Bluetooth speakers are a great gift and something just about every household is adding to their inventory. They’re a great device that makes hosting dinner parties, backyard BBQs, or listening to your favorite song at the beach incredibly easy and simple. This Sonos One Bluetooth speaker is at the top of the speaker range for many reasons, but it also does have some shortfalls. 

There have been many steps that have brought Sonos to the Sonos One and today we’re going to do a complete Sonos One review of the technical aspects, the sound quality, and the features of the device, and also look at the Sonos One vs One SL as well. 

The brand promised many changes to the functionality level of this speaker and a few changes to the sound quality so we’re going to dive into a full Sonos One review and see if these changes made much of a difference at all. 

Pros	Cons
Thin and Modern Design	No Aux Input
TruPlay tool 1
Ease of Configuration
Multi-Room Functionality
Available for a large number of streaming services

Review in More Detail 

We tried out and did a complete Sonos One review in different settings and situations to truly test out if it holds up to the headphone test. Here are our findings below…

Tech Specs 

Sonos designed this speaker, technically speaking, to bring a high-end experience to the listener. They wanted it to be as powerful or more powerful than anything else on the market. To do this, the brand added two digital class D amplifiers which are the perfect tune for the loudspeaker and acoustic architecture. There’s also the presence of the tweeter which helps the speaker have a crisp sound and tolerate high frequencies perfectly. 

To make it have the best quality possible, there is the presence of a mid-woofer that’s there to make sure that the reproduction of the mediums remains the same. The speaker has six microphones to fully capture any voice commands, regardless of any background noise surrounding it. 

The Sonos One doesn’t have an external battery which is definitely where it’s lacking in the department according to other Bluetooth speakers. Another area is that in fact the Sonos One is connected via Wi-Fi and is not actually Sonos One Bluetooth compatible speaker. 

With the weight of the speaker being so light, it can easily be transported, but you will still have to plug it in to listen to it. 

Design 

When looking at the design of the Sonos One speaker we noticed very early on that it’s quite similar to other models including the Play:1 and even the One SL. Many people are interested in comparing the Sonos One vs One SL and looking for a full Sonos One SL review as well. 

In terms of design, the Sonos One has a cylindrical shape that is on the smaller side. It’s made of thick plastic which makes it durable and allows it to withstand any impacts. It also features a metal grill inside which adds an extra layer of durability. 

We really do like the finishes and we don’t think that although it’s mostly plastic, that it looks cheap by any means. The upper level has LED indicators which helps to identify the activity that’s going on and there are manual buttons, not touch, and other voice commands which is how you can operate the device. 

Definitely one of the major downfalls is the Sonos One Bluetooth and lack of compatibility. We personally think that there should definitely be another type of connection instead of just Wifi, but there’s not even a 3.5mm mini-Jack plug for you to plug in other devices. So if you purchase the Sonos One, expect that you will have to always operate by a WiFi connection. 

Features and Controls 

When it comes to finding the perfect speaker for you, the features and controls are definitely an important part of the search. The buttons of this speaker are manual so it’s not a touch screen which is definitely a preferred method for some. In this interface, you’re able to adjust the volume and skip between the two tracks. You can also give commands to the speaker by simply using the voice. With the addition of multiple microphones throughout the speaker, it’s designed to hear what you’re saying, regardless of the external noise surrounding you. 

The controls are pretty responsive and the majority of the users have not had any issues with the speaker. Everything seems pretty quick and fast when it comes to responses.

When it comes to the music and audio you can play on the speakers, you have the choice between Amazon Music, Google Play, Apple Music, and even Bandcamp, along with a few others. There’s also the presence of TruePlay, which is a sound calibration tool that allows you to fully customize your sound experience just by using your cell phone. 

Sound Quality 

In terms of sound quality and a Sonos One SL review, the sound is pretty top-notch and you should expect a pretty beautiful sound experience. The sound adapts to your environment with the TruePlay app and actually uses your phone’s microphone to analyze the environment and adjust the sound of the speaker accordingly. 

When you compare Sonos One vs SL One and other Sonos speakers, they do look pretty identical in terms of design, but they have made some slight improvements which we’ve definitely noticed when it comes to the overall quality of the sound. We noticed more control over the low end of sound and crystal clear sound throughout frequencies. 

There is something to note however when it comes to sound. The bass is quite deep and well established. This is something that we enjoy but others may not as much. 

Speaker Comparison 

Sonos One vs. JBL Charge 4 

Many people are debating between the Sonos One vs SL One when it comes to Sonos speakers and wants a full Sonos One SL review. We think that it’s best to compare the speaker to another compatible speaker and from a different brand in this case. 

When comparing the Sonos One to the JBL Charge 4, we found the two to be comparable and something a lot of people seem to debate. Therefore we thought comparing the two in our Sonos One review post would make sense. 

In terms of the design, they both feature a cylindrical shape although the Sonos is clean and white and the JBL is dark and black, although the Sonos is available in Black as well. We think that the rigid plastic that’s on both speakers looks great and functions as needed. They’re also both manual when it comes to controls and functions as well. 

In terms of sound quality, that’s where the differences start to come into play. There are two speakers featured in the Sonos One and only one in the Charge 4. This makes the sound a lot more clear in the Sonos One and produces a more rich sound. 

In terms of tech specs, Charge 4 has an internal battery that allows it to be easily transported around, just about anywhere. This definitely is ideal when it comes to Bluetooth speakers. The Sonos One is first off, not Bluetooth and instead, Wi-Fi compatible which limits the devices and the number of devices connected to it. It also needs to be plugged in to operate it. So although it’s on the lighter side in terms of weight, it’s not something you can take to the beach with you or walk around the house with it. 

Overall Thoughts

Our overall thoughts of the Sonos One review is that it’s a great addition to the Sonos One family. When comparing it to other Sonos products including the Sonos One vs One SL, you can clearly see that Sonos has listened to the users and designed a product that fits all their needs. 

The sound quality is absolutely out of this world when it comes to the Sonos One and with the simple design, it fits in perfectly with just about any decor style as well. 

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