Best Sonos Setup (2022): Which Speakers and Soundbars Should You Buy?

Here at WIRED, we like Sonos speakers. We really do. Over the course of the past decade, we’ve reviewed all of the company’s wireless speakers, from small shelf speakers to TV soundbars, and we’ve recommended each one. But turning your home into a Sonos powered temple doesn’t come cheap. Like Apple products, Sonos speakers sell for a premium, starting at $120 for a basic bookshelf speaker. But which one should you buy? Read about our recommendations.

Update December 2022: We’ve added Sonos Ray Soundbar and Sonos Sub Mini subwoofer, and updated pricing and retailers.

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The best Sonos speakers overall

The Sonos One (Gen 2) is just the smallest Sonos speaker, but it has enough power to fill most rooms. Compared to it predecessor, the Gen 2 model has a faster processor and more memory. So not only does it sound better, it also lasts longer—meaning you won’t have to worry about upgrading it for a while.

We recommend other Sonos speakers in this guide, but you also can’t go wrong buying more Sonos Ones to fill your home. Their hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant integration also gives them a lot more flexibility. They can play music, tell you the weather, find recipes and answer simple questions, just like any of our other games. favorite smart speaker. They also work with Siri via AirPlay 2. They’re also much more affordable than other Sonos speakers, and their small size means you can hide them in almost any room.

It’s almost identical to the One but without a microphone, so you can only control it from your phone or the touch buttons on it (and you don’t have to worry about someone listen in your home). The SL is also a great way to add more satellite speakers to your home. And if you want a speaker that can actually make that sound, Sonos Five ($549) great sound and no mic.

The best speakers to fill a room

Earlier this year, Sonos reunited with Ikea to release a second-generation version of its bookshelf speaker. At $120, it’s a bit more expensive than its $99 predecessor, but it comes with a number of upgrades, including increased memory and a faster processor. We haven’t tested this model yet, but we like the first-gen version.

Looking aside, it sounds as good as the Sonos One. You can mount it right to your wall or place it upright on a bookshelf or table. And if you want to connect several speakers together in a larger room or interconnecting rooms, this is the cheapest way to do it. It doesn’t directly take audio commands because it doesn’t have a microphone, so you’ll need a Sonos One, Google speaker, or Alexa speaker that you can shout at if you want to control it with your voice. Other than that, it does everything you want Sonos to do.

Sonos and Ikea also launched a new version of their unique table lamp. this is a white versionone Black versionand a $169 version with textile light shade. It offers enhanced sound and is more customizable this time around, with swappable shades. The first model, which you can read about in our double review, sounds great. We have high hopes for the new version. Finally, if wall art suits your style better, Ikea offers Symfonisk Photo Frame with Built-in Sonos Wi-Fi Speaker for $249. We’re currently testing table lamps and will be updating this guide soon with our thoughts.

Best portable speaker with Bluetooth

Sonos wanders (9/10, Recommend wired) is the company’s smallest and most portable speaker. With built-in Bluetooth connectivity (it is one of the Our favorite Bluetooth speaker), you can easily toss it in your tote bag and play music on the go. Using the Sonos app, available for Android and iPhone, you also have the ability to stream from major services like Spotify, Apple Music (with AirPlay 2 support), Tidal, etc. And you can control the speaker through your phone. via voice command using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

It may not offer audiophile-approved sound for its stature, but it’s still pretty impressive. A dual-driver system, subwoofer, and tweeter work in tandem to deliver powerful bass and clear highs—without distortion as the volume goes up. And with up to 10 hours of listening time, it will last your beach day—and hours after that.

The Sonos Move is a bigger portable speaker with better sound. It features Bluetooth connectivity, 11 hours of battery life, and a built-in microphone that tailors the sound to the environment, plus it’s water resistant. Can’t decide between Roam and Move? You can buy both for $578 at Sonos.

The best Sonos soundbar (for most)

As with the original Beam (8/10, Recommend wired), the second-generation Beam delivers impressive sound and has a sleek design. In terms of upgrades, it has a faster processor, Dolby Atmos support (with compatible TVs and streaming apps) for enhanced sound, and an HDMI eARC port for higher-resolution audio. You’ll also get hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant, and it works with Airplay 2. You can pair it with the Sonos Sub (an expensive subwoofer) and two other Sonos speakers for surround sound.

Sonos has also tweaked the design, adding a polycarbonate grille to the front panel instead of a fabric cover like on the Gen 1 model. That is said to make it easy to blend in with your interior decor. It’s $50 more than the previous model, it’s not that much more expensive than the already expensive soundbar. For non-Sonos alternatives, read ours The best sound bar guide.

The standard Sonos Sub will cost you $749 at Sonos or Target. It’s great but expensive. If you are working with a smaller space, the less expensive Sonos Sub Mini is $429 at Sonos (Target). However, don’t bother buying surround speakers until you own a Sub. It will make a profound difference.

Best mini soundbar

If you have an apartment or a smaller room, or are just getting started with the soundbar unit, the Sonos Ray (9/10, Recommend wired) is a solid choice for you. The Ray has a compact frame, but don’t let that fool you. The soundbar produces clear, crisp sound that easily fills your space with zoom and boom, quiet conversations, and any other moment you don’t want to miss in sets. your favorite movies and shows. Plus, with adjustable settings in the Sonos app, you can configure the ideal listening experience for every song on your favorite album.

This small soundbar fits easily into entertainment centers and closets, or you can mount it on the wall to free up as much precious space as possible.

Want to take it to the next level? You can pair the Ray with the Sonos Sub Mini to round out the sound in your room. The Sub Mini is wireless (apart from the power cord), so it connects seamlessly to your existing system via the Sonos app. This subwoofer is $429 at Sonos and Target.

Best for large home theater

A soundbar can make all the difference in a home theater, and they cost much less than a full surround setup. And if you’re looking for something really powerful, the Sonos Arc (9/10, Recommend wired) is the way to go. It has full Dolby Atmos support, and in many rooms it can bounce sound off your walls and ceilings well enough that it sounds like you have a surround sound setup.

With three tweeters and eight mid-woofers, it delivers deeper, more balanced and deeper bass than the Beam. It’s also a lot longer, stretching 45 inches or as wide as a 55-inch TV. Its design is elegant and sophisticated in the usual Sonos way—you don’t always notice the bar, but when you do, it’s completely unobtrusive.