There are two versions of Sonos’ entry speaker, the Sonos One and the Sonos One SL. The main difference is that the One is an intelligent speaker, and the One SL is not.
If you’re unsure what this means or want to see if the Sonos One vs. Sonos One SL compassion to know which speaker is suitable for your Sonos setup, continue reading this post.
Sonos One SL VS Sonos One
Design
The Sonos One SL and Sonos One are almost identical except for the top panel, which is very slightly different. For example, the One SL doesn’t have a mic array or icon.
Capacitive buttons for volume control, track skipping, play and pause are still visible across the top, in case you don’t want to use your phone and the Sonos app. Like the Sonos One, the SL comes in black or white.
Sound Quality
Again, in terms of sound quality and audio performance, you’ll get the same results no matter your choice. For a speaker of that size, the One range sounds fantastic. Clean and nicely balanced across all frequencies.
Punchy bass that is not dominant and is too loud. Its design also allows for even sound distribution over 360 degrees and can honestly fill a room.
As bookshelf speakers, both versions of the One are ideally suited to be paired in stereo. You can mix and match One and One SL speakers as a stereo pair.
Smart Assistant
In terms of Amazon Alexa, the Sonos One is pretty good. It listens well without delay and rarely fails to carry out commands.
If you’re curious, the Sonos One can do everything the Echo Dot does. Plus, Sonos One’s voice control feels more natural.
With the latest update, you can now use Spotify and many streaming services—an excellent addition if you are active.
Sonos One has excellent plans. It is the first speaker system to promise compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
In 2018, Sonos officially announced support for Google Home voice control. The app supports Apple’s AirPlay 2 with airplay two, allowing you to issue commands from any Siri-enabled device. The only downside is that you don’t get Alexa Calls.
In short, the Sonos One is the cheapest speaker with the best features. If you can afford two speakers for stereo sound, two Sonos Ones will sound perfect.
Sonos One boasts an array of six microphones that allow users to control their Sonos system. Like the Amazon Echo or Google Home speakers, the sound level is lowered so you can bark orders at the onboard assistant when you hear Alexa or Hey Google. You must choose one voice assistant to use with your Sonos One.
At its most basic classification, and as mentioned above, the One SL isn’t technically a smart speaker because it doesn’t have a built-in voice assistant. But that’s what existence is all about—the Sonos One is for those who don’t want Big Tech eavesdropping on their home.
Size and weigh
The One and One SL are compact speakers, measuring 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inches (161.45 x 119.7 x 119.7 mm) and weighing 1.78 kg. Audio.
Support
If you encounter a problem with your Sonos system, please get in touch with Sonos Customer Support. They are responsive, kind, and caring. So, don’t hesitate to contact them if something terrible happens or goes wrong. They are always ready to help.
Critical Differences Between Sonos One and Sonos One SL
The main difference between the Sonos One and Sonos One SL models is that the former model has two basic voice control mechanisms while the latter does not support voice control.
Amazon’s voice-enabled Alexa and Google Assistant are built into the Sonos One interface. Voice control has been explicitly removed from Sonos One SL models for the most privacy-oriented users. The Sonos One model was released in 2017, and the Sonos One SL model in 2019.
The two models differ in terms of their market price when sold. The Sonos One model is relatively more expensive than the cost-effective One SL model. Additional built-in support serves to increase the market price of older variants.
Sonos One SL models do not have built-in microphones, while Sonos One models have six built-in microphones. In addition, the microphone has been removed from the Sonos One SL model, so there is no microphone button on the top panel.
Sonos One models have a microphone button on the board that helps users enable or disable the smart speaker’s microphone function.
Sonos One SL VS Sonos One: Which is Best?
The One is your speaker if you want to include Alexa or Google Assistant in your Sonos system. Either way, you get Sonos’ entry-level but excellent audio performance at the right price.
FAQs
What does SL stand for on Sonos?
SL means speechless. So Sonos dropped the mic. You can control your One SL with the Sonos app or Apple AirPlay 2. So if you already have voice control or don’t need it, the One SL is for you.
Can I play Sonos One SL without WiFi?
All Sonos speakers require a WiFi or Ethernet connection for setup, so don’t expect to use the Sonos One SL speaker without a network connection.
Can I use the Sonos One SL without a sound bar?
Yes, you can play TV audio without Sonos’ sound bar.
