Sonos is a legendary brand when it comes to audio device manufacturing. The new Sonos Gen 2 is an upgrade of Sonos 1 and comes with several improved features to make your musical experience more unique.
The Sonos One (Gen 1) and Sonos One (Gen 2) both offer similar quality because they contain the same speakers. They are about the same size and weight. However, the Gen 2 offers a larger memory and a faster processor. The Sonos 1 is cheaper but it has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Read on to learn more.
Specifications
Sonos One Gen 1 |
Sonos One Gen 2 |
|
| Dimensions | 6.4 x 4.8 x 4.8 inches | 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inches |
| Weight | 4.08 lb | 4.08 lb |
| Channels | Mono | Mono |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Multi-Room | Yes | Yes |
| Physical connections | Ethernet | Ethernet |
| Portable | No | No |
| Water-resistant | No | No |
| Speakerphone | No | No |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa |
Features
Design/Portability of Gen 1
Sonos One Gen 1 is quite similar to Play:1 as they both share the same coffee can-like design and measure 6.3 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches in a squarish near-cylinder construction.
The speaker has a griller running almost the entire way around the sides.
Design/Portability Of Gen 2
Gen 2 is also a 15 centimeters small-sized speaker that is built to sit vertically on the table. Like the Sonos one Gen 1, Gen 2 has a squarish near-cylinder build and is a one-hand carry. It is, however, less portable as it requires to be plugged into a power source before you can use it.
Pricing/Budget For Sonos One Gen 1
The Sonos One Gen 1 is a favorably priced speaker that is largely considered affordable going on its performance and features.
- Sonos One - The powerful smart speaker with voice control built in.
- This product has been replaced by Sonos One (Gen 2).
- (Playback Languages)
However, the speaker has had a reduction in pricing after the company upgraded it to Gen 2. It still sells at slightly less than $200, though.
Pricing/Budget For Sonos One Gen2
This speaker is substantially similar to the Sonos One Gen 1. Most of the added features are, therefore, mainly upgrades to the features that exist in Gen 1.
When Sonos introduced this product into the market, it reduced the price of Gen 1 a little. The Gen 2 was thus tagged a bit higher than Gen 1 but still a little lower than $300.
Sound Quality For Sonos One Gen 1
The speaker gets loud, and you can fully enjoy music at 50%. The quality is also awe-inspiring.
The lows get deep, and bass notes come out clearly without masking the mids. Mids also sound great, and you will hear detail from the guitar strums and vocals.
Sound Quality For Sonos One Gen 2
Gen 2 is much more similar to Gen 1. It delivers rich, full bass from a dedicated mid-woofer and the mid ranges have a clear definition. Two Class-D amps power the tweeter and six far-field mics make them sound incredible.
Sonos One Gen 1 Connectivity
Sonos One Gen 1 is a smart speaker that is much easier to connect. The speaker uses AC power mains inputs and must be plugged with the Sonos One power cord to play.
On the other hand, the speaker connects to the internet through an Ethernet port. With an Ethernet cable, you can connect to a router, computer, or network-attached storage (NAS) device.
Setting up the speaker is straightforward. Press the join button to connect during setup.
Sonos One Gen 2 Connectivity
The Sonos One Gen 2 has made more updates to the previous version. Although the speakers come with more versatile connectivity options, these are mainly updated from the earlier version.
Gen 2, however, remains a plug-and-play and works with AC power inputs. It also connects to the internet with the Ethernet port and is easy to set up.
Space Considerations For Sonos One Gen 1
Sonos One Gen 1 is a small speaker that easily fits into most spaces. Because of its shape and size, you can place it on top of the table or near the corner of the house.
Space Considerations For Sonos One Gen 2
As we already mentioned, Gen 2 is an upgrade of Gen 1 in terms of functionality but not size. The size of the speaker is, therefore, the same, and Gen 2 is equally less demanding in terms of space utilization.
Pros/Cons
Pros Of Sonos One Gen 1
- Detailed
- Superior sound quality
- It plays amazingly with other Sonos speakers
- It plays well with Amazon
- The sound is balanced and full-bodied
- The app is much cleaner and easier to navigate
- HomePod is great for Apple Music subscribers
- The beam sounds great and is remarkably versatile
- Interface slick and easy to use reliable and perfectly synchronized audio
- Broadly compatible with third-party products
- Stylish design
- Durable
- Spotify voice support
- Microphones pick up voice reliably
- Compact
- Affordable
Cons Of Sonos One Gen 1
- Sonos One lost its ability to respond to Alexa commands
- A bit harder to mount them on the wall now
- It does not work with Apple Music
- The sound is not audiophile-quality
- Treble notes are hard to hear
- Convoluted setup process
Pros Of Sonos One Gen 2
- Bass and treble sliders via the companion app
- Decent directivity
- Powerful audio
- Airplay is supportive
- Multi-room audio
- Amazon, Alexa, and Google assistant are supportive
Cons Of Sonos 1 Gen 2
- Audio distorts at high volume
- No wired or Bluetooth connections
Sonos Gen 1 Vs. Sonos Gen 2: How Do They Differ?
Sonos One Gen 2 comes with a fast processor and increased memory, though it lacks Bluetooth audio streaming. Also, Gen 2 comes with Bluetooth low energy to help facilitate the internal speaker setup. Therefore, the features are not new but upgrades from Sonos One Gen 1.
In addition, Gen 2 has more processing power than Gen 1. Therefore, its price has increased and is a little higher than Gen 1. However, the difference is very small, and most people will get almost similar listening experiences from the two Sonos models.
Which Is Better? Sonos One Gen 1 Or Gen 2?
Both Sonos Gen 1 and Gen 2 have similar speaker quality and output. Most PC and MAC users prefer to use Gen 1, while Gen 2 is a cake for iOS users.
Also, as we said already, Gen 1 is much cheaper and may be a good choice if you are working on a tight budget.
However, for gadget enthusiasts who are into Smart Homes, Gen 2 will be a perfect choice as it comes with much-needed updates. Take your time to go through the review to be able to make an informed decision.
Conclusion
While many people still say that the two speakers sound the same even after the upgrades in Gen 2, it is essential to get your firsthand experience by listening to the two speakers yourself. This will help you decide whether to go for the future-proof Gen 2 or stick to the older version of Sonos One speakers. For more information on the Sonos Gen One, check out this guide. For more information on the Sonos Gen Two, check out this guide. If you are looking for a Sonos subwoofer, check out our guide to the Sonos Sub Gen 2 vs Sonos Sub Gen 3.