Review_of_the_SONOS_Era_300_in_the_UAE
SONOS ERA 300 Speaker
Summary
The SONOS Era 300 is a premium smart speaker featuring six drivers for immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio. It supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and AirPlay 2, ensuring flexible streaming options. Crafted with recycled materials, it seamlessly integrates into Sonos multi-room setups, making it ideal for music lovers and home theater enthusiasts alike.
Introduction
Based in California, SONOS is a pioneer in wireless home audio, globally renowned for crafting smart speakers that blend design, innovation, and room-filling sound. The brand built its legacy on whole-home audio systems, allowing seamless streaming across rooms via Wi-Fi. With premium sound tuning, app-based control, and ecosystem flexibility, SONOS remains the go-to choice for audiophiles and smart home users alike. The SONOS Era 300 was officially launched on March 28, 2023. The SONOS Era 300 is the first SONOS speaker built from the ground up for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. This isn’t just about left and right; it’s about above, around, and within the music. With six custom drivers firing sound in multiple directions, the Era 300 transforms a single room into an immersive sound stage.
Let us talk in details about the SONOS ERA 300 Speaker as using Stand-alone and using it in the HOME Theater system with SONOS ARC, SUB-4 and SONOS ACE headphones.
Design & Specification
SONOS Era 300 comes with the dimensions of 185 mm x 260 mm x 160 mm and weighs 4.47 kg. The exterior features a half-mesh and half-hard shell design, complemented by a touch-sensitive slide control on top. The hourglass body is made of 40–48% PCR hard plastic, fastened with screws (no adhesives) for easy repair and sustainability.
The speaker features two mid-size woofers, positioned on the left and right sides. It has four tweeters – one facing forward, two facing left and right, and the last one facing upwards. The speaker features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C line-in, and Trueplay tuning for adaptive acoustics. Paired with a Sonos Arc or streaming spatial audio, the Era 300 offers a premium, multidimensional experience unlike anything in its class.
The Review
I had the SONOS Era 300 pair of speakers for almost a month. As I already have the SONOS Arc sound bar with SUB-4, which is excellent in itself, I was missing rear speakers, so I requested a pair to test the full home theatre setup. Thanks to SONOS and their PR team, I received two black SONOS Era 300 units for review. I decided to test them as part of the Home Theatre setup and as individual units.
Packaging
SONOS Era 300 comes with premium and eco-friendly packaging. The packaging is made of corrugated cardboard with molded pulp cushioning. The few recyclable plastics are clips & latches, and overall, 75% of the packaging is from sustainable sources.
Using the SONOS App
As I already have the SONOS app, I reviewed the SONOS Arc sound bar with a Sub-4 woofer. You can also check the reviews of the SONOS Ace headphones and the SONOS Roam 2.
As you are aware, when using the SONOS App, you need to create your own system over the internet. So, using my created system, I added the SONOS Era 300 each speaker one by one and then choosing the left and right side for my surround speakers.
Once I was completed the process, the next step was to TruePlay tuning and even got the DOLBY Atmos setup complete. Through the APP, I could control the whole Home Theatre system, which included the rear speakers and volume control.
The most interesting app update is speech enhancement, which adjusts vocal levels using an AI algorithm, not just EQ mid-range boosting. Three presets are available and work excellently, especially for nighttime movies, letting me hear vocals clearly without raising overall volume and disturbing neighbors.
SONOS ERA 300 – Controls
SONOS Era 300 controls are provided on the top side with touch control. There is a touch Volume Slider and multiple function options, such as play, pause, previous, next and a Group button. There is also dedicated AI speak / chat button. There are physical buttons for Bluetooth, Microphone Switch, and Power Input port.
SONOS ERA 300 – Standalone
The SONOS Era 300 is designed to work as a standalone speaker, delivering approximately 300 watts of output from six speakers. It can be connected directly via Bluetooth 5.0 through your smartphone or Bluetooth source like a Hi-Fi or a Television which supports such Bluetooth features. You can use the wired option via the USB Type-C port, usable with additional line‑in or Ethernet adapters.
And you are already connected the speakers to the SONOS system via Wi-Fi 6.0 and want to use it standalone. Then you have to follow the procedure below.
Disconnect the Era 300 speaker from the current Wi-Fi system from the SONOS App. Then press the Bluetooth button which located on the back panel till the LED light starts blinking, so it is ready in pairing mode. Use your phone or tablet and connect the SONOS ERA 300 via Bluetooth from the list shown on the phone and you are ready to use it as single Bluetooth speaker.
Once you are done using the standalone Era 300 speaker, you want to connect back to the system. Just reconnect the Era 300 to your Wi-Fi through the SONOS App.
SONOS ERA 300 – Part of Home Theatre
As I have already mentioned I had the SONOS Arc sound bar and Sub-4 woofer and ready system. I just had to add the pair of SONOS ERA 300 speakers into the system (Group – Living room). It was quite an ease while connecting into the system. I started the process by connecting each speaker one by one. Once the connecting process was completed then through the application I chose the left and right side as mine surround speakers.
Once the entire system was complete, the last step was to retune the Trueplay, which allows the application to use a particular sound that travels around in a 360-degree circle among all the speakers connected to the system group. With this, I was ready with my Home theater setup, featuring DOLBY. It features a Built-in Alexa and SONOS Voice Controller, but does not currently support Google Assistant.
Honestly, the Era 300 speakers were quite powerful for the surround speakers, especially considering the size of my living room. However, they worked excellently for the left and right surround channels, providing the additional sound effects necessary for a cinema effect.
I would suggest the surround speakers to be at ear level, so around 3 feet from the ground and facing little towards the seating area and if you space little backwards from the sofa or seating area to get the full effect.
SONOS Era 300 – Audio Quality
As a speaker testing standalone, the six speakers’ output sound was excellent. I used it for testing with my phone and used different genres of music, and even the 24-bit songs. The treble, Mids and treble were clear. From small nooks, trebles to prefect rumbling sound of the bass, it sounded perfect and I could feel the different ranges of audio equipment used in the song that is from guitar, to snares, string pulls, vocal breathing and distance chirping of birds in the lounge music.
When using the Era 300 as part of the Home Theater’s surround speakers, the sound quality was excellent. Even while watching movies, I could hear the long distance boom and distance crackling of fire sound and felt sound quite realistic and felt being a part of the movie scene.
Price and Availability
You can purchase the SONOS Era 300 speakers in White or Black directly from the SONOS website or through various e-commerce platforms. The ERA 300 speaker is priced at AED 2,099. If you are planning to buy the full Home Theatre system – Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc (Arc, Sub-4 &_2 ERA 300 Speakers) -AED 11,496.00
Conclusion
The SONOS Era 300 speaker’s audio quality is excellent when used standalone or as part of a Home theatre. As part of the home theater, you get immersive spatial audio.You get rich, dynamic sound for both music and Atmos content, along with seamless connectivity via Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay. The experience is enhanced by a robust app, Trueplay tuning, and smart features like voice control, multi-room support, and surround setup options. The sound quality is suitable for Audiophile listeners. Smart features like a voice assistant, like Built-in Alexa + Sonos Voice Controller, and works wirelessly with Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and AirPlay 2. With the SONOS App, you can get access to multiple streaming services.
Overall, the SONOS Era 300 is an excellent Bluetooth speaker and as part of a Home theatre. You can use it via Wi-Fi and access multiple streaming services.
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