Sonos One in stereo format Analysis

iOS 11 released later than we expected AirPlay 2, Apple’s new wireless protocol. Now that we have iOS 12 already in the audience, at AppleSolutions we have tested the Sonos One speaker for the last few weeks. Well, it’s actually been two Sonos Ones. We tell you how they’ve been behaved all this time in our analysis.

iOS 11 released later than we expected AirPlay 2, Apple’s new wireless protocol. Now that we have iOS 12 already in the audience, at AppleSolutions we have tested the Sonos One speaker for the last few weeks. Well, it’s actually been two Sonos Ones. We tell you how they’ve been behaved all this time in our analysis.

technical specifications

• Dimensions: 161.5 x 119.7 x 119.7mm.
• Weight: 1.85kg.
• Speaker type: 2-way active monitor (medium and treble), 2 integrated Class D digital amplifiers.
• Microphones: 6.
• Supported audio formats: AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, WMA.
• Port: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet.
• Wireless connection: Wi-Fi only, 802.11b/g, 2.4GHz.
• Power supply: 100-240V AC, frequency 50-60Hz.
• LED-lit control buttons (always displayed when the microphone is activated).
• Supported streaming services: 56, including Spotify, Amazon, Google and Apple Music.
• Supports AirPlay 2 and multiroom sound.
  Possibility of stereo pairing between two One units.
• Colors: black and white.

First steps with the Sonos One

Assembling and operating a Sonos One is quite simple. More than you expect. You open the box, find a place in your house and connect it to the current. Point. You’ll need to download the Sonos app (free) and continue setting up from it.

This is a speaker that works only via Wi-Fi and does not have bluetooth. Therefore, you will need to connect it to your home network in order to use it and it is advisable to do so somewhere with good coverage. I mean, don’t put it in the last corner of the kitchen if there’s no good sign.

If you plan to buy a pair to take advantage of stereo sound, it is essential to instruct the speakers to work as one. It’s a setup that’s not automatic and I didn’t do at first, causing an unbearable echo between both speakers when you watch The Matrix in the living room, connected to the Apple TV.

There is a support page where the company explains how to join, separate and change rooms to Sonos. Changing these settings is not intuitive at all, but if you intend to leave the couple in the room you will only have to do it once and you will forget about it.

To squeeze the potential of both Sonos One you will need to take one last step to adjust the sound. The Californian company calls it Trueplay sound, a way to adapt to the particularities of each room. It requires that we choreograph with our iPhone and from the Open Sonos app. As we move around the room, the sound system will emit a noise that will pick up the iPhone microphones to calculate the dimensions of the room.

In my experience with this setup, it wasn’t easy either. It takes too much time and if you make the move with your phone too fast or move too slowly around the room, you’ll have to repeat it again.

Support for AirPlay 2, multiroom sound and all Apple products (except Siri)

Once you’re settled into your new home, it’s time to release Sonos One. In my tests, I have used it with the following devices:

• Apple TV 4 with tvOS 11 and 12.
• iPhone 7 Plus with iOS 12, final version.
• 2017 iMac with macOS beta Mojave.
• iPad Pro 2017 with iOS 12, final version.
• Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 5.
• iPhone X with iOS 11.4.
• iPad 2018 with iOS 11.4 and iOS 12.
  As you can see, I have used all possible Apple products, with software versions that already support AirPlay 2. And I must say that there is something magical about being able to send sound from any of them to a speaker. You don’t have to think about which device I want to send an Apple Music list from. I can do it from any of them.

Well, anyone but the Apple Watch, which acts as a music remote. As long as it’s an iOS device that’s streaming to Sonos, you can go from song to song, turn the volume up or down, pause, or continue the music. That’s not bad at all.

With the Sonos One couple, we can use them as sound equipment next to Apple TV. Fixed the initial echo we mentioned earlier, watching movies and series on your TV won’t be the same again. Powerful sound, clean, perfectly synchronized (no trace of one of my biggest fears) and full-bodied so you don’t miss detail of what happens on the screen. This is definitely my favorite use.

Another advantage of AirPlay 2 and the latest versions of iOS is that these Sonos speakers integrate with Home and become another HomeKit accessory (you can forget about the Sonos app if you want). With the separate speakers in separate rooms you can put different audio tracks in each one. A function known as multiroom sound. And this is cool if you have a more or less big house.

I imagine that if you have a garden and you live in a multi-story house, Sonos’ proposal earns quite a few points (don’t forget to have some Velop-type mesh signal amplifier). In fact, these types of mesh Wi-Fi systems are sweeping the US because they transmit the power of the signal without decaying the distances.

-The Sonos One combined with AirPlay 2 is fantastic, except for some very occasional connection failure-

The only problem I’ve experienced a couple of times with Sonos One has been when streaming music from iPhone. Suddenly and without warning, the music stopped. I have succeeded with an iPhone 7 Plus and the beta version of iOS 12, also with an iPhone X and iOS 11.4.1 to rule out beta issues. It may have been because the terminal was not in the best Wi-Fi coverage area of the house. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that wireless connections are far from getting rid of occasional 100% errors.

In terms of full integration with the Apple ecosystem, Sonos One snare to Siri. Although it has 6 microphones on each speaker, it is not possible to use «Hey Siri» or any other derived voice command. Unless you have Alexa set up (Google Assistant will arrive soon). This is a shame if you’re very into the Apple ecosystem.

The AirPlay 2 speaker that everyone expected

The Sonos One is not the only speaker compatible with AirPlay 2. Nor is it the cheapest. But it is one of the best combines quality, technology and price in a fairly compact product. The sound is great, reinforced by the possibilities and flexibility of AirPlay 2.

If you’re looking for quality sound, wireless and multiroom technology, the Sonos One is definitely the best positioned right now. Its starting price is 229 euros, although sometimes Sonos has placed offers where the Sonos One couple comes out with an interesting discount.

This means that you can have a much richer sound in your living room for about 400 euros. Or you can take advantage of the offer to place multiple speakers around your home and use the multiroom system offered with AirPlay 2. A Sonos One couple in the lounge can also become the beginning of a 5.1 system with your Apple TV. The company offers other speakers to complete the set, although this already increases the investment at a considerable cost.

-If you are looking for a quality wireless speaker, with a multiroom system at an attractive price and compatible with your Apple devices, the Sonos One is a great choice-

It would be impossible to talk about sonos Ones without mentioning the HomePod. Now that we know that your arrival date to Spain and Mexico is on October 26, you may prefer to wait on arrival to make a decision. There’s also nothing to stop you from mixing both systems at home. In any case, the Sonos One already has a pretty interesting price for a very capable speaker.