Sonos Era 100
Score: 86/100
Marshall Acton III Midnight Blue
Score: 77/100Rankings
The Sonos Era 100 is a compact, AC-powered smart speaker that offers true-stereo sound, modern Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and deep integration with the Sonos ecosystem. It excels in sound quality and smart-home features but lacks Google Assistant and portability.
The midnight-blue Acton III offers the same 60 W RMS performance as its black counterpart, wrapped in a stylish, eco-friendly cabinet with tactile analog controls. It excels in Bluetooth convenience and sound quality for modest spaces, but lacks advanced codecs, Wi-Fi, and any form of portability.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
100 wattsbest | 60 watts | |
— | 45 Hzbest | |
— | 20,000 Hzbest | |
2best | 2best | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.02 kgbest | 2.85 kg |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest | |
1 countbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.02 kg | 2.85 kg |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Audio Performance(2) | ||
Power Output (watts) | 100 watts | 60 watts |
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo | SBC |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | semi‑matte | Midnight Blue |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers rate the Era 100 highly, praising its dual tweeters, larger woofer, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Trueplay tuning, while noting the missing Google Assistant and modest bass.
Everyday users love the rich stereo sound, easy setup and Sonos app, but frequently mention the absence of Google Assistant, limited bass and the need to buy adapters separately.
“Best sound I've heard from a single compact speaker”
“Trueplay made a noticeable difference in my living room”
“Missing Google Assistant is a dealbreaker”
Professional reviewers praise the Acton III for its premium build, iconic brass knobs, and warm, detailed sound signature that stays true to Marshall's rock heritage. They also commend the Placement Compensation and Dynamic Loudness features delivered through the Marshall app, but criticize the lack of advanced Bluetooth codecs and consider the price high for the feature set.
Everyday users love the speaker's ability to fill modest spaces with rich audio, its eye-catching vintage look, and the tactile satisfaction of the analog knobs. Common complaints revolve around the missing AAC codec on iOS, occasional app instability, overpowering bass at high volumes, and the absence of a battery for portable use.
