Sonos One Review: Alexa Joins Sonos

Sonos has a wealth of experience developing speakers, but their latest model, the Sonos One, is going to innovate their niche with Amazon’s Alexa. Sonos promises the smart speaker will get even “better over time” thanks to software updates, but will that be enough to stand out in this market?

SONOS ONE REVIEW

Alexa, Amazon’s prolific digital assistant, is easily the biggest addition to Sonos’s upcoming device. Whatever you may be doing, you can verbally command your One to play any song you desire from over 50 music services. You can also utilize Alexa in the wide variety of ways you’ve grown accustomed to, such as asking her questions. Moreover, Sonos has pledged to add “fully supported voice control for Spotify” sometime in 2017, and support for other utilities, including Apple’s AirPlay 2, will come.

Sonos gave every One with six customized microphones, so it will hear you regardless of where you’re situated in the room. However, touch inputs will be available for those who prefer them, as will a smartphone app. The latter will be required to download to install the One. Its lithe size, 6.36” by 4.69” by 4.69”, and light weight, 4.08 pounds, allows the Sonos One to seamlessly fit in a wealth of places. An Ethernet cable is included as well, though if a wired internet connection isn’t feasible for your setup, the One will content to your Wi-Fi network.

Sonos’s One can be pre-ordered now for $199, and it will begin shipping on October 24. You can choose between black or white exteriors. In addition to your speaker and Ethernet cable, the package will also contain a requisite QuickStart guide, power cord and warranty papers. While the One will hardly be the only smart speaker on the market, Sonos’s venerable brand should promise a quality product.