These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Brane X ranks #4 of 117 large speakers by sound quality at $549; the Sonos Era 100 ranks #16 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $217.99.
The Brane X is the battery-powered, tougher choice. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its battery is rated for 12 hours, while the Sonos Era 100 needs an outlet. It is rated IP57, while the Sonos Era 100 has no water resistance. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Sonos Era 100 lacks. The tradeoff: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
What the Sonos Era 100 does well: A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom. The catch: RTINGS’ own two listed cons are not loud enough for larger rooms and very little low-bass thump, so genres like EDM and hip-hop lack rumble even with the tone adjustments.
Buy the Brane X ($549) for a large speaker; the Sonos Era 100 ($217.99) suits a powered desktop speaker instead.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings and Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
A compact Wi-Fi smart speaker with stereo from two angled tweeters, Trueplay room tuning, Alexa and Sonos multiroom.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Brane X | Sonos Era 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $217.99 each |
| Ranked | #4 of 117 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #16 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Latency | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | SBC |
| IP Rating | IP57 | None |
| Bluetooth Latency | 100ms | - |
| Maximum SPL | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Input | AC Power brick | External AC adapter |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | - |
| TWS | Yes | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| App | Yes (Brane app) | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Dimensions | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | 200W | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Strap | No | - |
| Inputs | - | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Streaming Services | - | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
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