Short answer: the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It ranks #1 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $325. The Sonos Era 100 ranks #16, rated 3.6/5, at $217.99, $107.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Audio Pro C5 MkII is the most accurate speaker in its class. A 4-inch woofer and two tweeters give fairly neutral sound, and it streams over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2 multi-room, plus Bluetooth and an RCA input, with bass and treble controls. Audio Pro rates it down to 50Hz.
The Era 100 is the better choice inside the Sonos ecosystem. Trueplay room correction tunes it to the room, it has Alexa built in, and it groups with other Sonos speakers and soundbars. RTINGS found it short on low bass and not loud enough for large rooms, and its line-in needs a separate USB-C adapter.
Buy the Audio Pro C5 MkII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $107.01 you would save on the Sonos Era 100 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Era 100 | Audio Pro C5 MkII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $217.99 each | $325 each |
| Ranked | #16 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #1 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes | Partially |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs (2.02 kg) | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) | Yes (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz)) |
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | - |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) | Yes (Bass/Treble) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) | No |
| Drivers | 2x angled tweeters, 1x mid-woofer | 4” woofer, 2x 0.75” tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (line-in adapter sold separately) | Bluetooth, Wifi, RCA |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | Yes (line-in adapter sold separately) | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Dimensions | 7.2” x 4.7” x 5.1” (182.5 x 120 x 130.5 mm) | 9.8” x 5.1” x 5.9” (250 x 130 x 150 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | - |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2 | Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer line out |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 41W (2x8W + 25W) |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
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