The Sonos One Gen 3 has established itself as one of the most popular smart speakers in the market. Known for its superior sound quality, impressive smart features, and TruePlay tuning technology, it offers an exceptional listening experience for both casual listeners and audiophiles alike. Combining the convenience of smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant with rich sound performance, the Sonos One Gen 3 is designed to fit seamlessly into any home. In this comprehensive review, we will explore its features, sound quality, performance, and other aspects to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your audio needs.
In this Sonos One Gen 3 Review, we’ll take a look at:
Introduction
The Sonos One Gen 3 is a smart speaker that combines cutting-edge technology with a compact design to deliver powerful audio performance. Whether you’re looking for an intelligent home assistant or an audio solution for a room, this speaker excels in both areas. With the bonus of TruePlay tuning technology, the Sonos One Gen 3 adapts to your room’s acoustics, providing tailored sound quality that enhances your listening experience. In addition to its impressive audio performance, it supports voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant, making it a versatile addition to your smart home setup.
Sonos One Gen 3 Sound Quality
The primary selling point of the Sonos One Gen 3 is its outstanding sound quality. Unlike many other smart speakers in its price range, the Sonos One doesn’t compromise on audio performance despite its small form factor. It delivers a rich, full-bodied sound with clear highs, deep bass, and balanced mids.
Audio Performance and Clarity
- Bass: The Sonos One Gen 3 produces deep, rich bass for its size. Its robust drivers allow it to easily fill small to medium-sized rooms with full bass tones without distortion.
- Mids and Highs: The mids are well-balanced, offering clear vocals, making it ideal for podcasts and music with detailed lyrics. High frequencies are crisp and bright without being too sharp or harsh, providing a natural, balanced listening experience.
- Stereo Pairing: For users who want an enhanced audio experience, pairing two Sonos One Gen 3 speakers in stereo mode delivers an immersive soundstage with a wider, more dynamic sound.
Detailed Audio Quality Comparisons
When comparing the Sonos One Gen 3 with other smart speakers like the Amazon Echo Studio or the Google Nest Audio, the Sonos One stands out for its more balanced and dynamic sound profile. While the Echo Studio is slightly louder with more bass emphasis, the Sonos One delivers a more nuanced, accurate sound across all frequencies.
Smart Features with Alexa and Google Assistant
The Sonos One Gen 3 is not just an audio powerhouse; it’s also a fully integrated smart speaker. With support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, you have various voice control options that make it easy to control your music, adjust volume, set timers, and more—entirely hands-free.
Voice Assistant Performance Issues
Most users report reliable performance when using either Alexa or Google Assistant on the Sonos One Gen 3. However, occasional issues may arise, such as:
- Voice Recognition: The speaker may sometimes struggle to understand commands if there’s background noise or if you speak softly.
- Assistant Switching: While the Sonos One supports both voice assistants, it’s not as seamless as some might expect. Some users have reported occasional confusion or delays when toggling between Alexa and Google Assistant.
Despite these minor hiccups, both assistants work as expected for most functions, and Sonos One Gen 3 is more than capable of handling your smart home needs.
TruePlay Tuning Technology Insights
One of the standout features of the Sonos One Gen 3 is TruePlay tuning technology. TruePlay optimizes the speaker’s sound profile to match your room’s unique acoustics. Using the Sonos app, TruePlay quickly measures the room and adjusts the speaker’s output for optimal sound quality.
Setup and User Experience with TruePlay
Setting up TruePlay tuning is a simple process. Using the Sonos app, you walk around the room with your phone while the app measures sound reflections and acoustics. The system then applies dynamic adjustments to the speaker’s output to compensate for your room’s characteristics, improving sound quality.
- Room Adaptation: TruePlay performs exceptionally well in different environments, whether it’s a small, carpeted bedroom or a large, open-plan living room.
- Custom Sound: TruePlay makes the Sonos One Gen 3 sound best, no matter where you place it in your home. Even if the room has poor acoustics or irregular shapes, the speaker compensates by adjusting its sound profile for clarity and richness.
Sonos App and Multiroom Audio System
The Sonos One Gen 3 integrates seamlessly with the Sonos app, which allows you to control all aspects of your speaker. You can easily set up multiroom audio, adjust individual speaker settings, and access various streaming services.
Limitations of the Sonos App
While the Sonos app provides a lot of useful features, there are some limitations that users should be aware of:
- Compatibility with Non-Sonos Devices: The app best suits Sonos devices, and integrating non-Sonos devices may not always be as smooth.
- Limited Equalizer Settings: While the app offers some control over sound settings, there are fewer customization options than other music apps or platforms.
Despite these limitations, the Sonos app offers a highly intuitive user interface and works reliably for most users.
Battery Life and Portability Considerations
Though the Sonos One Gen 3 is designed to be placed on a countertop or shelf, its portability is limited compared to other smart speakers. The Sonos One Gen 3 has no built-in battery and must be plugged into a power source. This makes it less portable than battery-powered smart speakers such as the Bose SoundLink Revolve or the JBL Charge.
However, the Sonos One Gen 3 is ideal for users prioritizing sound quality and smart features over portability.
User Feedback on Sound Customization Options
Users generally appreciate the Sound Customization options of Sonos One Gen 3, especially with TruePlay tuning. The ability to adjust the audio profile for the room’s acoustics gives users more control over how they experience their music.
Some users wish that there was more granular control over bass and treble settings. The Sonos app offers basic adjustments, but some audiophiles would prefer more in-depth customization.
Long-Term Reliability and Durability
The Sonos One Gen 3 is built to last. Its compact, sturdy design ensures it will remain durable even with frequent use. Most users report that the speaker holds up well over time, with few instances of malfunction or wear.
It’s also resistant to everyday wear and tear, making it a reliable choice for long-term use.
Real-World Use Cases
The Sonos One Gen 3 is versatile and adapts well to different scenarios:
- Living Rooms and Bedrooms: They provide a clear, balanced sound for entertainment and relaxing music.
- Kitchens: The compact design and smart assistant features make it an ideal kitchen companion for hands-free control.
- Multiroom Audio: With Sonos multiroom audio functionality, you can sync multiple Sonos speakers across different rooms, filling your home with sound.
Conclusion
The Sonos One Gen 3 is a highly capable smart speaker with excellent sound quality, smart assistant integration, and TruePlay tuning technology. Its superior audio performance, ease of use, and long-term reliability make it an excellent choice for a high-quality multiroom audio system.
Summary Table
Feature | Specification |
Sound Quality | Rich, clear, deep bass with balanced mids and highs |
Voice Assistants | Alexa and Google Assistant support |
TruePlay Tuning | Room calibration for optimal sound |
Battery Life | Requires a constant power source |
App Features | Multiroom audio, basic equalizer settings |
Portability | Not battery-powered, stationery design |
Price | $199 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does TruePlay tuning work on the Sonos One Gen 3?
TruePlay uses your phone’s microphone to analyze the acoustics of your room and adjusts the speaker’s sound output accordingly to provide a more balanced listening experience.
Can the Sonos One Gen 3 be used for outdoor listening?
While it delivers great sound quality, the Sonos One Gen 3 is designed for indoor use. It is not water-resistant or built for outdoor environments.
Is the Sonos One Gen 3 compatible with non-Sonos devices?
The Sonos One Gen 3 works best with Sonos devices and the Sonos app. Integration with non-Sonos devices may be limited.
