Short answer: the Sonos Play. It ranks #56 of 177 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $299; the B&O Beosound Explore ranks #142, rated 2.5/5, at $294.99. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
The B&O Beosound Explore is the lighter choice. A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery. At 1.4 lbs (631 g) it weighs much less than the Sonos Play at 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg). It has an adjustable EQ, which the Sonos Play lacks. The catch: Huge lack of bass extension compared to competitors, overly hot ringing treble.
The Sonos Play is the better-sounding pick. 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 Explore lacks. 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 Sonos Play. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4.01 saving on the B&O Beosound Explore is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A rugged waterproof speaker with an anodized aluminum design, a strap and carabiner, and a long real world battery.
A Wi-Fi and Bluetooth portable with wide stereo sound, a long lasting swappable battery, waterproofing and full Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound Explore | Sonos Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $294.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #142 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #56 of 177 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~70Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 27 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (631 g) | 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Dimensions | 3.2” x 4.9” x 3.2” (81 x 124 x 81 mm) | 7.6” x 4.4” x 3” (192.3 x 112.5 x 76.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 1.8” (46mm) full-range drivers | mid-woofer, 2x angled tweeters |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 91dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| App | Yes (Bang & Olufsen app) | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (App EQ) | No |
| Strap | Yes (carabiner) | - |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa (Sonos Voice Control also built in) |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sonos Play: