Verge, the company is planning to introduce its own voice assistant within the next few weeks, according to people familiar with the situation. According to the report, the feature will enable customers to use Sonos' baked-in voice assistant to control music on the company's speakers.

Sonos reportedly is building the voice assistant as part of the "Sonos Voice Experience" with the intention of making voice interactions with its products "fully private, more personal, and more natural." Its speakers currently work with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, two voice assistants that are not well known for privacy. Speaking of which, YouTube Music and Spotify will reportedly not work with Sonos' voice assistant at launch.

Sonos is also working on a "Home Theater OS" which has sparked rumors that the company may release its own television. We'll have to wait to see if "Hey Sonos" shows up on June 1.

Sonos provides a range of wireless speakers, from small, medium, and large single speakers to a soundbar and sub for home theatre to interfaces for your existing sound systems. More than wireless, though, Sonos is connected. You can control it from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and you can use it to stream almost all of the popular music services, including Apple Music, Google Play Music, Amazon Prime, Pandora, and more! But which Sonos speakers are right for you? A lot of that depends on where you want to place them and how you want to use them. Here are all the options!

Which Sonos is right for you?

The main thing to consider when deciding to join the Sonos family is what your needs are combined with your budget. The Sonos One is the perfect starter speaker for most people. It's reasonably priced and can be moved from one room to another with ease. You can get multiple sets of Sonos One speakers at a discount, which helps get the surround sound you need.

If your TV set doesn't already have an external speaker system set up, I recommend getting the Sonos Beam. I've got one in my house paired with two HomePod speakers (thank you AirPlay 2) and I love the sound quality I get from the setup.

Of course, if you're already invested in Sonos, you're here for an upgrade, at which point I think the Play:5 is your next purchase. It's got the best sound quality of the speakers on this list and can be grouped with all your other Sonos speakers for a full house experience.

What you need to know

• Sonos has accused Apple of forcing HomePod on people as part of making Siri available to other manufacturers.
• The audio company was speaking during a big tech antitrust hearing in the United States.

Sonos has taken a swipe at Apple over the way it is making Siri available to other companies and their products. With a new senate judiciary hearing into big tech antitrust taking place, Sonos took the opportunity to have a dig at Apple, HomePod, Siri, and anyone else that it could take aim at.

As part of the "Protecting Competition and Innovation in Home Technologies" hearing, Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus submitted testimony that can be read online. And it's an interesting read at that.

Speaking specifically about Apple's WWDC announcement that it will be making Siri available to third-party devices, Lazarus seems to be concerned that Apple is forcing HomePods on people because, if a HomePod isn't on the same network, Siri won't work on those third-party devices.

It's easy to see why Sonos is concerned here. It makes smart speakers that compete with HomePod and if people need Apple's speaker in their home to have their smart thermostat use Siri, that puts Sonos at a disadvantage.

Lazarus is less than excited about Matter, the work that both Apple and Google are doing with other companies to try and make smart home accessories more interoperable. Matter could see Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant all work with the same accessories regardless of who makes them. But Sonos' legal eagle isn't impressed.

Lazarus then went on to talk about Trojan Horses of all things, somehow finding a way to take umbrage with big tech companies working together for a change.

All of that aside, anyone needing a HomePod to make their smarthome stuff work should check out our list of the best HomePod deals. Or get a Sonos device instead – it'll sure make Lazarus a happier man this morning.

Unfortunately not. The Sonos Beam must get plugged in through an HDMI-ARC connection, which even the best Apple TV doesn't have, but most modern TVs do. HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel) is a special signal unique to TVs and therefore gets a different label than a typical HDMI port. So yes, Sonos Beam with Apple TV works, but requires a workaround.

That is correct. Since the Beam requires HDMI-ARC that are only found on modern TVs, you won't be able to use a Sonos Beam with Apple TV without a TV set with this connection. Beam will not work with regular HDMI ports, so you'll need to get a TV that has it or perhaps trade the Beam in for another soundbar.

If your TV does not have a properly labeled HDMI-ARC port or is more than five years old, then you'll need to use the included optical audio adapter that comes with the Sonos Beam (this is also sold separately if you can't find it). This allows you to connect the Beam to your TV and should allow Apple TV audio to pass through into the Beam.

The only caveat of using the optical adapter is that you will not be able to use Amazon Alexa TV voice commands. But you'll still get that awesome Sonos sound quality.

No, while you could use AirPlay to send audio from your best iPhone iPad, or Mac to the Apple TV, the Apple TV doesn't support AirPlay out — only AirPlay in. However, since the Apple TV is connected to the television set, and the Beam is plugged into the HDMI-ARC port, the audio sent to the Apple TV gets projected out through the Beam. It's... a bit complicated, we'll admit.

What you need to know

• Soros is a new app that adds support for Siri and Shortcuts to your Sonos speakers.
• There are 24 new actions to use when controlling your smart speakers.

Sonos users have long looked at HomePods and wished for similar functionality and now they can enjoy exactly that thanks to a new app. Soros, available in the App Store now, adds 24 different conversational shortcuts that allow users to do anything from mute their music to set a particular TV input and much more.

Users can set the new actions up via Shortcuts and then use Siri as well, making everything work as if all of your legacy Sonos speakers supported this stuff from day one.

Of the 24 different actions you can look forward to the following:

• Group/Ungroup
• Set Volume
• Play/Pause/Stop
• Mute/Unmute
• Load music from your 'My Sonos' to your speaker or your speakers list
• Load URL
• Set a Sleep Timer
• Set Line-In input
• Set TV input
• Change Repeat/Shuffle
• Adjust Equalizer Settings (Treble/Bass/Loudness/Trueplay)
• Turn Speech Enhancement On/Off
• Turn Night Mode On/Off
• Adjust subwoofer and surround sound settings

You can get your hands on Soros right now. It's priced at a one-time fee of $5.99 and is available in the App Store.

Sonos is well known for delivering great audio products to the average consumer. But when it comes to the Sonos Beam vs. Playbar, the better option for most people is definitely the Beam. That's because the Sonos Beam is smaller but still packs in amazing sound quality, has built-in Alexa support, integrates with Apple AirPlay 2, and it's the cheaper option. But if your TV is in a large room, and you need to fill it up with theatrical sound without any possible distortion, then the mountable Playbar is probably the better call.

Sonos Beam vs. Playbar: Breaking it down

For most people, the Sonos Beam is going to be the better option when it comes down to the Sonos Beam vs. Playbar. The Beam is small and compact, making it easy to move around if necessary, and it should not take up much space with your current setup. Despite the Beam's smaller size, it still delivers rich audio throughout the room and works best for small and medium-sized spaces.

The Sonos Playbar is bigger and heavier, which may require some additional setup on your part, such as having a dedicated shelf or getting mounted to the wall. However, it can give you a full theater-like audio experience since it produces higher quality sound due to the drivers and woofers inside. The angled drivers also make sure that no noise ever gets distorted and it is evenly dispersed in a wider area, no matter how you set it up.

Setting up the Beam is also much easier because it connects through HDMI-ARC and HDMI-CEC, allowing you to control the TV and soundbar together as a single unit. The Playbar only uses an optical cable, so you would need to control it separately. If you need to, the Beam can also be mounted so it's even more out of the way and less intrusive, but you'll need to separately purchase one of the best TV mounts for Sonos Beam.

Built-in Alexa integration in Beam also makes it a better choice for those who want to simplify things. The Playbar also works with Alexa, but only if you have separate Echo or Echo Dots around the house. You also have to use the Sonos skill through the Amazon Alexa app, requiring some extra steps. The Beam also supports Siri voice commands through AirPlay 2, which is missing from the Playbar. A workaround for the Playbar is grouping it with other speakers that do support AirPlay 2, allowing the audio to play anywhere.

Sonos Beam vs. Playbar: Which should you buy?

Again, for most people, the Beam is the better buy due to the features and price. Plus, the audio quality is still great for what it's worth. It's built around simplicity, making it easy to set up, store away, and use Alexa and your TV without any extra devices. However, if you want the best sound that's capable of making the room shake, then Playbar is the way to go. Just remember that a new unit costs almost twice as much as the Beam, although the sound quality justifies the price.

Since the Sonos Playbar is an older product by this point, it can be a little harder to find. I think a better comparison nowadays would be Sonos Beam vs. Sonos One if you want to stay in the Sonos ecosystem.

The Sonos Move is the first Sonos speaker that you can use outside of the Wi-Fi network that it's paired with. You might be wondering how that's possible. It works because this Sonos speaker features Bluetooth. The Sonos Move is the first Sonos speaker to feature two different modes. Use it on Wi-Fi like any other Sonos speaker or you turn on Bluetooth instead. In this guide, we'll explain how to switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mode on the Sonos Move.

How to Switch Between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Mode

Before pairing your Sonos Move in Bluetooth mode for the first time, it must be set up in Wi-Fi mode. If you are setting it up for the first time with Bluetooth mode, follow these steps.

1. Press and hold the mode button on the back of the Sonos Move, between the power and the join button.

2. Move will chime and the LED will turn blue.

3. On the device you want to pair, go to Bluetooth and search for Move.
4. Select it, and the blue LED will be solid. You will hear a chime when pairing is complete.
5. The next time you press the mode button, your device will automatically connect.

If you want to switch back to Wi-Fi, provided you are on your network, simply press the mode button. It will connect you right back to your network.

Easy Listening

Like other Sonos speakers, the Move is great to use and sounds fantastic on your Wi-Fi network. You can access your music and content from various different services, including Apple Music. However, using it on the go is what makes it unique and if you follow the steps to switch from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth you will enjoy your speaker on the go.

Once you master the steps above it will be easy to take your speaker with you to the pool, the beach or a party. With 11 hour battery life you will be able to enjoy your tunes all day while out of the house.

What you need to know

• Sonos has released an update for its Sonos S2 iOS app.
• The update adds the ability for Sonos Sub owners to pair two together and play audio simultaneously.

Reported by 9to5Mac, Sonos has released an update to its Sonos S2 iOS app that allows you to use two of the Sonos Subs simultaneously.

Sonos has released a ton of different speakers, but the Sonos Sub has been the company's one and only product that focuses exclusively on the low end. Customers have been requesting the ability to pair two subs together for simultaneous, earth-shaking playback, and Sonos has finally obliged with support rolling out for select products.

According to the report, Sonos has also released the Sonos One SL Union LA edition, which was created in partnership with Color of Change, at Union LA and Sheila Bridges.

Customers can download the Sonos S2 app update now and try out two subs at the same time. A lot of people are about to experience a Marty McFly moment.

Declaring a winner between the Sonos Move vs the Sonos One really comes down to whether or not you need a truly portable speaker or not. The Sonos Move is the only game in town when it comes to portability with its rechargeable battery that lasts up to 11 hours, so if you want your tunes on-the-go, then the Move is the right choice.

However, the smaller Sonos One is the best Sonos speaker for those who just want to great sounding audio for inside the home at an affordable price. The One has just about everything, AirPlay 2 support, whole-home audio, stereo pairing, and voice controls through Alexa and the Google Assistant.

Sonos Move vs Sonos One: The same but different

Even though both the Move and One are designed for different use cases, they are similar when it comes to the connected features. Both speakers support whole-home audio, which keeps the music in-sync across speakers and different rooms, plus AirPlay 2, which can add in other non-Sonos speakers into the mix. Both speakers also sport two Class-D amplifiers, plus a single tweeter and mid-woofer for great sound that is automatically tuned depending on the environment that they are in.

Sonos Move vs Sonos One: Let's break it down

Where things differ, though, is that the Move is truly built-for-portability, and the One is meant for a more traditional, indoor setting. The Move includes a 36WH rechargeable battery inside that can keep it up and running for 11 hours between charges, plus it has IP56 weather resistance.

The Move can go anywhere that your travels take you, including out by the pool, or even as a temporary surround speaker for home theater on your next movie night. The one, while light and small, needs to be plugged-in constantly, but it does come with a bonus of not having to remember to charge it.

Sonos Move vs Sonos One: Which should you buy?

As you can see, both speakers are indeed quite similar, so the choice ultimately comes down to price and portability. If you need a Sonos speaker that can tag along on your next camping trip, or just spend some time on the patio, the Move is a clear choice. The Move also comes with the bonus of being the only Sonos speaker that works with Bluetooth, so friends and family can stream their libraries to it with ease.

If the price is a concern and you want the most bang for the buck, then go with the Sonos One. The small size still allows you to move it from room to room inside of the home, plus it has the same amount of amplifiers, tweeters, and mid-woofers as the Move. While it may lack an integrated battery, the One makes up for it with an Ethernet port for rooms with spotty Wi-Fi, and for the price, you can buy two for the price of a single Move.

What you need to know

• Apple has pulled third-party audio products from its online and retail stores.
• Products from Sonos, Sony, Logitech, and Bose are no longer available.
• The move has sparked rumors that Apple will soon announce its new headphones and speaker.

Reported by Bloomberg, Apple has stopped selling headphones and speakers from third-party brands like Sonos, Bose, and Sony in its online and physical stores. According to the report, every third-party brand that used to be offered on Apple's online store disappeared from the site by the end of last month.

Not only have third-party audio brands disappeared from Apple's website, but employees at the company's stores have also been instructed to begin pulling products from the shelves.

When Bloomberg questioned the removal of third-party headphones and speakers from its stores, Apple pointed to other third-party accessories that it still sells. None of the brands whose products were pulled from its physical or digital shelves have yet responded to the outlet's request for comment.

As of Monday, October 5, the only headphones that are now offered on Apple's website are its own AirPods and AirPods Pro, as well as its lineup of Beats headphones and HomePod speaker. Apple has been long expected to announce its own over-the-ear headphones, which are currently expected to be called "AirPods Studio." It is also rumored to be working on a smaller, more affordable version of the HomePod, expected to be called the "HomePod mini."

With its move to remove every other brand's products from its stores, both products could be unveiled as soon as the company's iPhone 12 event, which is expected to occur later this month.

Picking a winner in a battle of the Sonos Move vs. Apple HomePod essentially boils down to whether or not you want a portable speaker and which voice assistant you prefer. If you are all-in on Apple and have a subscription to Apple Music, the HomePod will offer a better overall experience with familiar Siri voice controls and stunningly good sound.

If you prefer Alexa/Google Assistant and other music services, or just want a great-sounding speaker that can go everywhere, then go with the Sonos Move.

Sonos Move vs. Apple HomePod: Breaking things down

The Sonos Move and HomePod are both high-quality speakers with excellent sound, AirPlay 2 whole-home audio, and smart capabilities, but that is where the similarities end. Before we dive into a deeper comparison, here's a breakdown of what these speakers offer and how they match up with it comes to the details.

At a glance, the Sonos Move is a much more flexible speaker, and not just because it has an integrated rechargeable battery and weather resistance. The HomePod, however, offers some impressive features and has the bonus of the Apple ecosystem to back it up, even if it is tethered to an outlet. So, it really comes down to your lifestyle. Let's look more closely at the details.

Sonos Move vs. Apple HomePod: Stay Home or on the Move

When it comes to music, the Move works with various popular services, including Apple Music. It gives users a choice as to which voice assistant to use, either Alexa or Google Assistant. Since Sonos has a ton of different speakers in its line, the Move can slide right in alongside an existing Sonos set up. With its portability, it actually makes a great home theater companion.

On the other hand, Apple's HomePod puts more of an emphasis on sound and simplicity. The HomePod only works with Apple Music and Siri, which immediately limits who can and can't use the speaker. The HomePod also only works indoors as it lacks weather resistance, and it doesn't have an internal battery, so don't expect it to withstand a dip in the pool or supply the tunes without an outlet nearby.

Despite its limited nature, the HomePod can be paired up with an additional HomePod to create a stereo pair, and AirPlay 2 allows it to stay in sync with other compatible speakers in the home. It packs in a ton of tweeters and amplifiers, which results in an unmistakable sound that is much louder and fuller than its tiny profile suggests. The HomePod can also handle basic voice tasks like settings alarms and timers. Plus, it can control HomeKit accessories, but it is meant for indoor use only.

Taking advantage of that impressive sound and other features, though, requires an Apple Music subscription as it doesn't work with other services like Spotify, and it requires using Siri, which isn't quite up to the same level of capabilities compared to Alexa and the Google Assistant.

Sonos Move vs. Apple HomePod: Go anywhere with the Sonos Move

While the Sonos Move may not match the number of components inside the HomePod, it certainly is no slouch when it comes to audio quality. The Move delivers the signature Sonos sound that is automatically tuned and can still fill an entire room.

The Sonos Move also can work both indoors and out, with IP56 weather resistance. Combined with the integrated battery that can keep it running for up to 11 hours, the Sonos Move is an excellent option for parties or even camping with Bluetooth support. If you want a little more flexibility with your speaker, this may be the best choice. Unfortunately, the Homepod just doesn't have the mobility.

Which should you buy: Sonos Move or Apple Homepod?

If you don't mind its limitations and don't plan on switching from Apple anytime soon, then go with the HomePod, you won't be disappointed. However, if you like to switch your tech and services up, you will be much better off with the Move. The Move can choose between voice assistants, and it's compatible with most major music apps, including Apple Music. So, if you end up settling down on Apple's side, you are still covered.

They may look similar, but choosing between the Sonos Move vs. Bose's Portable Smart Home Speaker depends on convenience and compatibility with Apple Music. The Sonos Move includes just a few of these extras that we believe makes it the best for most.

If you want a portable speaker that offers great sound, weather resistance, long battery life, customizable voice controls, and support for all of the major music services, then the Move is the one for you. If you value portability and price, then the Bose Portable Smart Speaker may be a better fit. This speaker is slimmer, weighs less, and is easier on the wallet, but lacks extras like an included charging dock and support for Apple Music.

Portable power in smart home speakers

Both the Sonos Move and Bose Portable Smart Speaker have a wide range of features that makes each a fantastic choice for tunes in and around the home. Both speakers sport weather resistance and operate completely wireless with built-in rechargeable batteries, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Each speaker can keep the tunes flowing for hours at a time without the cord, and they both can be used around water and in dusty areas.

Break it down now...

While slightly different in their delivery, both options support whole-home audio, which keeps everything in-sync as you move from room to room, and grouping, which allows them to work with other speakers creating a more immersive experience. For smart controls, both of these speakers allow you to choose which voice assistant to use, either Amazon's Alexa, or the Google Assistant, and they also work with Apple's AirPlay 2 technology.

Convenience and compatibility

As you can see, the Sonos Move, while more expensive, has a couple of key features that make it an overall better experience. The included wireless charging dock makes topping off the speaker easy, and more importantly, since you don't have to worry about a cable, you can just grab it and go whenever you desire.

On the go, the Move gets 11 hours of battery, and it works with Bluetooth allowing all of your friends and family to direct what is playing. Plus, the Sonos Move is the only portable speaker that supports Apple Music, so if you rely on Apple's service for your tunes, then the Move is the way to go.

More portable, more battery

At almost half the weight, and with a slimmer profile with a more traditional handle, Bose's speaker is easier to throw into a bag. The speaker is also much lighter in price, and its battery lasts an hour longer than the Move. Although it may not have Apple Music baked-in, or have a fancy charging dock in the box, it is almost as capable as the Move. With whole-home audio, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and 360-degree Bose sound, this speaker has plenty to enjoy.

Which should you buy Sonos One or the Bose Portable Smart Speaker?

If price and portability are the most important factors to you, then go with the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Bose's speaker is lighter, cheaper, and eeks out an additional hour of battery. However, the Sonos Move, with its slick charging dock, compatibility with all of the most popular music services, and of course, great sound, makes it a speaker that can suit the needs of almost everyone.

Yes, despite it being portable, the Sonos Move works just like any other Sonos speaker with its built-in Wi-Fi radio. The Sonos Move connects to other speakers wirelessly via the Sonos app, and with a few taps, it can be used for creating groups, stereo pairs, or setting up whole-home audio.

Through the Sonos app, standard controls like volume, and play/pause are available, which affects all of the speakers within a group. Grouping the Sonos Move with other speakers also enables more convenient voice controls thanks to Alexa. Simply ask Alexa through the Sonos Move to pause the music for the entire home, without having to remember all of the names for each speaker.

Stereo pairs combine Sonos speakers located in the same room to create a more immersive audio experience. With a Sonos speaker on each side of the room, your music will sound richer. Depending on the track, the pair can shift certain sounds or instruments around the room, just like the artist intended.

Stereo pairs also work with other Sonos products, like the Sonos Beam soundbar and the Sonos Sub for even more room-filling sound. The Sonos Move even works with the Sonos Amp, which brings equipment like vinyl record players into the mix.

When connected to other Sonos speakers, whole-home audio enables your tunes to stay in-sync as you travel from room to room. Just start your favorite playlist or album, and it will play over all of your speakers, keeping your hands free, and keeping you from having to start a track over if you move to another room.

The combination of whole-home audio and the Sonos Move makes it perfect for parties or get-togethers. The cord-free Move can be set outside on a porch, and existing Sonos speakers in the home create a seamless transition for background music. Plus, since the Move has Alexa built-in, your guests can call the shots.

You bet! With the right combination of gear, the Move can be used in just about any position within your set up. Have a single Sonos One in your living room? Then group it with the Sonos Move to create a pair of speakers on each side of your TV. Have a Sonos Beam as your soundbar? The Move works with that too.

One of the best ways to use the Sonos Move though is as a temporary surround speaker. The rechargeable battery inside of the Move means you don't have to worry about cords or finding a dedicated spot. Just set the Move down, and it is ready to go, the 11-hour battery has even the longest of movie nights covered.

Yes, but it depends on the capabilities of the other speakers that you may have. The Sonos Move includes support for Apple's wireless AirPlay 2 technology, which works similarly to how Sonos speakers connect but uses controls that are baked-in to the iPhone and iPad.

AirPlay 2 offers the same whole-home audio experience as Sonos does, keeping the tunes in sync regardless of which room you are in. AirPlay 2 can also group your speakers to create a home theater-like set up or as a way to surround yourself in glorious audio.

The Sonos Move has a 36WH rechargeable lithium-ion battery inside that can power the speaker without having to be plugged in. Combined with IP56 weather resistance, wireless connectivity, and premium sound, the Sonos Move offers a ton of flexibility.

The Sonos Move is also the only speaker in the line that also features Bluetooth support. This means that everyone can join in on the fun by sharing their favorite tracks without a complicated pairing process.

Of course, the Sonos Move does work with Wi-Fi as well, so if you are just using it around your home, you can just grab it and go. If you have multiple Sonos speakers in the home, you can keep the tunes going as you walk from room to room. Plus, it works with Apple's AirPlay 2, enabling it to work with speakers from other manufacturers.

The Sonos Move can play music for up to 11 hours before needing to be recharged. However, there are a lot of factors that can impact battery life, including volume levels, ambient temperature, and which method you are using to stream your music to the speaker. When not in use and not on the charging base, the Sonos Move will last around 120 hours in standby mode.

Charging the Sonos Move is simple thanks to an included charging base that allows you to set it down without having to fiddle around with a cable. A set of contacts on the base delivers the juice when properly aligned, and release with ease for portable use. Additional charging bases can be purchased if you want the ultimate in convenience.

You can also charge the battery via USB-C through a port located on the back of the speaker. There are no special Sonos specific cables or power brick required; any USB-C cable and charger will work.

Even with its long battery life, charging the Move only takes a fraction of the time. The 18V, 1.2A charging base included with the Move fully recharges the speaker in around two hours.

Charging times via USB-C will vary, but Sonos recommends a 45W charger with power delivery for maximum performance.

The Sonos Move's battery should get around three years of usage, or up to 900 charges, whichever comes first. Just like with playback, several factors will affect the longevity of the battery like temperature. Leaving the Sonos Move on the included charging base does not shorten its lifespan, so there is no need to worry about using it as a home speaker.

Replacement batteries are available for purchase directly from Sonos when the time comes. Sonos states that they are easily replaceable, without having to send your speaker in for professional service.

What you need to know

• OverDrive and Sonos has partnered to bring Libby audio books to Sonos speakers.
• Libby includes thousands of audiobooks through local public libraries.
• All that is needed is a library card and a pair of apps to get started.

OverDrive has announced a new partnership with audio experts Sonos that brings Libby audiobooks to the popular wireless home speaker line. The partnership enables free, convenient, wireless listening access to thousands of audiobooks which are available through local libraries.

To get started, all that is needed is a Sonos speaker and app, the Libby app, and a library card. According to OverDrive, around 90% of libraries across the United States participate in the program, meaning you could be listening to free audiobooks or reading ebook versions in a matter of minutes.

Whether you are listening through your Sonos speaker or reading through the Libby app, progress is synced for seamless transitions. Libby also supports offline reading, and has other integrations like Apple's CarPlay, and Amazon's Kindle for even more convenience.

Just like with the library, titles selected through Libby act just like borrowing or checking out a book. Titles will expire after a set period of time if not returned, preventing users from being charged late fees. Some titles may also have a set amount of quantities that can be checked out a time, but reservations can be placed that ensure that you will get a turn.

The Libby by OverDrive app is available for free on the iOS AppStore. Libby apps are also available for Android and Windows.

What you need to know

• Sonos S2 — Sonos's major OS upgrade — is launching this June.
• The new software brings improved audio quality and other features.
• Older Sonos hardware will continue to work with the Sonos S1 app.

Sonos — the company behind some of the best connected speakers on the market — has an exciting update planned for its customers later this year. This June, the all-new Sonos S2 app and operating system will debut as the next big evolution for Sonos households.

As mentioned above, Sonos S2 is comprised of two things — a new mobile app and an OS update that'll be available for supported Sonos hardware. Specifics on Sonos S2 are fairly scarce at the moment, but Sonos is saying:

Sonos S2 will be available for most Sonos hardware, including:

• Play:1
• Play:3
• Play:5 (Gen 2)
• Playbase
• Playbar
• Connect (Gen 2)
• Connect:Amp (Gen 2)
• One (Gen 1)
• One (Gen 2)
• One SL
• Beam
• Amp
• Port
• Boost
• Symfonisk
• Move
• Sub (Gen 1)
• Sub (Gen 2)

If you have older Sonos hardware that isn't compatible with Sonos S2 (CR200, Bridge, Connect (Gen 1), Connect:Amp (Gen 1), Play:5 (Gen 1), Zone Players), things will continue to work just as they do today. The Sonos app on your phone will be renamed to "Sonos S1 Controller" and everything will work as expected. Security updates and bug fixes will continue to be pushed out, but new software features will be no more.

For people that have a mix of products that are and aren't compatible with Sonos S2, you can either control your entire system with the Sonos S1 app or create two separate systems — one for hardware that is compatible with S2 and another for your older devices.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of Sonos' Trade Up program and upgrade your old devices for a 30% discount on a new model that you purchase. Sonos recently got rid of its controvesial Recycle Mode that used to be required for this discount, making it a much more appealing option than it used to be.

Sonos S2 will be made available this June, and in the meantime, you can continue to use your current Sonos app and speakers like normal.

What you need to know

• A new Apple patent points to a smart home theater system having been considered.
• It would include multiple speakers and a subwoofer.
• All components would be wireless.

Apple already has a presence in home theaters thanks to its Apple TV box, and it has been honing its audio abilities with HomePod and the AirPods line of earbuds. But a new patent suggests that Apple has at least considered trying its hand at a smart home theater system, too.

The patent was first spotted by Patently Apple and carries patent number 10,575,095. Notably, this patent appears to have been picked up from KSC Industries and it was first filed way back in March 2004.

In its current form, it appears to suggest a home theater configuration including multiple speakers and a separate subwoofer. All components would communicate with each other wirelessly, with "a plurality of audio channels" transmitted "between a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver".

It's important to remember that Apple patents tons of ideas each and every year, with few becoming products that hit Apple Store shelves. Apple's decision to pick this particular patent up would suggest that it has some plans for it, however.

Both Bose and Sonos already make smart home theater systems similar to the one described in this patent, so Apple would have plenty of high-end competition if it did decide to enter the home theater audio market. Both companies have a considerable presence in that market as well, with years of brand loyalty having already built up. Apple will need to be at the top of its game if it is to prise customers away.

What you need to know

• Sonos is ending support for several of its oldest products.
• Software updates will cease in May for the original Zone Players, Connect, Connect:Amp, Play:5 (1st gen), CR 200 and Bridge.
• Sonos is giving users the option to trade in these devices with a 30% credit for each product you replace.

Sonos has announced that it will end software support for several of its oldest products as of May 2020.

In a press release the company stated:

Now, of course, the speakers won't stop working right away, but Sonos does warn that eventually services and overall functionality will "eventually be disrupted", especially as partners update their own technology.

An email issued directly to Sonos customers stated:

The news drew plenty of ire on Twitter from disgruntled users, many of whom urged those affected to get in touch with CEO Patrick Spence directly.

You could choose to continue using these devices, however, there is another option...

Sonos is offering customers the chance to trade up to a new Sonos product, with a 30% credit for each legacy product you replace!

You can find a full set of instructions with regards to trading in any of these devices on Sonos' website.

If you're not sure whether your devices might be affected by this announcement, head to your sonos.com account and check the 'System' tab.

What you need to know

• Apple has begun to sell the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker online and in stores.
• The wireless speaker allows users to use Siri or Airplay to stream Apple Music.
• Sonos has just accused Google and Amazon of patent theft over its streaming technology.

On the same day that Sonos has publicly sued Google and accused Amazon of stealing its proprietary technology, Apple has begun to sell one of Sonos's speakers in its Apple Stores. Reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has begun to sell the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker its its stores and on its website.

The Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker does not have any microphones built into it, so it lacks Google Assistant or Alexa voice control found in the more expensive Sonos One speaker. While Apple does not allow Siri to be built into any smart speakers besides its own HomePod, owners of the Sonos One SL can use Siri on their Apple device to request Apple Music to be played on the speaker. If you don't want to use Siri, you can also stream your music using AirPlay, as the speaker supports Apple's new AirPlay 2 technology.

You can order the Sonos One SL Wireless Speaker on Apple's website. Orders placed today will be available to pick up in an Apple Store in three days and orders shipped to the home in as little as two days.

The timing of the Sonos One SL availability at Apple is a precarious one, as the speaker company has just launched a lawsuit against Google and also accused Amazon of abusing its technology in order to grow their own smart speaker businesses. Check out our round up of the best Sonos deals now!

When I first tried hooking up Sonos system to my new Amazon Echo, I ran into... just a couple issues. And because I'd like to prevent you, dear reader, from going through the same Google frenzy I did, here are some common problems (and their solutions).

• Alexa says I have no Sonos speakers!
• Alexa isn't discovering my Sonos speakers!
• I can't change the wake word on my Sonos One!
• Alexa won't play the song I want on my Sonos system!
• Alexa won't control my Spotify account!
• I want an album to play, but Alexa keeps playing the song of the same name!

Alexa says I have no Sonos speakers!

When registering your Sonos account with the Alexa app, you might get an alert that insists you have no speakers attached to your system. Thankfully, this is a relatively easy fix: You'll just have to visit the Sonos app. Make sure your Wi-Fi network is enabled and working before you start.

1. Launch the Sonos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the Settings option.
3. Tap on System.
   • If your devices haven't yet been registered, you may need to sign in to your Sonos account. After signing in, your connected devices should automatically register with your account.
4. Tap About My System under the System Settings section.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

Here, you'll see information on the version app your running and your associated hardware. Make sure all your products have been properly registered.

Still having trouble? Check to see your devices are running version 9.0 or later. If they're not, you'll automatically be prompted to install a software update. Make sure your Wi-Fi network is enabled and working before you start.

1. Launch the Sonos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the Settings option.
3. Tap on the System option.
4. Tap on the "System Updates" option.
5. Toggle the Update Automatically slider.
6. Scroll down and tap Check for Updates.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

Alexa isn't discovering my Sonos speakers!

This was the issue that plagued me during my setup process — while trying to set up my Sonos skill, I accidentally did so over LTE, rather than Wi-Fi; as a result, Alexa couldn't initially find my speakers.

There are a few reasons why Alexa might not find your speakers; here are a few of the most common fixes.

Spoiler: If you have lights named "Living Room" and a Sonos speaker named "Living Room," you might not realize your Sonos speakers were set up.

Sonos speakers appear under your connected devices with a house icon enclosing a Wi-Fi icon; here's how to see if they're connected.

1. Launch the Alexa app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper left corner.
3. Tap Skills & Games.
4. Tap on Your Skills.
5. Tap Sonos from your list of skills.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

6. Tap Settings.
7. Select Manage Smart Home Devices.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

8. Tap All Devices to see all of your connected devices.
9. Select the product you believe is your Sonos speaker.
10. Tap on a device to see if it is, in fact, a Sonos speaker.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

Note the name of the speaker. This is the name that Alexa uses to talk to it.

We've seen a few reports of Sonos One owners running into issues with the Alexa app that stem from a weird setup in the Sonos app itself. To fix it, visit Voice Services and reset your Alexa integration. Make sure your Wi-Fi network is enabled and working before you start.

1. Launch the Sonos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the Settings tab.
3. Tap on Services.
4. Under Voice, tap on Amazon Alexa.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

5. Tap on the name of your Sonos One device (in this case, it's "Office").
6. Tap on Remove Alexa. Now you can go back into the Services screen and re-link to Alexa.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

The first troubleshooting step worth trying is rescanning for your speakers, and — if that doesn't work — removing and setting the Alexa skill back up again. This way, if you're like me and accidentally tried to set it up over LTE, or ran into server timeouts, you can start fresh.

1. Launch the Alexa app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper left corner.
3. Tap Skills & Games.
4. Tap on Your Skills.
5. Select Sonos from your list of skills.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

6. Tap Settings.
7. Select Manage Smart Home Devices.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

8. Tap the add button in the upper-right corner. It looks like a plus symbol.
9. Tap Add Device.
10. Select Speaker.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

11. Select Sonos.
12. Tap Discover Devices.
13. If Alexa doesn't find your speakers, return to the Sonos skill menu by tapping Close and then the Back button twice.
14. Tap Disable Skill to unlink your account.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

Once you've disabled your account, you can reset the skill and (hopefully) listen to some sweet sweet music.

I can't change the wake word on my Sonos One!

Don't love calling your speaker "Alexa"? Unfortunately, there's no quick fix here: The Sonos One currently doesn't support changing its wake word the way you can on any of Amazon's other Alexa products. You can always hook up an Echo Dot nearby and change its wake word, but that, uh, kind of defeats the purpose of having an Alexa-integrated speaker.

Alexa won't play the song I want on my Sonos system!

If you have an Echo, you might have a device-limited version of Amazon Music — you'll get the full Music experience on your Echo, but attempt to play on your Sonos and you'll just get song previews (or no song at all).

You can upgrade to the "full" version of Amazon Music directly from your Alexa product by saying "Upgrade Amazon Music."

Alternatively, if you're using Spotify (and you've authorized it via the Sonos app), make sure you mark it as your preferred service in the Alexa app:

1. Launch the Alexa app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper left corner.
3. Select Settings.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

4. Scroll down to the Alexa Preferences section and choose Music & Podcasts.
5. Tap Default Services under Settings at the top.
6. Change your Default music library from Amazon Music to Spotify (or Pandora, or any other music service you prefer that Alexa supports).Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

I want an album to play, but Alexa keeps playing the song of the same name!

Albums often have eponymous songs attached to them — which makes voice requests a tad tricky. When trying to play the album "Every Day is Christmas" by Sia on my Beam, for example, Alexa insisted on only playing the song.

The easiest way to do this is to add "the album" before your request. For example:

Other questions about hooking up Alexa and Sonos?

Let us know in the comments!

Updated December 2019: Updated steps for new app interfaces.

Serenity Caldwell contributed to an earlier version of this guide.

The Ikea Symfonisk table lamp Wi-Fi speaker and the Sonos One hardly look like they have any similarities when you put them side-to-side. However, they are both designed by Sonos, which means a high-quality sound and design. They have other similarities like AirPlay 2 and lack of Bluetooth function. Not all similarities are winning qualities, but they are both phenomenal speakers. What you're looking for with the aesthetic of your home will likely be a determining factor in which you would buy.

On one hand, you have a smart speaker that will give you almost all of the home-assistants to choose from. On the other hand, you have a two-in-one minimalist's dream. The show-off is about to begin, and we have two very bright competing products in two very different ways.

Battle Royale

The tech specs can't always tell you which product is best suited for your home or even personality. However, if you have requirements you are trying to meet, this chart may help you.

It sounds like a simple choice, but if you are still on the fence, let us break it down completely. If you are an audiophile who wants a smart speaker with Alexa, Google assistant, or perhaps in the future, Siri, the choice goes to the Sonos One. However, if you are more interested in a unique space-saving speaker that has comparable audio quality, the Symfonisk lamp speaker is the choice for you.

Smarter with no light-bulb

Sonos One is undoubtedly the better sounding speaker. This compact speaker is ideal for sticking almost anywhere, even the bathroom for those much needed bubble baths. However, it's compact design does not mean it's a dainty product. It has a good weight to it with a well-built quality. The outside design is a modern matte finish. This product is a powerful smart speaker and to make the competition even more fierce, it has voice control built-in. This way, you can play or ask anything just by yelling out a command.

The features of this product are almost endless. It has two Class-D digital amplifiers to ensure you get great sound, a far-field microphone array so you hopefully won't have to yell too loud to change the song, and it even has a light to let you know when the microphone is active to offer more privacy. Among already having Alexa and Google Assistant, it also is compatible with Apple Airplay 2, so it can support all the major products. That being said, if you are strictly an Apple user, there are other speakers that might be good to consider as well.

This music is lit

Both speakers are almost equally matched for price unless you also happen to need a lamp. From top to bottom, this Ikea lamp and speaker is the poster product for minimalism, but this is not a flimsy product. It has a glass shade instead of paper or plastic, and the speaker has a knit cover that is not removable.

The lights and the speaker work independently of each other, so if you want to listen to your music in the dark, you can turn the knob to cut the light. One of the coolest features is that the lamp shade's glass is mouth-blown by a skilled craftsperson, just in case this product wasn't already unique enough for your home.

Sonos also designed this product in part, so it easily integrates with the other Sonos products. If you want stereo sound, it's easily achievable by combining it with similar or Sonos speakers. Like the Sonos One, it also has Apple Airplay 2, which allows you to stream from your Apple products easily.

Back to you for the real winner

Before smart home speakers became a must-have, the IKEA SYMFONISK lamp speaker would have probably won out without having to jump through many hoops. With its dual purpose and clever design, it is truly an exciting and unique product to have in your home.

However, based on modernization and sound quality, the Sonos One is going to win for most. The ability to hide speakers in other products does not quite beat out the sound quality and home assistants that are built into this speaker. It is possible the extra $20 for the Sonos One is a big enough price tag difference to warrant getting more than just a speaker for your money. Unless you also need a lamp...

The Sonos One is an amazing, Alexa-enabled speaker, but when it comes to getting the most from both streaming music and TV audio, the Sonos Beam is the true champion.

Beam Me Up

When you're buying a Sonos speaker — any Sonos speaker — you know what you're getting into. You're going to get amazing sound with dead-simple setup and the ability to stream pretty much any music service there is. When you take things one step further and purchase a Sonos as a soundbar for your TV, you're really going all-in.

Unlike comparing two speakers that have much the same application, the glaring difference here is that the Sonos Beam is a soundbar made to bring the best out of your TV audio in addition to streaming music — while the Sonos One is just another stellar wireless speaker in the Sonos lineup. You'll get the same Alexa support from both, along with ease of setup and ability to stream from tons of services. What you won't get in the Sonos One is the ability to hook up to your TV for immersive audio or utilize voice controls over HDMI.

With the Sonos Beam and Sonos One both offering Alexa and AirPlay support, you'll be able to use voice commands and control your smart home devices right out of the box. They both have capacitive buttons as well for easily controlling your audio. There's no learning curve here either — plug it in, download the Sonos app, and you're up and running. The small footprint of the Sonos One allows you to place it in nearly any corner of any room, while the longer Beam can be placed perfectly under your TV or even mounted to the wall.

Sounding Off

Where the Beam excels is in the multi-purpose use of streaming all of your audio services in addition to making your TV audio sound amazing. You can use Alexa commands, the Sonos app, the Beam's capacitive buttons, and even AirPlay to have it do thy bidding. Add in a Fire TV device and you'll have nearly full voice control over your entire entertainment system. Want to go even bigger? Add two more Sonos speakers and a Sonos Sub to create the ultimate surround system. All that and you'll continue to get software updates as Sonos is always adding new features to its devices.

The Beam is perfect for small or mid-size rooms given its smaller footprint. If you have a larger space or you're looking for much more sound, other options like the Playbar or Playbase may be a better bet — albeit at a larger cost.

Both the Sonos Beam and Sonos One are amazing speakers, but what it comes down to there is whether or not you'll be using the speaker for your TV audio as well as normal listening — and there's a very concrete answer. If you want TV audio, then it's the Beam all the way. If not, then you'll get the same functionality from the Sonos One for much less.

When you look at the Sonos One and the IKEA Symfonisk Bookshelf side-by-side, you'll notice both have similarities. Both offer a unique and modern design that'll surely blend well in any home. While the IKEA Symfonisk speaker may be cheaper, the Sonos One is a more-rounded option with better specs.

It's simple. If you're somewhat of an audiophile who wants a smart speaker that sounds good when playing music, then the best choice is the second generation Sonos One. You're probably asking: "Is better sound worth the extra 100 bucks?" I'd say yes.

The best choice

If you step outside the $200 price tag for a sec, with the Sonos One, you get a premium sound along with cool features, like AirPlay 2 support, built-in mic for better voice control, and the ever so important, humidity resistance. You know, for listening during those steaming hot showers.

Sonos has a ton of great speakers to choose from, but the One is beloved by many for its reliable sound and features. The Sonos One's built-in mic for voice control is a big differentiator when you compare this to IKEA's speaker. Although both speakers use AirPlay 2 support, the Sonos One's built-in mic allows it to have commands shouted to it without your phone near. This is something IKEA's Symfonisk speaker doesn't offer.

If the price is what you care about

IKEA's Bookshelf speaker comes at an affordable price with the color option of black or white. The minimalist design on the speaker is great, as it will surely blend into any room without drawing much attention, especially in the case of IKEA's Lamp speaker).

What shouldn't go unmentioned is both IKEA's lamp and bookshelf speakers can be set up as rear speakers to a Sonos Beam, Playbar, or Playbase.

Unfortunately, IKEA's Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker does have some less than desirable traits that will probably rub you the wrong way. For starters, the speaker's sound isn't as good as the Sonos One, even when combined as a stereo pair. You also can't turn the speaker into a shelf without buying the bracket that allows it to convert. Had IKEA just included it in the box at purchase, it would've been a nice one up on Sonos and the competition.

What you stand to get with IKEA's Bookshelf speaker is a similar performance you'll find with other popular smart speakers on the market at the $100 price point. The biggest difference with this speaker is it looks better than what most of the competition has to offer.

Which one should you buy?

The choice is clear. If you want a great sounding speaker with solid, smart features out the box, then we'd recommend the second-generation Sonos One. It has everything you'd want in a smart speaker, including impressive build quality, a high-end design, sound, and great software with the Sonos app.

If the price is your primary focus, then the obvious choice is the IKEA Symfonisk Bookshelf speaker. This speaker is a Sonos collab, so it'll house many of the same features the Sonos One carries.

Overall, the Sonos One is just a higher quality product, thanks in large part to its top of the line sound performance along with added features such as capacitive touch controls, humidity resistance, and built-in voice control.

If you're subscribed to Apple Music and are looking for a speaker with built-in voice assistant support for it, get a HomePod, you'll love it. But if you're looking for something that can work with most music services (including Apple Music), features a versatile voice assistant, and still sounds great, the Sonos One is for you.

The big differences

Between the Sonos One and the HomePod, the biggest factors for most people are sound quality and price. There are virtual assistant capabilities to consider, but we'll focus on sound quality and price primarily as both products seem to be designed as speakers first, and assistants-in-cans second.

Looking at sound quality alone, I'd have to pick the HomePod. Computational audio does a lot of excellent work to get that tiny speaker to fill a room, and the sound the HomePod produces is outstanding. Yes, only Apple Music support is built in right now, but with AirPlay 2, that's not as big of a hurdle as it would have been even a year ago.

But then there's the other major factor: price. For the sound quality you get, it's hard to beat the Sonos One at that price. At $199, it's $150 cheaper than the HomePod. Does the HomePod sound $150 better? That depends on the person. As someone who owns a HomePod, it sounds wonderful. While the Sonos One doesn't sound quite as good, but it still sounds great, and it's probably good enough for most people.

If we look at the virtual assistants packed into these speakers — Alexa for Sonos One and Siri for HomePod — some important differences manifest themselves. Both assistants have similar base capabilities, answering questions about the weather, setting timers, letting you set reminders and calendar events, and more. Both also allow you to control various smart home devices with your voice. However, Alexa has thousands of skills available from developers all over the world, turning it into an assistant capable of so much more than Siri on the HomePod. Because though Siri for iPhone and iPad has seen its abilities expand exponentially with the launch of Shortcuts, those Shortcuts don't run natively on Siri on the HomePod, but instead, run on your iPhone if you trigger them using your HomePod.

While Siri is a great Apple Music assistant, music is where another advantage of Sonos One comes to light. In addition to Amazon Music, you can set up other music services with Alexa, including Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer (Apple Music also recently came to Alexa, but it's restricted to Echo devices for now). So in addition to whatever streaming service you already have linked to Sonos, you can command others using Alexa. This is something that Siri can't do just yet. Hopefully, Apple will add this capability one day, but for right now, because of this limitation, the Sonos One is the best pick for use with most music services.

The bottom line is this: the HomePod is great for Apple Music subscribers, and I highly recommend it. It's the better-sounding of the two speakers. That being said, most people should get the Sonos One right now. It has the more capable assistant and natively supports more music services.

The HomePod beats the Sonos One when it comes to sound, but the Sonos One still sounds great and is much less expensive than the HomePod. Most people should probably get the Sonos One. Getting a bundle of two, which you can then stereo pair, actually only costs about $30 more than getting one HomePod. However, if you're already all-in on Apple products, you might still want to consider a HomePod. It really does sound amazing.

As tech nerds and audio enthusiasts, there's nothing we love more than a fantastic speaker. Whether you're building a sound system for your entire house, or just want to listen to tunes from your phone, we've tried it all.

When it comes to amazing sounding speakers, both the Sonos Play:5 and Bose SoundTouch 30 won't disappoint you. While they do have slightly different sound profiles — Bose is a little heavier on bass — both speakers clear and consistent at all volume levels.

The Sonos Play: 5 (and all Sonos speakers) excel at being used together with as many different Sonos speakers to make a home audio system. The Play:5 is resistance to humidity so you should have problems placing them around your house, and they can even be part of a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system for your TV if you pick up enough of them.

The Bose SoundTouch 30 is better for people who are looking for one or two speakers to listen to music in their home. While it may not have as many compatible streaming services and the app experience is slightly less ideal than Sonos the Sound Touch 30 does have Bluetooth. This makes the SoundTouch 30 one amazing home speaker to listen to your tunes from any device!

Important specs

The differences on the spec sheet between these two speakers don't look like much, but there are a few things worth mentioning. The Bose SoundTouch 30 is slightly larger and slightly heavier, so if you're considering placing the speakers on shelves, you'll need to have a sturdier one for the Bose. Both speakers can use Alexa, meaning if you are an Alexa household, either speaker should nicely, but only the Bose SoundTouch 30 comes with a physical remote and Bluetooth compatibility.

There's a couple of soft differences you won't notice in the spec sheet. For example, the Sonos app is better designed than the Bose app, making it slightly easier to navigate and bit simpler to use; however, the Bose SoundTouch 30 comes with a physical remote, meaning you don't always have to have your phone or tablet next to you if you want to skip tracks or change the volume.

A big difference between the two speakers is the number of streaming services you can use. Sonos is compatible with almost every music streaming service you can name, including ones that are only available in certain countries. If you stream a lot of your music, the Sonos Play:5 is likely a better pick for you, especially if you live in a place that doesn't have access to popular streaming services. Don't get me wrong; the Bose SoundTouch 30 is compatible with Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Tunein, SiriusXM, Apple Music, and Amazon Music which for a lot of people, would probably be just fine.

Both speakers have their merits, and depending on what you're looking for; either speaker could be the right fit for you.

The Sonos Play:5 really excels at being a multi-speaker system with other Sonos speakers. Its app is super intuitive, and setting up multiple rooms and zones is fairly straight forward. If you're looking to build out a home theater system or a big multi-room household-wide sound system, the Sonos Play:5 (and other Sonos speakers) is going to fit your needs better and be able to seamlessly grow with your sound system as you add to it.

If you're looking for an excellent sounding speaker for your house to play your music when you want, and maybe one more speaker to put in a different room that's connected, the Bose SoundTouch 30 has a great fit. It's probably one of the best sounding and most versatile Bluetooth speakers you can have in your home, and although the app is a little less great than what Sonos offers, it has a physical remote that can control playback perfectly.

The Sonos Connect and Sonos Amp are similar in some ways, but one is definitely a significant improvement over the other and well worth the price difference.

Let's break it down

If you care about having a unit that is compact so that it doesn't get in the way of your home audio setup, then the Sonos Connect has an advantage. However, the Sonos Amp is slightly larger and more expensive but is capable of doing so much more for your home audio system.

Overall, we believe that the Sonos Amp is the better pick out of the two, especially if you do not already have a receiver unit in your home or are just starting out with your home audio system.

The Sonos Amp acts in place of a receiver, which usually costs around the same price anyway, so it's one less thing you need. Plus, the Sonos Amp works with both indoor and outdoor speakers, the amplifier pumps out 125 watts per channel, and it has support for a subwoofer if you have one. All of your audio can be controlled through the Sonos Controller app, and there's seamless Amazon Alexa integration built-in, along with AirPlay 2 support and HDMI input.

However, if you already have a receiver, don't have or need a subwoofer, and want to add wireless streaming capabilities to existing indoor speakers, then the Sonos Connect is fine. The Sonos Connect is also $250 less than the Connect: Amp. It also has a smaller profile, though the white color may stick out like a sore thumb if your setup is black.

Thanks to an update from Sonos, four speakers in the lineup support AirPlay 2, which means you can play music from your iPhone or iPad without needing a Wi-Fi connection and you can ask Siri to play something through your Sonos speaker. If you have one or more of the four supported Sonos speakers and you're wondering how to set them up, we've got you covered.

The Guide

There are two bits of software that you'll need to update to update the firmware for your Sonos One. First, you'll need to make sure that your iPhone or iPad is updated to version 11.4 or higher. You must be running iOS 11.4 or higher to get AirPlay 2. You can check your current software version from the Settings app.

1. Tap Settings on iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.

If your software is not updated to iOS 11.4 or higher, install the update.

1. Tap Download and Install.
2. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
4. Tap Agree again to confirm.

The next thing you'll need to update is the Sonos Controller app to version 9.0 or higher. Version 9.0 brings with it support for AirPlay 2.

1. Launch the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Search.
3. Enter Sonos Controller into the search field.

4. Select the Sonos Controller from the query results.
5. Tap Update if the Sonos Controller app needs to be updated.

Once both your iPhone and the Sonos controller app have been updated, open the Sonos controller app. You should be automatically directed to update your speaker, but if it doesn't happen automatically, navigate to the Settings section of the Sonos app.

1. Launch the Sonos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap More.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap System Updates.
5. Tap Check for Updates.

The Sonos Controller app will send the firmware update to your Sonos speaker.

After you've updated your Sonos firmware, you'll be able to add the speaker to your Home app, where you'll be able to stream music from Control Center or ask Siri to play something. You'll need to add the Sonos speaker to the Home app, and you're ready to go.

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Add button in the upper right corner of the Home page.
3. Tap Add Accessory.
4. Follow the instructions to add your Sonos speaker to the Home app.

Once you're all set up, you can start playing music either directly on your iPhone or iPad or by asking Siri.

1. Start playing a song from your favorite music player.
2. Navigate to Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
3. Press the Now Playing widget.
4. Select your Sonos speaker from the list of available AirPlay speakers.

You can also ask Siri to play tunes for you. Just say, "Hey Siri, play my playlist on Sonos One."

Note: Siri will only play music from Apple Music.

AirPlay 2 is only supported on Sonos One, Sonos Beam, Sonos Playbase, and the second-generation Play:5. But, that doesn't mean you can't use AirPlay 2 with your older or non-Airplay supported Sonos speaker system. As long as you have one of the AirPlay 2 supported speakers, you can connect the rest of your Sonos system and pipe your favorite tunes throughout the entire house.

The Sonos One is the least expensive of the four supported speakers, so if you don't already have one, you can pick one up on Amazon and add it to your Sonos system.

Our top equipment picks

If you're already set up with a house full of Sonos speakers but want to connect them with your Apple TV, HomePod, or just want to AirPlay from your iPhone, these are the four Sonos speakers that support AirPlay 2.

The Sonos One is comparable to an Echo Plus, but with a much better sound. Sonos' unmatched audio quality means you can set the One in a corner and still hear your music as clearly as if it were in the center of the room.

If your TV set needs a new sound bar, the low-cost Beam is a solid replacement. You won't experience audio lag because it connects directly to your TV. You can set it up with Alexa and with Siri, and thanks to AirPlay 2 compatibility, you can piggyback additional Sonos or HomePod speakers for true surround sound.

The Playbase has 10 amplified speaker drivers for an electrifying sound experience. It's designed to be the foundation of a true surround sound experience with Sonos speakers, which includes the Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos One speakers. If you're going to go whole-hog, this is the ultimate setup for your living room entertainment.

If you're ready to make the jump to an advanced speaker setup for your music-listening experience, you're not going to be disappointed in the incredible sound quality you get from the Play:5. With two connected upright, you'll experience stereo separation equal to what you'd get with a set of hardwired speakers.

Check out our round up of the best Sonos deals now!

Sonos is a wireless smart speaker system that lets you connect up to 32 components and fill your home with audio of your choice. The company offers a variety of speaker styles, four of which are also AirPlay 2 compatible so you can use them with Siri. If you've just unboxed your first Sonos speaker and are ready to go, here's how to use the Sonos Controller app on your iPhone to set it up.

How to set up a Sonos Speaker on iPhone or iPad

Whether you're setting up your first Sonos speaker, adding a second one, or just trying to figure out how to use the Sonos Controller app, we're here to help.

• How to download the Sonos app for iPhone and iPad
• How to set up your Sonos speaker
• How to connect a music service to the Sonos Controller app on iPhone and iPad.
• How to play a streaming service on your Sonos speakers
• How to add content to My Sonos in the Sonos app
• How to play music from your iTunes Library on your Sonos speakers
• How to search for music in the Sonos app

How to download the Sonos app for iPhone and iPad

Before you can start using your new Sonos speakers, you'll need Sonos's official app; you can download it for iPhone and iPad from the App Store.

• Free - Download now

You can also search the App Store for "Sonos" at any time to find it.

How to set up your Sonos speaker

When setting up a new Sonos speaker, you'll follow a slightly different opening process depending on whether you're a brand new Sonos customer or you already have an account.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Create account.
3. Enter your email address and a strong password.
4. Use the toggle switch to accept the terms and conditions.
5. Press Create account.
6. Switch to your email account to confirm your address.
7. Tap the Verify email address button. The Safari app will automatically open and display a confirmation.
8. Return to the Sonos app.
9. Tap Continue.
10. Tap Continue once more to begin setting up your speakers.
11. You'll be asked whether you'd like to set your Sonos network up as a Standard or BOOST network. Most users should pick Standard setup.

12. Press Next to begin setting up your first speaker.
13. Continue with the steps below under Add a new speaker.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app from your Home screen.
2. Tap on the More tab.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap on the Add a Player or SUB option.
5. Continue with the steps below under Add a new speaker.

1. Connect your Sonos speaker to a power outlet.
2. Press Next.
3. Look for a green flashing light on your Sonos device. Once you see it, tap continue.Note: If you don't see the light, tap I'm unsure about the light for troubleshooting tips.
4. Sonos will automatically look for any compatible speakers for its system. Tap the one you wish to set up (or, if setting up multiple speakers, the device you wish to set up first).

5. Locate the pairing button (on older models, it may be a combination of buttons) on your Sonos device and press it, then release.

6. After the device connects (you may need to enter your Wi-Fi network name and password), press Next.
7. Choose the room where you'd like to set up your Sonos speaker.
8. Press Next.

Your speaker is now set up with the Sonos system. Press Add another speaker (and return to step one of "Add a new speaker") to set up an additional one.

After you've connected all your speakers, you'll have to finish setting them up.

1. If your Sonos products need updates, you'll be prompted to update your speakers. Press Next to begin the update process.
2. Press Continue after the update process is complete. Your Sonos products will then automatically register to your account.
3. Tap Continue to use Sonos's Trueplay tuning process.Note: Only certain phones support Trueplay; if your device doesn't support it, you'll see an error and an OK dialogue; you can set up Trueplay later at any point with a compatible device.

4. If you have an Alexa-enabled Sonos speaker, see set up Sonos and Alexa below.
5. Tap Done to complete the setup process.

1. If your Sonos speaker supports Amazon Alexa, you'll be asked to set up Alexa by tapping Sign in to Amazon.
2. Enter your Amazon credentials and press Sign in.
3. Tap I agree.
4. Press Continue.
5. If you have non-Alexa Sonos speakers as part of this system, you can have Alexa recognize them all by saying "Alexa, discover my devices" to your Alexa-enabled Sonos speaker.
6. Switch to the Alexa app on your iPhone.
7. Tap the hamburger menu icon in the upper left corner.
8. Tap Skills.
9. Under Search all skills, type Sonos.
10. Tap Enable Skill.

If you have an AirPlay 2 supported Sonos speaker, you can also set it up to receive requests from Siri. You can connect Siri to Sonos using the Home app.

How to add Apple Music or another music streaming service to your Sonos Speaker

You can stream music directly from Apple Music to an AirPlay 2 supported speaker. Whether you use Apple Music or another music streaming service, Sonos supports dozens of them. Here's how to find and add them to your Sonos speaker.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app.
2. Tap More in the bottom right corner of the app.
3. Tap Add Music Services.

4. Tap the streaming service you want to add.
5. Tap Add to Sonos.
6. Tap the button to connect the service (it will read log in or set up or something like that).

7. Authorize the streaming service with your account credentials.
8. If you've left the Sonos app to log in, go back to the Sonos app and tap Continue to complete the process.

How to play a streaming service on your Sonos speakers

If you want to stream music from Apple Music, podcasts from Overcast, or audiobooks from Audible, you can select the streaming service and browse content from there.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app.
2. Tap the Browse tab.
3. Select the streaming service you want to use.

4. Select content you want to stream.
5. Tap play Now.

How to add content to My Sonos in the Sonos app

You can also add songs, albums, playlists, audiobooks, radio stations, and more directly to your Sonos app. It's like favoriting content so you can find it easier later on. When you add something to My Sonos, it will appear in the My Sonos dashboard in the Sonos Controller app.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app.
2. Tap the Browse tab.
3. Select the streaming service you want to use.

4. Select content you want to add to My Sonos.
5. Tap the More button next to the content. It looks like three dots.
6. Tap Add to My Sonos.

Note: You can't add songs from the iTunes library on your iPhone to My Sonos.

How to play music from your iTunes Library on your Sonos speakers

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app.
2. Tap the Browse tab.
3. Tap On this iPhone.

4. Tap a category from playlists, artists, albums, genres, songs, compilations, composers, and podcasts.
5. Select the content you want to play. If it's an individual song, podcast, or audiobook it will begin playing.
6. If you select a playlist or album, tap play all to begin playing it immediately.
7. Tap the more button (it looks like three dots) if you want to play next, add to end of the queue or replace the current queue with it.

You can also browse more music from a specific artist or get album info by tapping More.

How to search for music in the Sonos app

Once you have all your music services linked to the Sonos Controller app, you can search through them all with ease to find any of the music you like.

1. Launch the Sonos Controller app.
2. Tap the search button. It's the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap on the category you would like to search. The options are as follows:
   • Artists
   • Songs
   • Albums
   • Playlists
   • Stations
   • Genres
   • Authors
   • Books
   • Narrators
   • Radio Episodes
   • Radio Shows
   • Podcasts & Shows
4. Type your search into the search field.
5. Tap the item you want to play.
6. Tap when you want to play the item. Your options are as follows:
   • Add Song to My Sonos: This will add the song to your dashboard favorites.
   • Add to Sonos Playlist: This will add the song to your Sonos playlist.
   • Play Now: This will play the item immediately.
   • Play Next: This will play the item after what's currently playing.
   • Add to End of Queue: This will place the item at the end of the current list of songs.
   • Replace Queue: This will play the item after the current song and remove all other songs after it in the list.
   • More: This option lets you browse more music from the artist and get album info.

Our top equipment picks

To get the most out of your smart speaker connectivity with Sonos, you should definitely have one that supports AirPlay 2, which means you can also pair it with a HomePod and use Siri to control playback. These are the four Sonos speakers that support AirPlay 2.

The Sonos One is comparable to an Echo Plus, but with a much better sound. Sonos' unmatched audio quality means you can set the One in a corner and still hear your music as clearly as if it were in the center of the room.

If your TV set needs a new soundbar, the low-cost Beam is a solid replacement. You won't experience audio lag because it connects directly to your TV. You can set it up with Alexa and with Siri, and thanks to AirPlay 2 compatibility, you can piggyback additional Sonos or HomePod speakers for true surround sound.

The Playbase has 10 amplified speaker drivers for an electrifying sound experience. It's designed to be the foundation of a true surround sound experience with Sonos speakers, which includes the Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos One speakers. If you're going to go whole-hog, this is the ultimate setup for your living room entertainment.

If you're ready to make the jump to an advanced speaker setup for your music-listening experience, you're not going to be disappointed in the incredible sound quality you get from the Play:5. With two connected upright, you'll experience stereo separation equal to what you'd get with a set of hardwired speakers.

Check out our round up of the best Sonos deals now!

If you need Dolby Atmos support, but don't want to pay a lot more than you would for the Sonos Beam, then the Sony X9000F is a great option. Dolby Atmos soundbars don't get much less expensive than this, and if you're trying to build a system on a more modest budget, you'll get an Atmos experience, even if it's limited to 2.1 channels.

In addition to the soundbar itself, the Sony also comes with a wireless subwoofer. You can connect both to whatever TV or A/V receiver you use in your home theater setup.

Atmos is a surround sound format developed by Dolby. Originally built for use in theaters, Atmos has since also been adapted for use in homes. The goal is to provide a detailed and immersive audio experience. Most systems utilize multiple components, including soundbars.

Whereas in traditional surround sound environments, sounds are held to specific channels, Dolby Atmos utilizes a concept called audio objects. Atmos allows sound designers to create these objects, specifying where a particular sound originates from, and to where it will move as the film plays. An Atmos system will recognize the objects and play them in a virtual 3D environment. These allow the sounds you hear from being set to a single channel.

Many Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbars achieve their effects through upward-firing speakers, whose sound bounces off your home's ceiling and down towards you. The other speakers in your system will fill out the rest of the audio environment. Just like standard surround sound, Atmos still utilizes channels, with audio objects placed on top of sounds that don't need the specificity that Atmos allows for.

If you don't want or need Dolby Atmos support, and really just want better audio from your TV, the Sonos Beam is still a great option. Not only will it provide great audio, it also features support for Amazon's Alexa assistant, letting you utilize Alexa skills (such as music playback) directly without any additional hardware.

The Sonos Beam also features support for AirPlay 2. This lets you connect the Beam to multiple other AirPlay 2 speakers around your home and play the same audio wherever you go in your house.

Though AirPlay 2 is only supported in four Sonos speakers, you can still use it with older Sonos speakers if you have at least one AirPlay 2-enabled Sonos speaker.

• The AirPlay hub: Sonos One ($199 at Amazon)
• No AirPlay support: Sonos Playbar ($699 at Amazon)
• The AirPlay streamer: iPhone XS ($999 at Apple)

The Guide

1. Launch the Sonos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the More tab at the bottom-right of the screen.
3. Tap Settings.

4. Tap AirPlay.
5. Turn on Group non-AirPlay Speakers.

This will keep non-AirPlay supported Sonos speakers grouped with AirPlay supported ones.

What you need

You'll need a least one AirPlay 2-supported Sonos speaker in order to use it with older, non-supported ones.

The Sonos One is the best option for anyone that already has an older Sonos speaker that doesn't support AirPlay 2. It's the least expensive of the four compatible ones and can act as an AirPlay conduit for all your other Sonos speakers.

You need an iOS device in order to use AirPlay and that device needs to be able to run iOS 11.4 or higher to support AirPlay 2. The iPhone XS is Apple's latest and greatest and I'm not sure it can get any better than this.

Whether you already have a house full of Sonos speakers or you're just getting started, these are great additions to your home audio system. Just remember, they don't support AirPlay 2, so you'll need to pick up an AirPlay 2 supported speaker like the Sonos One, too.

Sonos Playbar ($699 at Amazon)

It's a high-quality soundbar that will make your entertainment center the focus of your entire house.

Sonos Play:1 ($149 at Amazon)

The least expensive Sonos speaker, but still has an incredible sound. Get one of these for each room in the house and you've got total surround sound.