Different classes, so treat this as a step-up-or-not question rather than a head-to-head. The Sonos Era 300 ranks #6 of 10 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $499; the Sonos Roam ranks #94 of 178 medium speakers by sound quality at $169.99.
What the Sonos Era 300 does well: A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning. It plays in stereo from a single unit, unlike the Sonos Roam. Watch for: RTINGS’ one listed con is some compression at max volume.
The Sonos Roam is the battery-powered, tougher pick. A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support. Its battery is rated for 10 hours, while the Sonos Era 300 needs an outlet. It is rated IPX5, while the Sonos Era 300 has no water resistance. It supports AAC Bluetooth, which the Sonos Era 300 lacks. The tradeoff: Bass extension isn’t very good.
One note: the Sonos Roam is no longer in production and isn’t widely stocked new anymore. The Sonos Roam’s replacement, the Sonos Roam 2, is still sold new.
Buy the Sonos Era 300 at $499 if you want a powered desktop speaker. Buy the Sonos Roam at $169.99 if you want a medium speaker instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A Wi-Fi smart speaker with real stereo and Dolby Atmos spatial audio, excellent Alexa voice pickup and Trueplay room tuning.
A small, waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker with wireless charging, voice control and Sonos multiroom support.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonos Era 300 | Sonos Roam | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 each | $169.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #6 of 10 in Large Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #94 of 178 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Sonos multi-room, AirPlay 2) | - |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs (4.47 kg) | 0.9 lbs (429 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 6) | Yes |
| App | Yes (Sonos S2) | Sonos S2 App |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field, mic mute button) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble + Trueplay room correction) | Yes (via app, limited in Bluetooth mode) |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Sonos app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 4x tweeters (1 forward, 2 side, 1 upward-firing), 2x angled woofers | Dual full-range drivers + passive radiators |
| 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 | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 7.3” x 10.2” x 6.3” (185 x 260 x 160 mm) | 2.4” x 6.6” x 2.4” (62 x 168 x 60 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (choose one) plus Sonos Voice Control |
| Streaming Services | Sonos app streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and more), AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos Music | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 63Hz |
| Maximum SPL | - | 95dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Strap | - | No |
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