Sonos Era 100 SL Review: A cheaper AirPlay speaker for Apple users

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$189

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The Sonos Era 100 SL is a compact wireless smart speaker designed to deliver premium sound quality at a more affordable price point. Built as a simplified version of the original Era 100, it removes voice assistant and microphone features while retaining the same powerful audio performance, sleek design, and wireless connectivity options.

The lower price tag of the Era 100 SL is intended to attract new users who may not have owned any Sonos speakers before. However, it can also be used in conjunction with other Sonos products, such as its soundbars and subwoofers, providing an affordable upgrade path for Sonos fans who may want to expand their existing multi-room or home cinema set-up.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Sonos Era 100 SL is that its USB-C port cannot be used for direct audio input from devices like laptops, phones, or tablets, meaning users who want a wired connection must purchase a separate Sonos adaptor – an inconvenience that mainly affects people who prefer wired audio setups or want to connect non-wireless devices easily.

What’s different in the Era 100 SL vs Era 100

The original Sonos Era 100 was launched a couple of years ago, with a £249/$249 price tag that pitched it right up against Apple’s HomePod. The Era 100 is still available, but Sonos has just launched a new model called the Era 100 SL that aims to provide a “more accessible” – i.e. cheaper – option at just $189/£169.

As the name suggests, the Era 100 SL is very similar to the earlier Era 100 (which remains on sale, now at a reduced price of $219.00/£199). Available in black or white, the two speakers are virtually identical, with the Era 100 SL standing 183mm high, 120mm wide and 131mm deep. The Era 100 SL is fractionally lighter, though, as it omits the microphone and voice control features of the Era 100, which reduces the weight of the speaker by a few grams to 1.95kg.

The Era 100 SL also has the same internal set-up as its predecessor, with a pair of tweeters handling the higher frequencies, while a single woofer looks after the mid-range and bass. Each of the drivers has its own amplifier, although Sonos doesn’t provide specific details for the amplifier output.

What features does the Era 100 SL offer?

Like all Sonos speakers, the Era 100 SL is primarily designed for wireless audio, supporting Bluetooth and dual-band wi-fi on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. And, as always, it supports AirPlay 2 for Apple devices, allowing it to work alongside Apple’s HomePods and other AirPlay speakers as part of a multi-room audio system. The Era 100 SL doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or spatial audio, but it is possible to pair two Era 100 SL speakers together to create a stereo system, or use them with a soundbar as part of a surround-sound system for your TV.

Wired connections are more limited, though. There is a USB-C port on the back of the speaker, but this can’t be used to provide a wired connection from a USB-C port on your Mac or mobile devices. If you want to use a wired connection then you’ll have to buy a separate adaptor from Sonos, which costs $19.00/£19.00 for a basic adaptor with a 3.5mm audio connector, or $39.00 for a ‘combo’ adaptor that includes both a 3.5mm connector and an Ethernet interface for a wired network (although the 3.5mm and Ethernet cables are not included). Our only other complaint is that the power connector is recessed into the base of the speaker, which means that you have to use the special ‘angled power cable’ provided by Sonos and can’t simply use a standard power cable if you misplace the Sonos cable.

How does it sound?

Unsurprisingly, the Era 100 SL sounds very similar to its predecessor, providing very good sound quality for such a compact speaker. Despite the compact design, it works a treat with the atmospheric electronics of Madonna’s Frozen, creating a relaxed, spacious soundstage for the song’s ambient sounds. There’s a smooth tone to the opening strings, and the Era 100 SL picks out all the little details in the track, such as the jangling percussion and the gentle electronic chimes. 

It’s got some muscle too, allowing the drums to crack like a whip as they kick us into the chorus, and the bass drum anchors the sound, while Madonna’s multi-tracked vocal floats gently above it all. That power really comes in handy for the raucous rock/dance mash-up of Sturgill Simpson’s Sing Along, and I’m worried about upsetting the neighbours even with the speaker cruising along at just 60% of maximum volume.

There’s a big, echoing sound to the fuzzy guitar riffs, while the electronic keyboards fizz along with infectious energy and, again, there’s a weighty sound from the bass drum that holds the whole song together. Admittedly, the bass drop at the end of the song could be a little firmer, but bass output is always a weakness with compact speakers such as this, and the Era 100 SL provides good sound quality for a speaker in this price range. 

Should you buy the Sonos Era 100 SL?

If you simply want a Bluetooth speaker for use with mobile devices, then there are certainly cheaper options available that can match the sound quality of the Era 100 SL. But, for Apple users, it’s the AirPlay support that stands out, allowing the Era 100 SL to quickly and easily work with all your Apple devices and apps, as well as working with other AirPlay speakers as part of a multi-room audio system.