Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It ranks #11 of 172 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $395. The Sonos Play ranks #56, rated 3.5/5, at $299, $96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A 1.2 lbs (558 g) IP67 waterproof puck speaker with 18-hour battery life, aptX Adaptive support and a built-in strap. At 1.2 lbs (558 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the Sonos Play lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks.
The Sonos Play is the longer-running pick. Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 18 for the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It keeps a wired aux input, which the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. Watch for: Bass distorts noticeably on bass-heavy tracks at default settings, and the distortion persists even after enabling Trueplay tuning and manually pulling bass back in the app.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $96 saving on the Sonos Play is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A 558 g IP67 waterproof puck speaker with 18-hour battery life, aptX Adaptive support and a built-in strap.
Amazon $395.00 eBay
Genuinely wide, clean stereo dispersion off-axis thanks to the two angled tweeters, holding up from the side far better than most portables.
Amazon $299.00 Sonos $299.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $395.00 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 90ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 93dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (558 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Drivers | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| Dimensions | 5.2”W x 5.2”D x 1.8”H (133 x 133 x 46 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 60W total (2x 30W Class D) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
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