Same Sonos app, no Atmos
Sonos Era 100
- Detailed stereo
- Line-in via adapter
Cheaper alternatives to the Sonos Era 300
Keep Sonos, go retro, or go portable, all for much less.
Updated 11 November 2026
The only one with tone knobs
Marshall Acton III
- Retro amp styling
- Clear at high volume
Cheapest, and runs on battery
Sonos Roam 2
- IP67 waterproof
- Light enough to carry
The original
Sonos Era 300
Worth it if: Your music service streams in Atmos
- Sound that comes from above as well as ahead
- Groups with other Sonos speakers
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Era 300?
What the extra money buys
- Sound that comes from above as well as ahead
- Groups with other Sonos speakers
- Plenty of bass for one box
Worth it if
- Your music service streams in Atmos
- It's your main room speaker
Not worth it if
- Stereo is all you play
- You'd move it room to room
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Sonos Era 100
It's the natural step down inside Sonos. TechRadar praised its detail and much fuller bass than the Sonos One. What Hi-Fi? liked its open sound and the added Bluetooth. You give up Atmos and some of the Era 300's size.
Marshall Acton III
The Daily Beast found its sound deep and rich, and still clear when turned up. T3 liked the manual bass and treble dials and the classic Marshall look. There's no Wi-Fi, app-based multiroom or voice assistant.
Sonos Roam 2
What Hi-Fi? calls its sound meaty for the size, with strong features, though some cheaper rivals sound clearer. TechRadar liked its rich audio but found ten hours of battery short. It joins your Sonos system at home.
Final recommendation: The Era 100 is the easy pick if you already use Sonos. Choose the Marshall Acton III for Bluetooth, knobs and style. The Roam 2 is cheapest and goes outdoors. Keep the Era 300 if Atmos music is the reason you're buying.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Premium | Affordable | Affordable | Affordable |
| Battery per charge (claimed) | None | None | None | Up to 10 hours |
| Water and dust rating | – | – | – | IP67 |
| Weight | – | – | – | 0.44 kg |
| Power | Mains | Mains | Mains | Battery |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
What does the Era 300 have that the Era 100 doesn't?
Dolby Atmos and spatial sound, with upward-firing drivers, plus a bigger, deeper sound overall. Both use the same Sonos app.
Is the Marshall Acton III good for TV?
It's built for music over Bluetooth. It has no HDMI, so a soundbar is a better fit for TV.
How long does the Sonos Roam 2 battery last?
About ten hours, which TechRadar found short. It's best for days out and moving round the house.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Sonos Era 300 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Sonos: Era 300, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Era 300 review, TechRadar: Sonos Era 300 review, Sonos: Era 100, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Era 100 review, TechRadar: Sonos Era 100 review, Marshall: Acton III, T3: Marshall Acton III review, The Daily Beast: Marshall Acton III review, Sonos: Roam 2, What Hi-Fi?: Sonos Roam 2 review, TechRadar: Sonos Roam 2 review.