The Best Smart Home Speakers For Playing Music

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Gained early experience with automation technology in the private and industrial sector, can turn his living room into a movie theater with one voice command and is the owner of this website. He is happy to share his accumulated experience with every new article.

Sonos One: The Best Smart Home Speaker for Music

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Most smart loudspeakers are mainly there for you to talk to. Only a few manufacturers put the sound quality first.

Amazon’s Echo tries to compensate for this problem with addons like an additional subwoofer*, but there is no system that provides satisfactory audio quality for music playback – except for the Sonos One speaker*.

When I first stumbled across this speaker, I was at a friend’s house in his living room and wondered where the good music came from. When I could not see a loudspeaker system, I was pointed to this small box by Sonos. Of course it didn’t take long for me as an absolute Smart Home enthusiast until I had one of my own.

And even after a long time in use, this enthusiasm is not gone, as it absolutely fulfils my requirements for music quality and even offers the function of a smart loudspeaker. The difference to an Amazon Echo or Google Home Max is unexpectedly big!

Why is the Sonos One the Best Smart Speaker?

The Sonos One smart speaker* combines great sound quality with multi-room functionality and voice command control. Here is a list of its greatest strengths:

Compatibility with music streaming services: Sonos One can work with Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pondora and Tidal.
Smart Home integrations: The Sonos One speaker is compatible with all popular digital assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Multi-room function: Several of these speakers can play different music throughout the house. So everyone from the family gets his money’s worth.
Simple, elegant design: Sonos loudspeakers are usually available in black and white and have a simple yet elegant design. So they fit in every house.
First-class sound quality: Despite its small size, the Sonos One has the ability to fill a room with a truly first-class music quality.

How do I install the Sonos One speaker?

Installing a Sonos One speaker is very easy thanks to your Sonos App:

First, plug the Sonos One with its power connector into a suitable wall outlet.
Wait about one minute until the loudspeaker is booted and a green flashing light appears.
Download, install and open the Sonos App.
Follow the instructions displayed in the Sonos App to install the system.
To connect a Sonos One to an existing Sonos system, you can do so via the app.
Once you have completed the installation with the app, you can also connect it to Alexa.

How to install Alexa on the Sonos One

Within the Sonos App you can add Alexa in the Browse tab. Alternatively you can activate Amazon Alexa in the tab More and then Voice Assistant.
Then follow the instructions to log in with your Amazon account.
To test if Alexa works, you should try some basic commands. One basic command is “Alexa, what’s the weather like?”
Install the Alexa App on your smartphone.
You can now activate “Enable the Sonos Skill” in the Sonos App. Alternatively, you can search for Sonos in the Alexa App.

The Variety of Sonos Loudspeakers

In addition to the Sonos One smart speaker, there are a number of other great speakers that you can integrate into your Sonos system. They can be divided into two categories: Standalone speakers and Smart Home and Home Theater Sets.

Sonos Standalone Loudspeaker

If you are looking for a single loudspeaker to play music in a room (and fill the room!), there are basically four possibilities.

Sonos One

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If you’re looking not just for a good speaker to fill a room with good sound, but for a smart speaker that can do that as well, then the Sonos One* is just what you’re looking for.

Because beside its grandiose sound, it is also compatible to the most common voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The Sonos One is the perfect introduction to a multi-speaker system.

Sonos Play:1

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The Sonos Play:1* differs from the Sonos One in just one thing: it doesn’t have a built-in Alexa interface. It’s like the stupider ancestor of the Sonos One.

Even though the Sonos Play:1 doesn’t offer Alexa integration, you can still control it from your smartphone or computer using the app. Nevertheless, it has exactly the same grandiose sound as the Sonos One.

So if you want to fill a room with a single speaker with good sound and you don’t need the Smart Home features, you can save a little bit of money by getting the Sonos Play:1 instead of the Sonos One.

Sonos Play: 3

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With the Sonos Play:3*, you can fill a medium-sized room with great sound. This speaker is smart and has a tweeter, two mid-range speakers and a rich bass.

For the perfect stereo sound, you can pair 2 Sonos Play:3 with each other.

Sonos Play: 5

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For a big room, you need a big speaker. The Sonos Play:5* easily fills a large room with the best sound quality. You can also pair this speaker with other speakers or with your stereo system. So you can fill even the biggest rooms in the house with your favourite music.

Smart Home and Home Cinema Sets & Bundles

To fill your entire Smart Home with the unsurpassed Sonos sound quality, you need a speaker in every room. For real audio enthusiasts like me, there was no way around it. But I can tell you this: it’s worth it!

A Sonos Home Cinema Set is just as worthwhile, so your living room can keep up with a modern cinema.

I have to admit that before I got to grips with Smart Home, I didn’t pay too much attention to the audio quality of my TV. But after I had equipped my living room with a Sonos Surround Sound Set, there is no way back to a normal stereo system…

After installing this ingenious system, I watched my favorite movies again and it’s impressive how much the sound quality affects the fun of the movie.

Sonos One Sets

The best smart speaker for your Smart Home is also available in different sets. I’ve got a Sonos One in every room and I’ve connected everyone to Alexa. The system works perfectly and makes it possible to listen to different music in different rooms. Here you can find all Sonos One Sets on Amazon.

Home Cinema Sets

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With a Sonos home theater set, you have to choose between a 3.1 or 5.1 audio system. A 3.1 audio system* is of course cheaper than a 5.1 surround sound system*, but of course with a 5.1 system you have the best sound you could wish for.

Very Good Voice Performance

Unlike other companies, Sonos has built its own voice system into the Sonos One, not Amazon microphones. But this is not a disadvantage, because the Sonos system works very well. Voice is excellently recognized.

If you do a direct test between an Amazon smart speaker such as the Amazon Echo* and a Sonos One*, you won’t get a difference.

The only difference between the two systems is the playback. The Sonos One is not only superior to other smart speakers when it comes to playing music, it also makes speech sound much better.

Alexa has a much clearer and more natural sounding voice when she comes from a Sonos One speaker.

Can I Enhance My Current Sound System with Sonos?

If you’ve recently upgraded your audio system or simply don’t want to invest in a completely new system, there are ingenious solutions from Sonos for improving your old sound system.

For example, the Sonos Connect Wireless Receiver* lets you control your current system via WLAN. Then you’ll have the same functions on your old system as you would with an smart Sonos speaker.

Alternatively, to get the most out of your old speakers, you can buy a Sonos Connect Amp* and connect it to them. This means that your old speakers can also be controlled via the WLAN.

Sonos One FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sonos One Speaker Wireless?

Yes, you can use the Sonos One as a standalone speaker or connect it wirelessly to another Sonos One to create a stereo system. In addition, the system can be further expanded and connected via WLAN.

Is the Sonos One compatible with the Sonos Play:1?

You cannot create a stereo system from a Sonos One and a Sonos Play:1*. The loudspeakers are too different from another to form a reasonable stereo system.

Sonos One vs. Sonos Play:1

Both smart speakers deliver good sound quality, especially when two identical speakers are paired. Remember that a Sonos One is not compatible with a Sonos Play:1. The better of the two is definitely the Sonos One. It is newer, more powerful, smarter and has more functions.

Sonos One vs. Echo Plus.

The Sonos One is in a completely different league than the Echo Plus – at least in terms of sound. Especially if you couple it to a stereo system, it is unbeatable as a smart loudspeaker. An Amazon Echo Plus, on the other hand, is a good alternative for equipping your Smart Home with an smart loudspeaker and an Alexa connection at a reasonable price.

How do I reset the Sonos One to factory settings?

A factory reset should really only be a last resort and is not recommended as a problem solution. The only reason you should do this is if you want to pair Sonos One or the entire Sonos system with a different email address, or if you want to delete all stored data, including music and playlists. It is not possible to restore this data after the factory reset. To reset the Sonos One to factory defaults, do the following:

Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
Press and hold the Connect button while plugging the power cord back into the wall socket.
Keep the Connect button pressed until the light starts flashing orange and white.
As soon as the reset has been carried out, the light flashes green. Now the Sonos One is back the way you unboxed it!

Is the Sonos One speaker waterproof?

No, Sonos speakers are not waterproof. But the Sonos One is resistant to humidity. You can place it in your bathroom.

Does the Sonos One have Bluetooth?

No, the Sonos One doesn’t have Bluetooth. Bluetooth requires the smartphone to be close to the Sonos One. This is not suitable for a multi-room system, which is why the WLAN alternative is preferred and used.

Is it possible to connect the Sonos One to the TV?

The Sonos One does not support direct connection to a TV. However, the Sonos One has the ability to pair with AirPlay 2 to connect it to Apple TV.

Can Sonos One play Apple Music?

Yes, you can play Apple Music with the Sonos One. You can add Apple Music to the Sonos App and stream music from Apple Music to the Sonos One.

Can you turn the lights on and off with the Sonos One?

Since the Sonos One can also be connected to Alexa, you can also switch smart lights on and off with a voice command. Systems such as Philips Hue can also be controlled via the Sonos One and Alexa.

Can the Sonos One make phone calls?

No. The Sonos One does not have the ability to make calls with Amazon Alexa. This feature is not yet integrated, so you can’t use it as an intercom.

Can the Sonos One play YouTube?

YouTube is a feature you can’t add to the Sonos app. However, you can use AirPlay to send the audio signal from YouTube from a smartphone to the Sonos One speaker.

Can you listen to the radio with the Sonos One?

As with YouTube, you can stream your audio from a smartphone or other mobile device on your Sonos One.

Where can I buy the Sonos One?

Best on Amazon! Since this is a very popular item, the delivery time is very fast and the price on Amazon is very rarely undercut by retail stores.

How big can a room be for a Sonos One?

A single Sonos One can fill a normal living room very well with excellent sound. For very large rooms or e.g. an open living room, where several rooms are connected, the individual loudspeaker can still be extended with a second one or with a playbar.

Can I put the Sonos One in the bathroom?

Yes. The Sonos One is resistant to high humidity. So you can talk to your loudspeaker in the bathtub and tell it to play your favourite music.

Bottom Line

Now you know the best Smart Home speaker for music in your home. Don’t waste your money on an Amazon Echo* or other Smart Home speakers when you want good quality sound. These are all wonderful devices, but for music you should get a Sonos One* instead!

Once you try its sound quality, you won’t consider anything else…

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.