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Is Sonos’s Most Entry-Level Speaker About to Get Even Cheaper?

It’s welcome news for anybody looking to add another Sonos speaker to their home.

Black cylindrical Sonos speaker with perforated grille and touch controls on top against a beige background.Sonos
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By Tucker Bowe

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Sonos is poised to introduce a bunch of new speakers and hardware in 2026. An exclusive Bloomberg report from earlier this year revealed as much.

It already revealed the Amp Multi, an advanced streaming amplifier for professional installations. And after leaks, the announcement of the Sonos Play, a midrange portable speaker, seems imminent.

Now, rumors of a third new product are starting to circulate. And sounds like good news for Sonos fans looking to add a new affordable speaker to their home sound system.

Another SL speaker?

White Sonos speaker on a wooden shelf surrounded by books, a green vase, and geometric decorative objects.
Rumors suggest an “SL” version of the Era 100 could be announced soon.
Sonos

That’s right. As first reported by Evan Blass, a well-known leaker of Sonos news, the company is gearing up to introduce the Era 100 SL.

It’s a more affordable version of Sonos current entry-level smart speaker, the Era 100, which was introduced in 2023.

Black cylindrical Sonos speaker with touch controls on top, placed on a wooden surface near a yellow vinyl record player.
The Era 100 SL will likely also have an USB-C auxiliary port, so you can hardwire it to your turntable or computer.
Sonos

A speechless speaker

It’s not terribly surprising news. Over the last few years, Sonos has introduced “SL” or “SpeechLess” versions of several of its speakers. This includes the One SL, Roam SL and the Arc SL.

These SL versions are identical to the standard speakers, but they lack a built-in microphone and thus don’t support voice assistants. Basically, you can’t use them as smart speakers.

Two people sitting on a couch with a bowl of popcorn, facing a TV mounted above a wooden cabinet with a white soundbar.
Two Era 100 SLs will make a more affordable way to create a Sonos surround sound system.
Sonos

As far as the rumored Era 100 SL is concerned, it’s welcome news for anyone in the market for an Era 100 who doesn’t need or want another smart speaker.

Maybe they already have Sonos speakers with voice assistants? Or maybe they just want to build out a home theater system (two Era 100s can be used as surround speakers with a Sonos soundbar) and are looking to spend a little less.

That’s where the Era 100 SL would fit in.

Black cylindrical Sonos speaker on a wooden surface next to stacked books and a decorative dish.
Like the Era 100, the Era 100 SL is expected to come in two finishes: black or white.
Sonos

How much will it cost?

When Sonos first introduced the Era 100 back in 2023, it was priced at $249. However, the company has since dropped the price to $219 and, thanks to frequent promotions, you’ve been able to pick it up for less than $200 at various times.

With previous “SL” speakers, Sonos has sold them for $20 less than the standard version. This was true with the One SL and the Roam SL. So it’s probably a safe guess to say the Era 100 SL will likely cost $199.

As far as when it will be announced, that’s still unclear. The Sonos Play is rumored to launch by the end of this month (March 31st). Given the leaks, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sonos officially announced both at a similar time.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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