Deciding Between Sonos One vs One SL? Here‘s a Complete Comparison to Help You Choose

Looking to add an exceptional wireless streaming speaker to your home? Sonos offers two very similar options that each deliver rich room-filling sound – the voice assistant-enabled Sonos One and the more affordable Sonos One SL without microphones.

With so much overlap between these compact smart speaker models, it can be tricky to select which is better for your listening needs.

That‘s where this guide comes in! I‘ll be comparing every hardware specification, audio capability, feature difference and more between the Sonos One and Sonos One SL side-by-side. My goal is to provide personalized advice tailored specifically to help you identify which Sonos speaker best fits your usage, preferences and budget.

Let‘s dive in to how they stack up…

At a Glance: How the Sonos One and Sonos One SL Compare

Before looking closer across different areas, here is a high-level specs overview between these two Sonos speakers:

Even at a quick look you can observe a few core differentiators even though these speakers share much of the same DNA:

• The Sonos One offers full-fledged voice control via 6 built-in microphones detecting either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant requests
• The less expensive Sonos One SL omits any microphone integration which means no direct voice assistant access
• Audio hardware, wireless specs, music streaming access and physical design remains nearly identical otherwise

Now let‘s explore some of the integral capabilities and performance factors that matter most…

Sound Quality Showdown

Any speaker lives and dies by how good it sounds. In this arena, both the Sonos One and Sonos One SL excel – despite their compact size!

Each model packs the following audio hardware:

• One upward-firing tweeter for crisp, clear high frequency reproduction without distortion even at loud volumes
• One mid-woofer engineered to deliver faithful midrange performance and deeper bass by focusing sound waves downward into the floor for reverberation
• Four Class-D digital amplifiers individually fine-tune the tweeter and mid-woofer along with their dedicated frequency ranges

This custom speaker setup enables rooms with solid stereo separation and a wide, detailed soundstage. Low frequencies come through tight and controlled down to a thumping yet accurate bass. Brighter tones maintain articulation without hissiness. And vivd middle registers like vocals feel present and near.

According to audio experts that have measured these Sonos speakers in objective lab tests, the One slightly outperforms the One SL on overall frequency response linearity and low-bass extension.

But honestly most casual listeners likely won‘t discern much of a difference between them. Both can capably handle pumping loud volumes to drive music throughout large spaces.

Automatic TruePlay room tuning also means whichever you choose will dynamically optimize its output to your room‘s specific acoustics. So they self-adjust to fill oddly shaped spaces with rich, balanced sound.

So which wins for audio? Either Sonos One or One SL will astound with powerful, detailed sound belying their small size. Unless you‘re an audiophile, relies on that slightly deeper bass reach of the Sonos One.

Voice Assistant Capabilities Compared

Here we arrive at the foremost differentiation setting apart the Sonos One from the One SL – built-in voice assistant access:

The Sonos One ships with a 6-microphone array to directly tap into either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Sensitive mics listen for respective activation phrases ("Hey Google" or "Alexa") to prompt voice control usage from anywhere in the room:

• Request music tracks or playlists
• Inquire about weather forecasts, sports scores, math problems etc
• Manage playback of music or podcasts (play, pause, skip track etc)
• Check calendar appointments, reminders and travel times
• Control smart lights, thermostats, locks and other connected home devices

However you can only set up one voice assistant at a time – either Google or Amazon. And overall capabilities prove less robust than having a standalone Echo or Nest smart speaker. You won‘t be able to place calls or take advantage of more advanced third-party skills for example.

By contrast, the Sonos One SL entirely omits onboard microphones used to interact via voice. So while slightly more affordable as a result, you lose that key element that defines a "smart speaker" nowadays.

Instead the One SL must be controlled indirectly via a separate Alexa/Google-enabled device on the same WiFi network, like an:

• Amazon Echo Dot
• Google Nest Mini
• Smartphone with Google Assistant/Alexa apps enabled

So no always-listening voice detection to echo requests from across the room. Commands remain limited by the external mic‘s pickup range. And this approach demands extra cost and setup complexity to link ecosystem devices.

Ultimately voice usage depends on your smarter home plans:

• The Sonos One offers the most flexible direct access if you‘ll frequently use voice
• Get the Sonos One SL to save a bit if you won‘t utilize voice often, instead relying on external smart devices for occasional control

Comparing Design and Build Construction

You‘ll be hard-pressed to visually tell the difference between a Sonos One and One SL. Each sports identical dimensions of 6.3 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches – a compact rectangular box shape able to squeeze onto shelves or counter spaces where larger speakers can‘t.

And tipping the scales at just 4.08 lbs, you gain reasonable portability to move them freely about the home.

Matching black or white matte finish color options blend the aesthetic seamlessly into any room‘s decoration. Touch sensitive control buttons line the top panel for adjusting volume or song playback even when your phone is out of reach.

The sole distinguishing design element is the mic-enabled LED light strip only found on the voice assistant-capable Sonos One model. Beyond that, appearances stay conspicuously subtle rather than loud.

Under the hood, Sonos constructs both speakers with resilience in mind. Their grille metal housing and internal components boast moisture resistance to shrug off steam from kitchen cookery or humidity in covered outdoor patios.

And by swapping try-me demo units in and out of my home, I can confirm build quality feels sturdy enough to likely withstand a few inadvertent drops without issue.

For aesthetics and durability, either speaker rates well. The Sonos One does cost a slightly premium so make sure the value matches your needs.

Connectivity and Entertainment Service Compatibility

You‘ll primarily interact with the One and One SL over WiFi leveraging Sonos‘ own dedicated wireless mesh network protocol. This facilitates seamless streaming from music apps along with multi-room syncing capabilities across other Sonos speakers simultaneously.

Each model additionally incorporates an Ethernet port if hoping to wire directly into more reliable connectivity where WiFi coverage may occasionally drop out.

Tap into a staggering array of 100+ supported entertainment streaming platforms like:

• Music — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music HD, Tidal, YouTube Music, SoundCloud, Pandora, SiriusXM, Deezer, TuneIn and tons more
• Podcasts / Audiobooks – Audible, podcast catalogs from NPR, ESPN, The New York Times etc
• Radio – Streaming radio stations globally

Apple device owners in particular benefit from AirPlay 2 inclusion for one-tap streaming direct from an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Unfortunately Bluetooth music playback remains not supported. And neither speaker contains an auxiliary input jack for plugging in external media devices via headphone cable either.

Stereo Pairing and Home Theater Configuration

One nifty Sonos speaker capability I personally love involves combining two units in the same room to emit independent left and right channel sound. This wider channel separation lends greater dimension and positional directionality compared to single speaker output.

Helpfully, the One and One SL each allow matching stereo pairing with another unit of their respective models. Position one in opposite corners and pump up a favorite track – you‘ll gain an instantly more immersive soundstage beyond what you‘d expect from such compact speakers!

Sonos‘ library of products work interchangeably together as well. Add surround speakers to accent a home theater viewing experience combined with their Beam, Ray or Arc sound bars. For earth-shaking, neighbor-alienating bass rumble, try coupling your One/One SL to the chunky Sonos Sub subwoofer!

Since TruePlay frequency tuning constantly optimizes output to the environment, mixing speakers together performs smoothly without needing manual equalization. Very handy not only for whole home audio but especially apartment dwellers and condo owners where loud dedicated center channels or rear surrounds may not be neighbor friendly!

Additional Sonos One vs One SL Comparison Considerations

Beyond the major points above, a couple other quick facts to know:

• Neither Sonos One nor One SL can operate fully wirelessly off battery power – they must plug into an AC outlet via power cord at all times
• Each comes with a generous one year warranty directly through Sonos, protecting against most hardware defects
• Capable of safely playing outdoors in covered areas, but full weatherproofing falls short of more rugged Sonos Move specs
• Hit master volume level of ~95db – loud enough to host dance parties!

So Sonos One or Sonos One SL: Which Should You Buy?

Both the Sonos One and Sonos One SL are fantastic compact wireless smart speakers that deliver surprisingly big, detailed sound along with extensive music service access.

For most folks seeking the best blend of affordability and features, my recommendation falls to the standard Sonos One.

The built-in voice control flexibility provides helpful everyday conveniences. And audio quality runs a notch ahead of the One SL due to slight hardware advantages that wring out an extra bit of crispness and bass depth.

However the Sonos One SL makes practical sense if either of the following apply:

• You want to save some money upfront
• You plan to control playback strictly via phone or another ecosystem smart device regardless

Just know you‘ll need an external Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini to handle voice commands lacking onboard. Setup proves a bit more cumbersome as a result to juggle components.

But for buyers unconcerned with voice control – hey, why pay extra for unused functionality? The Sonos One SL delivers virtually every other listening benefit and music streaming integration at a marked down cost.

Still Unsure? Try Them Yourself!

Theonly way to know conclusively how either model sounds in your space involves testing firsthand with your own ears.

Sonos used to offer a generous return policy where you could try speakers at home risk-free. Conditions are a bit stricter now but some flexibility still exists if you order through Amazon or other participating local retailers.

My recommendation? Buy both the Sonos One AND Sonos One SL. Give each extended listening time to judge audio quality from your preferred music genres. Does the Sonos One exhibit noticeably better clarity? How frequently do you find yourself wanting to access voice assistant commands vs solely using your phone?

Then return the model less suitable and pocket the savings or pay a small premium depending on need.

You have nothing to lose! Well, beyond restocking shipping fees if not buying through source with free returns…

Ready to experience either firsthand? Use the links below to find current deals and customer reviews from real owners:

Either way I doubt you‘ll walk away disappointed! Both Sonos speakers punch way above their modest size classes.

Let me know if any other questions pop up about the Sonos One or One SL comparison. Happy listening!