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After their software fiasco from several years ago, I would never buy another Sonos product again. They lost a lot of customers because of their horrible business decisions and their shortsightedness. They fired most of the top executives including the CEO and brought a new people, but it was too little too late. Their big mistake was blaming the owners networks for the problems. That turned out to be a lie to a point that I'm getting a $200 check from Sonos from the class action lawsuit about their mismanagement and lying to customers. Fanboys will disagree, but they definitely were proven wrong as they blamed peoples networks as well.
The Era 100 SL is a compact Sonos speaker that fits well as a surround or everyday room speaker, with enough output for regular use and no need to jump to Era 300s unless Atmos or a larger setup matters. The sound is described as amazing, and AirPlay or Bluetooth can reduce reliance on the app after setup. The main concern is Sonos software, which is still described as buggy by some and as improved and reliable by others. It is a solid wireless option if the size and app experience suit your setup.
Listeners who mainly want a compact wireless speaker for everyday music, because it sounds good and can work reliably with AirPlay or Bluetooth after setup.
Some users report it now works reliably for daily streaming across services like Apple Music, Pandora, Sirius, and Libby, while others still describe the software as buggy or only partially working. The hardware sound is praised, but the app experience is still a concern for some buyers.
No. The Era 100 SL does not have Dolby Atmos, while the Era 300 does. For Atmos-focused listening, the 300 can make a much bigger difference, but the 100 is still considered enough for regular use and surround duty.
Yes. The Era 100 SL is described as more than sufficient as L/R surrounds with an Arc and Sub, and older Play:1s are still being used successfully in that role. The Era 300 is often framed as overkill unless you specifically want to spend more or use it as a stereo pair.
Yes. After initial setup, it can be used through AirPlay or Bluetooth with services like Apple Music and Spotify, so the app is not required for everyday playback. The app is mainly needed for setup and occasional device switching.
Yes, it can feel too small for some preferences, and room dimensions matter. For buyers wanting a bigger Atmos presentation or more impact, the Era 300 or a larger surround setup may be a better fit.
I mean the arc ultra is commonly refereed to as one of the top 10 best soundbars from 2025-26. I'd say they've gotten things together over at Sonos.
Sonos is recovering financially, but it hasn't fully made up the ground lost after the app failure.
The damage showed up in sales: revenue fell from $1.52 billion in fiscal 2024 to $1.44 billion in fiscal 2025. Sonos attributed the 2025 decline partly to the app rollout and softer demand. It also reported a $61 million net loss in fiscal 2025. On top of that they have laid off the majority of its support staff.
Those who don't remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Software works fine… if you actually use it. All new Sonos products are Airplay compatible so you never need to ever open up the software after initial setup.
I've made my Gen 1 Play: 5's Airplay capable by adding an Apple AirPort Express Gen 2 via 3.5mm cable.
Using Sonos as a surround system, again, you NEVER have to use the app ever again AFTER initial setup.
All this software bashing bs is all literally bs. You want to use the app? Go ahead, It works fine… but you don't ever need to.
You definitely sound like one of the fanboys that were telling everyone that the software was fine and it was people's networks that was the problem. That was what Sonos was pontificating as well until 3rd party analysis proved it was the software and the CEO and chief product designer got fired. And you have to use the app to do any system updates so quit spreading misinformation.
Software works fine… if you actually use it. All new Sonos products are Airplay compatible so you never need to ever open up the software after initial setup.
I've made my Gen 1 Play: 5's Airplay capable by adding an Apple AirPort Express Gen 2 via 3.5mm cable.
Using Sonos as a surround system, again, you NEVER have to use the app ever again AFTER initial setup.
All this software bashing bs is all literally bs. You want to use the app? Go ahead, It works fine… but you don't ever need to.
You definitely sound like one of the fanboys that were telling everyone that the software was fine and it was people's networks that was the problem. That was what Sonos was pontificating as well until 3rd party analysis proved it was the software and the CEO and chief product designer got fired. And you have to use the app to do any system updates so quit spreading misinformation.
Sonos is recovering financially, but it hasn't fully made up the ground lost after the app failure.
The damage showed up in sales: revenue fell from $1.52 billion in fiscal 2024 to $1.44 billion in fiscal 2025. Sonos attributed the 2025 decline partly to the app rollout and softer demand. It also reported a $61 million net loss in fiscal 2025. On top of that they have laid off the majority of its support staff.
Those who don't remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Feel free to become the next victim.
Hopefully they dont recover. Yes I am bitter AF with how they screwed up a great product.
You definitely sound like one of the fanboys that were telling everyone that the software was fine and it was people's networks that was the problem. That was what Sonos was pontificating as well until 3rd party analysis proved it was the software and the CEO and chief product designer got fired. And you have to use the app to do any system updates so quit spreading misinformation.
Definitely not a fanboy. A bad app can definitely cripple hardware that are solely rely on their app. But Sonos does NOT solely rely on their app. People just need to realize that.
When the so called app fiasco rolled out, it never me affected me whatsoever. I never need to use the app for any of my 5.1 systems. In fact I rarely ever use the app.
I never even open the S2 app except for initial setup. And the only time I open the S1 app is when I switch Airplay devices that are connected to some of my Play 5 Gen 1's
Sonos is great for what it does. But, both my legacy surround systems blow Sonos out of the water. Sonos is still a great wireless system and great at what it does.
Just quit relying on the app and quit reliving the so called app fiasco. Airplay or Bluetooth to your Sonos and use whatever streaming service you want… Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
After their software fiasco from several years ago, I would never buy another Sonos product again. They lost a lot of customers because of their horrible business decisions and their shortsightedness. They fired most of the top executives including the CEO and brought a new people, but it was too little too late. Their big mistake was blaming the owners networks for the problems. That turned out to be a lie to a point that I'm getting a $200 check from Sonos from the class action lawsuit about their mismanagement and lying to customers. Fanboys will disagree, but they definitely were proven wrong as they blamed peoples networks as well.
That's why my one never connected and had issues all the time. How do i get that check. Its a paper wait for the past 5 years.
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Hopefully they dont recover. Yes I am bitter AF with how they screwed up a great product.
Clearly you're just emotional and have an agenda. Not everyone that has something good to say is a "fanboy" and even if they are, it doesn't nullify their opinion. Maybe you're just a hater.
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And is still buggy and half works. Improved is not saying much from the disaster of the major updates they did 2~ years ago.
Stop lying! It's not buggy. It works well now and they continue to improve it. I use it everyday and have no problems playing content from Apple Music, Iheartradio, Sonos Radio, Pandora, Sirius or Libby. Yes, the old software debacle was really bad. It's been fixed and better than before the change.
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Community Reviews
The Era 100 SL is a compact Sonos speaker that fits well as a surround or everyday room speaker, with enough output for regular use and no need to jump to Era 300s unless Atmos or a larger setup matters. The sound is described as amazing, and AirPlay or Bluetooth can reduce reliance on the app after setup. The main concern is Sonos software, which is still described as buggy by some and as improved and reliable by others. It is a solid wireless option if the size and app experience suit your setup.
The Era 100 SL can deliver a usable experience through AirPlay or Bluetooth after initial setup.
The Era 100 SL can pair with an Arc and Sub for surround setups without needing a more expensive Era 300.
The Era 100 SL can work reliably for daily streaming across multiple services after earlier software problems were addressed.
The Era 100 SL can be used as main and surround speakers with up-firing Atmos drivers instead of installing ceiling speakers.
Sonos software updates can be perceived as breaking features while fixing others, creating ongoing streaming friction.
The Era 100 SL can be described as buggy or only partially working despite improvements.
The Era 100 SL lacks Dolby Atmos support, unlike the Era 300.
The Era 100 SL may feel too small for some listening preferences.
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The damage showed up in sales: revenue fell from $1.52 billion in fiscal 2024 to $1.44 billion in fiscal 2025. Sonos attributed the 2025 decline partly to the app rollout and softer demand. It also reported a $61 million net loss in fiscal 2025. On top of that they have laid off the majority of its support staff.
Those who don't remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Feel free to become the next victim.
Software works fine… if you actually use it. All new Sonos products are Airplay compatible so you never need to ever open up the software after initial setup.
I've made my Gen 1 Play: 5's Airplay capable by adding an Apple AirPort Express Gen 2 via 3.5mm cable.
Using Sonos as a surround system, again, you NEVER have to use the app ever again AFTER initial setup.
All this software bashing bs is all literally bs. You want to use the app? Go ahead, It works fine… but you don't ever need to.
Software works fine… if you actually use it. All new Sonos products are Airplay compatible so you never need to ever open up the software after initial setup.
I've made my Gen 1 Play: 5's Airplay capable by adding an Apple AirPort Express Gen 2 via 3.5mm cable.
Using Sonos as a surround system, again, you NEVER have to use the app ever again AFTER initial setup.
All this software bashing bs is all literally bs. You want to use the app? Go ahead, It works fine… but you don't ever need to.
The damage showed up in sales: revenue fell from $1.52 billion in fiscal 2024 to $1.44 billion in fiscal 2025. Sonos attributed the 2025 decline partly to the app rollout and softer demand. It also reported a $61 million net loss in fiscal 2025. On top of that they have laid off the majority of its support staff.
Those who don't remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Feel free to become the next victim.
With your argument, why watch 4k content when you can watch in 1080p because how crisp does the picture has to be?
When the so called app fiasco rolled out, it never me affected me whatsoever. I never need to use the app for any of my 5.1 systems. In fact I rarely ever use the app.
I never even open the S2 app except for initial setup. And the only time I open the S1 app is when I switch Airplay devices that are connected to some of my Play 5 Gen 1's
Sonos is great for what it does. But, both my legacy surround systems blow Sonos out of the water. Sonos is still a great wireless system and great at what it does.
Just quit relying on the app and quit reliving the so called app fiasco. Airplay or Bluetooth to your Sonos and use whatever streaming service you want… Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
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It's ok if you don't understand the difference between volume and resolution.
That's why my one never connected and had issues all the time. How do i get that check. Its a paper wait for the past 5 years.
Moving your goalposts I see... We were talking about Era 300 surrounds, not the soundbar.
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