After a disastrous app update almost tanked the company, Sonos is back with the portable Sonos Play and the static Era 100 SL.
Sonos is ready to get back to business after an app scandal that alienated customers.
The debacle led to declining revenue, staff layoffs, and the appointment of a new CEO. Sonos started easing back in by releasing a specialist multi-channel amplifier in January, but it’s now returning to the consumer market with two new speakers: the Sonos Play and the Era 100 SL.
The Play is a portable option for listening anywhere in your home, while the Era 100 SL is designed to stay in one spot. Both are designed to offer “powerful, room-filling sound.”
The higher-end Sonos Play promises up to 24 hours of battery life and recharging via an included base. The battery is also replaceable and features optimized power management. Sonos didn’t say how long it would take to fully charge the speaker.
The design and specs look like this may be a smaller alternative to the brand’s larger Move 2 speaker. It weighs 2.87 pounds, making it remarkably lighter than the Move 2’s hefty 6.61 pounds. There’s a small carry hook accessory to help you grab the Play, too.
You can connect to your other Sonos gadgets via Wi-Fi, and you can also group multiple speakers via Bluetooth when away from home. The brand says you can connect to three other Sonos Play or Move 2 speakers to get truly immersive audio.
The $299 Play comes in black or white. It’s available to preorder now and ships on March 31.
Sonos is also introducing a new Era 100 SL, a static speaker for your home that, according to Sonos, offers “rich stereo sound and deep bass.” This is similar to the Era 100. but this version doesn’t come with a built-in microphone.
That makes it cheaper, though, at $189. It comes in black or white and lands on March 31. PCMag’s review of the original Era 100 called it a “worthy starting point in the company’s lineup thanks to powerful stereo audio, easy integration with other Sonos speakers, and an excellent app experience.”
In a statement, CEO Tom Conrad said, “We believe a great sound experience shouldn’t reset every time you add something new. It should get better. Sonos Play and Era 100 SL are a clear expression of what Sonos does best—creating products that feel simple on the surface, but are deeply powerful because of the system behind them.”
