Sonos One v Sonos One SL: what is the distinction?

There are two variations of Sonos’ entry speaker… the Sonos One and the Sonos One SL.

The principle distinction between the 2 is that One is a brilliant speaker (fairly actually) and the One SL is not.

Should you’re not fairly certain what which means, otherwise you’re attempting to work out if the Sonos One or the Sonos One SL is the precise speaker to your Sonos setup, you then learn on as we clarify precisely how they examine to 1 one other.

Sonos One vs One SL: Design and construct

The Sonos One first got here out in 2017 and was the multi-room speaker model’s first good speaker. The One SL arrived in late 2019, maintaining each facet of the One’s appears to be like, with its all-over grille and squat form.

Measuring it at 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inches (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7mm) and weighing 1.78kg, the One and the One SL are small audio system – not HomePod Mini small – extra on a par with the likes of the newest Echo and Nest Audio.

They’re just about an identical, save for the panel on the highest which differs very barely. There isn’t any microphone array or mic icon with the One SL.

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You will nonetheless get capacitative buttons on the highest, to regulate quantity, monitor skipping, play and pause, in case you do not wish to use your cellphone and the Sonos app.

Just like the Sonos One, the SL is available in both black or white.

Sonos One vs One SL: Value

Within the US, the good assistant boasting Sonos One prices $219, whereas the SL is $20 cheaper at $199.

Within the UK the distinction is £20; it is £199 for the One and £179 for the One SL.

Sonos One versus Sonos One SL: Sensible assistants

The unique One, which was the pure successor to the now-discontinued Play:1, featured Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant constructed proper in. The Google Assistant was additionally added to the combination quickly after launch.

The Sonos One boasts a six microphone array to allow customers to regulate their Sonos system. Identical to on an Amazon Echo or a Google Residence speaker, sound ranges will dip on listening to the “Alexa” or “Hey Google” command, enabling you to bark instructions to the on-board assistant.

Remember that you need to select one voice assistant to stay in your Sonos One – you possibly can’t have Alexa and the Google Assistant being stablemates.

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In essentially the most fundamental of classifications and, as talked about up high, the One SL is not technically a sensible speaker because it does not have a voice assistant baked in. Let’s be trustworthy, that is the entire level of its existence. It is a Sonos One for those who don’t need Massive Tech eavesdropping of their houses.

However that is to not say it is a dumb speaker both. Clearly each audio system sync up seamlessly inside a Sonos multi-room system however additionally they each boast AirPlay 2 and Spotify Join as nicely.

Sonos One or Sonos One SL: Sound high quality

When it comes to sound high quality and audio efficiency, once more, you might be getting an an identical story with whichever One you select.

For a speaker of its dimension the One vary sounds really incredible. Clear at each frequency, splendidly balanced. Punchy bass that doesn’t dominate and so, so loud. Its design additionally allows it to ship sound evenly throughout 360 levels and it could possibly really fill a room.

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Clearly, as a bookshelf speaker, each variations of the One additionally lend themselves completely to being connected as a stereo pair – and sure, you possibly can combine and match One and One SL audio system as stereo pairs.

Sonos One v One SL: Which is greatest?

The unique One could have been the primary nail within the Play:1’s coffin but it surely’s the Sonos One SL that basically changed the Play:1 because the core speaker within the Sonos ecosystem.

If you have already got a Sonos One, for instance, you may not want one other microphone-enabled speaker, during which case the One SL can be a logical alternative.

Should you’re seeking to get Alexa or the Google Assistant concerned in your Sonos system then the One is the speaker for you, after all.

Both approach, you are getting Sonos’ entry-level-but-still-great audio efficiency at an honest value level.