What Is the Difference Between the Sonos Era 100 and Era 100 SL?

During our consultations, clients often ask about the difference between the Sonos Era 100 and the Sonos Era 100 SL. The answer is simple: when it comes to sound quality, there is no difference.

The Era 100 and Era 100 SL use the same acoustic design, including two angled tweeters for stereo separation and one midwoofer for bass. They provide the same sound quality, Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth connectivity, Trueplay™ tuning, and integration with other Sonos products.

The primary difference is voice control.

The Era 100 includes built-in microphones, allowing you to use Sonos Voice Control and other supported voice services. You can ask the speaker to play music, adjust the volume, skip tracks, group rooms, and perform other supported functions without opening the Sonos app.

The Era 100 SL does not have built-in microphones, so it does not support voice control directly from the speaker. Otherwise, its music and Sonos system performance is essentially the same as the standard Era 100.

So, which one should you choose?

 If you want the convenience of voice control, choose the Era 100. If you don't plan to use voice control, the Era 100 SL gives you the same audio performance without the microphones.

One important point to remember is that you don't necessarily need voice control in every room. If you have a voice-enabled Sonos speaker nearby, you can use that speaker to control other Sonos rooms. This can make the Era 100 SL a good option when adding additional speakers throughout your home.

If you have questions about which Sonos speakers are right for your home, or if you need help upgrading your older Bose system to a new Sonos system, call Whitaker Brothers South at 888-775-2673 for a free virtual consultation.