Sonos today unveiled two new speakers, the Era 100 and Era 300, both of which were developed in collaboration with artists and sound engineers. They are also the first speakers manufactured to Sonos’ new responsible design standards, which include long-term product serviceability, energy efficiency and the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials
The Era 300 is a striking speaker designed to optimise the music listening experience with surround sound technology. The Era 100, on the other hand, is the new iteration of the bestselling Sonos One speaker
“We live in a world saturated with all kinds of noises, so high sound quality is more important than ever. We want to make listening an emotional experience and at the same time help our customers enjoy every day through their favourite music and audio content. The Era series is the next generation of smart speakers, reflecting our commitment to audio innovation, responsible manufacturing and good relationships with the artist community,” – patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos, said
Era 300: a new dimension of listening that guarantees surround sound with Dolby Atmos
The Era 300 loudspeaker is equipped with six powerful drivers that direct the sound left, right, forward and upwards for perfect sound emission. With Dolby Atmos, the listener feels like they are right in the centre of the music and films
Created with surround sound in mind: the hourglass-like, elegantly tapered design of the Era 300 conceals a complex acoustic architecture. Every angle, proportion and perforation enhances the direction and dispersion of sound
Surreal surround sound: the Era 300 is the first Sonos speaker to offer multi-channel surround sound when used as a rear home theatre speaker. Movie fans can pair the two speakers with Arc or Beam (Gen 2) soundbars to enhance the Dolby Atmos experience and be at the heart of the action
Collaboration with the music industry: Sonos has worked with the celebrity artist community, including members of the Sonos Sound Council, to optimally tune the Era 300’s features so that listeners can enjoy studio-quality sound
“It used to be that the revolution was triggered by the transition from mono to stereo. Today, it is surround sound that is the next stage in the evolution of listening. It enables the creation of sound experiences that allow listeners to immerse themselves in the music. Artists are beginning to create with surround sound, and streaming platforms are enabling listening with this innovation. So the time has come to provide playback options that realise the potential of this format,” said Giles Martin, Vice President of Audio Experience at Sonos
“Dolby Atmos provides an entirely new way to create and experience music. The technology allows you to surround yourself with sound of exceptional clarity and depth. The Sonos Era 300 is an audio innovation that will bring a new quality to the lives of listeners and artists.” – dolby CEO Kevin J. Yeaman said
Era 100: an iconic speaker in a newguise
The Era 100 speaker is only slightly larger than its predecessor, the Sonos One. The new version of the device features the latest software, improved acoustics and design, enabling the speaker to deliver detailed stereo sound and deep bass
Now in stereo: two curved tweeters send clear high frequencies left and right for rich stereo sound. The large midrange driver offers deep bass that is impossible with a single tweeter
Small in size, powerful in sound: the Era 100 loudspeaker features a number of improvements in sound and technology. It has a slim, modern design that makes it look elegant on a shelf, kitchen counter, desk or bedside table
Personalise the system: evening cinema screenings will be even more appealing when you add two Era 100 speakers as rear speakers to the soundbar, creating a surround sound system. Alternatively, two speakers can be combined to create space-filling stereo sound
Responsible design, high quality
The Era 100 and Era 300 speakers build on the timeless aesthetics of Sonos products focused on acoustics. At the same time, they have been designed to respond to environmental challenges. The products have been equipped with a modern user interface and innovative solutions to make them last longer and use less energy. Both speakers use recycled materials
“From the very beginning, we considered sustainability guidelines in the design process. The Era series is a significant step forward in our philosophy to create products that are designed to last longer, be more efficient and use safer recycled materials,” – said Kitty Suidman, Creative Director of Product Sustainability
Greener sound: the Era 100 and Era 300 speakers are made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and housed in 100% sustainably sourced paper packaging. They have been created to reduce energy consumption with less than 2 W in idle mode and support a new sleep mode
Built to stand the test of time: both speakers have been designed to last for years. They are serviceable and their design has reduced the use of adhesives, replacing them with screws to make disassembly and repair easier
New user interface: the Era 100 and Era 300 speakers feature a new intuitive user interface, including an innovative volume slider, to make it easier to control and enable faster and more personalised control of your music using Sonos Voice Control, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth®
Improved connectivity: the speakers allow you to stream your favourite audio content via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and directly connect other audio devices, such as a turntable, directly using the Sonos auxiliary cable and line-in adapter
Trueplay adjustment available for more listeners: the Era 100 and Era 300 speakers are equipped with a microphone array that allows Trueplay technology to optimise sound for a room’s unique acoustics without the need for a phone in each speaker – just one tap in the Sonos app. Trueplay adjustment is available for Android and iOS device users
Both speakers will be available for regular sale at www.sonos.com and partner stores from 28 March 2023. The Era 300 is priced at £2399, the Era 100 will cost £1349
About Sonos
Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) is one of the leading brands specialising in audio experiences. The company created the first wireless multi-room audio home devices and through its innovations, users can access and gain full control over their favourite content. Sonos is known for providing unparalleled audio experiences, thoughtful design that fits into any home, and the ease of use and openness of its platform. Sonos makes it possible for anyone to access a whole range of audio content. The company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California
