I was wrong about Sonos. - Sonos Era 300 & 100
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Check out the Kickstarter for the WhiteFox Eclipse at: lmg.gg When Bell told Dan he'd be covering the new Sonos Era 300 and 100 speakers, Dan was excited to tear Sonos apart for their wild pricing compared to the okay performance a lot of their speakers offer, but after sitting down and listening to their newest offerings, he may have to admit that Sonos has a potential hit on their hands... Buy Sonos Era 300 Speakers: lmg.gg Buy Sonos Era 100 Speakers: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Want us to unbox something? Make a suggestion at lmg.gg ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► LTX 2023 TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: lmg.gg ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► PRODUCTS WE USE ON THE SHORTCIRCUIT SET: lmg.gg FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @shortcircuityt TikTok: @linustech Facebook: @ShortCircuitYT CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Dan's gonna fondle 0:30 Unboxing the Era 300 2:07 Unboxing the Era 100 2:33 Odd power cable design 3:10 Era 100 design impressions 3:54 Era 300 design impressions 5:38 Sponsor - Alpaca Keyboards 6:20 Setting everything up 9:28 Era 300 - Stereo music 11:10 Era 300 - Dolby Atmos music 12:17 Era 100 listening impressions 13:17 Era 300 Stereo pair - Stereo music 14:21 Era 300 Stereo pair - Dolby Atmos music 15:18 Era 100 Stero pair listening impressions 16:00 Pricing and Sonos' frustrating decisions 18:20 Overall thoughts 19:24 Outro
In this video, the host revisits Sonos with the Era 300 and Era 100, moving beyond initial skepticism to a more nuanced appraisal. The unboxing sequences showcase the build quality, materials, and design choices, including the metal front grills, weighty construction, and the distinctive back panel and cable routing. The presenter examines practical considerations such as setup, mounting options, and the surprisingly robust physical feel, while highlighting both hardware quirks and thoughtful touches like the customizable stands and wall-mount compatibility. As the listening session unfolds, the Era 300s demonstrate strong spatial imaging and impactful Dolby Atmos performance when used as a surround system or in a stereo pair, with the Atmos effect becoming especially pronounced in certain test tracks. The Era 100s, while more compact, deliver solid performance and show how the two models compare in terms of bass response, soundstage, and overall balance, particularly in non-Atmos playback. The discussion then shifts to pricing, ecosystem limitations, and feature decisions such as line-in options and channel support, culminating in a tempered verdict: Sonos can deliver impressive sound and usability, but the ownership experience is tightly coupled to their ecosystem and accessory pricing, which may deter some buyers. Overall, the host concludes that the Era 300 and 100 offer compelling value and performance, especially when deployed as a multi-speaker system, while also calling out areas where Sonos could improve to broaden appeal and flexibility.
Topics · technology_reviews · audio · consumer_electronics · home_theater
Questions answered
- What are the key differences between the Era 300 and Era 100 in terms of sound performance?
- The Era 300s excel in spatial and Atmos-capable sound, delivering a wider soundstage and strong surround effects, especially when used as a stereo pair or in a room-wide setup. The Era 100s are more compact with solid bass and a good overall balance, making them a practical choice for smaller spaces or bookshelf-style placement. In stereo mode the 300s provide a more immersive experience, while the 100s offer more restrained output but at a lower cost per speaker.