Amazon
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
$99Cheaper
Released 2020-10
Best Smart Speakers · head-to-head
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) vs Sonos Era 100
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is cheaper at $99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Sonos
Sonos Era 100
$249
Released 2023-03
Which is better: the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) or Sonos Era 100?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the cheaper at $99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | Sonos Era 100 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $99 | $249 |
| Brand | Amazon | Sonos |
| Released | 2020-10 | 2023-03 |
| Assistant | Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control |
| Drivers | 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters | 2x angled tweeters, 1x midwoofer (3 class-D amplifiers) |
| Smart home hub | Zigbee, Amazon Sidewalk | — |
| Audio calibration | No | Yes |
| Aux or line out | 3.5mm audio in/out | USB-C line-in (via optional Line-In Adapter, $19) |
| Dimensions (in) | 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 | 7.18 x 4.72 x 5.14 |
| Multiroom | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2020-10 | 2023-03 |
Sources — Amazon Echo (4th Gen): soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15). Sonos Era 100: sonos.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and Sonos Era 100?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Assistant: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Alexa vs Sonos Era 100 Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control
- Drivers: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 1x 3-inch (76mm) neodymium woofer, 2x 0.8-inch (20mm) tweeters vs Sonos Era 100 2x angled tweeters, 1x midwoofer (3 class-D amplifiers)
- Audio calibration: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) false vs Sonos Era 100 true
- Aux or line out: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 3.5mm audio in/out vs Sonos Era 100 USB-C line-in (via optional Line-In Adapter, $19)
- Dimensions (in): Amazon Echo (4th Gen) 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 vs Sonos Era 100 7.18 x 4.72 x 5.14
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Four whitelisted testers — What Hi-Fi, SoundGuys, Tom's Guide and Reviewed — hands-on reviewed the exact 4th-gen Echo. Consensus: a well-rounded, great-value Alexa smart-home hub with a distinctive orb design and punchy bass, but recessed treble and mids, and sound clearly bettered by pricier rivals like the Sonos One. (4 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Distinctive spherical/orb design with classy build and finish; Excellent Alexa smart-home hub with built-in Zigbee and broad device compatibility; Stronger, punchier bass and improved sound versus previous Echo generations.
Flagged: Recessed or undercooked treble/highs; Mids/vocals sound compressed or less clear than rivals; Audio quality clearly bettered by pricier rivals (Sonos One, Bose).
Sonos Era 100
All four whitelisted testers (PCWorld, What Hi-Fi, TechRadar, Tom's Guide) reviewed the exact Sonos Era 100; the separate 'SL' variant was excluded. All agree it clearly upgrades the Sonos One with bigger, deeper bass, more detail, and new Bluetooth plus optional line-in flexibility. Only PCWorld took instrumented measurements, peaking at 90 dB while streaming (88 dB via line-in, 82 dB internet radio). TechRadar dissents on the bass, calling the deeper low-end 'a bit flabby.' (4 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Bigger, deeper bass than the Sonos One; Clear, detailed, expressive sound with crisp highs and vocals; New connectivity flexibility: built-in Bluetooth plus optional line-in.
Flagged: Only a hint of stereo from the single unit; soundstage stays narrow; Wired line-in/Ethernet requires a paid extra adapter; Higher price than the Sonos One with no cheaper non-smart model at launch.