Sonos Speaker Guide: Roam 2, Move 2, Era 100, Era 300 and Arc Ultra Compared
Sonos is the brand people reach for when they want great sound in every room without running wires everywhere. But the lineup can be confusing. Which Sonos speaker is right for you? Here's the 2BOOM breakdown.
How Sonos works
Most Sonos speakers connect to your home Wi-Fi, not your phone. You pick music in the Sonos app, or straight from Spotify, Apple Music via AirPlay 2, and other services, and the speaker streams it directly from the internet. That means:
- Better sound than Bluetooth
- No dropouts when your phone leaves the room or rings
- Multi-room audio: play the same song everywhere, or different music in different rooms
- Easy upgrades: add a speaker at a time and pair two as a stereo set
The portable models, Roam 2 and Move 2, also have Bluetooth for when you leave the house.
The Sonos lineup at a glance
| Speaker | Type | Best for | Portable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roam 2 | Small portable | Travel, any room, outdoors | Yes |
| Move 2 | Large portable | Backyard, big rooms | Yes (heavy) |
| Era 100 | Compact home speaker | Kitchen, bedroom, stereo pairs | No |
| Era 300 | Spatial audio speaker | Dolby Atmos music, living room | No |
| Arc Ultra | Premium soundbar | TV and home theater | No |
| Beam / Ray | Smaller soundbars | Smaller TVs and rooms | No |
| Sub 4 / Sub Mini | Subwoofer | Adding deep bass | No |
Sonos Roam 2
The Roam 2 is small, light, waterproof and dustproof, and works on Wi-Fi at home and Bluetooth anywhere else. It's a great "first Sonos" because it's useful in any room and also comes to the park. It won't fill a big room on its own, but a pair makes a nice stereo setup.
Sonos Move 2
The Move 2 is Sonos's big portable: true stereo, much more bass, a long-lasting battery, and loud enough for a backyard party. It's heavy, so think of it as a speaker you carry from room to patio rather than one you take on a hike.
Sonos Era 100
The Era 100 is the heart of most Sonos homes: compact, stereo-capable on its own, and surprisingly full sounding. Two Era 100s make an excellent stereo pair for a bedroom or small living room, and they can serve as rear speakers for a Sonos soundbar.
Sonos Era 300
The Era 300 is built for spatial audio. Its drivers fire forward, sideways and upward, so Dolby Atmos music on Apple Music and Amazon Music fills the room. With regular stereo music, it's big and immersive. A pair is a serious living-room setup.
Sonos Arc Ultra and the soundbars
For TV, the Arc Ultra is Sonos's flagship soundbar, with Dolby Atmos and much deeper bass than earlier models. The Beam and Ray are smaller and cheaper. Add a Sub and two Era speakers as rears for a full home theater that also plays music all day.
Sample Sonos setups
- Starter: one Roam 2 (home and away).
- Music lover's living room: two Era 100s or two Era 300s as a stereo pair, plus a Sub Mini.
- Whole home: Era 100 in the kitchen and bedroom, Move 2 for the patio, Arc Ultra + Sub 4 in the living room.
Things to know before you buy
- You're buying into an ecosystem. Sonos speakers group best with other Sonos speakers.
- The app. Sonos's 2024 app redesign was rough, but later updates restored most features. It's worth checking current reviews.
- Price. Sonos is premium. Watch for seasonal sales and certified refurbished units.
- Bluetooth is limited. Only some models, like the Roam 2, Move 2 and Era series, accept Bluetooth, and the Era speakers are not battery-powered.
Still deciding between brands? See JBL vs Sony vs Sonos and Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi speakers.
Frequently asked questions
Which Sonos speaker should I buy first?
The Roam 2 is the most flexible first Sonos because it works at home on Wi-Fi and anywhere on Bluetooth. For a home-only speaker, the Era 100 is the best starting point.
Is the Sonos Move 2 worth it?
If you want one speaker that's powerful enough for a backyard and also plays in your home system, yes. If you need something light for travel, get the Roam 2.
Can Sonos speakers work without Wi-Fi?
The Roam 2 and Move 2 work anywhere via Bluetooth. Most other Sonos speakers need Wi-Fi to work normally.
Is Sonos better than Bose for music?
Sonos has a broader multi-room ecosystem and more speaker options. Bose has excellent portable Bluetooth speakers. For whole-home music, most people prefer Sonos.