The Sonos One and Sonos One SL speakers are among the most popular models from the California-based manufacturer.
The compact shape fits into the living room, kitchen or bathroom and even ensures good sound in stores or restaurants.
But what exactly is the difference between the visually similar One and One SL models? I explain the key difference in this article.
Differences between Sonos One and One SL
The differences between the two models are quickly explained, as there is only one difference apart from the price: the latest generation of the One model is equipped with voice control for Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant and Sonos Voice Control.
That’s why there is also a visual difference on the top of the speaker: the Sonos One has a circle made up of many small dots, with the microphones for voice control underneath.
There are no such points on the top of the One SL and therefore no built-in microphones.
Apart from the voice control, there are no technical differences between the two models.
Inside, both speakers have two class D amplifiers, a tweeter and midrange driver, touch control on the surface, a LAN connection and the option for Apple’s AirPlay 2.
Voice control with the Sonos One
Either Amazon’s Alexa, the Google Assistant or Sonos Voice Control can be selected for the Sonos One’s integrated voice control.
Although Siri from Apple was recently released for external developers, this technology has not yet been integrated into the Sonos system.
To use voice control in the Sonos One, one of the services must be selected via the Sonos app and connected to a corresponding user account.
Voice control can then be used to its full extent. The Sonos One listens for commands such as “Hey Sonos”, “Alexa” or “Hey Google” and forwards the voice commands.
No microphones in the Sonos One SL
Even if the providers naturally claim that no private data is passed on or intercepted, from a technical perspective, the voice assistants have a microphone running at all times and listens to whether a corresponding command is given.
If this makes you a little uncomfortable, you should go for the Sonos One SL. There are no built-in microphones here, so you won’t be constantly “bugged”.
Combine Sonos One and Sonos One SL
Sonos speakers can not only be set up in individual rooms but can also be combined into stereo or home theater groups.
You can create a stereo sound with two Sonos One or One SL or connect two speakers together as rear speakers for home theater effects. The respective settings are made directly via the Sonos app.
For stereo or home theater combinations, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a One or a One SL. Both can be combined without any problems.
The One and One SL can also be placed on appropriate stands for optimum positioning in the home cinema .
You can find out which Sonos devices can be combined, functions and much more in this table comparing different models.
Difference between Sonos One Gen 1 and Gen 2
The Sonos One has been on the market since 2017, and two years later there was a small technical update.
This is why the older version is called “Gen 1” and the newer version “Gen 2”. However, the first generation has not been sold for a long time.
The technical differences between Gen 1 and Gen 2 are marginal: The processor performance is said to have been increased slightly, and six microphones are apparently installed for voice control instead of four.
You can recognize the respective variant on the one hand by the imprint on the box and on the other hand by a note on the bottom of the speaker. It then says One (Gen 2).
Does Sonos One have Bluetooth?
No, the older Sonos speakers do not have Bluetooth. Only the portable Sonos Roam and Sonos Move models and the new Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300 devices have this connection option.
You can see which speaker is equipped with which connectivity in our Sonos table with all models.
Lars Grudzinski has been working as a sound and lighting technician since the 90s, was a DJ for electronic music, has a large collection of vintage speakers, and has been working for various radio stations in Germany for 20 years. At home, he enjoys high-quality home theater products such as soundbars and projectors and has installed an extensive Sonos system in his own home.