Sonos One Vs One SL: Which Is The Better Speaker?

Sonos One and Sonos One SL are both powerful speakers with energetic and vibrant room-filling sound. The compact and premium design of both makes it suitable to fit in any space. Both the speakers offer smooth wi-fi connectivity. They are also compatible with over 100+ music apps. We will compare and review Sonos One vsSonos One SL for you to choose the better one. 

Our Verdict

Comparing the price range, features, and sound quality suggest Sonos One steals the show with its built-in microphone and Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. But, if you already own a Sonos One or other smart devices, then you can prefer Sonos One SL without the built-in microphone.

Sonos One Vs Sonos One SL: Comparison Chart

Differences

1. Built-in Voice Control

This is the significant difference between One and One SL. The Sonos One consists of integrated voice control. It has integrated Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant feature. It does not restrict on one platform and thus offers greater flexibility. You can use Sonos One to control compatible smart devices at home, find out about stuff, and even book an Uber. Therefore, you will be able to do most of the things that Alexa and Google Assistant are capable of doing using Sonos One.

The Sonos One SL does not come with built-in voice control. Hence, to control the speaker, you have to use other smart devices. You can use devices such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, Sonos Beam, or Sonos One. Sonos One is the preferred choice in the category.

2. Price

In the price range, One SL is cheaper than Sonos One. This is because of the missing built-in microphone/voice control feature. Hence people not requiring the built-in microphone can buy the Sonos One SL. Apart from this, all the other elements of Sonos One and Sonos One SL are the same. Sonos One SL wins in the price segment as it is cheaper than Sonos One.

Similarities

1. Sound Quality

The sound quality of both speakers is by far the best in the industry. Considering the size and the price range of both the products, the sound quality is excellent. The speakers can pair with each other or with other Sonos systems. This can offer a real home cinema experience and much detailed sound quality. Although, One and One SL are sturdy on their own as well.

On both the speakers, the bass at the outset is energetic and agile. It produces reliable and exceptional performance for speakers of this size. The speakers perform great at both high and low frequencies. Both the speakers are compatible with Apple Airplay 2 and 100+ music services. This includes Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more. Both the speakers perform equally well in the sound quality segment.

2. Design

The dimensions (H x W x D) of both the speaker are 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inch (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm). Both of them weigh 4.08 lbs. (1.85 kg). One and One SL are similar in design and build quality. They consist of rounded edges and tapered bottoms. 

The compact design of both speakers makes them a suitable choice for the workplace or home. You can place it in any part of the house, such as the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. The humidity resistant technology makes it possible even to keep it in the bathroom. The top panel of both speakers is flat. It consists of a capacitive control pad for volume change, track change, and play/pause button. Both the speakers have a LED status light instead of indented physical buttons.

Both speakers have a compact and refined design and are equal in this respect.

3. Hardware

Both speakers offer multi-room functionality. They can work alone or in combination with an existing Sonos system. Both One and One SL have two Class-D digital amplifiers. They have one tweeter for a high-frequency response. They also consist of one mid-woofer for mid-range vocal frequency response—Sonos One built-in feature microphone, which is absent in Sonos One SL. Thus, we can use Sonos One to control other compatible devices.

Sonos One and Sonos One SL require Sonos app and a wi-fi connection for working. Both the speakers have an ethernet port to wire to your router if wi-fi is unstable. Both speakers need power from the mains. They are not portable speakers. The power consumption is the same for both (100-240 V, 50-60 Hz).

Both the speakers have the same hardware components, and thus it is a tie in this segment.

Features And Technical Specification of Sonos One

• The speaker shows a premium design with rounded edges and matte grille finish. It measures (H x W x D) 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inch (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm) and weighs 4.08 lbs. (1.85 kg).
• It has one tweeter for a high-frequency response. It also consists of one mid-woofer for mid-range vocal frequency response.
• We can use Alexa to control compatible devices at home. We can use it to book an uber and perform most of the things Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are capable of doing. Yet, it does not support Alexa calling capability.
• The speaker connects over the wi-fi network and does not support Bluetooth connectivity.
• The speaker is not portable and needs power from the mains.
• The speaker consists of an ethernet port for a direct connection to the router.
• The top panel is flat and has a capacitive control pad. It features a play/pause button in the center and volume control buttons on either side. It has a microphone button that can turn on/off with a tap.
• The speaker is compatible with Apple Airplay 2 and 100+ music services. We can pair it with other Sonos systems as well.

Features And Technical Specification of Sonos One SL

• The speaker has rounded edges and matte grille finish. It measures (H x W x D) 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inch (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm) and weighs 4.08 lbs. (1.85 kg). The small size allows it to fit in any space at home or workplace.
• Sonos One SL includes two Class -D digital amplifiers. It has one tweeter for a high-frequency response. It also contains one mid-woofer for mid-range vocal frequency response.
• It requires power from the mains and is not a portable speaker.
• On the backside, it includes an ethernet port for a direct connection to the router.
• It provides seamless multi-room audio and can pair with other Sonos systems as well.
• You can control the speaker via other voice-enabled smart devices. You can use devices such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, Sonos One, or Sonos Beam.
• It is compatible with Apple Airplay 2 and 100+ music services.
• The top panel is flat and has a capacitive control pad. The panel consists of a play/pause button and volume change button on either side. It has a LED status light instead of physically indented buttons.

What’s In The Box?

With both the speakers, you get your product and the power cord. You also get the quick-start guide and legal warranty information in the box. The contents in the box are well packed. The packaging is vertical. The bottom of the box has the power cord. Above this, you get your wrapped Sonos speaker. Finally, on the top, you get the warranty information. The matte grille finish and the top panel provide a premium look to the speakers. The speaker is easy to set up by following the instructions in the manual. All the ports and buttons are visible, and you should have no problem setting up your speaker.

Contents

• Product
• Power cord
• Quick start guide
• Legal warranty information

Overview Of Sonos One

Sonos One is a smart and compelling speaker. It has been precisely tailored for music lovers. Sonos One produces excellent sound quality and energetic bass. The sound quality is exceptional for a speaker of this size. It features a capacitive control pad for easy use and setup. Sonos One has a compact and premium design with rounded edges and matte grille finish. This allows it to fit in any location at the workplace or home. It is also possible to keep it in the bathroom due to its humidity-resistant technology. It features a built-in microphone with Alexa and Google Assistant integration. This makes it stand out from its competitors. It also gives us an option to choose between the two assistants and does not restrict to one. There is very little lag experienced between command and execution.

It provides seamless multi-room audio. The Sonos One is compatible with Apple Airplay 2 and 100+ music apps/services. It needs power from mains, and it is not a portable speaker. It consists of an ethernet port and connects over the wi-fi network. It does not support Bluetooth connectivity. The capacitive control pad includes a play/pause button in the center. A LED status light is above the play/pause button.

Above the status light, there is a microphone button that can turn on/off with a tap. The capacitive control pad and matte grille finish give it a premium look. In a nutshell, the Sonos One is a reliable and compelling speaker. Its premium design and built-in microphone make it a smart speaker for music lovers.

Overview Of Sonos One SL

Sonos One SL is a compact, powerful speaker without the feature of a built-in microphone. Thus, it does not support Alexa or Google Assistant as an integrated feature like Sonos One. Sonos One SL is the best choice for you if your concern is privacy, or you have plenty of smart devices at home. One SL can pair with other Sonos systems. We can also control it via separate Alexa or Google Assistant compatible devices. You can use devices such as Amazon Echo, Google Home, Sonos Beam, or Sonos One.

The compact design, matte grille finish, and lightweight, allowing it to fit in any space at home or workplace. Considering the price range and the size, the Sonos One SL shows excellent sound quality. The Sonos One SL supports seamless multi-room audio. It is not a portable speaker and needs power from the mains. It consists of an ethernet port and connects over a wi-fi network. It includes capacitive control buttons on the top panel. The play/pause button is at center and volume control on the sides.

An LED status light is above the play/pause button. It is compatible with Apple Airplay 2 and 100+ music services.It has immersive sound and excellent built quality. It is cheaper than Sonos One. It is an excellent buy if you already own a lot of smart devices at home, or privacy is a concern for you.

FAQs

Bottom Line

Sonos One is the speaker for you if you want a powerful speaker with a built-in microphone. It provides excellent build, immersive sound, and energetic bass. Prefer Sonos One SL if your concern is about privacy or you already have many smart devices. If you like Sonos one you should also check out, the comparison between Sonos one and Sonos play.

It will provide you with all the features of Sonos One except the built-in microphone. Both can pair with other Sonos systems. Sonos One SL does not compromise on the quality of build, sound, or bass. You will be able to save a few bucks buying Sonos One SL instead of Sonos One. If you want an alternative to SL, do check out the comparison between Echo Studio and Sonos. You can also check out Sonos one is in comparison to Bose home speaker.