Short answer: the Sonos Era 100, if you are buying new. The Marshall Woburn I ranks higher than it (#4 vs #15 of 20 powered desktop speakers, 4.0/5 vs 3.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sonos Era 100 is still sold new at $219.
The Marshall Woburn I is the better-sounding choice. A substantial mains-powered stereo speaker with two 5.25-inch woofers, two tweeters, 90W output and physical bass and treble controls. It supports aptX Bluetooth, which the Sonos Era 100 lacks. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sonos Era 100 lacks. Watch for: Its midrange can be peaky while the upper treble rolls off, and bass reaches only around 50Hz in practice rather than matching deeper modern speakers.
The case for the Sonos Era 100: It streams over Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth, which the Marshall Woburn I cannot. It links with other speakers (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2), which the Marshall Woburn I cannot. The tradeoff: 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 Sonos Era 100 if you want one new; the Marshall Woburn I is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Woburn I | Sonos Era 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 each Discontinued | $219.00 each |
| Ranked | #4 of 20 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #15 of 20 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz | - |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | External AC adapter |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg) | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| App | No | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 12.1” x 7.9” (400 x 308 x 200 mm) | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, Integrated in woofers midrange, 2x 1” tweeters | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| TWS | No | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | - |
| Amplifier Power | 90W | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa |
| Streaming Services | - | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Woburn I: $500 each Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Marshall Woburn III, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5.
Pros: A substantial mains-powered stereo speaker with two 5.25-inch woofers, two tweeters, 90W output and physical bass and treble controls. It supports Bluetooth with aptX plus RCA and 3.5mm aux inputs, so it is a flexible single-box system for a desk, living room or turntable setup. Measured bass extension of ~50Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Its midrange can be peaky while the upper treble rolls off, and bass reaches only around 50Hz in practice rather than matching deeper modern speakers. At 7.9kg it is not portable, has no app, Wi-Fi or multi-speaker mode, and this discontinued first-generation model should be checked carefully before buying used.
Full Marshall Woburn I review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 90W |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~50Hz |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15.7” x 12.1” x 7.9” (400 x 308 x 200 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5.25” woofers, Integrated in woofers midrange, 2x 1” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, RCA, Aux |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs (7.9 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
| XLR Input | No |
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Sonos Era 100: $219.00 each Amazon eBay
Larger model: the Sonos Era 300 (rated 4/5).
Pros: RTINGS lists room correction tools and bass/treble adjustments as its real strengths, and its balanced midrange suits a wide range of genres, with wider stereo separation than the mono Sonos One SL it replaced thanks to two angled tweeters plus a 25% larger mid-woofer than the original Sonos One. Alexa is built in with a far-field mic, and it ties into the wider Sonos S2 app ecosystem for multi-room audio.
Cons: 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. There’s no Google Assistant, the USB-C line-in needs a separately purchased adapter, and there’s no battery.
Full Sonos Era 100 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) |
| USB Input | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) |
| XLR Input | No |
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