The best Alexa smart speaker I’ve tested isn’t an Echo (and it’s $50 off)

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The Sonos Period 100 speaker is on sale for $199, $50 off its retail value as a part of the Amazon Massive Spring Sale.


When Sonos reached out to me to debate the launch of a brand new line of sensible audio system, I used to be, for lack of a greater phrase, giddy. The corporate is behind plenty of very good audio merchandise, together with the discontinued Sonos One, is certainly one of the most effective sensible audio system in the marketplace proper now. 

The joy got here largely as a result of it had been nearly six years since Sonos launched the One speaker when it launched the Period 100, and the One was nonetheless a favourite amongst audiophiles and sensible house lovers. This makes the Period 100, a direct substitute for the One, an enormous deal. Listed here are the important thing options you must learn about and what makes the most recent Sonos speaker a worthy improve.

Unboxing expertise

The clear aesthetics of the Sonos packaging alone are charming. Sonos is dedicated to environmental sustainability, from manufacturing to packaging design. The Period 100 speaker incorporates recycled supplies, and Sonos is switching to 100% paper packaging by 2025, so the unboxing expertise was like opening a gift.

What’s inside, nonetheless, continues to be the star of the present.

The Period 100 is a smooth sensible speaker, simply barely bigger than its predecessor, the Sonos One, and some inches narrower than an Echo Studio Setting it up requires connecting it to energy and downloading the Sonos app, which can routinely discover the speaker close by and information you thru the pairing course of. 

What’s new with the Sonos Period 100

The Period 100 options contact controls on the prime of the speaker, which I’ve discovered very intuitive. These controls can be utilized to regulate the amount, play, pause, skip, and replay. There’s additionally a Bluetooth button on the again. Sure, you learn that proper: The sensible speaker has Bluetooth connectivity, a characteristic that the Sonos One lacked. 

Sonos audio system work greatest with the Sonos app—at the least that is what the corporate needs you to consider. They are not flawed, however there are some quirks that I observed. For starters, the audio sounds incredible when performed by means of Wi-Fi, and when you have friends who wish to play one thing on the speaker, Bluetooth connectivity makes it doable for them to take action with out having to obtain the Sonos app on their gadgets.

Nevertheless, the general app expertise will be finicky and gradual, with the software program sometimes demonstrating a lagged response.

The Period 100 options voice management, which you’ll flip off by toggling the microphone swap on the again. Whereas the brand new mannequin helps Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Management, it does not help Google Assistant just like the Sonos One.

Sonos has discontinued its help for Google Voice on the brand new Period audio system, so if you happen to’re on the lookout for a wise speaker to spherical out your Google sensible house ecosystem, you then’re higher off with the older Sonos One or a Google Nest speaker.

The USB-C port on the again of the speaker is one other huge improve on the Period 100. If you wish to join an audio supply or an ethernet cable, now you can do it with certainly one of Sonos’ Line-in and Combo adapters

How does the Period 100 sound?

The Period 100 is the most effective speaker of its measurement that I’ve ever examined. It’s an enchancment from the Sonos One, which was already thought of the best-sounding sensible speaker, however it additionally sounds higher than the improved Amazon Echo Studio and, naturally, blows all different compact sensible audio system out of the water. 

Because the Period 100 is constructed for smaller areas, it does not help spatial audio or Dolby Atmos like its bigger sibling, the Period 300. Nonetheless, the smaller Period 100 is highly effective sufficient to efficiently fill a medium-to-large-sized room.

Whereas I can not evaluate the over-the-top audio system and woofers on an previous automobile from 25+ years in the past to the attractive sound high quality of a Sonos speaker in 2023, I can let you know that listening to music on the Period 100 gave me a really related expertise to that because of the booming bass and crystal clear vocals.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The Period 100 has raised the bar for compact, high-quality audio system. Along with a full, booming sound, the Sonos speaker places out crystal-clear vocals on the forefront of any track. It is also extraordinarily highly effective, but it does not lose sound high quality at full quantity, and the deep bass does not rattle, even at its highest setting.

In comparison with different sensible audio system, the $249 Sonos Period 100 is excellent. The sound is miles above that of others in the identical value vary. It is simply that good.

Whereas many gross sales occasions characteristic offers for a selected size of time, offers are on a limited-time foundation, making them topic to run out anytime. ZDNET stays dedicated to discovering, sharing, and updating the most effective provides that will help you maximize your financial savings so you’ll be able to really feel as assured in your purchases as we really feel in our suggestions. Our ZDNET staff of consultants continually screens the offers we characteristic to maintain our tales up-to-date. For those who missed out on this deal, don’t fret — we’re at all times sourcing new financial savings alternatives at ZDNET.com.

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