Do you want to purchase a Sonos speaker but need help deciding which generation to choose? There are two generations of the Sonos One, so selecting the one that best suits your needs can be challenging. To help you choose wisely when purchasing, we will examine the main distinctions between the Sonos One Gen 1 and Gen 2 in this article.
Quick Comparison: Sonos One Gen 1 vs Gen 2
As many of you know, Sonos is regarded as one of the world’s greatest brands. It produces impressive sound systems, which are frequently compared to others.
Regarding the Sonos generation, the Sonos One Gen 1 is a wireless audio speaker. It is a 15-centimeter-tall voice-control speaker. It is compatible with most voice control assistants, including Google Assistant, Airplay, and Alexa. It was released in 2017. It has an appealing design with a simple white plastic finish and a bright LED light at the top of the unit to indicate when it is connected.
On the other hand, if we discuss Sonos Gen 2, it is an improved model of Sonos 1. Compared to the Sonos One Gen 1, it has a better processor and memory. It has some features similar to those of the Sonos One speaker from the original generation. It was released in 2019. The Sonos One Gen 2 offers better sound quality than its predecessor, with two additional Class-D amplifiers and enhanced acoustic architecture.
Sonos One Gen 1
The Sonos One (Gen 1) is compatible with Alexa, Airplay, and Google Assistant. It can join any Alexa group with other Sonos smart speakers or Amazon Echo devices. It has an appealing design with a simple white plastic finish and a bright LED light at the top of the unit to indicate when it is connected. The Sonos One Gen 1 has good sound quality.
Specs
- It weighs 4.08 pounds.
- It is a multi-room speaker.
- It is WiFi capable.
- Microphones reliably pick up voice.
- Spotify Voice Support
Features
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Design
It has an elegant, minimalistic appearance. Basically, there are two color options available. White and black are two of these colors. The top panel of Sonos features a dotted ring, lights, and a cluster of touch-sensitive buttons on a perfectly flush surface. You can mute the onboard microphone array of that dotted ring by pressing the “mic” button above the central light. It is lightweight and easily portable, making it suitable for moving from one location to another.
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Sound Quality
It has pretty good sound quality. It functions well with Google Assistant and Alexa. It becomes noisy at times. Therefore, leaving it at 50% is more than sufficient to listen to music throughout your apartment. It sounds excellent for any beginner speaker.
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Built Quality
Premium materials are used in the construction of the Sonos One Gen 1. Its long-lasting construction and ability to resist regular use are its design features. It has a far-field microphone array that quickly detects voice cues and stands just over 15 centimeters tall. The speaker is surrounded by a matte white grill (also available in black) except for a plastic stripe running the length of the back that houses the ethernet input.
All of the touch-sensitive controls are located on top. These allow you to adjust the volume and turn the microphone on and off, which is useful if you or someone you know does not want the speaker to listen to a certain word.
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Battery Life
It is powered by an AC battery and does not have built-in batteries. As a result, it cannot be used as a portable speaker, but it can be easily moved throughout your home without needing to be charged.
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Bluetooth
The Sonos One speaker is not Bluetooth; it was made to be Wi-Fi-connected. You can use Wi-Fi connectivity to update the device when needed. The Sonos One Gen 1 speaker does not have BLE.
Sonos One Gen 2
The improved Sonos One Gen 2 replaces the Sonos One Gen 1. It is superior to the Sonos One Gen 1 regarding processor and memory. It also has features that are not all that dissimilar from the Sonos One speaker from the first generation. The sound quality combines multi-room sound with the ability to achieve surround sounds. They are not all that different, so by design, you might believe you are holding the Sonos Play 1.
Specs
- It measures 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inches in dimensions.
- It weighs 4.08 pounds.
- It sounds amazing.
- Its smart controls are limited.
- Wi-Fi is a means of connection.
Features
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Design
The Sonos One Gen 2 is a reasonably small device, standing 16.2 cm tall, and is packaged in a protective sock. A matte black surface on the top and back of the metal grille encircles the speaker. The speaker’s touch control panel, which collects a lot of fingerprints, has etched touch control icons. Other than that, the Sonos One Gen 2 has a charming rectangular shape with rounded corners, and silicone feet on the bottom provide a soft landing.
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Built Quality
Gen 2 has a strong, substantial feel and is constructed with premium materials. They are built to last and are made to withstand regular use. The two models’ construction quality is nearly identical.
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Sound Quality
The Sonos One Gen 2 offers an improved overall user experience thanks to its more sophisticated microphone array than the Gen 1 model. Furthermore, Gen 2 has a faster processor than Gen 1, which leads to improved performance and quicker reaction times. For those who prefer clearer sound, Gen 2 is a superior option due to these enhancements in sound quality.
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Connectivity
With Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Sonos One Gen 2 has an additional benefit over Gen 1. It makes the device more compatible with various devices and offers a simple setup procedure. Due to BLE and Wi-Fi connectivity, users now have more options for connecting their devices to the speaker.
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Memory
The Sonos One Gen 2 was designed with more memory capacity than the Gen 1 model. To be honest, owners of the Gen 1 memory will not feel as though they were deprived of a fantastic feature with the Gen 2 upgraded memory. The upgraded memory feature is supposedly futuristic, enabling the Gen 2 to receive firmware updates in the future, which explains why. However, Gen 2 would handle it well thanks to its improved memory.
Conclusion
After all, these speakers are well-known for their excellent general utility and the high-quality sound they offer to all users. Sonos One Gen 2 is slightly more expensive than Sonos One Gen 1. Apart from that, Sonos One Gen 2 is designed to support upgrades in the future.
If you have previously owned a Sonos One Gen 1 speaker, you can continue to use it if you plan to perform something other than heavy tasks with it. However, let me reiterate that the decision is entirely up to you and your tastes and that Sonos is more than just a speaker brand—there are other systems like Sonos Bridge and Sonos Boost.
FAQs
Is there a warranty for the Sonos Gen 2?
Sonos offers a one-year limited warranty that covers manufacturer defects but does not cover accidental damage. Assume you bought the speaker directly from Sonos. If that is the case, you can return the speaker within 45 days of receiving it, provided you keep the original packaging and repack it according to Sonos’ return guidelines.
Does Sonos One Gen 2 have Bluetooth?
The speaker supports Apple AirPlay, but neither Bluetooth nor Chromecast allow you to stream audio. The Bose SoundLink Revolve outperforms the Sonos One Gen 2 speaker for most applications.
Can I use WiFi with the Sonos One Gen 2?
Using Apple AirPlay 2, the Sonos app, and your voice assistant, control is simple. Mix and match Sonos speakers for multiroom audio, stereo sound, and immersive home theater throughout your house. Everything works together over WiFi.
What is the Sonos sound quality like?
Overall, Sonos produces speakers with well-balanced sound profiles suitable for home use. Some are even compatible with Sonos soundbars, allowing you to create a surround sound system. Alexa and Google Assistant are voice assistants pre-installed on many of their speakers.