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Amazon Echo vs. Sonos One
Are you torn between the Amazon Echo and the Sonos One? Perhaps you are looking for a new smart speaker and can’t decide which is the best to purchase? Or maybe you are looking to purchase a speaker as a gift and want to know which is best? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!
We know how challenging buying a smart speaker can be. Not only do you want fantastic sound quality, but you want something compatible that will benefit your life. You want good features that will allow you to live a hands-free life when needed, and finding this in a speaker can be challenging.
No matter how many reviews you read, you still can’t make your decision, and now all you do is dream about Echos and Sonos, unable to make your decision and listen to the music you want at home.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the only review you need to read! Keep reading to find out all there is to know about the Amazon Echo and Sonos One to make your decision today.
Amazon Echo vs. Sonos One
- PREMIUM SOUND – Rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room. Supports lossless HD audio available on select streaming services such as Amazon Music HD.
- VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more. HD requires a compatible music streaming service.
- SMART HOME HUB – Built-in hub to voice control compatible lights, locks, and sensors. Easily set up compatible Zigbee and Matter devices or select Ring Smart Lighting solar lights and bulbs.
- ALEXA IS READY TO HELP – Set timers, reminders, and alarms. Alexa answers questions like "Alexa, what time is it?"
- START YOUR ROUTINES WITH MOTION – Turn on compatible lights, play your Flash Briefing, or turn on the coffee maker when you walk into the room.
Previously, if you wanted a smart speaker, you had few options, and generally, people opted for Amazon’s Echo. Their Alexa assistant could help you write a shopping list, set reminders, and play the music you want across multiple rooms. But thanks to her popularity, the market has exploded, and you now have a few options to choose from, with the Sonos One standing up as a fine alternative.
To help you decide between the two, we have broken down the factors and features to consider into handy sections. Read through to learn more about the devices and choose which one is best for you today.
Design
First up, we have the design of these speakers. Amazon’s Echo comes in a range of color options compared to the Sonos One. You get three color choices with the Echo, but just the one with the One.
The One is larger, though. It measures 161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7mm, so be sure you have the space for this device! It weighs 1.85kg, compared to Amazon’s 821g Echo. If you are after a lightweight option, Amazon takes the lead here! The Echo measures smaller than the One too, at 148 x 88 x 88mm.
If that doesn’t suit, the Echo Dot is also even smaller, or the Echo Plus, which is larger than the standard Echo and a tad lighter too!
When it comes to build quality, the One feels super premium! It’s solid and comes with a matter, color-matched grille, and tapered bottom. It looks as if it’s floating and is sure to suit most styles, no matter the home you place it in! You can access the controls on the top of the One, and here you can play or pause your music, adjust the volume and turn the microphone on and off.
You get an ethernet port at the back of the speaker with a pairing button that won’t be visible as you walk past. The power cord is also hidden so you can enjoy a clean and clutter-free look on your table or sideboard.
The Echo, on the other hand, is a cylinder shape that seems less premium than the One. You still get control buttons at the top, where you can adjust the volume, turn the microphone on and off, and there’s an additional button, the action button, which will enable Alexa.
The Amazon Echo also features a ring light. The light ring sits around the top of the device and comes on for numerous reasons, such as to tell you about notifications or when Alexa is listening. It’s more obvious than the small LED light that the One has.
The Echo also has a power port at the back of the device for you to hide the wires if you wish. It also comes with an additional 3.5mm audio output compared to the One.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at these two speakers now! Both the Sonos One and Amazon Echo come with personal assistant Alexa integrated, so you get all the services on offer with both devices!
You can add hundreds of Skills in the Alexa app, allowing you to tailor your device to suit you. Whether you want to hear the weather forecast or have your lights turned off, there’s a Skill to suit!
- Sonos One - The powerful smart speaker with voice control built-in
- Brilliant sound - Get rich, room-filling sound with Sonos One, and control it with your voice, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay2, and more
- Voice control - Amazon Alexa is built right in so you can play music, check news, set alarms, get your questions answered, and more, completely hands free
- For every room - The compact design fits just about any space. Put it on your kitchen countertop, or tuck it away on your office bookshelf. It's humidity resistant so you can even put it in the bathroom
- Stereo sound with 2 - Pair 2 Sonos Ones together in the same room for stereo separation and more detailed sound. Use a pair as rear home theater surrounds with Arc or Beam
Features
The big benefit of Alexa is you can ask her to play the music you want to hear. You will need an Amazon account to do this and a subscription to a music service.
Amazon Music can be used, but not all songs are available without a paid monthly subscription. If you already have a music subscription, you can easily connect this to your device through the app.
It’s worth noting that more music stations and services are compatible with Amazon Echo than the Sonos One. be sure to check the compatibility before making your purchase; you don’t want to spend your money and not be able to play the music you want!
You get slightly more features with the Echo than the Sonos. For example, you can call and message through the Amazon Echo, and you can’t with the Sonos One. You can call or message other Amazon Echo or Dot users, allowing you to stay connected to your friends and family.
You also have access to Bluetooth, allowing you to connect your smartphones and other devices with ease. There is also a multi-room audio function, although this is better on the Sonos One.
The One can work independently or with other Sonos speakers to stream music from your device in various rooms. This is perfect for when you want to fill your home with your favorite tunes.
The Sonos One comes with everything other speakers offer, allowing you to stereo pair with speakers and create a 5.1 system with a PlayBar and SUB. For those that love music and want to hear it across their home, it’s the best choice.
If you want more command options with Alexa, then opting for the Echo is your better option. Consider the features that are important to you and use them to make your decision.
Performance
We’ve looked at how these devices are built and their features; now, let’s see how they perform! If audio performance matters to you, then the Sonos One will be the best fit! It comes packed with a tweeter and mid-woofer, six microphones, and a noise-canceling feature to ensure you can enjoy your music and make your voice commands with ease!
It is referred to as the smart speaker for music lovers and comes with excellent sound quality. You can expect a rich and detailed sound that the Echo fails to reach. If you love your music and want to hear crystal clear sound, then opt for the Sonos One.
The Echo comes with a 2.5-inch woofer and 0.6-inch tweeter, far smaller than what the One has to offer. Amazon’s echo is built with voice control in mind, rather than the music you wish to play. You will notice a minimal lag between asking Alexa to do something and her doing it, outshining the Sonos One here.
The Echo also has one more microphone and onboard features that means only the device closest to you will respond. You won’t have to worry about multiple devices playing the same song throughout your home.
If you are more concerned about voice control, then the Echo is the one for you! You can still enjoy a good sound quality, but your commands will be completed easily, and the ability to sync the device to a mobile phone app makes it super easy to control!
How much?
When purchasing a new device, we all want to make sure that it’s within our budget. The price of these devices does vary and you can usually find lots of exciting offers, especially with Amazon’s Echo. be sure to check out deals around Black Friday and Christmas time if you want to save some money.
The Sonos One is considerably more expensive than the Amazon Echo. Even upscale and go for the Echo Plus, it is still cheaper than the Sonos One. If you are on a budget, then opt for the Echo. It might not look as nice on your sideboard or have as detailed sound, but those on a budget are sure to love it!
When setting your budget, consider what features are important to you and the performance of the two devices. Some people will opt to increase their budget and enjoy better sound quality as a result. Whatever you decide to do, be sure that you can comfortably afford it.
Final word
So which is the better device? Well, it all depends on your preference! If you have more money to spend and want fantastic audio quality, the Sonos One is the better option. But if you are looking to save some money, or want the device more for its voice control functions, then the Amazon Echo is the better choice.
No matter which device you choose, we are sure you will enjoy hours of listening to music and controls without needing to lift a finger!
Last update on 2023-02-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
