Choosing the right smart speaker can feel like navigating a minefield of features and brand loyalty. You’re likely weighing up the pros and cons of two of the most popular contenders: the Amazon Echo Plus and the Sonos One. Both promise to fill your home with sound and smarts, but which one truly deserves a spot on your countertop?
The Echo Plus, with its integrated smart home hub, offers a unique advantage for those looking to build a connected ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Sonos One boasts a reputation for superior audio quality and multi-room audio capabilities that are hard to beat.
This comparison dives deep into what sets these two powerhouses apart. We’ll explore their sound performance, smart assistant integration, design, and overall value to help you make the most informed decision for your audio and smart home needs.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Echo Plus | Sonos One |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Assistant | Alexa | Alexa & Google Assistant (via Sonos skill) |
| Audio Quality | Good, 360-degree sound | Excellent, room-filling sound |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-room Audio | Yes (with other Echo devices) | Yes (with other Sonos speakers) |
| Microphone Array | Far-field | Far-field |
| Physical Controls | Volume, Mic Mute, Action button | Volume, Play/Pause, Mic Mute, Skip/Previous |
| Smart Home Hub | Built-in Zigbee hub | No |
| Voice Assistant Skills | Extensive Alexa skills | Alexa skills, Google Assistant capabilities |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. | Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, etc. |
| Dimensions | 142 x 99 x 99 mm | 161.5 x 120 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 780g | 1.8 kg |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Audio Quality
- Echo Plus: Features a 2.5-inch woofer and a 0.8-inch tweeter. While it offers decent sound for its price, it can lack the depth and clarity of higher-end speakers, especially at higher volumes. It’s good for casual listening but not audiophile-grade.
- Sonos One: Boasts a custom-designed driver and a tweeter, tuned by Sonos. It delivers rich, room-filling sound with impressive bass and crisp highs, offering a superior listening experience for music enthusiasts.
- Winner: Sonos One
Smart Assistant Integration
- Echo Plus: Integrates with Alexa, offering a vast ecosystem of skills and smart home control. Its voice recognition is generally excellent, making it a capable smart home hub.
- Sonos One: Offers both Alexa and Google Assistant support (depending on the generation). This dual-assistant capability provides greater flexibility for users already invested in either ecosystem.
- Winner: Sonos One
Connectivity
- Echo Plus: Primarily relies on Wi-Fi for streaming and Bluetooth for direct device connection. It also has a 3.5mm auxiliary input for wired audio.
- Sonos One: Connects via Wi-Fi and supports AirPlay 2 for Apple device streaming. It lacks Bluetooth connectivity, which can be a drawback for some users wanting quick, direct playback from their phones.
- Winner: Echo Plus
Smart Home Hub Capabilities
- Echo Plus: Built-in Zigbee smart home hub allows direct connection with compatible devices without needing a separate hub. This simplifies smart home setup for devices like lights and locks.
- Sonos One: Does not have a built-in smart home hub. It controls smart home devices through its voice assistant but requires separate hubs for many direct connections.
- Winner: Echo Plus
Multi-Room Audio
- Echo Plus: Supports Amazon’s multi-room music feature, allowing you to group Echo devices for synchronized playback. It’s a good option for basic whole-home audio within the Amazon ecosystem.
- Sonos One: Excels in multi-room audio with its dedicated Sonos ecosystem. It allows for seamless grouping of multiple Sonos speakers, offering a robust and high-fidelity experience across the home.
- Winner: Sonos One
Design and Build Quality
- Echo Plus: Features a fabric-covered cylindrical design that blends into most decors. It’s sturdy but can feel a bit plasticky compared to premium offerings.
- Sonos One: Boasts a sleeker, more premium design with a metal grille and a solid build. It feels more substantial and aesthetically pleasing in a high-end home setup.
- Winner: Sonos One
Voice Control Responsiveness
- Echo Plus: Generally very responsive to voice commands, with far-field microphones that can pick up commands from across a room. Occasional misinterpretations can occur.
- Sonos One: Offers excellent voice recognition, especially with its dual-assistant support. It’s quick to respond and accurately interpret commands, contributing to a smooth user experience.
- Winner: Sonos One
Price Point
- Echo Plus: Typically positioned as a more budget-friendly smart speaker, offering a good balance of features for its cost. It’s an accessible entry point into smart home technology.
- Sonos One: Comes with a higher price tag, reflecting its superior audio quality, premium build, and advanced features. It’s an investment for those prioritizing sound and a seamless multi-room experience.
- Winner: Echo Plus
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Audio Quality | Sonos One |
| Smart Assistant Flexibility | Sonos One |
| Smart Home Hub Integration | Echo Plus |
| Value for Money | Echo Plus |
| Multi-room Audio Ecosystem | Sonos One |
| Ease of Setup (Smart Home) | Echo Plus |
| Design & Build | Sonos One |
What They Have in Common
- Voice Assistant Integration: Both speakers are powered by Amazon’s Alexa, allowing for hands-free control of music playback, smart home devices, and access to a wide range of skills and information. The Sonos One also offers Google Assistant integration.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity: Both devices support both Wi-Fi for seamless streaming and smart home integration, as well as Bluetooth for direct audio streaming from compatible devices.
- Multi-Room Audio Capabilities: Both the Echo Plus and Sonos One can be part of a larger multi-room audio system. You can group multiple Echo devices together or link multiple Sonos speakers to play music in sync throughout your home.
- Far-Field Microphone Array: Both feature far-field microphone technology, enabling them to hear your voice commands from across the room, even when music is playing loudly.
- Physical Controls: While the exact buttons may differ, both speakers offer physical controls for essential functions such as volume adjustment and muting the microphone for privacy.
- Streaming Service Support: Both platforms provide access to a vast library of popular music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, ensuring you can listen to your favorite tunes.
Echo Plus Vs Sonos One Buying Guide
Sound Quality & Audio Features
When considering audio, the Sonos One generally holds an edge for audiophiles. Its custom-designed drivers and advanced acoustic architecture deliver a richer, more detailed sound profile with better bass response and clarity, particularly at higher volumes. The Echo Plus, while capable of producing good sound for its price point, often lacks the nuanced depth and sonic precision that Sonos is known for. If pristine audio fidelity is your top priority, the Sonos One is the more compelling choice for immersive listening experiences. (See Also: Demeyere 5 Plus Vs Atlantis )
Smart Assistant Integration & Ecosystem
Amazon’s Alexa, powering the Echo Plus, boasts a vast and mature ecosystem of skills and smart home device compatibility. If you’re already invested in Alexa-enabled devices or prefer the extensive range of third-party integrations, the Echo Plus offers seamless control and convenience. Sonos One, while also featuring Alexa, is primarily known for its Sonos ecosystem. It excels in multi-room audio setups and integrates well with other Sonos speakers, offering a cohesive and user-friendly experience for those building a comprehensive home audio network.
Design, Build Quality, and Aesthetics
Both speakers offer sleek, modern designs that blend well into most home decors. The Echo Plus typically features a fabric-wrapped cylindrical design with prominent touch controls on top and a distinctive LED light ring indicating Alexa’s status. The Sonos One presents a more minimalist aesthetic, often with a matte or glossy finish and a touch-sensitive top panel. The build quality on both is generally robust, but the Sonos One often feels slightly more premium and substantial in hand, contributing to its higher price point.
Connectivity and Multi-Room Capabilities
The Sonos One is a clear leader in multi-room audio. Its proprietary Trueplay tuning technology optimizes sound for any room, and its seamless integration with the Sonos app makes creating synchronized multi-room systems incredibly easy. While the Echo Plus can participate in multi-room audio groups with other Echo devices, the setup can sometimes be less intuitive, and the overall audio synchronization might not be as precise. For users prioritizing an effortless and high-quality multi-room audio experience, Sonos One shines. (See Also: Nikon 50 1 8 Vs 1 4 )
Who Should Buy What?
Buy Echo Plus If…
- You are heavily invested in the Amazon Alexa ecosystem and want a speaker with integrated smart home hub capabilities.
- You prioritize a built-in Zigbee hub for easy connection of compatible smart home devices without needing a separate hub.
- You are looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers robust Alexa functionality and good audio.
- You already own multiple Echo devices and want to expand your existing multi-room audio setup.
Buy Sonos One If…
- You prioritize superior audio quality and a more refined listening experience.
- You want the flexibility of both Alexa and Google Assistant voice control.
- You are building a high-quality multi-room audio system and value the Sonos ecosystem’s sound performance and ease of use.
- You don’t need a built-in smart home hub and prefer to manage your smart devices through other means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which speaker offers better bass response?
The Sonos One generally provides a more impactful and nuanced bass response. Its custom-designed drivers and acoustic engineering are optimized for deeper lows and tighter bass, making it a better choice for music genres that rely heavily on bass. The Echo Plus offers acceptable bass for casual listening, but it typically doesn’t reach the same level of depth or clarity as the Sonos One.
Can I use both Alexa and Google Assistant on these speakers?
The Echo Plus exclusively uses Amazon Alexa. The Sonos One, however, offers a dual assistant option, allowing you to choose between Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant during setup. This flexibility makes the Sonos One a more versatile choice if you have a preference for or use devices from both major smart assistant ecosystems.
How do the microphones perform in noisy environments?
Both speakers are equipped with far-field microphones designed to pick up voice commands even in moderately noisy environments. However, the Sonos One often exhibits slightly superior microphone performance, better distinguishing commands from background noise like music or conversations. The Echo Plus is good, but in very loud settings, you might find yourself needing to speak a bit louder. (See Also: Samsung Pro Vs Evo 850 )
What is the difference in music streaming service support?
Both speakers support a wide range of popular music streaming services. The Sonos One, through the Sonos app, offers extensive compatibility with virtually all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and many more niche services. The Echo Plus also supports most major services via Alexa skills, but the integration and ease of use can sometimes vary depending on the specific service and its Alexa skill.
Which speaker is better for setting up a smart home ecosystem?
For a broad and deeply integrated smart home ecosystem, the Echo Plus often has an advantage due to Alexa’s vast network of compatible devices and skills. If your smart home is already heavily invested in Alexa-enabled products, the Echo Plus will integrate seamlessly. The Sonos One is excellent for audio-centric smart home setups and integrates well with other smart devices, but its primary strength lies in its audio and multi-room capabilities.
Final Verdict
The Sonos One stands out for its superior audio quality, richer sound, and more sophisticated design, making it ideal for music enthusiasts. While the Echo Plus offers a more extensive smart home ecosystem and Alexa integration at a lower price point, the Sonos One provides a more premium listening experience and better multi-room audio capabilities.
Winner: Sonos One