After the recent self-induced tumult that Sonos has been through, I can understand why some people are reluctant to spend money on the company’s products. But newly appointed CEO Tom Conrad has shown that he’s determined to get back on track and revitalize Sonos as the leading whole-home audio brand. The contentious mobile app is in a much better place now than it was last year, though some customers still encounter bugs and the frustration of speakers randomly vanishing from their system. It’s not all roses, but the situation is moving in the right direction — and I took Sonos’ decision to cancel its video player as a promising sign of renewed focus.

I’m not about to sell any of my Sonos gear. For one, the company’s whole-home platform offers conveniences that competitors don’t match — at least not without hassle. Most of the time, I’m streaming from Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube Music. But if I’m watching a sports game on my TV, I can pipe the audio from my Sonos soundbar to a speaker in a different room to follow the action. Playing something over Bluetooth? With most of the company’s recent speakers, it’s possible to do the same thing and spread that music across your entire Sonos system.

Why you should trust my Sonos recommendations

I’ve covered Sonos extensively for several years at The Verge. This has included reporting on the company’s latest news, reviewing a lengthy list of Sonos products, and bringing attention to the app fiasco, which eventually led to the ouster of former CEO Patrick Spence. Audio and home theater are two of my primary focus areas in product reviews, so I’m well-versed when it comes to determining whether a speaker or soundbar is great — or just another also-ran product.

I wouldn’t fault anyone for waiting to see where Sonos and its app go from here. But keep in mind that Sonos recently confirmed that it will raise prices on “certain products” later this year as a result of President Trump’s tariffs. Putting the software misstep aside, this company makes some genuinely excellent hardware, so if you don’t want to risk paying more, now might be the time to buy. And if you’re wondering which are the true standouts, I’ve got you covered.

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Best overall: Sonos Five

Where to Buy:

Best to start with: Sonos Era 100

A photo of the Sonos Era 100 on a kitchen counter beside a toaster and iPad.

Where to Buy:

The best Sonos speaker to start with

Sonos Era 100

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Improved sound (now in stereo) Bluetooth and line-in support Privacy-conscious microphone controls	No more Google Assistant Rejiggered controls have a learning curve Line-in requires USB-C dongle

Where to Buy:

If you’re looking for a decent-sounding, compact speaker to put in the kitchen, office, or really anywhere in your home, the Era 100 is your best option. 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, along with line-in audio (with a separate dongle). And the Era 100 also has reworked physical controls, including a volume bar you can slide your finger across and, finally, dedicated track controls.

The speaker has an elegant design, and you can use hands-free voice controls to summon Amazon Alexa or Sonos Voice Control to skip tracks or switch to a different playlist. Sonos dropped the Era 100’s price to $199 in April, which is more than fair for what you’re getting. I’d buy now and avoid risking the cost going up again, thanks to tariffs.

Read our full Sonos Era 100 review.

The best overall Sonos speaker

Sonos Five

Pros	Cons
Powerful audio with impressive stereo separation Can crank loud without distorting Regular 3.5mm line-in: no adapter required	Lacks smart speaker functionality Easily collects dust You’ll end up wanting two, which gets very expensive

Where to Buy:

The Sonos Five isn’t just Sonos’ best-sounding speaker; it’s at the top of the pack compared to all competitors. From an audio quality perspective, it beats the HomePod, Echo Studio, Nest Audio, and other mass market speakers — both those that are smart and not. Can you find better hi-fi bookshelf speakers? Absolutely, but those aren’t natively tied into music services like Sonos gear is. The Five is a hefty unit and takes up a decent amount of desk space. But once you throw some music on, its powerful stereo output is enough to handle any dinner party or weekend get-together.

There’s nothing “smart” about the Five. It lacks microphones and voice assistant functionality. But that simplicity is appealing in its own right: you’re getting a damn good speaker that ties into the Sonos platform. The Five also features a 3.5mm aux input, making it a good turntable companion — especially if you spring for a stereo pair.

The best portable Sonos speaker

Sonos Move 2

Score: 9

Pros	Cons
Improved stereo sound Much longer battery life Supports line-in playback	No more Google Assistant Can’t be used as a speakerphone Hefty for a portable speaker

Where to Buy:

When it comes to portable speakers, the Move 2 is in a whole different league than Sonos’ much smaller Roam 2. It’s bigger and heavier, but a built-in handle makes it easier to lug the Move 2 around your home or out to the backyard. There’s no comparison between the two when it comes to audio: the Move 2 smokes the far more compact Roam 2. Like the Era 100, it has a stereo driver arrangement, whereas the Roam mixes everything down to mono and sounds more muffled.

The Move’s larger size gives it a clear advantage in terms of bass punch, and aside from playing music wirelessly, you’ve got the option of plugging in other devices over USB-C for line-in audio. I also continue to appreciate that the battery in the Move 2 is user-replaceable, which can’t be said of many Bluetooth speakers. You’ll be able to keep enjoying your investment for long, long into the future. And with a dust / water resistance rating of IP56, it can handle rain and splashes of water without problems; just don’t drop it into a pool.

I prefer the Move 2 over traditional portable speakers since, at least whenever I’m home, the Sonos lets me play music over Wi-Fi at a higher fidelity than Bluetooth can offer. Plus, the Move 2 also supports Apple AirPlay and Spotify Connect, so it’s easy to just skip the Sonos app altogether if you wish.

Read our full Sonos Move 2 review.

The best Sonos soundbar for home theater enthusiasts

Sonos Arc Ultra

The Arc Ultra surpasses the original Arc soundbar with more immersive Dolby Atmos surround sound, much better bass, and the ability to play music over Bluetooth.

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
More immersive sound than original Arc Bass gains are substantial enough to make this a viable standalone option Now supports Bluetooth audio	Sonos app remains buggy for some Play:1 and Play:3 no longer supported as surrounds Still no DTS:X Full surround setup skyrockets the cost

Where to Buy:

Introduced in late 2024, the Arc Ultra improves on the original Arc with significantly more powerful bass response. That’s largely thanks to the inclusion of Sonos’ newer SoundMotion technology, which manages to get a better low-end wallop from a soundbar that’s not much larger than the model it replaces. This means some buyers can get away with buying the Arc Ultra on its own without adding a subwoofer.

The Arc Ultra delivers Dolby Atmos surround sound that’s more convincing and immersive than any other Sonos soundbar to date, and it’s up there with the very best you can find from a single-enclosure speaker. Vocal clarity has also improved substantially thanks to better center channel performance. Another upgrade over the first Arc is the addition of Bluetooth audio support.

Read our full review of the Sonos Arc Ultra.

The best Sonos soundbar for smaller rooms

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The Beam isn’t as powerful as the Sonos Arc, nor can it match the flagship soundbar’s Dolby Atmos immersion bubble. But you still get room-filling surround sound for less money — and the Beam ties into the Sonos ecosystem for added convenience.

A photo of the white second-generation Sonos Beam soundbar in front of a TV

Score: 8

Pros	Cons
Wider, more expansive sound HDMI eARC brings better performance Sleeker design than first Beam	No up-facing Atmos speakers Doesn’t have automatic Trueplay Same acoustic architecture as prior model

Where to Buy:

There are plenty of scenarios and TV rooms where the Arc Ultra might be too powerful. If you’re in a smaller space or don’t need the absolute best surround sound, the Beam (Gen 2) starts to make more sense. It still has Atmos, but the effect is virtualized since the Beam lacks the Arc Ultra’s upward-firing speakers. Even so, the home theater experience you’ll get from the Beam will blow away any speakers built into a TV.

Read our full Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review.

The best Sonos subwoofer for most people

Sonos Sub Mini

Score: 7

Pros	Cons
Sleek, unique design Good bass presence for its size Easy setup process	Not suitable for large living rooms Still not cheap Trueplay tuning only works on iOS

Where to Buy:

In the same vein, unless you’re hell bent on rumbling your walls, the $429 Sub Mini subwoofer is more than enough for layering some extra oomph and growl onto Hollywood blockbusters and your favorite TV shows. The $799 Sub 4 is Sonos’ flagship subwoofer, but plenty of people have saved hundreds of dollars by pairing the Sub Mini with any of the company’s soundbars — and they’ve been ecstatic with the results.

As its name suggests, the Sub Mini is more compact than the Sub 4, which makes it easier to find an inconspicuous spot to place it. Even if you’re the type to do a sub crawl and put it somewhere in plain sight, I’d argue it looks more stylish than the blocky Sub 4.

Read my full Sonos Sub Mini review.

The best budget Sonos speaker

Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2)

A photo of the Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker with bottles behind it.

Score: 7

Pros	Cons
Affordable way into Sonos ecosystem Can be mounted as a shelf Satisfactory sound for the size Good option for Sonos surround sound	No built-in mic for voice assistants You’ll want two for the best audio experience No 3.5mm aux input

Where to Buy:

$179.99 at Ikea

Sonos and Ikea might be winding down their partnership, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on the existing Symfonisk products before they’re completely phased out. The Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker (Gen 2), in particular, remains the most affordable gateway into the Sonos ecosystem, even with its recent price hike. Sound-wise, it’s not far off from the old Sonos One / Play:1 and is a very enjoyable speaker. Plus, the lower price tag makes it easier to convince yourself to scoop up two for a stereo pair. These — or the Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker — make excellent rear surround speakers if you’re on a budget.

Read our full Ikea Symfonisk Bookshelf Speaker review.

The Sonos product worthy of a second chance

Sonos Ace

Score: 7

Pros	Cons
Stylish design and excellent comfort Sound, ANC, and transparency are all good TV Audio Swap is convenient, versatile, and suitable for gaming	TV Audio Swap handoff can be glitchy Headphones can’t be grouped with Sonos speakers

Where to Buy:

Boy oh boy, did Sonos’ wireless headphones come right at the worst possible moment. The company’s app crisis completely sidelined the Ace headphones. Some customers were also disappointed that the Ace can’t play music over Wi-Fi or be grouped with the company’s in-home speakers.

But here’s the thing: the Ace headphones are still fantastic. They’re comfortable, have a gorgeous design (with easily swappable ear pads), and sound detailed, powerful, and expressive. They support wired audio over USB-C in addition to Bluetooth. And the TV Audio Swap feature is a useful perk that I still often use late at night when my Arc Ultra would disturb others. You can route any audio that would normally come through the soundbar — from your TV, gaming console, or streaming device — through two pairs of headphones and listen privately (with spatial audio surround sound). Sonos’ new TrueCinema mode even lets you fine-tune the latter to better reflect the acoustics of your space.

No, the Ace headphones aren’t what I’d consider the ideal of a wearable product from Sonos. But they remain a wholly impressive debut that fell victim to the company’s poor software decisions.

Read our full Sonos Ace review.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Update, September 5th: Adjusted pricing and availability. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.

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