The finest Sonos audio system to purchase in 2025

After the 12 months of self-induced tumult that Sonos has been via, I can perceive why some individuals are reluctant to spend cash on the corporate’s merchandise. But interim CEO Tom Conrad has proven that he’s decided to get again on monitor and revitalize Sonos because the main whole-home audio model. The contentious cell app is in a significantly better place at the moment than only a few months in the past, although some prospects nonetheless encounter bugs and the frustration of audio system randomly vanishing from their system. It’s not all roses, however the state of affairs is transferring in the proper path — and I took Sonos’ determination to cancel its video participant as a promising signal of renewed focus.

I’m not about to promote any of my Sonos gear. For one, the corporate’s whole-home platform provides conveniences that rivals don’t match — a minimum of not with out trouble. Most of the time I’m streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music. But if I’m watching a sports activities sport on my TV, I can pipe the audio from my Sonos soundbar to a speaker in a unique room to observe the motion. Playing one thing over Bluetooth? With many of the firm’s latest audio system, it’s attainable to do the identical factor and unfold that music throughout your whole Sonos system.

I wouldn’t fault anybody for ready to see the place Sonos and its app go from right here. But take into account that tariffs may ultimately result in worth will increase for a few of these merchandise. Putting the software program misstep apart, this firm makes some genuinely wonderful {hardware}, so in the event you don’t wish to threat paying extra, now is perhaps the time to purchase. And in the event you’re questioning that are the true standouts, I’ve acquired you coated.

The finest Sonos speaker to begin with

If you’re searching for a decent-sounding, compact speaker to place within the kitchen, workplace, or actually anyplace in your house, the Era 100 is the best choice. Sonos improved upon this speaker’s predecessors, the Play:1 and Sonos One, by upgrading to stereo drivers for richer, wider audio. Bluetooth playback is now supported, together with line-in audio (with a separate dongle). And the Era 100 additionally has reworked bodily controls, together with a quantity bar you possibly can slide your finger throughout and, lastly, devoted monitor controls.

The speaker has a sublime design, and you should use hands-free voice controls to summon Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control to skip tracks or swap to a unique playlist. Sonos just lately dropped the Era 100’s worth to $199, which is greater than truthful for what you’re getting. I’d purchase now and keep away from risking the price going up once more, due to tariffs.

The finest total Sonos speaker

The Sonos Five isn’t simply Sonos’ best-sounding speaker; it’s on the high of the pack in comparison with all rivals. From an audio high quality perspective, it beats the HomePod, Echo Studio, Nest Audio, and different mass market audio system — each these which are sensible and never. Can you discover higher hi-fi bookshelf audio system? Absolutely, however these aren’t natively tied into music companies like Sonos gear is. The Five is a hefty unit and takes up an honest quantity of desk house. But when you throw some music on, its highly effective stereo output is sufficient to deal with any banquet or weekend get-together.

There’s nothing “sensible” concerning the Five. It lacks microphones and voice assistant performance. But that simplicity is interesting in its personal proper: you’re getting a rattling good speaker that ties into the Sonos platform. The Five additionally incorporates a 3.5mm aux enter, making it turntable companion — particularly in the event you spring for a stereo pair.

The finest transportable Sonos speaker

When it involves transportable audio system, the Move 2 is in a complete totally different league than Sonos’ a lot smaller Roam 2. It’s larger and heavier, however a built-in deal with makes it simpler to lug the Move 2 round your private home or out to the yard. There’s no comparability between the 2 in the case of audio: the Move 2 smokes the much more compact Roam 2. Like the Era 100, it has a stereo driver association, whereas the Roam mixes every little thing right down to mono and sounds extra muffled.

The Move’s bigger measurement offers it a transparent benefit when it comes to bass punch, and apart from enjoying music wirelessly, you’ve acquired the choice of plugging in different units over USB-C for line-in audio. I additionally proceed to understand that the battery within the Move 2 is user-replaceable, which may’t be stated of many Bluetooth audio system. You’ll have the ability to maintain having fun with your funding for lengthy, lengthy into the long run. And with a mud / water resistance score of IP56, it could deal with rain and splashes of water with out issues; simply don’t drop it right into a pool.

I desire the Move 2 over conventional transportable audio system since, a minimum of every time I’m residence, the Sonos lets me play music over Wi-Fi at a better constancy than Bluetooth can provide. Plus, the Move 2 additionally helps Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect, so it’s straightforward to only skip the Sonos app altogether if you want.

The finest Sonos soundbar for residence theater fanatics

Introduced in late 2024, the Arc Ultra improves on the unique Arc with considerably extra highly effective bass response. That’s largely due to the inclusion of Sonos’ new SoundMovement know-how, which manages to get a greater low-end wallop from a soundbar that’s not a lot bigger than the mannequin it replaces. This means some consumers can get away with shopping for the Arc Ultra by itself with out including a subwoofer.

The Arc Ultra delivers Dolby Atmos encompass sound that’s extra convincing and immersive than some other Sonos soundbar to this point, and it’s up there with the perfect you will discover from a single-enclosure speaker. Vocal readability has additionally improved considerably thanks to raised heart channel efficiency. Another improve over the primary Arc is the addition of Bluetooth audio help.

The finest Sonos soundbar for smaller rooms

There are loads of situations and TV rooms the place the Arc Ultra is perhaps too highly effective. If you’re in a smaller house or don’t want the best possible encompass sound, the Beam (Gen 2) begins to make extra sense. It nonetheless has Atmos, however the impact is virtualized because the Beam lacks the Arc Ultra’s upward-firing audio system. Even so, the house theater expertise you’ll get from the Beam will blow away any audio system constructed right into a TV.

The finest Sonos subwoofer for most individuals

In the identical vein, until you’re hell bent on rumbling your partitions, the $429 Sub Mini subwoofer is greater than sufficient for layering some further oomph and growl onto Hollywood blockbusters and your favourite TV reveals. The $799 Sub 4 is Sonos’ flagship subwoofer, however loads of individuals have saved lots of of {dollars} by pairing the Sub Mini with any of the corporate’s soundbars — they usually’ve been ecstatic with the outcomes.

As its title suggests, the Sub Mini is extra compact than the Sub 4, which makes it simpler to seek out an not easily seen spot to position it. Even in the event you’re the sort to do a sub crawl and put it someplace in plain sight, I’d argue it seems to be extra fashionable than the blocky Sub 4.

The finest finances Sonos speaker

Sonos and Ikea is perhaps winding down their partnership, however that doesn’t imply you need to sleep on the present Symfonisk merchandise earlier than they’re fully phased out. The Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2), specifically, stays essentially the most inexpensive gateway into the Sonos ecosystem, even with its latest worth hike. Sound-wise, it’s not far off from the previous Sonos One / Play:1 and is a really gratifying speaker. Plus, the cheaper price tag makes it simpler to persuade your self to scoop up two for a stereo pair. These — or the Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker — make wonderful rear encompass audio system in the event you’re on a finances.

The Sonos product worthy of a second probability

Boy oh boy, did Sonos’ wi-fi headphones come proper on the worst attainable second. The firm’s app disaster fully sidelined the Ace headphones. Some prospects had been additionally disenchanted that the Ace can’t play music over Wi-Fi or be grouped with the corporate’s in-home audio system.

But right here’s the factor: the Ace headphones are nonetheless unbelievable. They’re snug, have a stunning design (with simply swappable ear pads), and sound detailed, highly effective, and expressive. They help wired audio over USB-C along with Bluetooth. And the TV Audio Swap characteristic is a helpful perk that I nonetheless typically use late at evening when my Arc Ultra would disturb others. You can route any audio that will usually come via the soundbar — out of your TV, gaming console, or streaming gadget — via two pairs of headphones and hear privately (with spatial audio encompass sound). Sonos’ new TrueCinema mode even allows you to fine-tune the latter to raised replicate the acoustics of your house.

No, the Ace headphones aren’t what I’d contemplate the best of a wearable product from Sonos. But they continue to be an entirely spectacular debut that fell sufferer to the corporate’s poor software program selections.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Update, June thirteenth: Adjusted pricing / availability and up to date the Sonos Ace part to say a number of new options, together with TrueCinema mode. Brandon Widder additionally contributed to this publish.