Sonos enters a ‘new period’ for WiFi audio system with the Period collection (Period 100 and Period 300). Does the Period 100 have sufficient energy to convey that transition?
The “new period” for Sonos will start with the disappearance of the Sonos One. For years, that speaker was seen because the inexpensive WiFi speaker for the lounge. The model additionally didn’t have to fret about rivals: hardly any producer might match the Sonos ecosystem. However, it has rolled out an replace for the One a number of occasions lately to deliver it updated.
Take the title change, for instance: the speaker was all of a sudden now not referred to as the Play:1, however merely because the Sonos One. This additionally occurred later for the Play:5 (now the Sonos 5). The up to date One already obtained some improved {hardware}, however the area within the speaker remained too restricted to make any actually large-scale adjustments. There the American model makes with the Period 100 come alongside: the speaker will get a very new, barely bigger housing.
Extra spacious stereo sound
Gone is the sq. design, additionally known as ‘squircle’ by Sonos, of the previous Play:1 and One. It is going to be changed by a speaker that matches the present era of Sonos merchandise such because the Arc and Beam (Gen 2) by way of design. By way of form, the Period 100 is extra oval, which makes the speaker look smaller from the entrance than it really is. By the way, the distinction is comparatively small. For instance, the depth elevated from 12 to 13.5 cm and it’s 2 cm increased than its predecessor (18 cm in comparison with a top of 16 cm with the One).
You instantly get a midwoofer in return that’s 25 % bigger than its predecessor, in addition to an additional tweeter. For the primary time, the entry-level collection provides two tweeters, which allows the speaker to play stereo sound. Actually, we’re very impressed with the sound the Period 100 produces. We instantly seen that the sound for such a small speaker is certainly surprisingly spacious and incorporates a number of element, each for voices and devices. In Tragedy by Fly By Midnights, the speaker effortlessly brings out all the main points of devices, bass and voices, with out them masking one another.
Bass is (greater than) current
Many cheaper audio system fail exactly in that space and masks devices within the background, or be sure that the bass is an excessive amount of within the foreground. We will already say in regards to the low tones that the bigger midwoofer does its job nicely. Bass has a number of energy and as mentioned: with out chasing element within the midrange or prime.
Because the bass is so sturdy, we advocate adjusting this barely if you happen to reside in an condominium. Throughout testing, the bass might nonetheless be heard one ground beneath. No downstairs neighbours? Then you’ll not be bothered by this, however in any other case it should be taken under consideration (or not less than a downstairs neighbor would respect that).
New contact controls and connection choices
Additionally new on the Period 100 is the customized controls. On mainly all older Sonos fashions, you swipe from left to proper to go to the subsequent track (and vice versa for the earlier track). As soon as you know the way the controls work, you are off very quickly; on the identical time, it occurred a bit of too typically that the speaker thought we wished to start out or pause music, whereas we carried out a swipe motion. This has been solved as soon as and for all with the brand new controls.
quantity dealing with
On prime of the speaker one can find separate buttons for earlier and subsequent, begin and pause and a bar to regulate your quantity. Whether or not you discover that helpful is in fact a private difficulty. We’re already glad with it. Truly, we now not have to have a look at the speaker to function it. That is now not obligatory, particularly for the amount setting, as a result of it has its personal touch-sensitive ‘bar’. Swipe or faucet the bar to extend (proper) or lower (left) the amount. As a result of the bar is a type of inlet, you’ll be able to really feel it straight together with your fingers. The enhancements are perfect for these occasions when it’s a must to function the audio system manually.
Now additionally with Bluetooth
We’re not completed with the enhancements but: Sonos additionally added Bluetooth to the Period 100. Why would you need this on a WiFi speaker? In response to a Sonos spokesperson, that is particularly helpful for household and buddies who come over and need to play music in your Sonos system. Beforehand, you needed to join them to the WiFi community earlier than they might begin streaming.
Now they’ll merely join through bluetooth. Though we desire to stream music through WiFi due to the top quality, we did take a look at it briefly. Actually, it really works identical to some other wi-fi Bluetooth speaker. Do you want it? Then know that it’s there. For those who do not use it, bluetooth is turned off by default. So it isn’t the case that your neighbors can all of a sudden begin streaming music in your speaker(s).
It’s and stays Sonos
Earlier than we go to the ultimate verdict, we should in fact become familiar with the Sonos ecosystem. In that respect, there are literally no main adjustments for the Period 100. We nonetheless used the Sonos app (S2) for connecting, which yow will discover within the App Retailer or Play Retailer. Connecting is easy, as we’re used to from the model. Inside two minutes the speaker was up and working.
On Android, we nonetheless run into the limitation which you can solely stream music to the speaker through Spotify Join. Wish to stream music that is on Apple Music, YouTube Music, and even Tidal? Then begin getting used to the Sonos S2 interface – the ‘Forged protocol’ that the streaming companies use is just not supported by the speaker large. Though Android customers are typically 0-1 behind Sonos, the model has met them by bringing Trueplay to Android.
For years, Apple customers have been in a position to alter the sound of their Sonos units to the room by which they’re positioned. In our opinion, the sound sounded a bit higher after utilizing Trueplay, however on the identical time it isn’t the case that we’d describe it as a loss, if the choice had not been current.
Closing verdict
The One might have disappeared, however so far as we’re involved, the spirit of the entry-level speaker stays alive with the Period 100. With a advised retail worth of 279 euros, we are able to definitely not name the speaker low-cost and even considerably inexpensive. A superb loudspeaker merely prices some huge cash and that’s additionally how we’d categorize the speaker: simply good.
No matter music you hearken to, wherever you place it or nonetheless you need to hook up with the speaker: it really works flawlessly and likewise sounds mighty good. We’d purchase a second copy for bigger dwelling rooms, purely to reinforce the spatial (stereo) impact. Though the speaker can now play stereo sound, you merely discover that the speaker continues to be comparatively compact.
We additionally skilled this with the One and Play:1, which sounded even higher when a second speaker was added. The one factor we’re left with in our abdomen is the Sonos ecosystem, on Android particularly. It’s fairly a disappointment that you just nonetheless can not stream music with Apple Music or YouTube Music with out having to make use of the Sonos app. If this works identical to within the streaming companies themselves, we are able to reside with that.
Nonetheless, the observe is extra unruly, with fewer choices to find (new) tracks and albums and bugs (taking part in songs repeatedly doesn’t normally work). If in case you have an iPhone, you’ll in fact not be bothered by this, however for Android customers that’s one thing to consider. We should admit that there are few loudspeakers on this section with comparable efficiency and capabilities.
