Sonos
Sonos Era 100
$249Cheaper
Released 2023-03
Best Smart Speakers · head-to-head
Sonos Era 100 vs Bose Home Speaker 500
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Sonos Era 100 is cheaper at $249. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bose
Bose Home Speaker 500
$379
Released 2018-09
Which is better: the Sonos Era 100 or Bose Home Speaker 500?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Sonos Era 100 is the cheaper at $249.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Sonos Era 100 | Bose Home Speaker 500 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $249 | $379 |
| Brand | Sonos | Bose |
| Released | 2023-03 | 2018-09 |
| Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters, 1x midwoofer (3 class-D amplifiers) | 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo) |
| Smart home hub | — | — |
| Audio calibration | Yes | No |
| Aux or line out | USB-C line-in (via optional Line-In Adapter, $19) | 3.5mm aux line-in |
| Dimensions (in) | 7.18 x 4.72 x 5.14 | 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3 |
| Multiroom | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2023-03 | 2018-09 |
Sources — Sonos Era 100: sonos.com (verified 2026-06-15). Bose Home Speaker 500: soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Sonos Era 100 and Bose Home Speaker 500?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Assistant: Sonos Era 100 Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control vs Bose Home Speaker 500 Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Drivers: Sonos Era 100 2x angled tweeters, 1x midwoofer (3 class-D amplifiers) vs Bose Home Speaker 500 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo)
- Audio calibration: Sonos Era 100 true vs Bose Home Speaker 500 false
- Aux or line out: Sonos Era 100 USB-C line-in (via optional Line-In Adapter, $19) vs Bose Home Speaker 500 3.5mm aux line-in
- Dimensions (in): Sonos Era 100 7.18 x 4.72 x 5.14 vs Bose Home Speaker 500 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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.
Bose Home Speaker 500
No sourced tester review yet.