Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It ranks #19 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $399. The Sonos Play ranks #56, rated 3.5/5, at $299, $100 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen is the better-sounding, lighter choice. A premium waterproof puck speaker with good sound, a long battery, and a battery you can swap, built to last. 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. Watch for: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass.
The case for the Sonos Play: A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support. It keeps a wired aux input, which the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen lacks. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. The catch: 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 3rd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $100 you would save on the Sonos Play does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A premium waterproof puck speaker with good sound, a long battery, and a battery you can swap, built to last.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #19 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 1.8” x 5.2” (133 x 46 x 133 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| 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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