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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Sonos proclaims the Play and Period 100 SL audio system.
- The Play speaker sits between the Sonos Roam and Transfer 2 moveable audio system.
- The Period 100 SL is an entry-level entry level into Sonos’ good dwelling audio system.
After saying a brand new professional-focused amp in January, Sonos continues to handle its {hardware} drought with the Sonos Play and Era 100 SL audio system. The Play introduces a brand new tier of moveable audio system, and the Period 100 SL is a extra inexpensive entry level into the Sonos dwelling theater system.
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The Sonos Play and Period 100 SL audio system signify novel pathways for present Sonos followers to broaden their system, and methods for brand spanking new prospects to change into acquainted with the model. This is what we all know.
Sonos Play: A brand new Sonos speaker tier
Sonos headlines this speaker as “essentially the most versatile speaker within the Sonos system,” falling in the midst of its moveable lineup, between the Roam and Transfer 2. Just like the Transfer 2, the Play is moveable, which means you may join it to your property Wi-Fi community to sync audio along with your Sonos good audio system, or join it to your telephone by way of Bluetooth for listening when away from dwelling.
The Play speaker aligns with Transfer 2’s indoor/out of doors versatility, providing a charging base you may preserve inside to maintain the Play speaker’s battery topped up at dwelling, working extra like a wise speaker. Nevertheless, the Play speaker is barely smaller than the Transfer 2, making it extra appropriate for adventures past your yard.
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The Play debuts with improved sturdiness over the Transfer 2, sporting an IP67 mud and waterproof ranking, in comparison with the Transfer 2’s IP56 mud and water resistant ranking. Moreover, Sonos outfitted the Play speaker with a proprietary Bluetooth-enabled grouping function that permits you to group a number of Play and Transfer 2 audio system.
On the audio entrance, the Play speaker shows why it is extra inexpensive than the Transfer 2. Primarily based on specs alone, I can infer the Play may have a extra bass-heavy sound profile that will not be as loud and current because the Transfer 2. The Play speaker options three Class-H amplifiers, two tweeters, one midwoofer, and two passive radiators for extra bass response.
As compared, the Transfer 2’s extra highly effective Class-D amplifiers can drive decrease frequencies with out the assistance of passive radiators. Nonetheless, the Play’s further passive radiators ought to assist the speaker produce louder low frequencies in out of doors settings, which is effective for the reason that speaker is extra moveable than the Transfer 2.
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Just like the Transfer 2, the Play speaker has a number of premium options, together with Computerized Trueplay, USB-C reverse charging, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice assistant compatibility.
Period 100 SL: Virtually an Period 100 carbon copy
Sonos names the Period 100 SL a “assured first step into the Sonos system,” due to its practically equivalent acoustic make-up to the extra premium Period 100 speaker and its capacity to behave as rear audio system along with your Sonos soundbar.
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Just like the Period 100, the Period 100 SL options three Class-D amplifiers, two tweeters, and one midwoofer. Nevertheless, Sonos omitted built-in microphones from the Period 100 SL and says eradicating them emphasizes important listening. In any other case, the Period 100 SL is rather like its older sibling, together with options reminiscent of in-app speaker pairing, TruePlay, Apple AirPlay 2, and capacitive contact controls.
The Sonos Play and Era 100 SL audio system can be obtainable for preorder starting March 31, in Black and White for $299 and $189, respectively.
